Money's tight – let's go on holiday
By Kate Simon
Autumn has truly arrived. The leaves are naturally turning, without a bit of extra help from climate change, and there’s a nip in the air that’s got everyone fretting about putting on the heating during an energy crisis. The change of season also heralds the traditional moment for travellers’ thoughts to turn to city breaks. And with money tight, there’s never been more need to stretch that diminishing pound in our pocket.
The National Gallery knows this. In response to the cost-of-living crisis, it has just launched its first ‘pay what you can afford’ scheme for its next special event. Anyone wishing to see the upcoming exhibition work by Lucian Freud, which marks the centenary of his birth, can do so on Fridays for as little as a pound between 5.30pm and 9pm (October 1-January 22). That’s a snip considering the usual price for Lucian Freud: New Perspectives is £24 during the week and £26 at weekends.
But it’s not just the odd event you can save money on. It’s possible to shape most elements of a short break to ensure you spend your pennies wisely. Looking out for hotel room sales is an obvious strategy, though I wonder how rare these might become.
Another idea, if you’re travelling with a friend but don’t fancy sharing a twin room, is to consider a hotel that has self-catering options. They can be similar in price to an AirBnB yet come without murderous looks from the neighbours fed up with the ever-changing population next door.
I travel to Chester a lot and Oddfellows has become a favourite of mine for its apartments, which are just around the corner from the main hotel, within the city walls. I recently booked one of its two-bedroom mews properties for me and a friend for a night in October for £152.
The apartment has a kitchen, lounge, and en-suite bathrooms in both bedrooms. It’s stylish and extremely comfy, with some hotel-style extras, yet it costs the same as just one good-quality hotel room or a similarly proportioned AirBnB.
If you like a pool and a spa with your hotel, you’ll probably pay a premium. But if you’re planning to visit Bristol, you could splash out on a swim in Bristol Lido instead. It keeps the water temperature at a balmy 22C-24C year-round and a two-hour session for £25 will also give you access to the sauna, steam room and hot tub.
To get your bearings in a destination, take a free tour. There are a few gratis guided ones around. In my recent article, Between the Pubs: Harrogate, I mentioned Harry’s entertaining free guided walking tour. Fogo’s Free Tours offers guided walks around Cardiff city centre and the bay area in autumn. And in York (pictured), volunteers have been running complimentary guided tours for more than 70 years.
Check out tourist board sites, too, for free self-guided tours. They’re often on different local themes, adding an extra dimension, and usually come with online or downloadable notes.
In another recession-buster, the National Trust is offering free visits for up to two adults and four children at locations across the country until November 30. Crook Hall Gardens in Durham, Speke Hall in Liverpool, and Greyfriars House and Gardens in Worcester are among the city-based choices. As is the current fashion, you must be prepared to queue for a while; when I joined the line for tickets on its website this morning, I was number 1,327.
Think a little leftfield, too. If the rain comes down during a visit to Manchester – as it so often does – you could save on cinema tickets by watching a free matinee at the city’s Central Library. It’s home to the British Film Institute’s archive in the North West, with more than 2,000 films and TV shows available to watch at special viewing stations.
And it’s all about timing. Head to Leicester on October 9 and you’ll be able to party in the street when the city celebrates Diwali. The illuminations will be switched on for the annual Festival of Lights, followed by a firework display, and there will be parades, performances and other events, many free, taking place across the city until Diwali Day on October 24. A glimmer of hope, then, that an autumn break could still be on the cards.
Photo © Magdanatka/Shutterstock