The costly days out

For parents, the prospect of the summer holidays means no end of cost and hassle trying to keep their children entertained.

New research shows 5.3 million families will not be going on holiday this year, opting instead for days out closer to home.

But while theme parks and top attractions might keep the children happy for a few hours, many adults find the gruelling journeys and escalating costs can outweigh the pleasure of the day.

Over the summer 18million people will visit attractions such as Thorpe Park and Alton Towers, with families planning to visit an average of five.

With family admissions at the attractions in the London area ranging from £30 to more than £80, holiday costs could rocket - and the cost of the trip may be much higher than simply the admission price. Research for Direct Line Motor Insurance shows families will spend £405 million this summer on sweets and computer games to help keep children entertained.

Parents across Britain will also spend £1.8 billion on childcare this summer as the number taking time off work to look after their children has halved.

And then there is the cost of children's meals once inside the attractions.

Evening Standard asked Ronnie Haydon, editor of Time Out London For Children, which attractions she thought were a rip-off. Ms Haydon came up with her six worst offenders, saying: "A lot of attractions are not going to give your child the time of their life and cost a lot of money.

"You can have a fantastic time for free now at so many places - people will begin to think if that is free, why am I paying such a lot and the children are still not happy?"

BLUEBELL RAILWAY

Family admission: £25

Child's meal: sausage and chips in café at Sheffield Park £3.50, soft drink £1.10

Attractions: stations on the Lewes to East Grinstead line restored in Victorian, Thirties and Fifties style. There's a bedtime story service on summer evenings.

Haydon says: "Children go on the Bluebell Railway to see Thomas the Tank Engine, but it's really just a steam train with a cardboard face stuck on it. You are paying to just go through countryside - and children will get bored quickly."

Value for money: 3/5.

Carolyn Gray, for the railway, said: "We charge people according to the cost of upkeep. Customers seem to think it's value for money, as 25 per cent come back to us every year."

CHELSEA FC STAMFORD BRIDGE TOUR

Family admission: £32

Child's meal: burger and chips at bar £3.75, and soft drink £1.20

Attractions: a 90-minute tour round the changing rooms, pitch-side dugout, press room and West stand.

Haydon says: "Football tours are a rip-off, you just pay to get herded from one place to another."

Value for money: 2/5 A spokesman said: "We completely refute this finding. To have a guide for four people at £32 represents value for money. This is a major Premiership football ground, and the personalised service makes it much better value than other London attractions."

LEGOLAND

Family admission: two adults, two children, £86

Child's meal: between £2.99 and £3.50, soft drink 99p

Attractions: London landmarks built out of Lego. Lego safari and Lego driving school, two "mildly thrilling" rides.

Haydon says: "If you don't turn up bright and early, be prepared to spend money and queue. You are in for a disappointing day, you spend a lot of money, it's astonishing how much money you spend in the name of Lego, which a lot of children aren't as interested in as their parents."

Value for money: 3/5 Ben Egan, for Legoland, said: "We urge people to use our annual passes, which cost £37 and offer discounts on food and drink. We have staff to entertain during queueing. We believe we offer great value for money."

MADAME TUSSAUDS

Family admission: £49

Child's meal: Costa Coffee sandwich £2.80, packet of crisps 80p and soft drink £1.25 or similar prices in Refresh café

Attractions: waxworks of celebrities, with photo opportunities, the £2 Chamber Live tour of the Chamber of Horrors.

Haydon says: "It is very expensive but you can't stop people going there, it is very popular. You have to pay £6 for a badquality photo of yourself next to a waxwork of Blair. You have to have lunch in Costa. It is very hard to bring your own food."

Value for money: 3/5

A spokesman said: "If you come later in the afternoon, you can get cheaper tickets. You do get value for money here, as it is very interactive. You can play football with David Beckham or dance on a stage with Britney."

TROCADERO

Family admission: free but all attractions are priced from 50p to £5.50

Child's meal: burger and chips at Rainforest Café £9.95, and soft drink £1.80

Attractions: bowling (£5.50), video games (50p or £1 a time), rides (£2).

Haydon says: "It may be free to get in but children will keep coming back for more money for the arcade. It's dark, nauseating, loud, scary and depressing."

Value for money: 1/5

No one from Trocadero available for comment.

THORPE PARK

Family admission: £75

Child's meal: chicken nuggets and chips and soft drink - £2.49

Attractions: white-knuckle rides, including the Colossus 10-loop roller coaster and Tidal Wave, one of the highest water-drop rides in Europe.

Haydon says: "The admission is fantastically expensive. You will spend most of the time queueing, trying to keep children amused. During the school holidays it is very crowded, and it would be better for children to go with their school."

Value for money: 3/5

A spokeswoman said: "Thorpe Park is designed for children over the age of 12, and families with younger children would be better advised going to Chessington. We have a summer sale on at the moment where a ticket costs £15 per person."

...HERE'S ONE GREAT VALUE-FORMONEY ATTRACTION - TOWER OF LONDON

Family admission: £37.50

Child's meal: fish and chips in the café £3.75, and a soft drink £1.10

Attractions: Beefeater Tours, the Crown Jewels and an exhibition of torture implements.

Haydon says: "It is very expensive, and the queues are terrible, but I think it redeems itself through what is on offer. The Beefeaters are fantastic, and there is far more to do than at Windsor Castle."

Value for money: 5/5

A spokeswoman said: "We are not funded by the Government or the Queen, and every single penny customers are charged goes into conservation and new exhibitions. It is value for money because, if you want, you can spend eight hours on the site."