One of the biggest gripes about working in hospitality is those random midweek days off while all your friends are working. It’s hard to find the motivation to move from your bed or the sofa – and then you beat yourself up for wasting the day. But what’s actually out there?

We’ve compiled the very best of our suggestions to help you spend a great day off, either all alone or with a mate, which won’t break the bank. Whether you’re keen on a day of wild swimming, a leisurely stroll in a new neighbourhood, a trip to a farm, or if you’re just looking for delicious and affordable eats, have a look at the list below.

THE WILD SWIMMER

ACTIVITY: Get on the Metropolitan line all the way to Rickmansworth Aquadrome, a beautiful nature reserve with two lakes where you can go wild swimming. After a refreshing dip in the glorious waters, enjoy the 6-mile walk and take in the diverse habitats – from open grasslands to wet woodlands – practicing your bird identification skills along the way. As for food? Grab your picnic fare from Reuben’s Deli on Baker Street, a beloved Kosher spot known for excellent sandwiches, before you jump on the Metropolitan line; you can click-and-collect your salt beef sando so you waste no time.

COST: From £4.95 – £11.95

THE ADD-ON: Rickmansworth is a charming town in Hertfordshire and it’s certainly worth a stroll along the high street. Stop by The Feathers, a quintessential pub with a lovely beer garden for a pint, and if you fancy, some deep fried gherkins before you head back home.

COST: £4.70 – £8.70

TOTAL COST: £4.95 – £20.65

THE FARM LOVER

ACTIVITY: Summer is synonymous with fruit season, and what better activity than to enjoy the bounty on a pick-your-own fruit farm? Parkside Farm is located in Enfield, a 20-min walk from Gordon Hill station (get there by grabbing the train from Finsbury Park or Moorgate), and is now open for raspberry, currant, and summer vegetable season. Just book an entry voucher ahead of time, and you’ll have 2-hour access to all the glorious bounty you can pick (just remember, no eating while picking!) with minimum spend of £4. Once you’ve picked your haul, enjoy some ice cream and meringue from the farm shop located on the premises.

COST: From £4

THE ADD-ON: On the other side of Gordon Hill station is the lovely village of Enfield Chase. Pop over to Holtwhites bakery on the high road, a family-owned operation selling excellent artisanal breads, pastries, and bakes of all sorts (all made on the premises!), AND deli items like quality meats and cheeses so you can turn your fruit and veg haul into a full blown picnic. Bread starts from £2.10 and croissants from £2.00.

COST: £2 – £15

TOTAL COST: £4 – £19

THE FOREST WALKER

ACTIVITY: Can you think of a more perfect activity this summer than a day out in the absolutely lush Epping Forest? Grab the overground up to Chingford, where there’s a Visitor’s Centre and entrance to this huge expanse of forests and parks. Start off walking towards Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge, a 16th century build which is free to visit and boasts some of the best views of the forest from the top floor. Continue north and eventually you’ll get to the Oyster Shack & Seafood Bar, open Thurs-Sun. They have an excellent, varied selection of seafood supplied fresh every day, offering plates of oysters, lobster tails, and a gorgeous bacon and scallop butty. And if you’re up for it after, check out more walks which cover the forest grounds from Waltham Abbey to Wanstead.

COST: From £4.95 – £15.00

THE ADD-ON: Right next door to the Oyster Shack is the King’s Oak Hotel, a beautiful hotel and venue with the loveliest gastropub. Sit down after your seafood feast and grab a pint or two to rehydrate.

COST: £4.50 – £7.50

TOTAL COST: £8.95 – £22.50

THE EAST LONDONER

ACTIVITY: Looking for the perfect afternoon in East London? Make your way to Hackney City Farm, an urban farm and charity along Hackney Road strongly engaged with the surrounding community (you can even volunteer!!). It’s currently baby animal season, and you can catch the newborn goats, piglets, and young donkeys during visiting hours; the animals can all be seen in their pens or frolicking in the surrounding fields. And it’s TOTALLY FREE. Once you’ve visited the animals, cross the street to Dom’s Subs for an impressive sandwich that will fulfil your wildest deli dreams. Walk through the lovely Haggerston Park whilst savouring your lunch, then enjoy a stroll eastward along the canal.

COST: £8.50 – £12

THE ADD-ON: Once you hit Mare Street, cross the canal, and a few minutes up you’ll find The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities, also known as The Last Tuesday Society. Part museum of macabre oddities and part cocktail bar, it’s a totally mystifying spot with one of the best absinthe collections in town. Grab a glass of the green stuff (or another of their creative drinks) and sip your brew amongst the myriad of curios.

COST: £5 – £15

TOTAL COST: £8.50 – £27

THE TIME TRAVELLER

ACTIVITY: Virtually unchanged since it opened in 1946, and still owned and run by the same family, The Regency Cafe is an incredible time warp – and one of the best breakfasts in the whole city. The chips are particularly delicious, perfect for dipping in runny yolks, the tea is strong and cheap, and a huge slab of bread-and-butter pudding with custard will set you back a time-warp-worthy £3.50. After breakfast, stroll over to Tate Britain – the Rossetti exhibition is great, but there’s no need to stretch to £22 (!!) when the free permanent collection is so brilliant and vast.

COST: £1.50 – £7

THE ADD-ON: Wander over Vauxhall Bridge, taking in the view as you go, as you take the 15 minute walk to the brilliant Italo in Bonnington Square. It’s one of London’s best deli / cafes and their daily-changing sandwiches are incredible: Fennel sausage, asiago, savoy cabbage, red onion chutney and parsley-fried egg loaded into a soft and crunchy focaccia, anyone?! That’ll set you back about a tenner. Take advantage of the springtime weather and eat it in the very pretty square. If you’ve still got energy to burn in the afternoon, it’s just a short walk to gorgeous Vauxhall City Farm, which is free entry and absolutely gorgeous!

COST: £10

TOTAL COST: £1.50 – £17

THE DOCKLANDER

ACTIVITY: Start your day off bright and early with one of London’s best-value, best-kept-secrets: an amazing scallop and bacon bap + coffee or tea at the famed Billingsgate Café for only £7 (make sure you get there before they close at 10am, or get there even earlier and take in the sights of the fish market!). Then make your way over to The Museum of London Docklands – the fantastic Indo+Caribbean: the creation of a culture display is 100% free, telling the story of Indian indenture in the British Caribbean. Once you’ve finished perusing, continue on and grab the ferry for £3.80 from Canary Wharf right across the water to Doubletree Docklands and walk through Russia Docks Woodland nature reserve, a gorgeous and (also free!) stroll.

COST: £10.80

THE ADD-ON: Mosey on down to La Chingada, purveyors of some of London’s best tacos, to recharge your batteries and quench your thirst. Order two Pastor tacos for just £6 (or Mushroom & Nopal for £5.50) and a Pacifico to wash it all down, if you’re so inclined, for £4.50. A fantastic end to a varied and active day.

COST: £5.50 – £10.50

TOTAL COST: £10.80 – £21.30

THE NORTH LONDONER

ACTIVITY: Head up north to Haringey’s Green Lanes for a glorious food crawl. You’ll want to start your explorations at Durak Tantuni just off Green Lanes on West Green Road – the no-frills shop serves up excellent lavash wraps dripping with lamb, fried right in front of you. Grab one or two for takeaway (depending on your appetite), and continue on to Green Lanes. Stroll down the busy street towards Yasar Halim, a bakery and supermarket that is an absolute establishment. Get a selection of baklava or lokma for take away, or go for any of the numerous gozleme or borek ranging from £2 – £4. A few doors down you’ll find All Star Food & Wine, an unassuming deli with an excellent selection of Italian products at the back. Browse and stock up on your favourite cheeses, charcuterie, and estathé if you choose. You’ll finish your walk at the north end of Finsbury Park, the perfect fin to an indulgent afternoon.

COST: From £4 – £10

THE ADD-ON: Sit down at one of the many terraces along Green Lanes for an Efes or two. You have a ton of options, like Gokyuzu or Diyarbakir – and if you still have an appetite for a meat-filled wrap, go to Antepliler where the lahmacun is wood-fired, excellent, and costs £4.30.

COST: £5.50 – £9.80

TOTAL COST: £4 – £20

THE RIVER STROLLER

ACTIVITY: Start off at the Thames Barrier in the Royal Docks, the impressive, moveable flood barrier (one of the largest in the world!) which protects the city from flooding when water levels are too high. Go to the Thames Barrier Park on the north side of the river to stroll through the award-winning gardens, then make your way up to the Trinity Buoy Wharf Centre for Arts and see the collection of sculptures and drawings by various artists. Then grab the scenic cable car from Royal Docks and enjoy the spectacular view of the Thames, for only £6 one-way or £12 return.

COST: £6 – £12

THE ADD-ON: Stroll down the river through Greenwich towards Deptford and grab a pint at The Dog & Bell, which will only set you back £5-7. If you go on the first Tuesday of the month, you’ll catch the Deptford Jazz Collective putting on a show.

COST: £5 – £7

TOTAL COST: £6 – £19