Some of the UK's best museums remain free to enter, while beaches, forests, parks, libraries, nature reserves and walking trails can provide entire days of entertainment without an admission ticket. England's national museums continue to offer free general admission in 2026, while many major museums and galleries elsewhere in the UK are also free.
Family days out don't have to cost £100 every time you leave the house.
Some of the UK's best museums remain free to enter, while beaches, forests, parks, libraries, nature reserves and walking trails can provide entire days of entertainment without an admission ticket. England's national museums continue to offer free general admission in 2026, while many major museums and galleries elsewhere in the UK are also free.
The secret is changing what counts as a “day out”.
Children don't necessarily need roller coasters or expensive attractions. Give them somewhere interesting to explore, something to search for or a challenge to complete and a simple walk can become an adventure.
Here are 100 free things to do with kids around the UK.
Free Museums and Galleries
1. Visit the Natural History Museum
Dinosaurs, enormous skeletons, volcanoes, minerals and millions of specimens make London's Natural History Museum one of Britain's great free family attractions.
General admission remains free, although booking ahead may be advisable at busy times.
2. Explore the Science Museum
Another outstanding free London day out.
Children can discover space exploration, aircraft, engineering, medicine and technological inventions without paying general admission.
Some special exhibitions and experiences cost extra, so families can simply concentrate on the free galleries.
3. Visit the British Museum
Turn ancient history into a treasure hunt.
Choose one or two civilisations rather than trying to explore the entire museum.
Egyptian mummies alone can keep history-loving children occupied.
4. Explore the National Museum of Scotland
Edinburgh's National Museum of Scotland combines natural history, science, technology, Scottish history and world cultures.
It's particularly useful when siblings have completely different interests.
5. Visit Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
Glasgow's Kelvingrove is another major free family attraction and was among the UK's highest-rated free museums and galleries in Which?'s 2026 survey.
6. Explore St Fagans National Museum of History
Near Cardiff, St Fagans allows families to explore Welsh history through historic buildings and recreated environments.
It was the highest-rated free museum in Which?'s 2026 UK survey.
7. Visit the National Museum Cardiff
Art, natural history and geology provide plenty to investigate without an admission charge.
8. Explore the Museum of London Docklands
Discover London's history through its docks, trade and the River Thames.
It's a particularly useful alternative for families who have already visited London's biggest museums.
9. Visit the National Railway Museum in York
For train-loving children, seeing enormous locomotives can be considerably more exciting than another conventional museum.
10. Find a Free Local Museum
Don't concentrate exclusively on national museums.
Many towns have small museums exploring local archaeology, industry, transport and social history.
Search what's available close to home.
Free Art Adventures
11. Visit Tate Modern
Take children to see modern art and ask them which piece is the strangest.
They don't have to understand everything.
Neither do the adults.
12. Explore the National Gallery
Turn famous paintings into a search game.
Find an animal.
A battle.
A child.
A king.
Something funny.
Something frightening.
13. Visit a Free Local Art Gallery
Many municipal art galleries offer free general admission.
Check whether yours also runs family activities during weekends and school holidays.
14. Go Street-Art Hunting
Choose an area known for murals and see how many children can find.
Give older children a phone or camera and let them create a photographic collection.
15. Draw Your Favourite Museum Object
Take sketchbooks to a museum or gallery and let everyone choose something to draw.
Nobody needs to be good at art.
Free Beach Adventures
16. Spend a Day at the Beach
Pack lunch, towels and beach toys and you've created an entire family day out for the cost of getting there.
17. Build an Enormous Sandcastle
Don't build a small one.
Create walls, towers, roads, tunnels and a moat.
18. Have a Sandcastle Competition
Children versus adults.
Agree the judging categories beforehand.
19. Explore Rock Pools
At low tide, rock pools can reveal crabs, small fish, seaweed, shells and other marine life. Rock-pooling is also one of the National Trust's suggested “50 things to do before you're 11¾”.
Observe wildlife carefully and leave animals where you find them.
20. Collect Interesting Shells
See how many different shapes and patterns children can spot.
Follow any local restrictions and avoid taking living creatures.
21. Make Beach Art
Use stones, seaweed, driftwood and shells to create temporary pictures on the sand.
Photograph them and leave everything behind.
22. Go Beachcombing
Search for interesting natural objects washed onto the shore.
23. Have a Stone-Skimming Competition
Choose a safe location away from swimmers and see who can achieve the most skips.
24. Draw Pictures in Wet Sand
A stick and an empty stretch of beach become an enormous drawing board.
25. Watch the Sunset
Take blankets and something warm to drink and stay until sunset.
Sometimes the simplest family experiences are the ones children remember.
Free Woodland Adventures
26. Go for a Forest Walk
Britain has thousands of woodland trails where families can explore without buying an attraction ticket.
27. Build a Woodland Den
Use fallen branches rather than damaging living trees.
Then decide whether the finished structure could survive imaginary bears, wolves or dragons.
28. Go on a Nature Scavenger Hunt
Find something:
soft
rough
green
red
tiny
enormous
that smells interesting
that makes a noise.
29. Search for Animal Tracks
Mud is suddenly interesting when children realise animals leave clues behind.
30. Identify Trees
See how many species the family can recognise from leaves, bark and shape.
31. Look for Fungi
Autumn woodland can contain an extraordinary variety.
Photograph fungi rather than touching or eating them unless you have appropriate expertise.
32. Listen for Birds
Stop walking for five minutes.
How many different bird calls can everyone hear?
33. Search for Minibeasts
Look carefully beneath logs and around leaf litter without disturbing habitats unnecessarily.
34. Make a Nature Colour Challenge
Give children colours to find in nature.
Who can find ten?
35. Hug the Biggest Tree You Can Find
No educational justification required.
Sometimes children simply need something silly to do.
Free Parks and Playgrounds
36. Discover a New Playground
Don't visit the usual one.
Open a map and find a playground in another neighbourhood.
37. Visit a Large City Park
Britain's cities contain enormous free green spaces.
Pack a picnic and make a day of it.
38. Create a Playground Tour
Visit three different playgrounds in one day and score each out of ten.
39. Play Football
Two jumpers can become goalposts.
40. Play Rounders
Take a bat and ball and create a family match.
41. Throw a Frisbee
Simple, cheap and capable of keeping children moving for ages.
42. Fly a Kite
Find a large open space on a breezy day.
43. Have a Family Sports Day
Create events such as running races, long jump, throwing competitions and obstacle courses.
44. Make a Park Obstacle Course
Run to the tree.
Around the bench.
Jump over the line.
Touch the fence.
Sprint back.
45. Roll Down a Hill
Children have been doing this successfully for generations.
No app required.
Free Walking Adventures
46. Climb a Hill
Choose something suitable for your children's ages and abilities.
Reaching the top gives the walk a clear objective.
47. Walk Part of a National Trail
You don't need to complete hundreds of miles.
Choose one manageable family section.
48. Explore a Canal
Canal paths provide boats, locks, bridges and wildlife to keep children interested.
49. Walk Along a River
Create a challenge to spot bridges, boats, birds and interesting buildings.
50. Explore a Coastal Path
Pick a child-friendly section with spectacular views.
51. Walk to a Waterfall
Children are considerably more enthusiastic about walking when there's something exciting at the end.
52. Explore an Old Railway Path
Many former railway lines have become walking and cycling routes.
53. Walk Around a Reservoir
Reservoir paths can provide easy family walking and excellent wildlife spotting.
54. Explore an Ancient Hillfort
Britain's countryside contains prehistoric earthworks that are free to explore.
Turn the walk into an archaeological expedition.
55. Find a Trig Point
Choose a suitable hill with a trig pillar and make finding it the mission.
Free Cycling Adventures
56. Go on a Family Bike Ride
Choose a traffic-free route where possible.
57. Explore a Converted Railway Cycle Trail
Old railway routes are often relatively level, making them particularly useful for younger cyclists.
58. Cycle to a Picnic
Giving the ride a destination makes it feel like a proper adventure.
59. Create a Family Cycling Challenge
See whether you can collectively ride 10, 20 or 50 miles across several weekends.
60. Explore Your Local Area by Bike
Children often discover places they never notice from the car.
Free Wildlife Activities
61. Go Birdwatching
You don't need expensive binoculars.
Start with garden birds, ducks and other easily recognised species.
62. Visit a Nature Reserve
Many nature reserves can be explored without admission charges, although donations may be welcomed.
63. Go Duck Spotting
Instead of simply feeding ducks, see how many species children can identify.
64. Search for Butterflies
Summer meadows can provide excellent butterfly spotting.
65. Go on a Bug Hunt
Give children a notebook and record everything they discover.
66. Look for Tadpoles
Visit suitable ponds in spring and watch how they change over subsequent visits.
67. Go Pond Dipping
Where permitted and safe, investigate the extraordinary amount of life living in a pond. The National Trust includes discovering what's in a pond among its children's outdoor activity ideas.
68. Watch Bats at Dusk
Choose a suitable summer evening and watch the sky around parks, woodland or water.
69. Go Deer Spotting
Some public parks and countryside locations have wild or free-ranging deer.
Keep a safe distance and never attempt to feed or approach them.
70. Search for Signs of Wildlife
Feathers, footprints, nests, holes, nibbled nuts and animal droppings can all become clues.
Free Things to Do at Home
71. Build a Den
Blankets, chairs and cushions can transform the living room.
72. Have an Indoor Picnic
Put the blanket on the floor and pretend the rain outside doesn't exist.
73. Create a Treasure Hunt
Hide clues around the house.
Make them increasingly difficult for older children.
74. Build a Cardboard City
Save delivery boxes and create houses, roads, shops and towers.
75. Hold a LEGO Building Challenge
Use the bricks you already own.
Give everyone 20 minutes to build a spaceship, castle or ridiculous vehicle.
76. Make Paper Aeroplanes
Test different designs and hold a distance competition.
77. Create a Family Quiz
Let every family member write a round.
78. Put on a Talent Show
Singing, dancing, jokes, magic and completely pointless talents are all allowed.
79. Make a Family Film
Children can write, direct and act in it using a phone.
80. Have a Board-Game Tournament
Bring out games that haven't been played for months.
Free Creative Activities
81. Draw a Giant Picture
Tape several sheets of paper together and create one enormous family artwork.
82. Make a Comic
Invent characters and create a short story.
83. Write a Family Newspaper
Include news, weather, sport, interviews and deliberately ridiculous advertisements.
84. Create a Stop-Motion Film
Use toys or building bricks and a suitable device.
85. Make Art from Recycling
Cardboard boxes, tubes and packaging can become robots, castles or spaceships.
86. Create a Nature Picture
Use fallen leaves, sticks and stones to create temporary outdoor artwork.
87. Write a Story Together
One person writes the first paragraph.
Pass it to the next person.
Nobody knows how the story will end.
88. Put on a Play
Create costumes from things already in the house.
89. Learn a Magic Trick
Use free instructions or videos and put on a family magic show.
90. Create a Time Capsule
Add drawings, photographs and predictions about the future.
Choose a date when you'll open it.
Free Community Activities
91. Visit the Library
Libraries are one of Britain's best free resources for families.
Borrow books, discover new authors and check the children's activity programme.
92. Join a Library Story Session
Many libraries run free sessions for babies and younger children.
Availability varies, so check locally.
93. Join a Free Reading Challenge
Libraries frequently run children's reading programmes, particularly during school holidays.
94. Attend a Free Community Event
Councils, libraries and community organisations regularly organise free festivals, performances and family events.
95. Watch a Local Parade
Carnivals, Christmas parades, military events and community celebrations can provide free entertainment.
96. Visit a Free Festival
Some music, arts and cultural festivals have free areas or completely free programmes.
97. Explore a Local Market
Give children a challenge to find the strangest food, object or stall without buying anything.
98. Visit a Free National Trust Outdoor Site
Not every place cared for by the National Trust requires an admission ticket. Its current free-access suggestions include countryside, woodland and coastal locations such as Morden Hall Park, Downs Banks, Penrose and Divis and the Black Mountain.
Remember that parking or particular buildings within a wider estate can sometimes carry charges.
99. Become a Tourist in Your Own Town
Pretend you've never visited your home town before.
Find its oldest building.
Visit a park you've never explored.
Look for public art.
Read historical plaques.
Photograph landmarks.
You'll probably discover something you've walked past hundreds of times.
100. Let the Kids Plan a Completely Free Day
Give children one rule:
The day cannot include paid attractions.
Let them decide what happens.
They might choose a bike ride, picnic, playground, beach, library or woodland adventure.
Helping children understand that having fun doesn't always require spending money is useful in itself.
Free Doesn't Always Mean Completely Free
There's an important distinction when planning budget days out.
An attraction might have free admission but still involve parking, train fares, petrol, food or paid temporary exhibitions.
A free museum in London isn't necessarily a free day if you've travelled 150 miles to reach it.
Look close to home first.
A genuinely free family day might be the forest ten minutes away rather than the famous museum two hours away.
Take Your Own Food
Food can turn a free family day out into an expensive one remarkably quickly.
Four lunches.
Drinks.
Coffee.
Ice creams.
Suddenly you've spent £50 without buying an admission ticket.
Pack sandwiches, snacks and refillable water bottles.
Then decide beforehand whether you'll buy one small treat rather than repeatedly spending throughout the day.
Use Free Museums Properly
Free admission changes how you can visit a museum.
You don't have to see everything.
If the children have had enough after 90 minutes, leave.
You haven't “wasted” an expensive ticket.
Return another day.
This can actually make free museums much more enjoyable for younger children.
Many UK museums and galleries offer free entry, and families should also check for free workshops, storytelling and holiday activities.
Create a Free Family Adventure Jar
Write free activities onto pieces of paper.
For example:
“Go to the beach.”
“Explore a forest.”
“Visit a museum.”
“Have a picnic.”
“Find a waterfall.”
“Try a new playground.”
“Go on a bike ride.”
Put them in a jar.
When nobody knows what to do at the weekend, somebody chooses one.
No debate.
That's the day's adventure.
Try a No-Spend Weekend
Challenge the entire family to have a weekend where entertainment costs nothing.
Use food already at home.
Walk or cycle somewhere if practical.
Visit free attractions.
Explore parks.
Play games.
Go somewhere outdoors.
Children can help plan the challenge.
You may be surprised how much you can do.
Free Days Out Can Be Some of the Best
Expensive attractions can be fantastic.
But price doesn't determine how much children enjoy a day.
A £150 theme-park trip can end with arguments, queues and exhausted children.
A free afternoon at the beach can end with everyone watching the sunset while eating sandwiches.
Children remember experiences.
The enormous den they built.
The crab they discovered.
The waterfall they walked to.
The dinosaur skeleton they saw.
The forest where they got completely covered in mud.
The hill they finally climbed.
The family football match where Dad fell over.
The picnic where it started raining.
Those memories don't need an admission ticket.
With museums, beaches, parks, forests, libraries, nature reserves and thousands of miles of countryside to explore, the UK provides families with an enormous number of opportunities to have adventures without constantly reaching for the bank card.
Sometimes the best family day out really is free.