Savvy parents can keep the kids entertained without splashing too much cash, thanks to SoGlos’s handy hot list of affordable family-friendly attractions in Gloucestershire.
With everything from mind-expanding museums to enchanting outdoor activities, there’s plenty of inspiration to keep the whole family happy – with entry for little ones costing no more than £10.
Meet Romans, dinosaurs and more at the Museum of Gloucester
Providing an ultra-affordable family day out with free entry, the Museum of Gloucester lets little ones come face to face with dinosaurs, discover Gloucester's Roman history, see Iron Age artefacts like the Birdlip Mirror and check out some of the oldest games ever played.
For a few pounds extra, it also hosts incredible exhibitions in its gallery all year round. Its current Brick History Exhibition LEGO® recreates history's most important moments in miniature, with tickets costing just £8.50 each.
Go back in time at Dean Heritage Centre in Soudley
Full of family activities for all weather conditions, Dean Heritage Centre promises an educational day out for little ones costing just £7.50 for children aged three to 16 and £9.50 for adults.
Kids will love stepping inside the Victorian classroom and Forester’s Cottage; discovering what life was like for the region’s coal miners at the replica Free Mine; and wandering through the woods in search of the Gruffalo — with Gruffalo Trail only tickets costing £3.60. Plus, if the skies are grey, head inside to uncover the Forest of Dean’s fascinating history through the museum’s five galleries.
Explore the great outdoors at Painswick Rococo Garden
The glorious Painswick Rococo Garden is bursting with things to see and do, including a magical maze and woodland play area to explore, with entry priced at just £5.40 for children and £11.60 for adults. Dogs on leads are welcome, too.
Mini explorers can muse over tree carvings and magical follies as they soak up the enchanting grounds, with just some of the Rococo Garden’s spectacular seasonal highlights including snowdrops in the winter and dazzling daffodils in the spring.
Run wild at Batsford Arboretum in Moreton-in-Marsh
With a play area, children’s trail and a whopping 56 acres to cover, little legs can burn off some energy during a trip to the beautiful Batsford Arboretum near Moreton-in-Marsh — with entry costing £3.50 for children and £9.95 for adults.
Open year-round, the Cotswold attraction is a picturesque place to get some sun in the summer months, soak up the fireworks of autumn colours, and pull on wellies and coats for a winter walk, too.
Catch a family flick at Sherborne Cinema in Gloucester
Screening all the latest films, including plenty of family-friendly releases, in a unique art-deco setting, Sherborne Cinema invites children to enjoy a movie from as little as £6 — with no adverts or trailers to sit through either!
With treats like popcorn, ice cream, treat bags and hot drinks starting from just £1, the independent cinema is the perfect destination to catch a feel-good flick for less.
Ride a VR roller coaster at VRXPerience in Gloucester
Blow the kids’ minds with an immersive VR adventure at Gloucester’s very own virtual reality arcade, VRXPerience. While the attraction’s VR escape rooms and gaming experiences are a little pricier, visitors can take a ride on a VR roller coaster for just £4.
From extreme theme park rides to encounters with undersea creatures and mythical dragons, the motion simulation pods offer a fantastically surreal experience that’s ideal for youngsters who are new to VR.
Get lost in the forest at Puzzlewood in Coleford
Equally enchanting for children and grown-ups, Puzzlewood in the Forest of Dean offers hours of adventure in the magical woodlands — with entry costing £8 for children and £9.50 for adults.
Explore the mystical landscape with its twisted trees, strange rock formations and secret caves; get lost in the magical willow maze; or see if you can recreate the iconic scenes from Star Wars: The Force Awakens at one of Gloucestershire's famous filming locations. Animal lovers can meet Puzzlewood’s resident donkeys, goats and ponies, too.
Putt a hole-in-one at Sherdons Adventure Golf in Tewkesbury
Little and big kids can putt their way around an 18-hole, pirate-themed adventure golf course, navigating lagoons and rafts as they play at Sherdons Adventure Golf in Tewkesbury — priced at £8.50 for anyone over 12-years-old, £6.95 for children under 12 and free for mini golfers aged four and under.
Sherdons Golf Centre is also home to a Trackman driving range, giving putters the chance to have a go on virtual golf courses, improve their shot with interactive games like Bullseye, or compete in a magical universe alongside dragons and ghosts. Prices range from £3.50 for 25 balls to £9.75 for 100 balls.
Reach new heights at Boulders in Cheltenham
Tucked away on Centrum Park on the outskirts of Cheltenham, Boulders is ideal for active kids, giving them the chance to clamber around on its series of climbing and bouldering walls.
Drop-in sessions cost £8 for children aged eight to 13 and £5 for under sevens, with shoe hire costing an extra £4 for those who need it.
Go bouncing at Funky Warehouse in Cheltenham
Suitable for over-fives, open bounce sessions at Cheltenham’s Funky Warehouse allow energetic children and grown-ups to hop, skip and jump over 22 trampolines for £8 per person at off-peak times and £10 at peak times when you book in advance online.
The one-hour session also includes access to soft play, complete with a cargo net and zip line and the warehouse’s exhilarating ninja warrior course, where obstacles are suspended over a foam pit. Meanwhile, parents with little ones under five can book a two-hour toddler session, which costs £8 per parent and child and £4 for any additional people.
See the miniatures at Bourton's Model Village
Little ones will love feeling like giants as they explore Bourton-on-the-Water’s famous Model Village — a tiny replica of the Cotswold village and its iconic buildings and attractions.
Entry is £3.50 for children and £4.50 for adults and while the narrow paths aren’t buggy-friendly, the exquisite attention to detail in the country’s only Grade II-listed model village is sure to delight visitors big and small.
