According to research conducted by London North Eastern Railway (LNER), family leisure trips, memory-making experiences and time spent together really matter for nine in 10 families, who are looking for summer savings to offset rising cost of living.
The online survey conducted for LNER by UK parenting network Mumsnet, showed that 91 per cent of people agree that leisure trips are important for bonding and making memories, leading to 85 per cent looking for deals.
London tops the list of places families want to visit most along the 900-mile LNER network, followed by York and Edinburgh. The Northumberland coast, Newcastle, Leeds, Harrogate and Lincoln also feature among the top ten destinations.
On the choice of destinations, 82 per cent of people opted for a coastal escape, while 76 per cent were looking to visit organised attractions.
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty also proved popular destinations with 63 per cent of respondents, along with visits to towns and cities to make the most of the cultural, tourism and shopping scene.
David Horne, Managing Director at LNER, said: ‘At LNER we’ve been welcoming more people back to travel with us faster than any other train company in Britain. We want to help even more people take advantage of ways to save money for a great value getaway. From booking direct to enjoying some of the many free experiences and attractions at the fantastic selection of destinations we serve, there’s many ways people can save money and have a low-cost, highly memorable trip away.’
Justine Roberts, CEO and founder of Mumsnet, said: ‘We know from Mumsnet users that spending quality time together is one of the most important elements of family life. With the cost of living rising and parents therefore budgeting harder, getting the best value for money possible will be more important than ever for those considering a family day out.’
Around 42 per cent of respondents said that day trips will replace some of their long breaks as a way of saving money. LNER’s Family Return tickets offer fixed price travel for up to two adults and four children between a variety of destinations, with fares starting from £49 for the whole group.
Customers who plan ahead and book direct via the LNER website or app are able to secure Advance fares with no booking fee. There are also savings for those with Railcards offering up to a third off and by joining LNER’s loyalty scheme LNER Perks, members can earn £5 credit for signing up and two per cent credit back on each LNER journey.
