Best Bank Holiday Deals and Free Days Out in the UK

Why Bank Holidays Are Made for Bargain Hunters

Bank holidays are brilliant. An extra day off, decent weather (sometimes), and — if you play it right — some of the best deals and free days out you’ll find all year. The trick is knowing where to look and avoiding the tourist traps that’ll drain your wallet before lunch.

This guide covers the upcoming May bank holidays (5 May and 26 May 2026), plus the August one. Whether you’ve got kids to entertain or just fancy a cheap day out, here’s how to make the most of it without spending a fortune.

Free Days Out That Are Genuinely Good

Forget overpriced theme parks. Some of the best days out in the UK cost absolutely nothing.

Museums and Galleries

The UK has some of the best free museums in the world. We’re not talking dusty displays either — these are genuinely brilliant days out:

London: British Museum, Natural History Museum, Science Museum, Tate Modern, National Gallery, V&A — all free, all world-class
Manchester: Science and Industry Museum, Manchester Art Gallery, Imperial War Museum North
Birmingham: Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Thinktank (free days available)
Edinburgh: National Museum of Scotland, Scottish National Gallery
Cardiff: National Museum Cardiff, St Fagans National Museum of History
Liverpool: World Museum, Tate Liverpool, Merseyside Maritime Museum

Tip: Many museums run special bank holiday events — workshops, talks, family activities. Check their websites the week before. These fill up, so book where you can.

Parks, Trails and Outdoor Spaces

The UK’s national parks and country parks are free to enter and stunning in spring and summer:

National Trust free days: The National Trust occasionally opens properties for free — check their website for bank holiday free entry days
Forestry England sites: Walk trails at Delamere, Sherwood Pines, Thetford Forest — parking is usually £3-6 for the day
Local country parks: Most council-run country parks are free with cheap parking (£1-3)
Coastal paths: The South West Coast Path, Pembrokeshire Coast Path and others are free to walk

Check out the freebies.co.uk dealstore for current outdoor gear deals if you need walking kit.

Free Events and Festivals

Bank holidays mean free events everywhere:

Local fêtes and village fairs: Check your council’s “what’s on” page — most have free entry with optional stalls
Food festivals: Entry is often free; you only pay for what you eat. Great for browsing and free tasters
Music in the park: Many councils put on free outdoor concerts on bank holiday weekends
Open garden schemes: The National Garden Scheme opens private gardens for charity — usually £5 entry, which goes to good causes

Bank Holiday Deals Worth Knowing About

Shoppers, listen up — bank holidays are one of the best times for discounts.

High Street and Online Sales

Bank holiday sales are almost guaranteed at these retailers:

Clothing: Next, M&S, John Lewis and ASOS typically run 20-30% off sales over bank holiday weekends
Home and DIY: B&Q, Wickes and Homebase often have bank holiday discounts on paint, garden furniture and tools — ideal if you’ve got a project planned
Furniture: DFS, Sofology and others always seem to have “bank holiday events” — compare prices carefully though
Electronics: Currys and Amazon UK frequently price-match over bank holidays

Before buying anything, check freebies.co.uk for voucher codes — stack a discount code on top of a sale price for the best deals.

Superbank Holiday Food Deals

Supermarkets go big on bank holiday BBQ and picnic offers:

Aldi and Lidl: Look for their “bank holiday specialbuys” — cheap BBQ sets, garden furniture, outdoor toys from Thursday onwards
Iceland: Often has multi-buy deals on party food and BBQ packs — check Iceland deals on freebies.co.uk
Asda: Their “rollback” prices on burgers, sausages and sides drop even further for bank holidays
Tesco: Clubcard prices on BBQ essentials are usually the best bet — stock up on multibuys

Travel and Days Out Discounts

Railcard deals: If you have a railcard, check for bank holiday 2-for-1 entry deals at attractions via Days Out Guide
National Express: Often has £5-£15 advance tickets for bank holiday travel — book early
Merlin Pass: If you’re going to a Merlin attraction (Alton Towers, LEGOLAND, etc.), an annual pass pays for itself in 2-3 visits
English Heritage: Membership gives you free entry to 400+ sites — from Stonehenge to castles — from £5.50/month

Cheap Bank Holiday Activities for Families

If you’ve got kids, bank holidays can get expensive fast. Here are budget-friendly options:

Under £10 for a Family of Four

Geocaching: Free treasure hunts using your phone’s GPS — there are thousands across the UK. Download the free app and off you go
Local nature reserves: Free entry, usually with a cheap car park. Bring a packed lunch and a wildlife spotting sheet
Community sports: Many parks have free tennis courts, basketball courts and skate parks
Library events: Check your local library — many run free bank holiday craft sessions and story times for kids
Bike rides: Traffic-free routes like the Tissington Trail, Camel Trail or Fallowfield Loop make for brilliant family cycling

Packed Lunch Tips for Days Out

Attraction food is a wallet killer. A family of four can easily spend £40+ on lunch. Instead:

Make sandwiches the night before — wraps hold up better than bread in a bag
Freeze juice cartons overnight — they double as ice packs and defrost by lunch
Pack individual portions of crisps, fruit and biscuits in reusable bags
A thermos of hot chocolate or soup is a game-changer for cooler spring bank holidays

You’ll save £30-50 per day out just on food alone.

Bank Holiday Mistakes That Cost You Money

Last-minute train tickets: Book at least a week ahead. Walk-up fares on the day can be 3x the advance price
Paying for parking at attractions: Check if there’s free parking nearby — Parkopedia is your friend
Buying sun cream at the venue: It’s always double the price. Bring your own from the supermarket
Ignoring loyalty schemes: Tesco Clubcard, Nectar and Co-op memberships give points on everything — even picnic food
Not checking for 2-for-1 vouchers: Kellogg’s cereal boxes often have them, and railcard holders get them via Days Out Guide

The Bottom Line

A brilliant bank holiday day out doesn’t need to cost £200. With free museums, country parks and community events, you can have an amazing time for next to nothing. And if you are spending — on a BBQ, a shopping trip or a family day out — bank holiday deals and voucher codes can knock a serious chunk off the price.

Check freebies.co.uk before you buy anything this bank holiday. The deals are updated daily and could save you £100s.