How to cut the cost of a UK getaway

From money-off deals to free parking at the beach, families are finding bargain routes to a holiday at home.

The credit crunch has blown a hole in families' holiday budgets. Add a weak pound and there are strong reasons to stay in the UK this year, especially as we are promised a hot summer.

But while a domestic holiday saves on flights and avoids a poor exchange rate, the cost of hotels, visitor attractions and restaurants is often dearer here than abroad so it pays to know the best tricks to save money.

Karina Burns, 31, and husband Simon, 33, have decided to scale back their summer holiday with sons Cameron, 5, and Callum, 2. The couple plan to hire a cottage for a week on the Devon coastline instead of their usual Continental break.

As well as saving by forgoing foreign travel, the Burns family, from Highcliffe, Dorset, will be self-catering and eating out less.

Karina and Simon, who both work for a company organising arts and crafts exhibitions, are fans of the book Let's Go With The Children, which lists parks, gardens and attractions in England that have free entry for youngsters as well as publishing details of other places of interest with discounts for children.

Letsgowiththechildren.co.uk allows families to search for places to visit by region from about 90,000 attractions, including parks, castles, museums and water parks. The website lists about 75 discount offers and runs competitions to help families win free tickets and money-off days out.

To get the Let's Go With The Children guide for only £1.50, go to the site and use the code MAILSUN09.

Karina says: 'This has been useful to us over the years for day trips, but particularly this year as we will be looking for things to keep the children amused in Devon.

'It is also good to have a mix of indoor and outdoor activities because of the unpredictable nature of the British weather.'

The internet is fantastic for information and ideas for families looking for low-cost holiday inspiration and free activities. Websites such as kids gofree.com, whattodowiththekids.co.uk, heritagedaysout.org.uk and the Government site culture.gov.uk/beakout are a good place to start.

Rochelle Turner, head of research at Which? Holiday, says that with cash so tight for many families and fears over job security, fewer people are willing to put a big holiday bill on their credit card.

'Families are looking to save wherever they can, but particularly when it comes to luxuries like holidays,' she says. 'For those holidaying in Britain and taking public transport, booking early will usually save money.

'The sooner you can book train or coach tickets, the cheaper the fare. Travelling outside peak times should also cut costs. Shop around on accommodation prices, think about house swaps with friends and family and try to haggle with hoteliers, for example, to drive down the cost.'

Many UK visitor attractions and resorts will be winners in the economic downturn as more consumers decide to cut their holiday spending and stay closer to home. Visitor numbers to many popular UK attractions and stately homes are up by 38% since the start of March, according to the National Trust.

Fiona Reynolds, director general of the National Trust, which has charitable status and 3.5m members, says cost-conscious families are increasingly taking annual membership as a cheaper alternative to expensive days out to theme parks.

Linda Osborn, 35, husband Richard, 41, and their three children, Rebecca, 9, George, 6, and two-year-old Ben, paid £61.50 last month to become members for a year. National Trust offers a first-year discount on its usual £82 annual family membership fee if customers pay by direct debit.

Individual membership costs £47.50 (£35.63 in year one) and £79.50 for couples (£59.63 in year one). It is also possible to get lifetime membership from £1,160, or £755 for pensioners. Membership entitles you to free entry to any of the National Trust's 350 properties and gardens. There may be an entry charge where it manages a property that is privately owned.

One of the main attractions for Linda and Richard, a lending controller for a High Street bank, in becoming members was that they are going on holiday to St Ives, Cornwall, next month and wanted to save money on parking at National Trust-owned beaches.

But Linda says they will also use their membership for days out to National Trust properties near their home in Oswestry, Shropshire, such as Powis Castle at Welshpool, Powys; Chirk Castle in the Welsh Marshes; and Attingham Park, Shropshire. 'We've scaled back our holiday plans this year as we want to save money,' she says.

'In the past we have taken a couple of weeks in France or Italy, but this year we are having a week in Cornwall and will probably take day trips over the course of the summer.

'Typical entry to National Trust properties close to us would be about £25 for the family each time, so we only need to visit three or four places during the year to cover our membership fee. We think it represents good value.