The world’s a wonderful place, and there’s plenty to do that doesn’t involve shopping. Here’s thirty one ideas for alternatives to our favourite national pastime!
- visit a museum, using the visitbritain.com website for inspiration
- take in an art exhibition
- go for a picnic
- see a band
- go for a long stroll in the countryside – go to walkingroutes.co.uk to find walks near you
- have an adventure on the bus
- go to a village fayre
- visit a petting zoo or animal farm
- stroll round a stately home and gardens (National Trust membership is a brilliant idea and lets you park in NT car parks all over Britain for nothing even if you’re not visiting a property)
- read a good book
- visit the seaside and go rock pooling
- explore your home town on foot, discovering new places you never knew existed
- enjoy a cheap pub lunch, or find a restaurant where you can take your own booze, which cuts the cost right down to the bone
- get your friends round for an afternoon party
- watch a great film together at home
- create your own nightclub in your living room and dance the afternoon away
- play traditional board games
- play cricket or rounders in your local park, or fly a kite
- visit the zoo
- explore a castle
- hire a rowing boat on a river or lake
- use our discount codes to track down cheap entertainment and eating out
- buy a charity shop hat and decorate it
- visit the BBC website and apply to see a live televised show (it’s free), or try lostintv.com
- if you’re in London, visit soundmap.co.uk, where there are five audio walks to enjoy, narrated by local experts
- go to the cinema – lastminute.com usually have cheap cinema tickets on board, and matinee tickets often cost less than prime time evening seats
- find your nearest Pick Your Own and stock up on luscious fresh produce
- head for the great outdoors and pick your own blackberries and so on in the hedgerows
- make a cake, or learn to bake and decorate fairy cakes
- look for local free entertainment arranged by the council, especially useful during the school holidays
- learn something new. There are masses of free and cheap courses online and free courses arranged by educational establishments
Love this post! Whenever I’m bored I always shop whether be the actual shops or online. Thank you for all the other options
can suit whether it’s rain or shine!
xo