Staying local

Once you've started to explore your neighbourhood, either on foot or by bike, it's easy to see how you can be active and stay local in other parts of your life.

By staying local and using nearby shops, cycling to work or school or even planning holiday day trips to places within walking distance, you, your children and the wider community can benefit:

• Kids love the independence of getting around under their own steam rather than sitting in the back of the car
• you and your family can keep active while doing other things which can save you time
• walking or cycling to nearby shops will save petrol and parking costs
• local places of interest are often far cheaper to visit than out-of-town complexes
• the more we do locally the more a sense of community grows, where we get to know and trust our neighbours
• staying local supports smaller businesses and amenities keeping your neighbourhood alive and vibrant
• by using your car less you'll be helping the environment -  you'll probably be amazed by how often you can do without yours.

Staycationing

Staycationing - holidaying at home or locally - is a growing trend not only because of the environmental benefits but because it can often be cheaper than travelling abroad. 

On a staycation, you could either have a holiday somewhere in the UK or you may be surprised at how much fun you can have simply staying at home and taking local day trips. Many children find blackberry picking, flying a kite or going for a bike ride far more exciting than sitting on a beach.

You could take time out to discover historic or ancient monuments nearby or to enjoy your local green and grassy spaces. You'll find a wealth of attractions, including National Trust properties, city farms, sports centres and places to swim, plus wildlife, nature, cultural and heritage sites near you on our online mapping. 

When spending your holiday at home, kids can find it fun to simply take the bus around town as you may well see things you've never spotted before. Charity shops often have a host of pocket-money priced treasures that are far more affordable than a commercial toy shop and a picnic in the park makes a great free range fuel stop.

It's important to plan outings and activities so you still feel like you've had a proper holiday. Try to keep everyday chores to a minimum and avoid distractions such as work e-mails and television.

Sustrans' online mapping is a great place to find ideas and inspiration for your staycation. Discover local on-road and traffic-free National Cycle Network routes, and if you're planning a few nights away, find family-friendly hotels, B&Bs, caravan and camping sites and youth hostels where you can stay.