Jasmine Birtles
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FREE days out for families: SUMMER 2024
Rachel Hazelwood
26th Jul 2024
Updated 26th July 2024
It’s the end of term and you’ll be starting to think about what to do with the kids over the summer holidays. It can be really hard to find fun activities and days out that don’t break the bank. Even a seemingly free trip to the beach can find you scrabbling around in your purse for loose change as they discover the joys of the penny arcade – and let’s not forget the lure of the museum gift shop where the pull of another plastic toy or rainbow stripe pencil can be too much for them to resist.
Whatever your budget, a thrifty day out can keep the kids busy and entertained as well are creating precious memories, without the added worry of paying for it all. Here are some ideas of what you can do for free this summer:
Free days out: NORTH EAST
FREE*/ Age range – 0-12 / Open All Week
*Some activities incur a charge
From following free walking trails suited to all ages and abilities, to learning about salmon at the education centre or taking part in an osprey watch, Kielder Forest has lots of family-friendly activities.
FREE / Age range – ALL / Open every day all year round
With a paddling pool, a skate park and woodland to explore there is something here for all the family to enjoy.
FREE / Age range 3-8 / Open 19th August – 3rd September
Get your hands dirty with the free Build It Beautiful activity at Hullabaloo Park, a construction-themed play space for ages 3-8. The park also offers other activities, including neurodivergent friendly sensory sessions for ages 0-10, and a free play area the Imagination Playground.
Free Days Out: NORTH WEST
FREE / Age range – ALL / Open every day, all year round
Walk, bike or scooter as much as you like of this 33 mile sculpture trail, featuring over 70 pieces of artwork. Plan your route on the website, pack a picnic and enjoy some spectacular scenery.
FREE* / Age range – ALL / Open daily, 10am-5pm
*pre-booking entry is advised to avoid disappointment and remember some activities do cost extra
A brilliant interactive museum with something to interest all ages – from early years construction packs (free from reception) to talks and demonstrations.
FREE/ Age range – ALL / Open daily 10.30am – 4.30pm
This ‘high line’ garden attraction opened after months of work transforming the grade II listed viaduct in the heart of Manchester. Planted with trees and flowers it really is a special day out and well worth a visit. Booking isn’t necessary, and there are often guided tours.
Free Days Out: YORKSHIRE
FREE / Age range – 0-18 / Open at different times, check website
Leeds City Museum is free to attend – but even better, they run all kinds of free events for a range of ages throughout the summer, from Tiny Tigers crafting sessions to a community choir to board game design sessions and even augmented reality design workshops!
Check the website to discover what’s on.
FREE / Age range – ALL / Open every day, all year round
A family favourite there really is something for everyone at St Ives Park, including an adventure playground, a cycle route, a pond, nature reserve, café… it’s almost impossible to do and see it all in just one day!
FREE* / Age range – ALL / Open every day, 10am-5pm
*keep in mind parking in York can be pricey – Park and Ride may be best option. The museum car park has free accessible parking or £10 for the day and it closes at 6.30pm. Or, you can travel in on the train – the museum is next to the station!
Not just for train enthusiasts, this is a brilliant day out for everyone. There’s plenty of room to run around, interactive activities and a great outdoor playground. Bear in mind there are some major works happening around the museum and York station, so some parts might be closed.
Arrive early to do the museum (it takes around 2 hours) and then catch the free Road Train into York to find a cafe for lunch, picnic in the Museum Gardens, or wander the historical streets.
Free Days Out: WALES
FREE / Age range – ALL / Open every day, all year round
Geocaching is like orienteering combined with a treasure hunt. You have to find the coordinates of caches and record your visit when you get there. Geocaching is fun for all the family and there are caches all over the UK, but why not combine it with exploring the beautiful surroundings of the Brecon Beacons where there are over 180 caches to find!
FREE / Age range – ALL / Open every day all year round
Either grab a paper map from the Tourist Office or download the app and follow the White Rabbit around the gorgeous town of Llandudno and see if they can spot over 50 statues and figures from the story.
Margam Country Park (Port Talbot)
FREE* / All ages / Open 10am – 6pm (last entry 5pm) every day
*some events are ticketed but most activities are free
Margam Country Park is free to enter, though parking charges apply. Most activities are free, some will have a charge if they are a special event. Ideal for families with children of all ages, the park has a castle, gardens, a huge parkland, playground, and even alpacas to walk with!
The park is closed to non-ticket holders for a special event on Bank Holiday Monday 27th August 2024.
Free Days Out: SCOTLAND
FREE / Age range – ALL / Open all year round
The Kelpies are two giant horses’ heads that have to be seen to be believed – these iconic sculptures are 30ft high! The park also has cycle routes, a play park and café.
FREE / Age range – ALL / Open all year round
Test their photography skills whilst searching for the giant murals that can be found around Glasgow city centre (Crazy Cat Lady is a personal favourite!)
National Museum of Scotland (Edinburgh)
FREE / Age range – All / Open Daily 10am – 5pm
This huge free museum has loads to do and makes a great day out for the whole family. Pack a picnic if you want to make a day of it, and make sure you take some time to wander around the Royal Mile, too.
Free Days Out: SOUTH EAST
FREE / Age range – ALL / Open Tues, Wed, Sat, Sun – Check website for opening hours before setting off
For all the budding David Attenboroughs, this is one of Brighton’s smaller museums but worth the visit for the incredible butterfly and beetle collection.
FREE* / Age range – ALL / Every day except Wednesdays, 11am – 4pm
*Small donations are encouraged for the upkeep of the sanctuary
For a day out with a difference, visit the goats at Buttercups. There are over 140 of them being cared for in beautiful surroundings.
FREE / Age range – ALL / Every day 10am – 5pm
You don’t have to go to the British Museum in London to see Egyptian mummies – the Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology has its own collection! An extensive museum in the heart of Oxford, there are plenty of free activities put on in the summer holidays such as coin handling, free family tours, and the Ashmolean Adventure trail with quizzes.
Free Days Out: SOUTH WEST
FREE / Age range – ALL / Every day, all year round
With lots of free parking and plenty to see and do, this ticks all the boxes. Watch glassblowers in action and have a go at the interactive marble run.
FREE / Age range – ALL / Every day, all year round
Roskilly’s is a working dairy farm with lots to see and do. From nature trails to meeting the cows, even your four-legged friend can tag along (as long as your dog is kept on a lead). Car parking is free too – so you might have a little spare change in your pocket to treat yourselves to something from the ice cream parlour or restaurant, too. If you want to go a little later to enjoy what the restaurant has to offer, the weekly quiz takes place on Tuesdays and there is live music throughout the summer – check the website for details.
FREE* / Age range – ALL / Tues-Sat, 10am-5pm
*Small donations are encouraged
Situated in Taunton’s historic castle, this is a great day out for all the family. Nine themed galleries take visitors from prehistoric times through to the modern era – there really is something for everyone.
Free Days Out: MIDLANDS
FREE / Age range – ALL / Wed-Sun, 10am-6pm
Look no further for a fantastic day out with a difference. The Akamba Experience offers a taste of Africa with an exotic garden centre, reptile house and bird walk.
FREE* / Age range – ALL / All day, every day
This is the perfect day out for young fans of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. Starting at Sarehole Mill (which is free other than the museum, but the tearoom and courtyard pizza is currently closed for renovation), which is opposite from Tolkien’s home which inspired Middle Earth. This is a self-guided tour, so you can do as much or little as you like, and is perfect for older children as you get them into reading the Lord of the Rings!
FREE / Age range – ALL / All year round 8am on weekdays, 9am weekends
The Tree Trail takes around an hour to complete (with some steeper sections) and takes visitors around the Arboretum, showcasing the oldest and most interesting trees along the way.
Free Days Out: LONDON
FREE* / Age range – ALL / Tues-Sun, 10:30am-4pm
*Donations are encouraged but not expected
Go and meet Ben, Jerry and Tom – the crazy haired alpacas! The farm is also home other animals, an ecology area, herb and dye garden and a picnic area.
FREE / Age range – ALL / Every other day at 10:30am
A must see for anyone visiting the capital, the changing of the guard is really popular so be sure to get there early and take plenty of snacks and drinks to keep the kids going while you wait.
FREE* / Age range – ALL / Every day, from 10am-5:50pm (last entry 5:30pm)
*tickets are free but it’s worth booking entry in advance to avoid queues or disappointment
No visit to London would be complete with a visit to the Natural History Museum in South Kensington. Family favourites include the dinosaur and volcano and earthquake galleries.
Other Ideas for Free Days Out
You’ll notice lots of walking tours and activities on this list, for good reason! Local museums and galleries often run special events for free during the school holidays, so look them up online for details. Free or cheap days out also include:
- Going to the beach
- Visiting the local park
- Collecting items on a nature trail to make sculptures at home (only collect things already fallen on the forest floor, don’t pick from plants or trees)
- Pop to your local library for free reading time sessions or craft workshops, and to borrow books and games
- Find out if your school runs holiday activities
- Let the kids tidy and clear out their clutter – what they sell at a car boot sale, they can keep for pocket money!
[…] the holidays. We found a wonderful article on Money Magpie listing all the activities by area –check it out here. We love a freebie and there’s plenty of fun things to do for all ages […]
This will help my family this summer. I cannot thank you enough for the research
Thank you