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Revealed: the UK’s top 40 best value days out for summer

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Read Time: 3 mins

The staycation trend is here to stay in 2022, and with the summer holidays just around the corner, families throughout the UK will be looking for fun ways to spend their days for less.

Civil-service and public-sector club Boundless compiled a list with the help of four experts and asked thousands of its members to vote to create the UK’s top 40 best value days out for the summer months. More than 2,500 members responded to create a list that will keep the whole family entertained with attractions across the country.

Coming in at number one is the Eden Project in Cornwall, followed by Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire, The British Museum in London, Beamish, the Living Museum of the North in County Durham, and Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland and Cumbria,

Darren Milton at Boundless said: “With ongoing airline issues and big hikes in the cost of living, many people will be looking for affordable ways to inject fun and excitement into time spent with family and friends over the summer.

“Great value doesn’t always mean ‘free’. When we asked our experts to compile their lists of attractions, we asked them to consider whether admission prices offer an incredible great value for money. This includes destinations where you could easily spend an entire day and gain access to other on-site benefits for a single-entry fee, or benefit from an extended access period for the cost of just one visit.

“The result is a fantastic list of attractions, whether you’re looking for an adrenaline rush, or you prefer to soak in Britain’s amazing heritage and great outdoors, there’s something for everyone.”

Many of the attractions are available at even better rates with Boundless membership, which is open to all public-sector employees and civil servants, working and retired, for just £32 a year. For example, members can take advantage of unlimited access to Kew Gardens, all 10 Wildfowl and Wetland Trust sites across the country, 12-month access to Kids Pass and a choice of discounted experiences through Virgin Experience Days.

Milton added: “There are so many benefits to staycationing. It’s greener, easier, helps the local economy, and is usually more affordable than an overseas trip. Boundless’ top 40 has been drawn up to help everyone get the most out of their well-earned break this summer.”

For more information, please visit https://www.boundless.co.uk/bestvaluedaysout

Top 40 Boundless Best Value Days Out:

1            Eden Project, Cornwall

2            Longleat Safari Park, Wiltshire

3            British Museum, London

4            Beamish Living Museum of the North, Derbyshire

5            Hadrian’s Wall

6            Beaulieu, Hampshire

7            National Railway Museum, York

8            Hampton Court Palace, London

9            Science Museum, London

10          Portmeirion, Gwynedd

11          The Ironbridge Gorge, Shropshire

12          Tower of London, London

13          Kew Gardens, London

14          Holy Island, Northumberland

15          Roman Baths, Somerset

16          Go Ape (multiple locations)

17          Stonehenge, Wiltshire

18          The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Cornwall

19          Brownsea Island, Dorset

20          Black Country Museum, Dudley

21          Bournemouth Pier, Dorset

22          Cotswold Wildlife Park, Oxfordshire

23          Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire

24          Dover Castle, Kent

25          Cotswold Water Park, Gloucestershire

26          Brooklands Museum, Surrey

27          Osborne House, Isle of Wight

28          Fountains Abbey, Yorkshire

29          Zipworld Llechwedd Caverns, Snowdonia

30          Heights of Abraham, Matlock, Derbyshire

31          Monkey World, Dorset

32          Ullswater Steamers, Cumbria

33          Rutland Water, Rutland

34          Alnwick Garden, Northumberland

35          Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail, Gloucestershire

36          St Paul's Cathedral, London

37          WWT Slimbridge, Gloucestershire

38          Minack Theatre, Cornwall

39          Jodrell Bank Telescope, Cheshire

40          London Transport Museum, London

 

Ends

Editors notes

Boundless is a membership club for working and retired civil service and public sector workers who are looking for inspiration on getting the most out of their free time.

With a heritage and expertise dating back almost 100 years, Boundless offers its 165,000+ members deals on hundreds of unique experiences, events, volunteer activities and things to do. It’s also mutual, so all profits go straight back into the club to benefit members.

Boundless membership is packed full of exciting ways members can make the most of their free time, grab superb savings, and connect with local interest and community groups.

Methodology:

Boundless asked four experts to create individual shortlists of 25 UK attractions that offer great value for money in a specific category – family, heritage, action or outdoor. These lists of 25 were then combined to create a list of 100, which was sent out to Boundless members to vote on via an online survey. 2,573 members responded to share their thoughts on which were the best-value attractions, which were then ordered by descending popularity (i.e., number of votes).

Longleat Safari Park, Boundless

Longleat Safari Park, Boundless

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Credit: Boundless

Longleat Safari Park, Boundless

Longleat Safari Park, Boundless

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Credit: Boundless

Longleat Safari Park, Boundless

Longleat Safari Park, Boundless

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Credit: Boundless

Longleat Safari Park, Boundless

Longleat Safari Park, Boundless

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Credit: Boundless

Longleat Safari Park, Boundless

Longleat Safari Park, Boundless

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Credit: Boundless

Longleat Safari Park, Boundless

Longleat Safari Park, Boundless

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Credit: Boundless

Longleat Safari Park, Boundless

Longleat Safari Park, Boundless

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Credit: Boundless

WWT Slimbridge, Boundless

WWT Slimbridge, Boundless

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Credit: Adam Gasson

WWT Slimbridge, Boundless

WWT Slimbridge, Boundless

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Credit: Adam Gasson

WWT Slimbridge, Boundless

WWT Slimbridge, Boundless

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Credit: Adam Gasson

WWT Slimbridge, Boundless

WWT Slimbridge, Boundless

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Credit: Adam Gasson

Eden Project, Boundless

Eden Project, Boundless

Eden Project, Boundless

Eden Project, Boundless

Portmeirion, Wales

Portmeirion, Wales

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Credit: Caroline Jane Anderson

Wakehurst, Sussex

Wakehurst, Sussex

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Credit: Jim Holden

Longleat Safari Park, Boundless

Longleat Safari Park, Boundless

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Credit: Boundless