Dr Mobeus
Six Weeks of “I’m Bored” Starts Here
The summer holidays are brilliant — and exhausting. Six weeks of keeping kids entertained without hemorrhaging money is a challenge every parent knows too well. The average UK family spends over £600 extra during the summer holidays on activities, days out and entertainment, according to recent research. That’s a serious chunk of cash.
But here’s the thing: some of the best summer activities don’t cost a penny. From free museums and outdoor adventures to creative projects you can do at home, there’s more free stuff available than most people realise. You just need to know where to look.
We’ve rounded up the best free summer activities for kids across the UK — no crafty subscriptions, no hidden costs, just genuinely free things your children will actually enjoy.
Free Museums and Galleries That Kids Love
UK museums are a goldmine for free family days out, and many have dedicated interactive areas just for children.
London (Always Free)
- Natural History Museum — Dinosaurs, earthquakes simulator, and the new fossil gallery. Queue early in holidays as it gets packed.
- Science Museum — The Wonderlab is paid, but the rest is free and brilliant. The Pattern Pod for under-8s is exceptional.
- V&A Museum of Childhood — Specifically designed for kids with hands-on exhibits, dollhouses and toy collections.
- Horniman Museum — Beautiful gardens plus an aquarium (small fee) but the main museum and butterfly house are free.
- British Museum — Free family trails and activity backpacks available at the information desk.
Outside London
- Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester — Working cotton mills, steam engines and experiments. Properly hands-on.
- National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh — Brilliant science galleries and a roof terrace with panoramic city views.
- Titanic Belfast — Not free, but the National Museums Northern Ireland are, including the Ulster Museum with its dinosaur exhibit.
- Bristol Museum & Art Gallery — Egyptian mummies and a brilliant dinosaur gallery.
- World Museum, Liverpool — Planetarium, aquarium and bug house all under one (free) roof.
- National Museum Cardiff — Art, natural history and archaeology — and a lovely park outside.
Top tip: Most national museums run free holiday workshops and craft sessions. Check their websites 2-3 weeks before the holidays start — these book up fast.
Free Outdoor Adventures
Forestry England and National Trust (Free Bits)
Full National Trust membership costs money, but many sites have free access to grounds and parks. More importantly, Forestry England forests are completely free to explore. Check out:
- Grizedale Forest, Lake District — Sculpture trails and adventure playgrounds
- Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire — Go Ape costs extra but the trails and sculpture trail are free
- Delamere Forest, Cheshire — Walking trails, cycling (bring your own bike) and a lovely lake
- Whinlatter Forest, Cumbria — Mountain bike trails and walking routes with views
Download the Forestry England app for maps and trail details before you go.
Beaches and Coastline
The UK has some of the best free beaches in Europe. Pack a picnic and a bucket and spade:
- West Wittering, West Sussex — Sandy, shallow and Blue Flag rated (parking is the only cost)
- Formby, Merseyside — Red squirrel reserve plus massive sandy beach
- Luskentyre, Isle of Harris — If you’re anywhere near Scotland, this is Caribbean-level sand
- Woolacombe, Devon — Three miles of golden sand and surf schools (lessons cost, but bodyboarding is free)
- Barmouth, Gwynedd — Wide sandy beach with a railway crossing that kids love
Free Parks and Green Spaces
Every city has brilliant free parks. Some of the best for kids:
- Diana Memorial Playground, Kensington Gardens — Massive wooden pirate ship playground
- Crystal Palace Park, London — Dinosaur sculptures, maze and a farm
- Heaton Park, Manchester — Play area, animal centre and boating lake
- Glasgow Green — Play village, carousel and open space right in the city
Free Events and Festivals This Summer
Council-Run Free Events
Most local councils run free summer activities for kids. These include:
- Free swimming sessions at council pools (check your local council website — many offer free swimming for under-16s during holidays)
- Summer reading challenge at your local library (free to join, kids get stickers and a certificate)
- Park ranger activities — bug hunts, nature walks, den building
- Free outdoor cinema screenings in parks (bring your own blanket)
Search your council’s website for “summer holiday activities” — most publish a programme in early July.
Free Community Festivals
Summer is festival season, and many are completely free:
- Bristol International Balloon Fiesta (August) — Free entry, just the food stalls cost money
- Notting Hill Carnival (August Bank Holiday) — Free to watch the parade and soak up the atmosphere
- Southport Air Show — The beach viewing is free (grandstand seating costs)
- Local county shows and village fêtes — Check your parish council noticeboard or Facebook community groups
Free Activities You Can Do at Home
Back Garden Adventures
When you can’t face going out, try these at home:
- Den building — Use old sheets, clothes pegs and chairs. Hours of entertainment for £0.
- Mud kitchen — Give them old pots, pans and a patch of mud. Add water. Stand back.
- Nature scavenger hunt — Write a list (something smooth, something red, a leaf with teeth, three types of seed) and send them into the garden.
- Water painting — A bucket of water and a paintbrush on a patio or fence. The art disappears as it dries, so they can do it again and again.
Creative Projects Using Stuff You Already Have
- Cardboard box city — Save delivery boxes for a week, hand them tape and pens. Instant city.
- Free printable crafts — The CBeebies Make & Play section has hundreds of free printable activities.
- Stop-motion animation — Free apps like Stop Motion Studio turn a phone and Lego into a filmmaking project.
- Cooking lessons — Making bread, flapjacks or pizza dough costs pennies and teaches a life skill.
Money-Saving Hacks for Activities That Usually Cost
Cheap Cinema Trips
Most cinema chains run cheap kids’ screenings during summer holidays:
- Cinemas Mini Mornings — £2.49 per ticket for selected films (adults pay the same)
- Odeon Kids’ Club — Around £2.75 per ticket on weekend and holiday mornings
- Vue Mini Mornings — £2.49 per ticket during school holidays
These aren’t free, but they’re close. And they’re air-conditioned — worth its weight in gold during a heatwave.
Free Sport and Activity Sessions
- FareShare / HAF programme — If you receive benefits, your kids may qualify for free holiday clubs including sport, meals and activities. Check your local council.
- Parkrun — Free weekly 5k runs in parks nationwide, with a junior 2k for kids aged 4-14.
- Football Association free sessions — The FA runs free girls’ football taster sessions across the country. Search “FA girls football” for local events.
The Ultimate Free Summer Day Out Template
Here’s a full day out that costs nothing (except travel and packed lunch):
- Morning: Free museum with interactive kids’ area (arrive at 10am to beat crowds)
- Lunch: Packed lunch in the nearest park
- Afternoon: Free playground, paddling pool or splash pad (most towns have one — check your council website)
- Tea time: Ice cream from a local shop (the one treat you allow yourself)
Total cost: travel + one ice cream. That’s it.
Check These Before You Go
- Your local council website — Search “free summer activities” and you’ll find pages of stuff
- Local Facebook groups — Search “free activities [your area] summer 2026”
- Library noticeboards — Summer reading challenge + free craft sessions + rhymetime
- National Trust “free access” areas — Many NT sites have free parkland you can walk without paying entry
- Our freebies and deals page — We update it weekly with the latest free samples, offers and activities
Final Thought
Six weeks sounds like a long time. But the holidays that stick in kids’ memories aren’t the expensive ones — they’re the ones where they got muddy, explored somewhere new, or built something ridiculous out of cardboard boxes.
You don’t need to spend £600 to give your kids a brilliant summer. You just need a plan, a packed lunch, and the willingness to say “yes, let’s go” when they spot something interesting.
For more ways to save money this summer, check out our guide to how to get free stuff online and our regularly updated deal store for the latest discounts and freebies.
