Fun family ways you can spend your Avios

I am always on the look out for ways to save money on days out, as entertaining the kids can be an expensive hobby.

I use my loyalty reward cards regularly on our supermarket shopping and fuel which adds up to a tidy sum by the end of the year, but did you know there is another way of saving for fun days out for the kids?

Collect Avios

If you haven’t heard about Avios, it’s the reward currency that you can collect and spend on flights and experiences.  You can collect Avios when booking cash flights with airlines, such as British Airways, Aer Lingus, Vueling and Flybe. The Avios you collect can then be spent on travel rewards including being put towards flights, hotels and car hire, as well as for days out and leisure experiences.

I always thought you could only collect Avios points by flying, however I have since discovered that you can collect Avios throughout the year by shopping with your favourite online retailers via the British Airways Avios eStore, exchanging your Tesco Clubcard vouchers, or registering your bank cards to collect Avios when shopping in store.

Sign-up is free and you also can collect Avios whenever you or the family fly with British Airways and their other partner airlines.

I have to admit I prefer to shop online to take advantage of cashback sites but I love that you can register your cards to automatically collect points in their partner stores, such as Caffe Nero, Heal’s, Oliver Bonas and Prezzo, and by shopping as you would normally in store, you automatically collect Avios.

It is surprising how quickly your Avios balance grows and you will soon have saved enough to spend and enjoy some family fun with the children.  With a wide range of entertainment, attractions, and memberships to choose from, I’ve selected a few different family-friendly ways you can spend your Avios to give you some inspiration. All of these experiences are available if you have a British Airways Executive Account, so plenty of ways to enjoy them!

ZSL London Zoo

Visit the world’s oldest scientific zoo set in Regent’s Park amid heritage-listed buildings and beautiful gardens.

With over 800 animal species to discover, as well as live shows and immersive exhibits. You can enjoy interactive experiences throughout the zoo; including Penguin Beach – watch penguins dive, swim and feed; Gorilla Kingdom – come face to face with the majestic Western Lowland Gorillas; and Rainforest Life – journey high into the treetops to meet a variety of rainforest species.

From Friday 30th March to Sunday 15th April, visitors to London Zoo are able to take part in a self-guided Superpowers Trail around the Zoo, discovering real life animals with heroic superskills. The trail is part of ZSL’s 2018 Superhero Takeover, a year-long celebration of incredible wildlife and the ZSL superheroes working to protect animals both at home and around the world.

Stadium Tour

Whether you are a fan of football, tennis, rugby or cricket, you can enjoy an informative tour finding out what goes on behind the scenes at one of the most famous sports grounds in the world. Typically you will be greeted by your guide, who will share extensive knowledge of the history and sporting achievements of the club and/or stadium. You will be shown around the grounds and maybe even visit the dressing rooms where the stars prepare themselves for the big matches. Most stadium tours finish off at the visitor centre and museum where you can browse at your leisure. Stadium tours are available at the following locations:

• London Stadium – Stratford
• Chelsea FC – Stamford Bridge
• Manchester United – Old Trafford
• FC Barcelona – Nou Camp
• Rugby Football Union – Twickenham Stadium
• Liverpool FC – Anfield
• Wembley Stadium – London
• London – Emirates Stadium

Madame Tussauds

A visit to Madame Tussauds is guaranteed to leave you feeling more than a little star struck! Whether it’s in London or Blackpool, this engaging and interactive attraction lets you get up close and personal with some of Britain’s best known celebrities; from Her Majesty the Queen to TV and music mogul Simon Cowell to Paddy McGuinness and much loved comedian John Bishop for those selfie opportunities you won’t want to miss. Strike a pose with Beyoncé, cuddle up to One Direction and snap a selfie with Kim Kardashian. Meet your favorite heroes at the Marvel Super Heroes 4D Exhibition before getting up close to Yoda, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia and more in the ‘Star Wars’ at Madame Tussauds immersive experience. Plus, by purchasing your ticket ahead of time, you’ll get to join the dedicated queue with your pre-purchased entrance ticket and experience shorter queues than walk-up guests.

Avios offers entry to both Madame Tussauds London and Blackpool, so take a trip and perfect your pose with all the stars!

Kidzania

KidZania London offers 4-14 year olds exciting real life activities. Spanning across 75,000 square feet, KidZania is an amazing indoor city built just for kids! Designed to empower and entertain kids, KidZania gives children the chance to challenge themselves and explore the world of opportunities. If your child has ever dreamt of becoming a pilot, a firefighter or the next award-winning dancer, watch the excitement on their faces as they try out real life activities! The concept gives them their first taste of independence and discover their future career.

Harry Potter Tour of Warner Bros Studio

Delve into the magical world of Harry Potter™ at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, with round-trip luxury coach transport included. Follow in the footsteps of Hogwarts’ students as you walk around original sets like Diagon Alley and Platform 9 ¾, complete with the Hogwarts Express steam engine. Get up close to costumes and props, and discover the wizardry required to create the mind-blowing special effects and animatronics.

 

Do you collect Avios points?

Disclaimer: Post written in collaboration with Avios