Explore, play and get active: 50 free days out for the family
STUMPED for what to do this summer? Here are some great ideas that won’t cost you a penny.
Exploring rock pools will keep kids entertained for hours
Go to the South Tyneside Festival
Where: South Shields (visitsouthtyneside.co.uk)
When: Until September 5
A fun-fest for children with brass bands, parades and live entertainment on the seafront.
Discover Cardiff Bay Beach
Where: Roald Dahl Plass (cardiffbaybeach.co.uk)
When: July 25 – September 7
The bay is transformed into an urban beach with sand, water play and live entertainment.
Take a traffic-free bike ride
Where: Nationwide (sustrans.org.uk)
When: Daily
From the Camel Trail in Cornwall to Marriott’s Way in Norwich, Sustrans – which promotes sustainable transport – provides plenty of ideas for bike rides.
Watch the Changing of the Guard
Where: Buckingham Palace, London (changing-the-guard.com)
When: Daily in July and on alternate days in August, 11.30am.
It’s a must-see spectacle of royal pageantry.
Head to the Robin Hood Festival
Where: Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire (nottinghamshire.gov.uk/robinhoodfestival)
When: August 3-9
Enjoy a daily programme of archery, falconry, medieval music and jousting.
Dive into National Marine Week
Where: Nationwide (wildlifetrusts.org/nationalmarineweek2015)
When: July 25 – August 9
The UK’s Wildlife Trusts are running free seaside strolls and rock-pool rambles around the coast.
Get snap happy
Where: National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh (nms.ac.uk/families)
When: Until August 9
Explore all things photographic and make your own periscope in these summer workshops.
Line up for football coaching
Where: Selected venues (faskills.thefa.com)
When: Selected days through the summer holidays
The FA Skills initiative offers free, fun football coaching for boys and girls between the ages of five and 11.
Be a bird-watcher
Where: Nationwide (rspb.org.uk)
When: Throughout the summer
Borrow Wildlife Explorer backpacks, follow specially created trails, and go pond-dipping and bug-hunting.
Enjoy the Freedom Festival
Where: Hull (freedomfestival.co.uk)
When: September 4-6
Live music, street theatre and more, celebrating politician William Wilberforce’s Act of Parliament that abolished the slave trade in the British Empire.
Dig into pizza and a movie
Where: Nationwide (nectar.com/summerrewards)
When: Until August 11
Your Nectar points get you even better deals this summer – 1,000 points for two Vue cinema tickets or two Pizza Express pizzas.
Get on board for the Playing Trains exhibition
Where: National Railway Museum, York (nrm.org.uk)
When: Until September 6
Dress up as an engine driver and build a track in this entertaining exhibition.
Go fly-fishing
Where: Selected Orvis stores (orvis.co.uk)
When: Selected dates until October
Book on to a free beginners’ course with the family – fantastic preparation for the real deal on the river.
Dance along to Felixstowe Carnival
Where: Felixstowe, Suffolk (thesuffolkcoast.co.uk)
When: July 25-26
Enjoy seaside floats, marching bands, majorettes, aerobic air displays and live music.
Enjoy the British Firework Championships
Where: Plymouth (visitplymouth.co.uk)
When: August 18-19
Six top pyrotechnics companies set off four tonnes of fireworks over Plymouth Sound.
Head to Ping! street table tennis festival
Where: 19 towns and cities (pingengland.co.uk)
When: Until August 31
More than 750 tables are popping up around the UK offering free play – bats and balls included.
Celebrate home-front heroes
Where: Imperial War Museum North, Trafford, Greater Manchester (iwm.org.uk)
When: Until April 10, 2016
Explore the exhibition Horrible Histories: Blitzed Brits, enjoy interactive stories and make a puppet.
Watch the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
Where: Ashton Court, near Bristol (bristolballoonfiesta.co.uk)
When: August 6-9
Watch hundreds of hot-air balloons take to the skies, plus stunt shows and music.
Take your child to a free West End show
Where: Various West End theatres (kidsweek.co.uk)
When: August 1-31
Children aged 16 and under can go free to any participating West End show (such as The Gruffalo) when accompanied by a full-paying adult.
Swot up for the Summer Reading Challenge
Where: Libraries nationwide (readingagency.org.uk/summerreadingchallenge)
When: Throughout the summer holidays
Visit your local library and get your child aged four to 11 to pledge to read six or more books. Get rewards with this year’s Guinness World Records theme.
Join in the Great British Tennis Weekend
Where: Selected venues (lta.org.uk/gbtw)
When: August 1-2
Courts up and down the country are set to host a weekend of free cardio tennis, mini tennis, coaching and lots more.
Be in a TV audience
Where: Selected studios (applausestore.com)
When: Selected dates
Get to see your favourite TV shows, such as The X Factor and Catchphrase, for free.
Go Geocaching
Where: Nationwide (geocaching.com)
When: Daily
Enjoy an outdoor treasure hunt following online GPS coordinates to find hidden toys.
Catch the free open-air theatre
Where: The Scoop, London (godsandmonsterstheatre.com)
When: Wednesdays to Sundays, August 5-30
See the fun family Roman comedy show Captain Show-Off! on the banks of the Thames.
Go down to the woods today
Where: Nationwide (visitwoods.org.uk)
When: Selected dates
From bushcraft to bat walks, the Woodland Trust is holding events over the summer. Download the free activity packs to take with you.
Swim for free
Where: Selected pools nationwide
When: Throughout the summer holidays
Many local councils (and all of Wales) offer free swimming for under 17s – check your local website.
Cycling and camping are a fantastic way to explore the great outdoors
Take in the Merchant City Festival
Where: Glasgow (merchantcityfestival.com)
When: July 25 – August 2
Nine days of free street arts, dance, music and comedy plus a family zone in the cultural quarter.
Catch the Lego Friends Pop Star tour bus
Where: Locations nationwide (events.lego.com/ukfriends)
When: Until September 6
To launch the Lego Friends Pop Stars range, a tour playbus is stopping off at toy shops around the UK. Get glitter tattoos and play with the latest sets.
Walk the National Forest Way
Where: The Midlands (nationalforestway.co.uk)
When: Daily
It spans 75 miles and is divided into 12 stages. Download free routes and maps taking you through pretty woodlands, wildlife and market towns.
Get active with ParkLives
Where: 140 parks and green spaces in Birmingham, Glasgow, Manchester, Nottingham, Newcastle and London (parklives.com)
When: Throughout the summer
Free sport sessions – from football to family yoga.
Check out Edinburgh’s festivals
Where: Edinburgh (edinburghfestivalcity.com)
When: Throughout the summer
As well as the Edinburgh International Festival, the city is also hosting jazz and blues, art, book, mela and fringe festivals. There are scores of free family-friendly shows and events to get involved in.
Sail along to Cowes Week
Where: The Isle of Wight (aamcowesweek.co.uk)
When: August 8-15
Watch all the sailing action for free from the shore and enjoy family-themed activities, too.
Go treasure hunting in the Dales
Where: The Yorkshire Dales (dalesdiscoveries.com)
When: Until September 10
Pick up a postcard from visitors’ centres and shops (or online) and explore Yorkshire to search for clues – and win one of 50 prizes, including holidays.
Watch the Volleyball England Beach Tour
Where: Various beaches including Weymouth and Margate (volleyballengland.org/beach)
When: Selected dates until August 16
Watch top players in action, including Team GB Olympians from free court-side grandstands.
Get ready for Eastbourne Extreme
Where: Eastbourne seafront, East Sussex (visiteastbourne.com/extreme)
When: July 18-19
This is an adrenaline-filled weekend of extreme sports activities including a roller derby, BMX and windsurfing.
Go along to Chinatown Family Day
Where: Chinatown, London (chinatownlondon.org)
When: July 19
See a lion dance, traditional Chinese singers and ribbon dancers, and join a treasure hunt, too.
Head to Bristol Harbour Festival
Where: Bristol (bristolharbourfestival.co.uk)
When: This Friday to Sunday
Enjoy two miles of entertainment along the city’s harbour, including a Dance Village, three music stages and a children’s circus by Cirque Bijou.
Get the Change4Life Fun Generator app
Where: Nationwide (apps.nhs.uk/app/change4life-fun-generator)
Part of the NHS’s fitness initiative, this has 100 fun ideas (mostly free), such as building a den.
Head to the Dunstable Kite Festival
Where: Dunstable Downs, Bedfordshire (nationaltrust.org.uk/dunstable-downs-and-the-whipsnade-estate)
When: July 25-26
Watch professional kite teams put on show-stopping and breathtaking displays.
Swim Safe
Where: Various beaches and lakes nationwide (swimming.org/swimsafe)
When: Throughout July and August
Join one of the Amateur Swimming Association’s outdoor swimming tuition sessions for seven to 14 year olds and learn how to stay safe in open water.
Be a NatureSpy
Where: Nature reserves across Wrexham, Denbighshire and Flintshire (naturespy.org)
When: Various dates through summer
Help the iWild North Wales project to set up wildlife cameras – then collect them three weeks later to spy on the lives of badgers, muntjac deer and more.
Stay up for the RSPB Big Wild Sleepout
Where: Nationwide (rspb.org.uk/sleepout)
When: August 7-9
Spend a night in your garden or at an RSPB-organised sleepout getting acquainted with all that flaps, snuffles and crawls in the outdoors at night.
Get lost in a Forest Fairy Tale
Where: Selected forests nationwide (forestry.gov.uk/fairytales)
When: Daily
Download free activity sheets for fairytale frolics in the forest – make a leaf crown, fairy outfit and more.
Dig the city
Where: Manchester (digthecity.co.uk)
When: July 31–August 6
Lots of free family fun in this urban gardening festival, including treasure hunts, barefoot walks and visits from CBeebies favourite Mr Bloom.
Catch The Big Cheese
Where: Caerphilly Castle (your.caerphilly.gov.uk/bigcheese)
When: July 24-26
Head to Wales for a weekend of food, fire eating and falconry set in the shadows of one of Europe’s largest castles.
Walk with dinosaurs
Where: Isle of Wight (visitisleofwight.co.uk/dinosaur-island/dinosaur-island-trail)
When: Daily
Download the app, follow the trail around the island, then see the monsters come to life on your phone.
Take a Sky Ride
Where: 15 locations nationwide (goskyride.com)
When: Until September 26
SkyRide events are traffic-free rides suitable for all ages and abilities and everyone who registers gets a free bike check from Halfords.
Kids eat free at Loch Fyne restaurants
Where: Loch Fyne Restaurants, excluding Ascot and Cairndow (lochfyneseafoodandgrill.co.uk)
When: Daily
One child eats free from the children’s menu when an accompanying adult purchases a full-price main course from the à la carte menu or daily specials during school holidays. The offer is not valid with the set menu.
Tick off their bucket (and spade) list
Where: Beaches nationwide (50things.org.uk)
When: All summer
Summer is the best time to tick off some of the beachy activities on the National Trust’s list of 50 things to do before you’re 11¾. Sign up online then earn badges and secret rewards for activities such as catching a crab and flying a kite.
Join My Pet Pals Summer Activity Club
Where: Selected Pets at Home stores nationwide (petsathome.com)
When: Selected dates throughout this year’s summer holidays
Interactive pet workshops that teach children how to care for their furry friends, fish and reptiles responsibly.