A poll from electric car company Leapmotor has estimated that UK parents spend almost £5,000 annually entertaining their children, with theme parks the third most popular attraction amongst children after the cinema and the swimming pool, while arcades making an impressive mark.

UK parents spend approximately £4,600 a year entertaining their children, according to new data from Leapmotor, with £124 spent on theme park visits, £136 on holiday camps, £110 spent in arcades, and £130 spent on indoor trampolining.

The findings, collated to mark a partnership between the electric car company and Kids Pass, found that visiting a theme park was the third most popular entertainment among the children themselves, behind the cinema and swimming.

“A poll of 2,000 mums and dads with kids aged 17 and under found they’ll splash the cash taking them to theme parks (£124), visiting museums (£127), or going to sports clubs (£455),” said a Leapmotor spokesperson. “Holiday camps (£136), cinema trips (£143), and toys and games (£152) also contributed to the hefty annual sum.”

“On average, they’ll venture out with their little ones around four times a month on family trips out – 45 a year. It emerged 45 per cent ‘struggle’ to keep their kids entertained, with as many as 62 percent admitting they feel pressure to spend beyond what they want or can on this.”

Asked their children’s favourite activity to engage in outside the house, 28 percent said going to the cinema, 22 percent said swimming, and 20 percent said theme parks, while 80 percent of parents said they prefer activities that educate their children in some way.

According to the study, parents also spend £127 annually on trips to museums, £130 on videogames, £103 on visiting petting farms or zoos, £122 on soft play, and £412 throughout the year on trips to the swimming pool or a leisure centre.