Free Things to Do with Kids This Weekend

Free Things to Do with Kids This Weekend (No Matter the Weather)

Let’s be honest — keeping kids entertained at the weekend can feel like a part-time job. And an expensive one at that. Soft play sessions cost £8 a head, cinema trips for a family of four easily hit £50 once you’ve bought popcorn, and don’t even get us started on theme parks.

But here’s the good news: the UK is absolutely packed with brilliant free things to do with kids. You just need to know where to look. We’ve rounded up the best free activities across the country — rain or shine — so you can have a great weekend without touching your debit card.

Free Museums and Galleries

This is the UK’s secret weapon for free family days out. Most of our major museums and galleries are completely free to enter, and they’ve got genuinely brilliant kids’ sections.

London (and beyond)

Natural History Museum — Dinosaurs, earthquakes, and a whale the size of a bus. The kids’ activity trails are free and genuinely fun. Get there early on weekends though — it gets rammed by 11am.
Science Museum — The Wonderlab has a small charge, but the rest of the museum is free. The Launchpad gallery on the third floor has hands-on experiments that’ll keep them busy for hours.
V&A Museum of Childhood — Bethnal Green’s hidden gem. Vintage toys, dollhouses, and free craft workshops most weekends.
Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester — Textile demonstrations, steam engines, and hands-on experiments. Free entry and genuinely fascinating for adults too.
National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh — A proper full day out for nothing. The rooftop terrace has cracking views across the city.
Bristol Museum & Art Gallery — Dinosaurs, Egyptian mummies, and wildlife galleries. All free.

Check out our deals page for current offers on days out and attractions if you do fancy spending a little.

Free Parks, Nature Reserves and Green Spaces

Sometimes the simplest days out are the best ones. The UK has some spectacular green spaces that cost absolutely nothing.

Best free parks for kids

Richmond Park, London — Free roaming deer, massive open spaces, and a brilliant adventure playground near Kingston Gate. Take a football and some sandwiches.
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London — The Tumbling Bay playground is one of the best in the country, and it’s completely free. There are water features (bring a towel), sandpits, and climbing frames for all ages.
Chatsworth Estate, Derbyshire — The parkland and farmyard are free to wander. The formal gardens charge, but you can easily spend a whole day in the free areas.
Sutton Park, Birmingham — 2,400 acres of free nature reserve with lakes, wetlands, and wild ponies. Yes, actual ponies.
Pollok Country Park, Glasgow — Voted best park in Britain. Free entry, free parking, and Highland cattle roaming the grounds.

Free Events This Weekend

Every week there are free events happening across the UK. Here’s where to find them:

Local council websites — Search “[your area] what’s on this weekend” and filter for free events. Most councils maintain event listings.
Eventbrite — Filter by “Free” and your location. There are always craft fairs, open days, and community events listed.
Facebook Events — Search “free family events near me.” Local community groups are brilliant for discovering small events you’d never hear about otherwise.
National Trust free open days — The NT runs free open days at some properties throughout the year. Check their website for upcoming dates.

Rainy Day Freebies

British weather being what it is, you’ll probably need indoor options at some point. Here are our favourites:

Free indoor activities

Local libraries — Most run free storytime sessions, coding clubs, and craft activities on Saturday mornings. Check your local council website for times.
IKEA Småland — Free supervised play area for kids aged 3-10. Drop them off, grab a 99p coffee, and have 45 minutes of peace. You’re welcome.
Lego Store mini builds — On the first Tuesday of each month, Lego Stores run free mini build events for kids aged 6-14. They get to take the model home.
Apple Store workshops — Free coding and creative sessions for kids at Apple Stores across the UK. Book in advance.
Craft sessions at Homebase/B&Q — Some stores run free kids’ craft workshops. Check your local store’s Facebook page.

Free Things to Do at Home

Sometimes you just can’t face going out. Fair enough. Here are genuinely fun indoor activities that cost nothing:

Build a den — Blankets, chairs, pegs, and imagination. Still one of the best free activities ever invented.
Kitchen science experiments — Bicarbonate of soda + vinegar = volcano. Cornflour + water = non-Newtonian fluid. Free and fascinating.
Free online art classes — Rob Biddulph’s #DrawWithRob YouTube series is brilliant and completely free. Step-by-step drawing tutorials that kids love.
Nature scavenger hunt — Write a list of 20 things to find in the garden or local park (something smooth, something red, a Y-shaped stick, etc.) and send them off.
Free audiobooks — Audible has a free tier, and your library card gets you free access to BorrowBox and Libby for audiobooks and ebooks.

Money-Saving Tips for Days Out

If you do end up spending a little, here’s how to keep costs down:

Pack lunches — A family of four can easily spend £40+ on café food. Sandwiches from home cost about £4 total.
Use Blue Light Card — If you’re an NHS worker, armed forces, or emergency services, you get discounts at hundreds of attractions.
Check attraction deals — We regularly update our deals page with 2-for-1 offers and discount codes for UK attractions.
National Trust membership pays off — If you visit NT properties more than 3-4 times a year, membership (£84/year for a family) works out cheaper than individual entry fees at the paid properties.
Look for Tesco Clubcard deals — You can triple the value of Clubcard vouchers at many attractions, meaning £10 of vouchers gets you £30 worth of entry.

The Bottom Line

You really don’t need to spend £50+ every weekend to keep the kids happy. The UK has brilliant free museums, parks, and events — you just need to look beyond the obvious paid attractions. Mix free days out with the occasional treat and you’ll save hundreds over the year without anyone feeling like they’re missing out.

For more money-saving tips and freebies, check out our latest free stuff UK page, updated weekly with the best freebies and samples available right now.