This summer we were meant to be heading off to Italy to see family after a few years of disruption. Little did we know that holidaying abroad hasn’t quite gotten back to normal.

Our son's British passport which had been sent for renewal months before never arrived. There was chaos at the crossing for the English channel due to staffing and sheer numbers or people wanting to travel for the first proper summer away. There were issues at the airports with lost bags and not enough check-in options. Cancelled flights and much more.

We could have tried to rebook, swallowed the extra cost, sat in queues and crossed our fingers that nothing else would crop up. If we had managed to get there we would have had to deal with a 40 degree heatwave when we arrived in Italy after 2 days drive. The English people in the party would not have coped! We like a holiday to be just that! We like to feel relaxed the minute we set off. There's nothing like that feeling of excitement on the outward journey.

So when we saw that Start-Rite were championing affordable holidays in the UK we had to share our experience.

South of England

This year we regrouped and booked an amazing break in West Sussex. This was the first time we’d visited and it was a great base for those who love a mixture of the outdoors with a little British history. Here you'll find castles, national parks, popular stories about Queen Elizabeth II and much more.

In particular, we stayed in the beautiful, medieval city of Arundel, which is the site of a spectacular castle. Owned by the Duke of Norfolk who has been a long term acquaintance of the British Royal Family. The Duke also has the responsibility of organising state events such as coronations. This makes the seat of Arundel one of particular significance in the UK and a great attraction.

The castle and grounds are extensive with plenty of fun things to see and do. Our children loved running around the gardens and dressing up as squires in the stately interactive rooms and learning interesting facts. We spent a day here and could easily go back. There were enough opportunities for education, fun, and wandering, plus there is a cafe for those hungry explorers.

Getting around

We used our car for short day trips, never travelling more than half an hour. The surroundings meant we were spoilt for choice of easy walking spots along with great cafes, tearooms and restaurants to keep us going. There were also several ice cream parlours in Arundel which meant the little ones were very happy indeed.

For days when you don't want to drive we had some fantastic walks in the South Downs. This is a national park formed from a range of chalk hills that extend for miles and across several south-eastern counties. Due to the unique microclimate, this area is home to lots of interesting species of reptiles and amphibians. Recently spotted creatures were an adder, toads, lizards and grass snakes! We tried our best to find some ourselves but with no luck! However, it was a very low-cost, fun way to spend the day.

Restful days

To make sure the adults also had some down time we visited the Arundel Wetland Centre. This was so stunning and calming we got a bit lost in the reeds marvelling at it all! The staff had to come and find us and politely ask that we head home!

This is a 60-acre wetlands reserve and conversation charity. It was a charming place with boardwalks ambling through the swaying reeds. We saw pelicans, grey herons and kingfishers. I would actually call it more of a wellness centre as it has a calming effect on everyone and makes you re-evaluate the power of being in nature.

We will definitely be back to this pretty area and may also venture into nearby East-Sussex too. We normally visit Cornwall but this year in the interest of discovering more affordable holidays in the UK we've been to Dorset, Kent and Devon.

City or country

Just because my crew love a country walk doesn't mean you can't head into towns instead. There are plenty of affordable days out to be had. London day trips can be made more low cost by bringing your own lunches or sticking to cafes instead of restaurants.

You can see the Tower of London, Big Ben, London Bridge, the London Eye and Buckingham Palace from the outside. Especially with younger children, they may not appreciate being taken on a paid tour. Lots of places have free admissions such as the British Museum and the Natural History Museum.

We love a good roam of the streets of London. The South Bank is always full of full things to see from the second hand book fair under the arch outside the British Film Institute. Then you can watch the fabulous skateboarders at the Undercroft by the National Theatre. Cross the bridge to Embankment and walk up to Covent Garden to see the street performers. None of these cost a penny.

We learnt this year that there are so many unique places on our doorstep. We will go to Italy again but we are in no rush. We recently asked our children what were the best parts of their holiday?

Their answers were, eating ice cream, going on the train and hearing their voices echo in the underground tunnel. Meeting a pheasant called Gary and going in the really big bookshop (Waterstones at Green Park). So maybe as parents, we try too hard. There are plenty of delightful memories to make at home.

Disclosure: In collaboration with Start-Rite Shoes.