The bank holiday weekend is coming up and thanks to lockdown restrictions easing, people in England have a lot more freedom to visit venues and explore this county.

This means we can embark on days out once again and really make the most of the long weekend.  

We understand that times have been hard for many families in the pandemic who can’t afford to spend a fortune on days out.

Luckily there are some affordable places to visit right on our doorstep.

Some of these days out don’t cost a penny- while others cost less than a tenner per person.

1. Moss Bank Park, Bolton
Cost: Free (£5 for The Hive event)

Anyone who has visited this park knows offers a lot more than your average park.

There's a great little play area and the equipment on site is suitable for kids of all ages.

There is even a sand pit area where your little ones can play and build sand castles to their heart's content.

Also in the park is a football pitch and a tennis court for some real fun and exercise.

The Hive is located within Moss Bank Park- this is a sensory garden section behind the cafe, which is run by Lancashire Wildlife Trust.

It's a place where people are connected with nature through a range of events & activities for all the family.

(Facebook/The Hive)

This Saturday, they are running an Ocean Hunt event where families  explore the Hive gardens looking for dolphins, sharks, seahorses turtles, sea slugs and many more wonderful and exotic sea creatures that are found in our amazing oceans.

Tickets cost £5 and you can buy them online.

Manchester Airport's Runway Visitor Park, Altrincham

Cost: Free (but car parking charges apply)

The Runway Visitor Park is a popular North West attraction that’s adjacent to the (usually) busy runways of Manchester Airport.

The park’s raised viewing areas mean you can stand literally just a few metres away from real ‘live’ planes as they go past.

In addition to a picnic area, there is also the Concorde Restaurant and coffee house, a play area.

Haigh Woodland Park, Wigan
Cost: Varied

There is a mixture of free and paid for attractions at this park.

The Adventure Gold course has 18 holes featuring exciting challenges and obstacles. Take a ride on the viking boat, challenge yourself to the oak tree stump vortex hole and simply indulge in the stunning views making this an adventure golf course like no other.

Children under three play for free. Those age 3-11 pay £4 and for those twelve and over it’s £5.

For extra value, you can get a family ticket for £18.

The funfair has returned to the park for the foreseeable future and rides are priced at £2 or £3 with contactless payment preferred.

The rides include: Bouncing Rabbits, Teacups, Trampolines, Carousel and Hook a Duck.

While it’s a little more pricey, the High and Low Ropes course reopened last Sunday.

This sees you navigating obstacles and climbing to dizzying heights; prices range from £7-£21.

Walton Park, Sale
Cost: Free (30p for railway)

Walton Park is situated in a pleasant residential area of Sale.

It comprises grassed areas, flowerbeds, shrubs, mature trees, pathways, a car park and amenities for use by members of the public.

This a popular family park with some great play equipment- but it is best known for its miniature steam railway which costs just 30p a ride.

The railway is operated on Sundays, weather and availability of engines permitting.

The miniature railway is about a quarter-of-a-mile long and accommodates small locomotives.

The park has two playgrounds, one for small children and toddlers, and one for older kids.

There are two hard tennis courts, and a five-a-side football/basketball court which the Friends of Walton Park helped raise funds for. All are free to use.

There are also two bowling greens, a full size grass football pitch, various new picnic benches and family areas.

Heaton Park, Manchester
Cost: Free to visit but parking charges apply.

Heaton park is one of the biggest municipal parks in Europe.

A boating lake, golf course and playground are just some of the activities you can partake in at the park.

At this park and other parks around the region you can also take part in Geocaching- and all you need to take part is a phone.

This is an outdoor recreational activity, in which participants use a Global Positioning System receiver or mobile device and other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers, called "geocaches" or "caches".

While here, make sure to take a trip around the garden centre which is open for business.

Dino Falls adventure golf, Stretford, Manchester
Price: £6-£8pp or £24 for family ticket

Anyone for a game of crazy golf?

Dino Falls Adventure Golf is an 36 hole miniature course featuring six-metre high dinosaurs including a water-spraying Pterodactyl.

Located at Trafford Golf Centre, in TraffordCity, Manchester, it is one of the UK’s biggest adventure golf courses.

It’s open right now- but you need to book online to secure your place.

Prices are as follows:

  • Adults = £8.
  • Under 16s, seniors or students = £6.
  • A family ticket to play one course = £24 – 2 adults and 2 children.

Jumbles Country Park, Bolton
Cost: Free

People on Tripadvisor have a lot of love for Jumbles Country Park in Bolton.

It’s the ideal place for a walk or picnic as you enjoy the eclectic wildlife that roams around the park.

One Trip Advisor user wrote: “Went for a stroll today with family four-year-old and three-year- old loved walking in the streams and woods along by the reservoir then up into the woods seeing g what we could see.

“We saw horses chickens ducks geese children loved it and a well-earned brew and drinks for the boys after a long walk well enjoyed it.”

The Jumbles Country Park Cafe is by the Jumbles Reservoir and they serve freshly made hot and cold food, as well as snacks and beverages.

Applecast, Wigan
Cost: Free (but there’s a £3 parking fee)

This farm is just on the outskirts of Wigan- but it’s well worth the trip as there are plenty of animals for the little ones to meet and greet.

It’s home to goats, pigs, sheep, horses, and alpacas to name a few.

They also have an outdoor play area and cycle track.

What are your bank holiday plans?