Looking for family days out ideas that don’t cost a fortune, don’t require hours of planning, and actually get the kids excited? Alphabet Days Out might just be the solution you didn’t know you needed.

Inspired by alphabet dating (the viral trend of 2015) , this simple but brilliant concept turns everyday time into intentional memories. You work through the alphabet and plan days out based on the letter you’re on. The result? Less pressure, more creativity, and far more variety in how you spend time together.

Whether you do Alphabet Days Out once a week, once a month, or whenever you’ve got a spare afternoon, it’s completely flexible and works around real life.

What Are Alphabet Days Out?

Alphabet Days Out are exactly what they sound like. You pick a letter of the alphabet and plan a day out, activity, or experience that matches that letter.

There are no rules. It can be:

Big or small
Free or paid
Indoors or outdoors
A full day or just an hour

The goal isn’t to rush through the alphabet — it’s to enjoy the journey.

Why Alphabet Days Out Work So Well for Families

Alphabet Days Out are particularly brilliant for families because they naturally reduce pressure and expectations.

Instead of constantly searching for “big” attractions, the alphabet gives you a framework. It shifts the focus from spending money to spending time, and it encourages creativity rather than comparison.

They also:

Help get kids off tablets and screens
Encourage outdoor play and exploration
Give children a say in planning
Make everyday activities feel special

I for Ice Cream Date (Mersea Island, Essex)

Get the Kids Involved (Without Setting Unrealistic Expectations)

One of the best ways to use Alphabet Days Out is to involve the kids from the start.

Tell them the letter you’re on and let them suggest ideas. Once everyone has had their say, narrow it down to two or three realistic options that fit your time and budget. Let them choose from that shortlist.

This avoids the expectation of expensive trips to big attractions every time and teaches kids that fun doesn’t always come with a high price tag.

Budget-Friendly Family Days Out (Big and Small Both Count)

Alphabet Days Out work for all budgets. Some letters naturally lend themselves to bigger days:

Z for Zoo
A for Aquarium
T for Theme Park

These can be planned as anchor days and spread out across the year. Between them, you can sprinkle in free or low-cost ideas such as:

Picnics in the park
Walks on the beach
Forest or woodland trails
Hot chocolate dates

Not every day out needs to be a “full day”. A simple afternoon still counts — and often ends up being just as memorable.

A for Alpaca Feeding (All Things Alpaca, Essex)

Alphabet Days Out Ideas: A–Z Inspiration

A – Aquarium, Adventure Parks & Afternoon Tea

Visit an aquarium, explore an adventure playground, or keep it simple with afternoon tea at home or out at a café.

B – Beach Days, Bowling & Bakeries

Beach walks, beachcombing, bowling alleys, bike rides, or a visit to a local bakery all work perfectly for B.

B for Beach Day (Camber Sands, East Sussex)

C – Camping, Castles & Crazy Golf

C is packed with options. From camping or glamping weekends to castles, cafés, cooking classes, canoeing, or crazy golf.

D – Dessert Dates & Duck feeding

D is ideal for food lovers. Head out for dessert (Kaspas Desserts is a great option), enjoy a day at the beach, or plan a duck-feeding walk.

E – escape room, Exploring Nearby Towns

Visit an exhibition, explore a nearby town or city, or enjoy an evening walk somewhere scenic.

F – Forest Walks & Family Film Nights

Forest trails, fort building in the forest, food market, farm parks, F1 Arcade for date nights, or a cosy family film night at home.

G – Glamping & Garden Centres

Plan a glamping staycation, go karting, gondola ride, visit a garden centre, or enjoy games in the garden or park.

H – Hot Chocolate Dates & Hikes

Hot chocolate and cake, hiking trails, horse riding, or a relaxed hotel stay for a mini break.

I – Ice Skating & Interactive Museums

Ice rinks, indoor play centres, indoor skydiving, Italian food nights, or interactive museums make great I days.

J – Jump Parks & Joyful Treat Days

Jump parks, junk food treat days, jewellery making, Japanese restaurants, or relaxed jigsaw afternoons.

K – Kite Flying & Kayaking

Kite flying at the beach, kayaking, kids’ farms, karaoke, or exploring places like Kent or Kew Gardens.

L – Lakes, Libraries & Lazy Lunches

Lake walks, laser tag, library visits, canal locks, live music nights, or lazy lunches out.

M – Museums & Mini Golf

Museums, miniature railway, movie night, markets, mini golf, movie afternoons, or make-your-own pizza nights.

N – Nature Reserves & National Trust Days

Nature walks, National Trust properties, noodle bar visits, or night walks with torches.

O – Outdoor Swimming & Old Towns

Outdoor pools, open farms, observatory, obstacle courses, or exploring old towns and villages.

P – Picnics, Pottery & Pizza

Picnics in the park, pottery painting, pizza nights, paddleboarding, planetarium, or play parks.

Q – Quaint Villages & Quiz Nights

Visit a quaint village, enjoy a quiz night, or plan a quiet coffee and cake date.

R – Rounders, Roller Skating & Road Trips

Rounders in the park, roller skating, river walks, or spontaneous road trips, rock climbing,

S – Seaside Days, strawberry picking & Staycations

Seaside walks, strawberry picking, soft play, safari parks, stargazing, scavenger hunt, stargazing, snorkelling, salsa dancing or staycation weekends.

S for Strawberry Picking (Cammas Farm, Essex)

T – Trampolining & Train Adventures

Trampolining, tennis, theme parks, tea rooms, treasure hunt or train rides to somewhere new.

U – Unusual Attractions

Find something unusual nearby, visit urban parks, or turn U into a wildcard day.

V – Villages & Viewpoints

Village walks, volunteer locally, vineyard tour, vintage shopping, viewpoint hikes, or vegetarian food days.

W – Woodland Trails & Windmills

Woodland walks, windmills, visit a local wetlands site, wildlife spotting, or waterside strolls.

X – Xtreme Days or Wildcards

Xtreme sports centres (indoor skiing, skydiving) , Xbox-free outdoor days, or wildcard adventures.

Y – York, Yoga & yes day!

Day trips to York, yoga sessions, or YES DAY!

Z – Zoo Days & Zip Wires

Zoo visits, zip wire centres, or zen afternoons with calm activities.

Perfect for Date Nights Too

Alphabet Days Out aren’t just for families. They’re perfect for couples looking to bring back fun, intentional date nights:

F for F1 Arcade
C for Crazy Golf
C for Cooking Class
A for Axe Throwing
S for Spa Day
J for Jazz Night
S for Sushi + Saki
P for Pasta Making
B for Bingo Night
Q for Quiz Night
V for Virgin Voyage Adult Only Cruises (line it up with an anniversary or birthday getaway)

It’s a great way to make the most of rare nights off and try something new together.

Start Simple and See Where It Takes You

You don’t need to plan the whole alphabet in advance. Pick a letter. Pick something simple. See where it leads.

Alphabet Days Out prove that connection doesn’t have to be expensive. Whether it’s a zoo trip, a picnic, or a hot chocolate date, it’s about choosing to spend time together — and that’s what really matters.

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