June 18th, 2021 | Andrew Hagger | News

First impressions matter and what your house looks like from the outside can say a lot about what it might look like inside.

If you are thinking about selling your home, improving the kerb appeal can increase interest in the property. Buyers may be less likely to check out the rest of the property if the outside looks rundown or unattractive. Even if you don’t plan on selling right now, making improvements now creates an inviting entrance for guests. Below we’ve highlighted a variety of ways you can improve your curb appeal. 

A fresh lick of paint

It sounds so simple, but it can make a huge difference. Giving your front door a fresh lick of paint gives the exterior a design boost and covers any cracking paint. Choose a neutral modern colour, or if you’re feeling extra creative, opt for a bright colour to attract attention. This is a cost-effective solution and can have a huge impact on improving the whole aesthetic.

Add symmetrical patterns

Symmetry adds a focal point and is pleasing to the eye. Now you don’t have to splash out to achieve this, simply adding matching lanterns on either side of the door or using decorative aggregates on either side of your path can help create a clear lead up to the front door. 

Add potted plants

Don’t worry if you don’t have the time nor the money to put in flowerbeds. Potted plants are a great way to spruce up the entrance to your home and you can take these with you when you move. Opt for planters that are durable outdoors regardless of the weather. Hanging baskets are also a great option and they don’t have to be real if you lack the green fingered touch. 

Scrub your window frames 

If you’re cleaning your windows, take the time to give your window frames a good scrub. Over time, dirt and grime will collect, and they will benefit from a wash to bring them up to scratch. You cold also paint tired frames to inject some life back into them. 

Use a pressure washer

There is nothing more satisfying than using a pressure washer to clear years of dirt and grime off your porch and driveway. If you don’t own a pressure washer, there are plenty of places where you can rent one for the day. 

Regardless of whether you are planning on selling your home or not, giving your home a kerb appeal boost can make a huge difference on how the exterior of your home looks. You don’t have to spend money to make improvements, sometimes all it takes is a little bit of elbow grease to get stunning results. 

June 9th, 2021 | Andrew Hagger | News

Hundreds of thousands of UK cyclists could be putting their two-wheeled transport at risk, because they have no bicycle insurance.

A study of 2,000 UK people who purchased pedal cycles in the last 12 months, discovered that two fifths (38%) had no cover for their bicycles – either under a home insurance policy or through specialist bike insurance.

According to The Bicycle Association, retail bike sales increased by 60%* between March and December last year, while analysis by GlobalData** suggested 1.3 million Brits bought a bicycle during the first national lockdown alone. The Association estimated that the UK cycling market was worth an incredible £2.2billion at the end of 2020.

The Aviva study discovered the average purchase price of a cycle in the last 12 months was £835 across all models. The survey also found that one in three people questioned had purchased an electric bike (e-bike), rather than a standard pedal cycle. The average cost of an e-bike was revealed as £1,201, although one in four (26%) paid more than £1,500.

Where do you store yours?

The research revealed the most popular places for storing these new purchases when not in use as follows:

NB: Respondents were able to select more than one storage place.

Home insurance policies usually cover pedal cycles and e-bikes when in the home, although this may not extend to taking the bike out and about. Many insurers offer a pedal cycle add-on to home insurance which covers cycles when they are not at the home address, but there are often requirements that the bike should be secured when it is not being ridden.

There are also stand-alone products available, such as Cycleplan, which provides specialist cycle protection against theft and damage with optional add-ons available, including public liability, legal expenses, personal accident and loss of earnings insurance, in case the customer is injured while cycling and unable to work as a result.

Sarah Applegate, Risk Lead for Aviva General Insurance says: “Cycle insurance can provide great peace of mind, but people should consider their cover carefully. Home contents insurance often covers bikes and e-bikes while in the home, but there may be a single item limit for possessions stolen or damaged, so more expensive models may need to be listed separately to ensure they are fully covered. Similarly there may be a limit for items stored in sheds and outbuildings – often around £2,500.

“Some home insurance providers also offer a cycle add-on option to cover bikes away from the home, while stand-alone special policies are available through providers such as Cycleplan. However, thefts may only be covered if the bike is locked or secured in accordance with the security requirements of the policy or in the customer’s control. It’s always best to check with the insurer if in any doubt.”

“It’s really important that customers do their homework, read through policy documents and note any restrictions, so they choose the product that’s most suitable for their cycles.”

You should keep your hat on….

The study also discovered almost three fifths of cyclists surveyed had encountered an unpleasant incident when using their new purchase. The most common occurrence was falling off their bike and being injured (19%). Yet in spite of this, only 30% of cyclists questioned said they always wear a helmet when on their bike.

Thefts were much more prevalent amongst cyclists with e-bikes. According to the survey, three times as many people with e-bikes had had a bike stolen (21%), compared to people with standard pedal cycles (7%).

Cycle-related incidents experienced in the last 12 months:

NB: Some cyclists have experienced more than one incident.

Aviva has the following advice for people to protect their cycles and themselves:

1. Prevent thieves from taking your bike by locking it to a fixed object such as a bike rack or a ground anchor, these are often found in designated bike parking areas.
2. Use good quality locks such as a D-locks which are strong and difficult for thieves to cut through. It’s even better to use two different types of locks to thwart thieves.
3. Ensure the lock is around the wheel, frame AND anchor to which it is attached. Otherwise thieves may be able to remove parts of your bike and lift the main frame away.
4. Invest in a well-fitting quality cycle helmet. You may wish consider knee and elbow pads – even seasoned cyclists have mishaps.
5. Remove easy-to-steal parts or accessories like the saddle and post, pumps, or clip-less pedals. Some thieves like to steal these too.
6. Leave your bike in a well-lit area with CCTV cameras where thieves are less likely to loiter.
7. Register your bike with a tracker website such as www.immobilise.com  so police authorities can trace and identify your bike if it does get stolen.
8. Photograph your bike and note down the serial number, make and model. If it does get stolen this will make it easy to identify to the police and insurers.
9. Security-mark the frame using an ultraviolet marker. If it is stolen and found again, it will be identified as yours and possibly returned to you.
10. Familiarise yourself with your insurance policy and make sure your cover is adequate for your needs. Home insurance may be suitable for some, but more expensive models may benefit from more specialist cover.

June 8th, 2021 | Andrew Hagger | News

Any business needs the auditing process to not only ensure they are complying with laws and rules but that they are running their company as cost-effectively as possible. All companies, even if they don’t turn a profit, need to have their accounts audited annually by law, but there are two quite different kinds of audits to wrap your head around.

But what are the main differences between a financial audit and a cost audit and why and how they are conducted for businesses in the UK?

What is a financial audit?

A financial audit refers to the examination of financial records and business accounts by an independent body that is conducted for compliance, taxation or for disclosure purposes. It ensures high accuracy in the given reports and is a systematic and completely unbiased examination of a company or institution’s finance books and records.

What is a Cost audit?

A cost audit refers to the verification of accounts and costs of a business and a careful compliance accounting process. It is an independent examination of the correctness of the cost statements and accounts and their conformity with the cost accounting plan. In essence, it’s all about assessing the efficiency of a business. 

What are the differences?

• A cost audit is done by a cost accountant whereas a financial audit is done by a chartered accountant. A cost accountant analyses the cost records and books to check they are in line with the company system, whereas a chartered accountant focuses on how ‘correct’ the books are and whether or not they are in line with accounting standards.
• Cost audits are generally appointed by a board of directors, whereas financial autos are appointed by the shareholders.
• With a financial audit, it’s all about the compliance of the statements and how effective the internal control system is. With a cost audit, it’s all about the efficiency and efficacy of operations.
• A cost audit is submitted directly to the government, whereas a financial audit is submitted to shareholders.
• A financial audit is compulsory for all businesses and a cost audit is only compulsory for manufacturing and production businesses.

Generally speaking, both financial audits and cost audits are important processes suitable for a variety of businesses and situations. One is engineered to serve the interests of shareholders and the other is engineered to serve the interest of management. Both are there to serve a purpose and should be considered by enterprises of all shapes and sizes.

June 4th, 2021 | Andrew Hagger | News

As restrictions continue to ease across the UK and shoppers return to the high street, American Express is once again running its Shop Small Offer to support local businesses after an extremely challenging year.

For 3 weeks from 5 – 25 June 2021, Cardmembers will receive a £5 statement credit when they spend £15 or more at participating small businesses. The Offer is eligible for use up to 5 times per Card and once per location.

Cardmembers can enrol for the Shop Small Offer from Monday 17 May 2021 via the American Express® App or their Online Account and can search for participating stores via the Shop Small Map.

In December 2021, American Express will launch a second Shop Small Offer to coincide with Small Business Saturday. Details of this and dates will be shared nearer the time.

Shop Small is designed to help independent retailers across the UK as they recover from the impacts of Covid-19. American Express has a long history of championing the high street and is proud to have been a founder of the first ever UK Small Business Saturday back in 2013.

Terms, locations and payment restrictions apply. Full terms and conditions apply.

Terms and conditions

• These Shop Small Offer Terms set out the key terms of our Shop Small Offer. Please make sure you read these together with our general Offer Terms which contain important qualifying conditions that you should read. If any term set out below is inconsistent with the general Offer Terms, the term below will apply.
• This Offer is available from 05/06/2021 until 23:59 UK time on 25/06/2021 (the “Offer End Date”).
• This Offer is only intended for UK Cardmembers who are the targeted recipients of this Offer.
• To participate in this Offer, you must save this Offer to your qualifying American Express Card (“Card”) and make a qualifying purchase in-store from a participating UK small business before the Offer End Date.
• In addition to the types of Cards excluded under the general Offer Terms, purchases using Pre-Paid Cards will not qualify for this Offer.
• This Offer only applies to purchases in Great British Pounds on the Card to which the Offer is saved. This includes purchases using a Card loaded into a mobile payment wallet.
• To search for participating UK Shop Small locations please visit the Shop Small Map. Eligible locations will be highlighted with a Shop Small badge.
• Small businesses listed on the Shop Small Map may change. Business location, operating hours and other information provided on the Shop Small Map may vary or contain errors. Please contact businesses directly to check they are open and accept American Express. We reserve the right to change or cancel this Offer at any time.
• Please adhere to the current government guidelines.
• To qualify, a single purchase must be for at least £15. Buy now pay later purchases are excluded from this Offer. Please see the general Offer Terms for more information about excluded transactions.
• If you make a qualifying purchase, a £5 statement credit will be applied to your Card. You can receive up to 5 statement credits per Card, but only one statement credit per participating small business location. Multiple purchases made in a single purchase transaction will only qualify as one purchase for the purposes of this Offer. When we calculate how many qualifying purchases have occurred, we will not include purchases made by any additional Cardholder(s). Purchases made by an additional Cardholder will qualify for this Offer separately where the additional Cardholder saves this Offer to their Card and makes a qualifying purchase from a participating small business before the Offer End Date.
• Qualifying purchases must be billed to your Card Account by the participating small business before the Offer End Date. If the small business does not charge your Card before the Offer End Date, your purchase will not qualify for this Offer.
• The statement credit should appear on your Card Account statement within five days from the date you made a qualifying purchase but may take up to 90 days from the Offer End Date. Please refer to the general Offer Terms for information about when statement credits can be lost.
• A statement credit may be reversed if a qualifying purchase is refunded or cancelled. Any misuse, as reasonably determined by us, relating to your redemption of American Express Offers or any previous American Express Offers and promotions may result in a statement credit being reversed, and ineligibility from future American Express Offers and other promotions. This reversal may take place up to a maximum of 180 days after the Offer End Date.

June 3rd, 2021 | Andrew Hagger | News

New research from Churchill Home Insurance  reveals that last year saw more than 280,000 burglaries reported to police forces across the UK – an average of 768 burglaries every day.

There were an estimated 100,000 fewer burglaries in 2020 than in 2019 due to so many people at home because of the pandemic, a fall of 27 per cent. Despite this fall in burglaries, Churchill calculates a total of £926 million in home insurance claims were made throughout the year – an average of £2.5 million worth of possessions stolen every day.

To monitor burglary rates and attitudes towards burglary amongst households across the country, Churchill Home Insurance is launching its Churchill Burglary Barometer, a quarterly tracker investigating how rates of burglary and perceptions of risk change. The new barometer will monitor police and claims data, along with consumer attitudes and opinions, to track changes in how burglary is affecting the UK, highlighting differences in both criminal and homeowner behaviours to help make households across the UK safer.

While the number of burglaries fell last year, it remains a major concern for households, with 16 million adults across the UK (31 per cent) describing themselves as worried about their property being burgled³.

However, people also believe that the biggest contributing factors to burglary are largely avoidable. More than 60 per cent believe leaving doors and windows open or unlocked is a leading factor to a break in (61per cent), closely followed by keeping expensive items visible through windows or doors (53 per cent).

Despite being fearful of burglary, one in six (18 per cent), some nine million people, admit that their property isn’t well-protected against burglary, with two thirds of these (six million) saying they’re concerned their home will be burgled.

Of the 17.4 million people who say they aren’t worried about burglary, half (49 per cent) believe that they are well-protected against break ins, showing that with the right protection also comes peace of mind for most. However, 1.6 million people admitted they were neither worried by nor protected against burglary.

Table one: Most common attitudes towards burglary in the UK⁴

Source: Churchill Home Insurance 2021

When asked about the security measures in their own home, those who fear burglary and don’t believe they are well-protected appear to be safer than they thought, with a greater proportion (94 per cent) having some form of security measures in place than those who are not worried but feel they are well-protected (85 per cent). The most common safety features included double locks, automatic light sensors, door chains and burglar alarms.

Steven Williams, Head of Churchill home insurance, said: “With lockdown restrictions easing we are all going to be out of our homes more often from now on. As we’ve seen from the latest data, burglary rates are down from last year but still remain high considering the amount of time we have all been spending at home. With more than six million Britons admitting to living in fear of burglary while not having fully protected themselves, we’re launching our Burglary Barometer to raise awareness of the crime, the real risk levels and the easy steps people can take to help prevent a break-in.”

Churchill has provided the following tips to help people make their homes as safe as possible against the threat of burglary:

• Do the basics well: It may sound simple, but sometimes an unlocked door or open window can be the only invitation a burglar needs to break into a home. Always make sure you lock all doors and windows at night or before going out, and ensure that all easily accessible, high value items such as wallets, phones and laptops are kept out of sight
• Make life hard for burglars: As well as installing security measures like cameras and alarms, also consider other items that may be useful for breaking and entering, such as ladders or hammers. Large hedges, fences or trees can also give burglars the cover they need to carry out their actions undetected.
• Take steps when you go away: Before you go on holiday, cancel any papers or milk you might have delivered and install timers which switch lights or radios on automatically. This will make it harder for potential burglars to identify that a house is unoccupied.
• Look out for your neighbours: Neighbourhood Watch schemes operate around the UK and anyone can get involved. They are set up to allow local people to help the police cut crime and are led by volunteer co-ordinators who get everyone together to discuss how they can make their area a safer place to live.
• Prepare for the worst, hope for the best: Sometimes being the victim of a burglary can be attributed to nothing but bad luck. If the worst does happen, knowing that you have an up-to-date, comprehensive home insurance policy that will replace any items stolen or damaged in a burglary can help put your mind at rest.

May 31st, 2021 | Andrew Hagger | News

The Great British public are preparing to enjoy unrestricted nightlife from the 21^st June, but are banking on losing their credit or debit cards in the process. New research from Zopa predicts that a whopping 13 million bank cards¹ will be misplaced during the biggest summer of freedom.  

As 21 million people plan to head out on Monday 21^st June and contactless payments remain the preferred method of payment, neobank Zopa commissioned research to find out more about the nation’s bank card misplacing habits. This summer, nearly a quarter (24%) say they expect to lose their card when all restrictions lift. 

Lost cards are commonplace for the nation, as 46% said that they’d previously lost a bank card in their lifetime. 28% said they lost their card while out and about, and a quarter said they misplaced it on a night out while at the pub, a bar or in a club. When asked what the main reason was for losing their bank card, 28% blamed it on the booze, 27% say they were having too much fun, while more than half (53%) feel it was due to their general forgetfulness.  

Misplacing a bank card can be irritating for anyone, but there’s a growing concern about fraudulent activity via contactless payments, with more than two thirds (67%) worried about this activity should they misplace their card. Of the respondents that had lost a bank card previously, over 30% said fraudulent contactless payments were made before they could cancel or freeze their card, with the average amount of money fraudulently spent hitting £40. 

Encouragingly, Brits are already planning their ‘freedom budget’ to make sure they have the funds set aside for their first big night out on 21st June. Nearly one in five (19%) are budgeting to spend £100 on their first night out post restrictions lifting, while 12% are budgeting £200 and one in 10 (10%) will spend over £300. 

After more than a year of evenings on the sofa, Zopa is on a mission to help the nation have the best time it possibly can post restrictions. To help ensure the nation feels great about their long planned night out – with no unexpected bill attached, Zopa is encouraging Brits to see the beauty of the card freeze capability available across many mobile banking apps.  

Clare Gambardella, Zopa’s Chief Customer Officer said: “The nation is, rightly, excited for remaining restrictions to lift on 21^st June. The last thing that we should be worried about is losing our credit cards, that’s why Zopa is encouraging an approach of ‘don’t need it, freeze it’. Freezing and unfreezing your card takes seconds within a mobile banking app like Zopa, so if you find yourself not needing to use your card on a night out, you can easily freeze your card to safeguard against unwanted payments, either from yourself if you are sticking to a budget or from anyone who may come across your card if you misplace it. 

“Alongside freezing their card – at Zopa, our customers can fully manage their credit card from the app. They get real time balance updates, spend breakdowns and the ability to set aside part of their credit limit with our Safety Net feature, all of which helps them to stick to their ‘freedom budget’ if they want to” 

As we head towards a period of national elation, some may find themselves having to foot the cost of a lost card too. According to the research, 31% of Brits are unaware of how much their bank charges for a replacement card. While not all providers charge for replacement (Zopa do not), of those that do, the average cost for a new card came out at £7.  

Zopa’s credit card is a great addition to this year’s summer of freedom as it gives customers full control over their spending. Offering the freeze function as standard, Zopa’s credit card also has all the spending features you’d expect from a banking app including spend tracking and real time balance updates. The unique Safety Net feature allows customers to lock away part of their available credit limit, giving them peace of mind that credit is available for life’s little surprises and separate from their everyday spending this summer.  

May 21st, 2021 | Andrew Hagger | News

Money is something you simply can’t ignore, it’s essential to put food on your table, a roof over your head and to hopefully allow you to enjoy the lifestyle you work so hard for.

However, money matters can also prove to be very stressful, so it’s important to take control of your money and hopefully this will allow you to sleep better at night, knowing everything is in order.

Financial risks are everywhere and come in many shapes and sizes, affecting nearly everyone. You should be aware of the presence of financial risks. Knowing the dangers and how to protect yourself can help reduce the chances of a negative outcome.

managing the risk in our lives and managing our personal financial risk often overlap, although there are particular risks unique to finances that need to be understood and managed.

Keep a close eye on your credit score.

Checking your credit score on a regular basis not only means you will reduce the risk of fraudulent activity on your accounts, but it will also allow you to understand what lending products such as credit cards and loans are available to you.

Don’t worry if your credit score is below average

Just because you don’t have a tip top credit score, it doesn’t mean you can’t borrow. Maybe you’re looking to finance a replacement car to help get you to work or get the kids to school – just because the big banks won’t lend to you it doesn’t mean there aren’t other options worth trying.

Pay your bills on time and improve your credit rating

By making your credit card payments every month and on time will help improve your credit rating – set up reminders on your phone to ensure you don’t risk missing a payment – take control and that’s one less thing you’ll have to worry about.

Don’t automatically renew your car and home insurance

It’s the easy option just to renew your car or home insurance when the annual renewal drops through your letter box.

But this could mean you risk paying over the odds – simply tap your details into a comparison website and see if you can get a cheaper deal – you could be surprised how much you can save over a year.

Try and get a better savings interest rate

Inflation or purchasing-power risk for most people is the “risk of avoiding risk” — this means the higher the rate you can earn, the less damage to your savings account balance from inflation. Rates aren’t great at the moment, but don’t let that stop you trying to earn more on your hard-earned nest egg.

Check that your home insurance gives you the cover you need

We try and reduce our risks by taking out insurance to cover us for those unexpected events or unfortunate accidents.

Unfortunately, many people don’t check the level of cover on their policy document until it comes to making a claim – and that can be too late.

Set aside 15 minutes to check your cover – look at the maximum value for individual items such as rings and jewellery as well as goods in your shed and possessions when away from the home.

If you don’t think your cover is adequate, contact your insurer sooner rather than later – you don’t want to risk being left to fork out hundreds of pounds out of your own pocket.

May 20th, 2021 | Andrew Hagger | News

For most people in the UK having a car is essential as they may need it for work or getting the children to and from school.

It’s also a must have for leisure activities too – maybe a short break in this country or a trip to visit friends or relatives – without your own wheels it’s far more challenging, especially if you are forced to rely on public transport.

There are more than 30 million licensed drivers in the UK, driving around in anything from a £500 run-around through to a high-end sports car costing six figures.

Buying cars is big business with more than of 1.6 million used cars being purchased in the first quarter of this year, with over 638, 500 of these changing hands in March alone.

A lot of people have held off changing their current car during the covid lockdown, with many garages closed for car sales business, so now that restrictions are easing there will be no shortage of people looking to upgrade to a newer car.

However, buying a decent used car can be challenging if you are on a tight budget and don’t have the luxury of a big savings balance to dip into to make the purchase.

That doesn’t mean that you have to save up for months to buy a car. If you’re on a limited budget and need something quickly to help get you around, there are plenty of affordable vehicle finance deals to choose from.

You’ll probably have to be realistic with your options – you’re won’t be troubling the local Porsche dealer for example.

Equally you shouldn’t have to settle for something straight out of the scrapyard either.

Many people use loans or hire purchase plans when buying their chosen car and even if your credit record isn’t in the best shape, there are plenty of bad credit car finance options available.

Buying a car is a major financial commitment. No matter who you are, you should take some time to consider the implications such purchase will have on your life.

If you’re sure you’re ready for a vehicle, it’s time to figure out what’s within your budget. You need to be honest with yourself when putting together your car-buying budget. Failing to do this will only result in greater difficulties for you down the line.

Before you head down to your chosen garage, it’s vital that you run through your budget in detail so you know exactly how much you can afford to pay out each month.

Be realistic with your trade in expectations too, otherwise you may be disappointed and unable to purchase that car you’ve set your heart on.

Remember it’s not just the car finance costs you need to pay for, but also insurance, fuel, servicing, tax MOT and repairs need to be included in your calculations too.

When you go to buy your new vehicle, don’t be afraid to give it a thorough check before parting with your cash.

If you don’t know too much about vehicles, take someone with you who is a bit more car savvy – make sure you get a warranty, even if it is just for 3 months, at least that gives you some comeback if there are any issues with your new wheels.

May 14th, 2021 | Andrew Hagger | News

As the ONS issues its latest ‘Economic activity and social change in the UK, real-time indicators’ data, figures from neobank Zopa suggest consumer spending habits are about to start driving the economy forward.

Clare Gambardella, Chief Customer Officer comments: “These figures, and our own credit card data suggest we’re heading for a summer of spending, as consumers begin to splash out on much-missed experiences from the last year. Despite the continued impact of Covid on UK economic performance, it is positive that customer spending is already increasing and looks set for a significant rise as cinemas, theatres, and indoor drinking and dining opens up next week.

“While the ONS study does not yet show an increase in % of people traveling to work, our credit card data suggests that this may well increase significantly next quarter. As the stay at home order lifted, Zopa saw spending on commuter travel among its customers increase by 50% between February and April as more people returned to their places of work. There are also early signs that people in the UK are setting their sights on the next stage of restriction easing –early stats from our credit card data shows flight bookings initially increased by 30% as green list countries were announced and are likely to soar as consumers have increased certainty about the requirements for travel”

• Figures taken from ONS ‘Economic activity and social change in the UK, real-time indicators’

• Total spending on Zopa credit cards has increased 110% from January 2021 to April 2021 (customer numbers increased 24% over the period)

• Zopa’s lending data shows that disbursals in April 2021 have more than doubled from a comparable period last year – Zopa’s lending criteria was significantly tightened in response to the pandemic in March 2020. Throughout this period of uncertainty, Zopa has continually adjusted its lending criteria to ensure that it is responsibly offering loans to individuals throughout the UK that are able to afford repayments

• Early data from Zopa’s credit cards suggest that compared to February 2021, spending on airlines was up 30% at the start of May

May 11th, 2021 | Andrew Hagger | News

Lost income and economic uncertainty means many of us will have to live a little more frugally than normal this year. And though this might put that trip to Disneyland or the campervan holiday to New Zealand back a couple of years, it doesn’t have to stop us having fun.

There’s a multitude of free or cheap days out a drive or a train journey away. Here are just a few ideas to start you off.

Hire a bike in Lincoln

The historic city of Lincoln has plenty to see, from its iconic cathedral that sits atop the cobbled Steep Hill (you might have to walk your bike up that one!) to the neighbouring castle. There’s the Brayford Wharf – a lake surrounded by cafes, restaurants and bars – plus great cycle paths out of town along the River Witham. You can hire a bike all day for just £4 from the appropriately named hirebike.

Visit the UK’s only crocodile zoo

Yes, if you want to see some of the world’s deadliest predators, then Crocodiles of the World in Oxfordshire gives you the chance to get really close. There are many different species of crocs and alligators here, from Siamese crocodiles found in Cambodia, Chinese alligators and Nile Crocodiles. Learn about their natural habitats and take a look at less fearsome creatures such as meerkats and otters. A day here is £8.95 per adult and £6.50 per child – far cheaper than a trip to a normal zoo.

London’s free museums

Many towns and cities across the UK have free museums and galleries, but no place has more – or more spectacular – than London. The Natural History Museum is a prime example, exploring everything from dinosaurs to volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and marine life. The Science Museum is another fabulous hands-on experience, where you can see, hear, touch and explore the technological and scientific advances humans have made.

The Tolkien trail

Those who love the works of JRR Tolkien might want to have a look at some of the places that inspired his creations. The unlikely setting for this is Birmingham, and the free tour will take you to Sarehole, which is thought to have inspired the creation of Hobbiton and the Shire. The Victorian waterworks inspired the Two Towers of Gondor, and Moseley Bog was portrayed as the Old Forest.

Our national parks

Britain has 15 national parks, all of which show off our best landscapes and protect rare and beautiful species. All are free to visit and they’re well spread around the country, meaning there’s bound to be one near you. If you live in London, South Downs is an easy day trip away. Those from Manchester or Liverpool have a great choice of the Peak District, Snowdonia, the Yorkshire Dales or the Lake District. While those up in Scotland have the wild and wonderful Loch Lomond & The Trossachs and Cairngorms.

Take a look at the fabulous options the UK has for affordable and free trips away. There’s a huge variety on these shores, and you might discover something new and amazing just a stone’s throw from where you live.