Travel
We save HUNDREDS on UK attraction tickets with our free Blue Peter Badge – yes they still exist and anyone can get one
MY FAMILY saves hundreds on attraction tickets and days out using our Blue Peter badges.
Children between the ages of five and 15 can apply for a Blue Peter badge, which entitles the holder to free entry to over 200 UK attractions like museums, science centres, castles and zoos.
Personally, I grew up watching the likes of Anthea Turner and Konnie Huq on my TV screen.
The show is still going strong with presenters like Abby Cook, Joel Mawhinney and Shini Muthukrishnan still delighting a generation of children to this day.
There are nine different types of badges kids can apply for from silver, green and purple to the music, sports and book badges.
But the instantly recognisable blue badge is the easiest to get because it’s awarded to kids who send interesting letters, stories, pictures, poems and good ideas for the show.
As soon as she was old enough my now 8-year-old daughter Sabrina, painted a beautiful picture of flowers in a vase and sent it off to the team.
Her badge arrived within three weeks along with a letter to apply for the badge’s ID card – you can’t get entry without this – and the ID card arrived shortly after.
As we live in Edinburgh, my daughter has used her badge for entry into Edinburgh Zoo countless times.
A standard child’s ticket for costs £17.20 on the door, so by using her badge we’ve saved hundreds over the years.
The badge even works for entry during some special events such as character meet-and-greets, giving you more bang for your buck.
As frequent visitors to Dundee, we’ve also used the badge for entry into Discovery Point and RRS Discovery, saving us £9.50 a pop.
The best use of the badge has been during family staycations. One of our favourite attractions was the Jorvik Viking Centre in York, which includes a fun ride through a Viking village.
Sabrina’s badge entitled her to free entry and, as my son is under 5, he was free too which meant we only paid for two adult tickets (£16.50 each), meaning it cost only £33 for a family of four instead of £55.
The best part about Jorvik is that every ticket is valid for 12 months after the initial visit so we could go every month for the next year and not pay any more than the initial £33.
The Tower of London, Kensington Palace, Kew Gardens and London Zoo are among the attractions included with a Blue Peter Badge.
Parents must be careful when booking though, as some sites are stricter than others and must be booked in advance.
Some attractions will allow you to bring two children with badges per one paying adult whereas others insist on one child with a badge per one paying adult. Either way, you’re still saving money.
There are 200 attractions to choose from throughout the UK so savvy families can even plan their next staycation based on what attractions are included.
Sabrina has now had her blue badge for three years and is planning on applying to get her book badge – the latest in the collection which was designed by one of the UK’s best-known illustrators, Sir Quentin Blake.
This badge must be earned by sharing thoughts on a favourite book – something my bookworm daughter will be great at.
With the October holidays on the horizon, it might be worthwhile getting your kids to apply now to start saving.
How to Apply for a Blue Peter Badge
IT’S free to request a Blue Peter badge – but you’ll need to get your kid involved.
Firstly, they need to be between five and 15 years old. You’ll need to read and accept all the information on the CBBC website about it too if your child comes up with the idea themselves.
They’ll need to send a creative piece of art to Blue Peter, which might include a poem, story, artwork, model, recipe or a suggestion for the show.
There’s a full list of options on the CBBC website if you’d like to know more.
Once your child has chosen what they want to send, you’ll need to include the following alongside it:
- your child’s full name
- their date of birth
- your home postal address and postcode (not their school address)
You’ll need to send it to: Blue Peter, MediaCityUK, Salford, M50 2BH
Travel writer Catherine Lofthouse has also used Blue Peter Badges to save hundreds of pounds on family days out.
Travel
We’ve visited over 20 countries in our caravan – here are our four must-have gadgets
A FAMILY of five have visited more than 20 countries in their motorhome, going as far north as Norway and as far south as Turkey.
Known as the Roaming Radfords, Steve and Lyndsay have been holidaying in a motorhome since 2007, when their eldest son Eddie was just a year old.
The husband and wife team, who live in Milton Keynes, have explored countries like France, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Portugal, Sweden, Norway and Morocco.
Even renting an RV on their trip to America so they could explore the country in a motorhome.
Their most recent trip took them to Turkey where they spent six weeks exploring the country with their three sons, Eddie, Harry and George.
The family regularly shares their caravanning tricks, tips and travel videos on their YouTube channel, the Roaming Radfords.
And with more than 17 years of experience, it’s safe to say they know the must-have gadgets every budding caravanner needs.
Steve and Lyndsay told Sun Online Travel: “If you’re planning a holiday to warm countries like Morocco, Spain and Turkey, having aircon is essential.
“I wouldn’t want to go to Morocco or Turkey without aircon, so definitely invest in that.”
It’s not just aircon budding caravanners will need to invest in if they want to enjoy holidaying in warmer countries.
They added: “Most brand-new motorhomes come fitted with 3 Way Fridges, which means they can work on battery, electricity plugin or gas.”
While this may sound ideal, Steve and Lyndsay know from experience that 3 Way Fridges don’t work well in hot weather.
They encouraged holidaymakers to consider upgrading to a compressor fridge because they work better in warmer climates.
Lyndsay said: “Three Way Fridges stop working properly when you reach temperatures like 30C.
“We’ve been woken up in the middle of the night with the smell of rancid chicken because the fridge wasn’t cool enough, so definitely upgrade to a compressor fridge if you can.”
With three teenage sons, and a YouTube Channel, Steve and Lyndsay need to stay connected to the internet while on the road, which is why they have a Starlink.
Starlink is an alternative to traditional broadband, beaming connections via SpaceX satellites.
It’s useful for remote areas left in the slow lane for on-the-ground broadband upgrades.
Steven and Lyndsay said: “Six weeks is a long time to be away from your friends when you’re a teenager, so we made sure to have a Starlink.
“It also enables us to upload our YouTube videos and keep in touch with the business we own back in the UK.”
Their last recommendation isn’t technically a gadget but for the Roaming Radfords it’s a necessity.
Steve said: “One of my favourite things – and my family laugh at me for this – is a 6ft plastic table.
“Once you pop up the table, you’ve got a lovely big area where everyone can eat and sit.
“It also attracts people, so other holidaymakers can come and enjoy the space.
“Honestly it’s one of my favourite things and one of our best investments.”
Later this month, Steve and Lyndsay will be sharing even more tips at the Motorhome & Caravan Show at the NEC in Birmingham.
On October 15, 16 and 17, the couple will also be talking about their caravan adventure through Turkey, which they went on last summer.
Why caravan holidays are so underrated
CARAVAN park holidays are a British staple.
And with the cost of living crisis wreaking havoc on Britain’s purses, more of us are turning to them for an affordable break.
Josie O’Brien, Senior Digital Writer on Fabulous, weighs in on why she thinks caravan holidays are seriously underrated…
WHEN I was a child, my mum used to collect the £9.50 holiday vouchers in The Sun.
She’d use them to book a couple of nights away at a caravan park during the school holidays.
As an adult, I fully appreciate the convenience of a humble caravan holiday.
No faffing about with passports, no luggage limits and no bog-standard hotel breakfast of stale toast and grey eggs.
I still love caravan holidays as an adult.
In a world of doing everything for the ‘gram, a caravan park brings you back to basics.
There’s no obligation to get dressed up, no stress to fit a million picturesque excursions in one week and I don’t find myself flustered in tourist hot spots like abroad.
I love going to coastal caravan parks and strolling along the beach parade.
My highlight is always fresh mussels, ice-creams and classic pubs to grab an afternoon tipple in.
And then, of course, there’s the cost.
Staying in a caravan is definitely way cheaper than my international trips.
With no expensive hotel bills and the ability to cook my own meals, I’m spending hundreds less than I would abroad.
I’ve had some of my best and most relaxing holidays in caravans. Maybe I’ll buy my own one day.
Meanwhile, these are the top-rated holiday parks with on-site waterparks and pools.
And this holiday park has been named as one of the best in the country.
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