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Free things to do with kids this summer 2026: UK days out for families on a budget

Think summer fun has to cost a fortune? Think again. From free splash parks to wild forest trails and intriguing museums, we’ve rounded up the best no-cost adventures for families across the UK. Your wallet will thank you.

Tom Werner/Getty

• Serafina Kenny

Published: August 13, 2026 at 3:50 PM

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The summer holidays are a brilliant time for making memories – but keeping the kids entertained for six whole weeks without spending a fortune can feel like a full-time job.

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That’s why we’ve teamed up with hotukdeals.com to round up some of the best free and family-friendly things to do across the UK this summer, from museums and outdoor adventures to creative workshops, sports sessions and splash-about fun.

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Whether you’re looking for free things to do near home or planning a UK day trip or mini break, we’ve found ideas for families across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Jump to your region:

Use the quick links below to find what’s happening near you

• London & South East
• South West England
• Midlands
• North of England
• North West England
• Scotland
• Wales
• Northern Ireland
• UK-wide activities

London & South East

Museums & indoor fun

• Science Museum — free admission to the museum. Families can explore five floors of free galleries, see spacecraft and out-of-this-world objects in the new Space gallery, and visit the free Future of Food exhibition, which runs until 1 September 2026.
• Natural History Museum — free entry to the main collections, including the iconic blue whale skeleton in Hintze Hall, with some temporary exhibitions available for an additional charge. Booking a free ticket in advance is recommended at busy times.
• Young V&A Museum — formerly called the Museum of Childhood, this branch of the iconic V&A Museum caters for children and families.

Parks & play

• Danson Splash Park (Bexley) – Ideal for a hot day and totally free.
• Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground (Kensington Gardens) – This free Peter Pan-inspired playground has reopened following a major refurbishment, with a huge wooden galleon, new treehouse, sand and water play areas and a dedicated space for under-3s.
• Granary Square fountains (King’s Cross) — kids can run through more than 1,000 water jets in this free outdoor splash spot, which is open daily during daylight hours. Bring a towel and change of clothes!
• Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park playgrounds (Stratford) — explore the free Tumbling Bay adventure playground, with treehouses, rope bridges, sand pits and rock pools, or head to the Pleasure Gardens for climbing frames, slides and oversized swings. The park also has Waterworks Fountains, which usually run from March to October.
• Coram’s Fields (Bloomsbury) — a free seven-acre play space specifically for children and young people, with adults only allowed to enter when accompanied by a child.
• Play in the Park, The Royal Parks — free drop-in nature-inspired play sessions are running in London’s Royal Parks until 25 August, with activities suitable for the whole family and no booking needed.

Events & shows

• London Theatre Kids Week — with every adult full price ticket one child aged 17 and under can go free and up to two extra children can attend for half price. Various shows have kids’ week deals between Monday 20 July to Monday 31 August, including classics like Wicked and Mamma Mia!, and family-friendly shows like The Tiger Who Came To Tea, Zog, Matilda, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and My Neighbour Totoro.
• Notting Hill Carnival — Sunday 30 August is Families and Children’s Day, with the Children’s Parade, colourful costumes, music and family-friendly events across west London.
• Greenwich+Docklands International Festival — free outdoor theatre, circus, dance and family activities across east London from 21 August to 6 September, including a packed weekend of family-friendly performances at Greenwich Fair.
• Royal Parks Summer Nature Roadshows — free drop-in family activities across London’s Royal Parks until 20 August, with wildlife trails, nature crafts, games and a mini museum.
• Southbank Centre Riverside Sessions — catch free live music, dance and performances by the Thames throughout August, including family-friendly showcases from Kinetika Bloco and ZooNation.
• The Big Lunches (Thurrock) — free community events running at five locations across Thurrock from 23 July to 17 August, with creative workshops, performances, sports and games, bouncy castles, face painting and music. Entry and most activities are free, although some optional extras may have a small charge.

South West England

Museums & indoor fun

• Bristol Museum & Art Gallery – Free entry to galleries covering everything from dinosaurs and Ancient Egypt to art and wildlife. Families can also take part in a free Aardman mini-museum hunt until 13 September, tracking down hidden treasures from the Bristol animation studio around the museum.
• Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM), Exeter – Free entry to Exeter's museum and art gallery, with displays covering local history, animals, world cultures and art. Until 30 August, families can also try the free Time Odyssey digital game, which takes children on an interactive journey through the collections.
• The Box (Plymouth) – Free entry to Plymouth's museum, gallery and archive, with lots of family activities running throughout the summer. Free drop-in craft sessions take place from 18–20 and 25–27 August, while free storytelling sessions for under-5s run on selected Fridays until 28 August.

Farms & animals

• Bath City Farm – Free to enter (donations welcome), with farm animals, green spaces and plenty to explore for animal-loving families.

Nature & parks

• Forestry England trails – Explore family-friendly forest walks and trails for free, with downloadable and low-cost activity packs available at selected sites.
• New Forest National Park – Explore miles of free walking and cycling routes, enjoy a family picnic or head to one of the area's wild play spaces.
• Mount Edgcumbe Country Park (Cornwall) – Explore 865 acres of parkland on the Rame Peninsula for free, with woodland and coastal walks, formal gardens and plenty of space for a picnic. Entry to the country park is free, although there are charges for the house and some attractions.

Festivals & events

• Old City Sounds (Bristol) – Head into Bristol's Old City on 29 August for a free, family-friendly celebration of live music, with performances, dance, workshops and activities taking place across streets and venues throughout the area.

Midlands

Museums & creative activities

• Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery — drop into free family art workshops on Saturdays throughout August, with different artists leading creative activities and all materials provided.
• Leicester Guildhall — explore one of Leicester's oldest buildings on a free guided tour, with several dates available throughout August. Advance booking is recommended.

Animal encounters

• Stonebridge City Farm (Nottingham) – Free to visit, with farm animals, gardens and play areas to explore. Donations are welcome.

Festivals & events

• Birmingham Weekender — a free family-friendly festival taking over Birmingham city centre from 29–31 August, with live music, dance, outdoor performances, installations and entertainment at locations including Bullring and Victoria Square.
• Coventry Big Summer Takeover — a programme of free family events in Coventry city centre throughout August, including sports and movement sessions and an Action Zone on 22 August with freestyle displays, have-a-go activities and a city-centre zipwire.
• Nottingham Beach – City by the Sea — Old Market Square has been transformed into an urban beach until 31 August, with real sand and free summer entertainment including live music, movie nights and activities. Entry is free, although rides and refreshments cost extra.

North of England

Museums

• National Railway Museum (York) – Free entry to the museum, where families can explore more than 300 years of railway history, see famous locomotives including Mallard and visit the indoor play area for younger children. Booking a free admission ticket in advance is recommended during busy periods.
• National Science and Media Museum (Bradford) – Free museum entry with seven floors to explore, including galleries covering photography, sound and media technology. This summer, families can also visit Setting the Stage: 70 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest and take part in Pop Academy activities running until 31 August.
• Danum Gallery, Library and Museum (Doncaster) – Free to visit, with free drop-in summer crafts for children aged 3–12 every Monday and Friday during the school holidays until 28 August.

Summer activities

• Leeds Kirkgate Market Summer of Fun – Six weeks of free weekday activities are running until 28 August, with everything from LEGO, Duplo and crafts to circus skills, den building and creative workshops.
• Sheffield by the Seaside – Sheffield's Peace Gardens have been transformed for summer with a seaside-themed programme of free family fun running until 29 August.

Festivals & events

• The Actual Reality Arcade (York) – Head to Parliament Street on 15 August for a free family day bringing classic arcade games to life, including a giant Tetris wall, laser run and human whack-a-mole, alongside activities and emergency-service vehicles to explore.
• Sheffield Fayre – This free-entry family event returns to Norfolk Heritage Park on Bank Holiday Monday, 31 August, with birds of prey displays, children's crafts, a vintage village, board games and more. Some fairground rides may have an additional charge.

North West England

Museums & indoor fun

• People's History Museum (Manchester) – Free entry to this family-friendly museum, which is open every day except Tuesdays. This summer, children can visit the free Storytelling Zone and take part in BUILD-A-BOT, a free family activity running until 31 August.
• Science and Industry Museum (Manchester) – Free general admission to this family-friendly museum exploring science, technology and Manchester's industrial history. Free admission tickets can be booked in advance.
• World Museum (Liverpool) – Free entry to five floors of family-friendly galleries covering everything from dinosaurs and Ancient Egypt to the aquarium, bugs and space. Some special exhibitions and activities may carry an additional charge.
• Museum of Liverpool – Free to visit and a great way for families to discover the people, history, culture and stories of Liverpool, from music and sport to life in the city. Some temporary exhibitions may be ticketed.

Parks & play

• Parktastic (Manchester) – Free drop-in play sessions are running in 32 parks across Manchester throughout the summer and into September, with sports, games, arts and crafts, dance, drama, nature activities and messy play for children aged 6–12. No booking is required.

Events & activities

• Free Family Funday (Liverpool) – Blackstock Market hosts a free family fun day every Sunday, with activities changing each week and potentially including face painting, balloon modelling, mascots, magic, soft play, live music and animal encounters. Upcoming dates include 16, 23 and 30 August.
• Calderstones Garden Party (Liverpool) – Head to Calderstones Mansion House on 16 August for a free family garden party with stories, music, face painting, crafts and live entertainment. No booking is required.
• Cosmic Carnival Show (Trafford Centre) – Catch free live circus-inspired performances every Wednesday and Thursday throughout August, followed by interactive dance and circus-skills workshops for children.

Scotland

Museums & indoor fun

• Riverside Museum (Glasgow) – Free entry to Glasgow’s transport and technology museum, where families can explore interactive displays, historic vehicles and a recreated old Glasgow street. Free Discover sessions also run on Saturday afternoons, with hands-on activities, object handling and trails for families.
• National Museum of Scotland (Edinburgh) – Free entry, with plenty for families to explore including the hands-on Imagine, Adventure Planet and Explore galleries, covering everything from animals and the natural world to science and technology.

Sport & play

• Glasgow Life Summer of Fun – Look out for free family sports across Glasgow during the school holidays, including swimming sessions, football for children aged 5–12, free court sessions for sports such as badminton and table tennis, and free football pitch bookings.

Festivals & events

• Edinburgh Festival Fringe Street Events – Catch free street theatre and performances on the Royal Mile and around the city throughout the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, which runs from 7–31 August. The programme changes daily and all Street Events acts are family-friendly.

Nature & outdoors

• Forestry and Land Scotland sites – Head into one of Scotland’s forests for a family walk, wildlife spotting or a picnic, with trails available for a range of ages and abilities. Some sites charge for parking, so check before setting off.

Wales

Museums & indoor fun

• National Museum Cardiff – Free admission to explore the museum’s art and natural history collections. Until 31 August, families can also see Helios, a spectacular seven-metre-wide glowing model of the Sun created using real solar imagery.
• St Fagans National Museum of History (Cardiff) – Entry is free and throughout August families can take part in Step into history, meeting characters in the museum’s historic buildings and seeing special objects from the collection. The activity runs daily from 1–31 August. Parking charges apply if you drive.
• National Roman Legion Museum (Caerleon) – Travel back to Roman times with free Romans in Residence activities running until 31 August, plus free drop-in mosaic-making sessions on 14, 21 and 28 August.

Creative activities

• National Waterfront Museum (Swansea) – Take on a free K’Nex Big Build Challenge on 13, 20 and 27 August, with drop-in building activities for children aged 6 and over. There are also more free family activities later in the month, including WONDERFEST! on 26 August.

Water play

• Pencoedtre Park Splash Pad (Barry) – Cool off at this popular free splash pad, which is open for the 2026 summer season.

Festivals & events

• Caerphilly Cheese Festival – Head to Caerphilly town centre on 29 and 30 August for a free-entry festival featuring food and drink stalls, live music, workshops, crafts and family entertainment. Some individual activities and purchases may cost extra.

Northern Ireland

Museums & indoor fun

• Ulster Museum (Belfast) – Free entry to the museum’s art, history and natural science galleries, plus free interactive Discovery Centres where families can get hands-on with the collections. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday.

Parks & outdoor fun

• Slieve Gullion Forest Park (near Newry) – Follow woodland trails, explore Fionn’s Giant Adventure and let the kids loose in the adventure playpark. Access on foot or by bike is free, although parking charges apply if you arrive by car.
• Belfast Summer Fun Days – Head to Woodvale Park on 20 August for an afternoon of free family activities including face painting, balloon modelling, crafts, lawn games, bouncy castles and walkabout entertainers.

Events & entertainment

• The Big Ukulele Jam (Belfast) – Enjoy an afternoon of free music and entertainment at The Big Fish on 16 August as part of the Belfast Ukulele Festival.
• Music in the Parks (Belfast) – Enjoy free live music in Belfast’s parks on Sunday 23 August, with another event following on 6 September.

UK-wide activities

Sport & play

• McDonald’s Fun Football – Free football activities for children aged 5–11, including coaching sessions at centres across the UK and free Fun Football Festivals at selected locations throughout the summer. Booking is required for coaching sessions and availability varies by location.
• Kellogg’s Football Camps – Children aged 5–15 can claim a free day at a participating football camp this summer after buying a promotional pack of Kellogg’s cereal. Camps are being run by football clubs and community organisations around the UK.
• Barclays Big Tennis Weekends – Try tennis for free at participating parks, clubs and community venues across Great Britain, with open days featuring coaching, games and activities for different ages and abilities.
• National Racehorse Week – From 22–31 August 2026, racing yards and retraining centres around the country are opening their doors for free events where families can meet racehorses and learn about their care. Many visits are free but need to be booked in advance.

Nature & adventure

• Geocaching – Turn a family walk into a treasure hunt by searching for hidden geocaches near you. You can create a free basic account to get started, although some caches and app features are reserved for paid members.
• UK National Parks – National Parks are free to explore and offer plenty of low-cost family adventures, from walks, wildlife spotting and picnics to family trails and play areas. Some car parks, attractions and organised activities may charge, so check before travelling.
• Dobbies Little Seedlings workshops – Free gardening and nature workshops for children aged 4–10 are held at participating Dobbies stores, including monthly Little Seedlings sessions and special school-holiday workshops. Dates and times vary by store and advance booking is recommended.
• Pets at Home Pet Pals workshops – Free 45-minute workshops are running at participating Pets at Home stores during the summer holidays, giving children the chance to learn about pets and how to care for them. Places are free but should be booked in advance.

Libraries & creativity

• Summer Reading Challenge – Children aged 4–11 can take part in the free annual reading challenge through participating libraries. The 2026 theme is Read to the Beat, encouraging children to explore the links between books, stories and music while collecting rewards for their reading.
• Local libraries – Check your local library for free summer activities including craft sessions, LEGO clubs, storytelling, rhyme time and family events. What’s on varies by area.

Festivals & events

• Check MoneySavingExpert’s free festivals and carnivals guide for more free events happening around the UK this summer. Its 2026 guide includes more than 50 events organised by region, although some individual activities may cost extra.

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Read more:

• Summer holiday fun could cost parents up to £1,000. Here’s how to entertain the kids for cheaper this summer.
• Where kids can eat free or for £1 this summer holiday
• The best family holiday destinations for 2026 and 2027, according to parents

Authors

Serafina KennyDigital Journalist

Serafina Kenny is a Digital Journalist at MadeForMums. She writes news and features and has expertise in health, nutrition, relationships, and history. She has previously written for Business Insider, Women's Health, Stylist, Men's Health US, The i Paper, Dazed, and more. You can contact her with tips and story ideas (or compliments!) at serafina.kenny@immediate.co.uk.

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