Summer is here and with it the call of the great outdoors. But the big economic downturn is still with us and family budgets are stretched. It is not easy to make ends meet, to pay the mortgage or rent and put food on the table, let alone find money to pay for those special summer trips. So here are 10 great days out for you to consider this summer, an eclectic collection, each for under a tenner.

Kids love models and grown-up kids do as well, so why not try Bekonskot Model Village in rural Buckinghamshire, where you can marvel at this "eccentric" recreation of a model Village, complete with mandatory model railway.

If you are a fan of Harry Potter, check out the location that inspired Hogwarts at Alnwick Castle. Children can interact and delve into the world of medieval knights and dragons.

Add a history lesson to your day out by exploring Hadrian's Wall, where you will find some of the best preserved forts and artefacts from the Roman era. Numerous locations for a visit can be found for less than a tenner by visiting

Who would've thought that pleasant, rural Norfolk would have been the location for monstrous dinosaurs? Kids are guaranteed to love Dinosaur Adventure Park, where they can find out about the days when monsters roamed the earth.

If you believe in Harry Potter, you have to believe in the legend of wizards and it is said that the caves at picturesque Alderley Edge were once a mystical hangout. There is something for all the family here though as well, at this national trust designated site.

Not so long ago, the Welsh relied on coal mining as one of their principal economic drivers. Those days are long gone, but at the Big Pit National Mining Museum, children can get excited about descending down an old mine shaft, dressing up as a miner and sampling the way of life.

When it comes to music, we all speak the same language and during the summer, BBC Proms Plus is staging a number of free events for families. Take this opportunity to educate the kids about "real" music!

Kids love trains and even though today's modern versions are not as evocative as the steam belching railway locomotives of old, just see how your kids are inspired when they see 100 or more of the old-timers at the National Railway Museum.

Walk down memory lane and bring the memories flooding back for you as well as giving the kids a glimpse of the past. Admission is free at the Museum of Childhood (East London).

It's not often that you can find things to do in London for free, but at the Tower of London, you can even take part in a treasure hunt on the beach!