Summer's expensive enough. Here are 15 properly free things to do with kids across the UK — no entrance fee, no sneaky carpark charges, no upsells. We've stress-tested every one with our own kids and asked friends with very different kids to do the same.
1. Forestry England woodland trails
Forestry England maintains 1,500+ free woodland trails across the country. Many have play areas, picnic spots and dedicated kid-friendly Gruffalo or Stickman trails. Find your nearest at forestryengland.uk. Carpark is usually £4–8 — bring change.
Best for: ages 3–10. Top picks: Wendover Woods, Sherwood Pines, Westonbirt Arboretum.
2. National Trust open parkland
You don't need to be a member to wander the open grounds of most National Trust properties. The house and tea-room cost — the parkland usually doesn't. Bring a kite, a rounders set, a frisbee.
Best for: all ages. Top picks: Wallington Hall (Northumberland), Stourhead (Wiltshire), Hatfield Forest (Essex).
3. Wildlife Trusts nature reserves
There are 2,300+ Wildlife Trust nature reserves across the UK, all free entry. Many run free family events in summer — bug hunts, pond-dipping, butterfly walks. Check wildlifetrusts.org.
4. Beachcomb the south coast
Pack a bucket. Walk a beach at low tide. Find shells, weird stones, the occasional washed-up fishing float. Free, calm, fresh air, kids stay busy for hours.
Top picks: Studland Bay, West Wittering, Brean Down, Whitstable. Bonus: most have a chippy nearby.
5. Free entry to major UK museums
Every major national museum is free year-round:
- Natural History Museum — dinosaur skeletons, free
- Science Museum — pre-book free timed entry
- British Museum — Egyptian mummies
- National Maritime Museum, Greenwich — kids love the ship models
- National Railway Museum, York — free, brilliant for train-mad kids
- Riverside Museum, Glasgow — free, vehicles, ships, brilliant
- Cardiff National Museum — free, dinosaur skeletons and art
6. Canal towpath walks
Calm water, ducks to feed (don't feed them bread, use porridge oats), brightly-painted longboats. Easy walking distances. Brilliant for buggies.
Top picks: Regent's Canal (London Zoo to Camden), Kennet & Avon (Bath), Caledonian Canal (Inverness).
7. Summer Reading Challenge at libraries
Free, runs every summer holiday at every UK public library. Kids aged 4–11 sign up, read 6 books over the holidays, earn rewards along the way. Costs nothing, fills rainy days, gets them into the library.
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8. Geocaching
Free app. Real-world treasure hunt — there are caches hidden within a few hundred metres of wherever you live. Properly addictive for kids 7+. Free at geocaching.com.
9. Heritage Open Days (Sept)
Historic and unusual buildings throw their doors open free of charge for a week in mid-September. Castles, lighthouses, working windmills. Worth knowing about for back-to-school weekends.
10. Public outdoor lidos (when free / cheap entry)
Most lidos charge £4–8 entry but several are properly free or under £3:
- Tooting Bec Lido — small fee, huge open-air pool (London SW17)
- Hampstead Heath ponds — free for kids accompanied by adult (London)
- Brockwell Lido — Brixton, fairly cheap
- Stonehaven Outdoor Pool — Scottish heated saltwater, low cost
11. Park games + picnic
Don't underestimate this. A frisbee, a ball, a bag of grapes. Six hours of summer.
12. Free RSPB Big Wild Days
RSPB runs free or low-cost family wildlife days through summer — bug hunts, bird-watching for kids, mini-beast safaris. Find your local event at rspb.org.uk.
13. London's Royal Parks
Hyde Park, Regent's Park, Greenwich, Richmond, Bushy. Vast, free, plenty of cafés, deer in some, playgrounds, lakes for hire (small fee) — but the parks themselves are free.
14. Beach playgrounds
Many UK seaside towns have brilliant free beach playgrounds. Combine with chippy and ice cream and you've spent £15 instead of £150.
Top picks: Bournemouth, Cromer, Llandudno, Saltburn-by-the-Sea.
15. Free walking trails in National Parks
The Peak District, Lake District, Yorkshire Dales, New Forest — all free to walk in. Most National Park visitor centres run free kids' activity weeks during summer holidays.
The catch with "free"
Carpark charges are usually £4–10. Bring a picnic (a £20 lunch out can be the cost of the day). Bring water. Bring sun cream and a coat — it's UK weather.
More UK family day-out guides
- The big list: 50+ things to do with kids in the UK this summer
- 15 free things to do with kids this summer (UK)
- Best UK theme parks for families 2026
- Cheap days out with kids — every idea under £20
- Best UK beaches for families 2026
- Rainy day? 12 indoor things to do with kids around the UK
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Get the £50 Inspire Travel Card every month
Subscribe to The Boarding Pass Club newsletter — get our hand-picked UK family day-out ideas + you're auto-entered to win a £50 travel card every month. Spend it at TUI, Jet2, Booking.com, Travelodge, Premier Inn + more.
