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Days out and Activities on a budget in and around Hertford
Every where we go we hear people saying the same thing... they are broke and some how they've got to entertain their children on a shoe string budget.
Not to worry we are here to help...
We've highlighted some of our favourite Free or Budget friendly activities locally this half term(some slightly further afield) to help you out .
Most things are Free with everything under £10 (helpfully sorted into things that are FREE under £5 and under £10)
Tips for success
First things first you don't actually need to go out! There's much to be said for staying home with a DVD or Netflix or digging out that craft box or playing a family board game.
We know that going on a FREE ACTIVITY does not guarantee you will get away without spending any money , food, travel, parking they can all add up but here are our 5 top tips to spend less on family activities.
- Get the kids on board! Challenge them to get involved in the planning.
- Set expectations- explain to your children (if they are able to understand) that you are on a budget and that you wont be buying extras on the trip. Get them to agree to this BEFORE you leave.
- Food!! Food!! Food!! often the cost of eating out can cost us an arm and a leg so don't! Pack a packed lunch and get the children involved. They are more likely to eat what's been prepared if they have helped to make it. Be creative, cold pizza, pasta, soups can all be taken on picnics, we've even heard of hot dog sausages being transported in a flask of boiling water as well . Take drinks too, there's much to be said for a flask of hot chocolate in the park.
- Check parking costs before you leave- sometimes free activity's such as "The Gruffalo Trail" have car parking costs, be aware of these before you leave.
If you are going to an activity where activity packs are for sale, again these can add to the cost of your trip, prepare before you go. Pack your own notepads and pens perhaps make your own worksheet if you have time and explain to the children you wont be buying those as you have your own. Check out the amazing wonder den for free downloadable art packs .
Free activities this Summer in and around Hertford
We all know that the cost of school Holidays can be a huge concern to most parents.
Budget friendly Ideas this Half Term
£5 and Under
Childrens Summer Trail (FREE) - Hertford Town tourist and information centre
Rock at the Castle (FREE) - Hertford Castle
Hertford Play Day (FREE) - Hertford Castle
Hertford Fire Station Open Day (FREE)
My Pet Pals - Free workshops in Hertford
The Faery Trail- Celtic harmony Camp £5 per child adults FREE
Drop in arts at Crafts at Hertford Museum- themes and confirmed dates tbc £4 per child usually.
6 Weeks of Summer at Cedars Nature Centre - themes to be confirmed but open daily just £2.40 pp
Hertford Library is a real hub of budget friendly family fun this summer- plus its air conned!
Baby Rhyme time from Monday 20th July and throughout the school holidays will be in the Castle Gardens next to the castle ( subject to weather conditions).
Story Time will be every Thursday throughout the School Holidays; this is from 10.30 – 11.00 in the library. – Free
As part of Read to the Beat we will be doing a special trail/competition around the library, starting from the 6th of July Free
And on a Tuesday afternoon, families can borrow board games and enjoy an hour of family fun! – Free
Draw with Rob Exhibition - FREE- Anyone else's little ones obsessed with Draw with Rob- this free exhibition is high on our to do list this summer.
The only exception
Ok ok, this one isn't under £5 its technically £10 per child (adults FREE) but it is only £8 with our discount code and it does include all the activities and stone baked pizzas for lunch and smores making and basically everything including coffess! So its still an absolute bargain!
We went to this last year and it was genuinely incredible! Adults go free and children aged 4 and above are just £10 but they have kindly given us a discount code to receive 20% off using code MGUIDEHERTFORD20 bringing the cost down to £8 per child then.
All of the below is included.
High ropes, laser tag & climbing wall
Archery & tomahawk throwing
Fire building & survival bracelet making
Forest School wilderness sessions
Lego Lab, Messy Play & Creation Station for under 4's
Plus wood-fired pizza & S'mores making!
24th July 2026 | 10am–3pm
Cuffley, Potters Bar, EN6 4PR
Child ticket £10* | Adults and under 4’s FREE
USE DISCOUNT CODE MGUIDEHERTFORD20 to save 20% on child tickets when booked before 18th July 2026**
Book your tickets now on Eventbrite here: https://bit.ly/BookCuffleyOpenDay or via @activelearningcentres
Out and about:
Theres much to be said for a trip to a good old park so grab those bikes or scooters, suncream, hats and a picnic and head off on an adventure.
Details for all of these and more can be found here.
Panshanger (keep an eye out for the fairy doors!)
Hartham Park
Lea valley Sculpture Trail
Cedars Park
Hatfield Forest
Stanborough Park
Church Farm, Ardeley
Watford Mini Town- Perfect for bikes!
Slightly further afield
The Stickman Trail
The Gruffalo Trail
100 Akre Woods at Aldenham County Park
Ashridge estate
An activity we would also love to recommend for all ages is Geocaching Its free to download and use the app and there are geocaches all around the local area, its a real life treasure hunt and lots of fun.
Museums and places of interest
The main one being Hertford Museum of course! Who run fantastic drop in arts and crafts over half term.
But there is also Bishop Stortford museum
Ware Museum
Tring Natural history Museum - prebooking required
Budget friendly zoos, farms and nature reserves.
Cedars Nature Centre is just £2.40 pp. Take a picnic and you can easily spend the day there enjoying all the zoo has to offer with its many meet and greets and also enjoying the park and roaming in the open spaces and play trail.
RSPB Rye Meads Nature Reserve - Free entry but there is a parking charge.
Parndon woods - one of our favourites - we love the den building area!
You can filter our things to do category to find Free things to do locally here:
We hope you enjoy this article and that you find it useful. If we've missed anything off the list do feel free to let us know.
Thanks for reading
Kayleigh & The Boys
XxxX
