The summer holidays are a brilliant time for making memories – but keeping the kids entertained for six whole weeks (without draining your bank account) can feel like a full-time job.

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That’s why we’ve teamed up with hotukdeals.com to round up the very best free, family-friendly things to do across the UK this summer, from wild outdoor adventures to crafty workshops and splash-about fun.

Whether you're after something local, or you’re planning a UK mini break and want to know what's on nearby, there are loads of cost-free activities perfect for families with kids of all ages.

And remember – if you're on a low income, your child may be eligible for free holiday clubs, meals and childcare through the government’s Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme. Just visit your local council website to check what’s available in your area and how to book.

Jump to your region:

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

London & South East

Museums & indoor fun

  • Science Museum — free admission to the museum. Plus, there are loads of free events during their Summer of Space, including science demonstrations, a space trail, IMAX screenings, and Space Toilet Tales explainer sessions.
  • Natural History Museum — free entry to their main collections and to see the iconic blue whale, with the option to pay for exhibitions. There’s one in London and another smaller site in Tring, Hertfordshire. It’s best to book a free ticket to skip the queues.
  • Young V&A Museum — formerly called the Museum of Childhood, this branch of the iconic V&A Museum caters for children and families. They also have some free drop-in creative sessions for kids during the school holidays.

Parks & play

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 21 July to Sunday 31 August, including classics like Hamilton and Mamma Mia, and family-friendly shows like My Neighbour Totoro, Matilda, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and The Tiger Who Came to Tea.
  • Sounds of the Summer — free live music in Westfield London every Friday from 5-9pm and Saturday from 12-6pm between Friday 18th July and Tuesday 26th August.
  • The Beach Club (Westfield London & Stratford) – Free ‘beach experience’ inside Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City, with beach accessories and kinetic sand. Open 12-8pm Monday to Saturday and 12-6pm Sundays, between Thursday 31st July to Tuesday 13th August at Westfield London, or Thursday 18th to Saturday 31st August at Westfield Stratford City.
  • Notting Hill Carnival — on Sunday 24th August 2025, Notting Hill Carnival will have a Children’s Day Parade, and family-friendly activities and events.

Creative activities

  • Brixton House Theatre — free drop-in creative family activities exploring the theme of uprising on Wednesdays and Thursdays between the 5th and 27th of August. Book here.

South West England

Farms

  • Bath City Farm – Free to enter (donations welcome) and perfect for animal lovers

Nature & parks

Midlands

Arts & crafts

  • Danum Gallery, Doncaster – Free crafts every Monday and Friday (excluding 25 August)

Animal encounters

Festivals & events

  • The Big Lunches & Picnic in the Park (Thurrock) — exciting workshops, performances and creative activities, plus physical activities, sports and games, stalls, face painting, music, performances and a DJ at locations across Thurrock in July and August. Check dates and locations here.
  • Birmingham Jazz and Blues Festival — mostly free admission to 230 jazz and blues performances, talks, workshops and film showings across the West Midlands from 18th to 27th July 2025.

Water fun

North of England

Museums

Culture for kids

  • Bradford, Leeds and Sheffield's libraries and museums have summer reading challenges, craft sessions and storytelling – check local listings

North West England

Museums

  • People’s History Museum (Manchester) — free entry to this family friendly museum which is open every day apart from Tuesdays. There’s a Playful Protest Space, too, which allows kids to play games and get creative every weekend and Manchester school holiday.

Swimming & splash zones

  • Many local councils offer free swimming sessions for under-16s during school holidays – check your local leisure centre’s site

Library fun

  • Local libraries often run free LEGO clubs, summer reading challenges and craft mornings

Scotland

Museums

Creative activities & meals

  • Platform Arts Centre (Glasgow) – Free weekday breakfast, lunch and family activities until 8 August

Nature & animals

  • Forestry Scotland sites – Endless forests to explore for free (parking charges may apply)
  • Pets at Home workshops – free 45-minute workshops where kids can meet and learn how to care for small animals and receive a special certificate, sticker, and badge at the end of each session. Workshops will run every day at 2pm between Saturday 5th July and Sunday 17th August in Scotland

Wales

Museums

Water play

Events

Outdoor fun

  • Explore countryside trails, wild swimming spots and nature activities in the Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia

Northern Ireland

Museums

  • Ulster Museum (Belfast) — free entry with no booking necessary. They have lots of free, drop-in sessions during the summer, including butterfly craft sessions, family-friendly object handling, and play sessions.

Outdoor adventures

Animal fun

  • Pets at Home workshops – free 45-minute workshops where kids can meet and learn how to care for small animals and receive a special certificate, sticker, and badge at the end of each session. Workshops will run every day at 2pm between Saturday 5th July and Sunday 17th August in Northern Ireland.

UK-wide activities

Sport & play

Nature & adventure

  • National Trust’s Summer of Play – Family-friendly events and workshops (some paid)
  • Geocaching – Free digital treasure hunts you can do anywhere
  • National Parks (UK wide) — entry to National Parks is always free, where you can go on walks, have a picnic, or do some wild swimming. Some have activities for kids, including guided walks where under 16s go free with an accompanying adult. Our top picks include a wild play area in the New Forest, and adventure play area in Moors Valley Country Park in Ringwood.
    Visit the website of individual National Parks to find out more.
  • Dobbies Little Seedlings Club workshops (UK wide) — a free workshop on the first Sunday of every month for children aged 4-10 years. In July’s workshop, they can learn about what makes rainforests so special and important and get to know some of the plants and creatures in them. Times vary by store, and children must be accompanied by an adult.
  • Pets at Home workshops — free 45-minute workshops where kids can meet and learn how to care for small animals and receive a special certificate, sticker, and badge at the end of each session. Workshops will run every day at 2pm between Saturday 5th July and Sunday 17th August in Scotland and Northern Ireland, and Saturday 19th July and Sunday 31st August in England and Wales, in most of the Pet Care Centres across the UK.

Libraries & creativity

  • Local libraries – Summer reading challenges, LEGO clubs and story sessions across the UK

Festivals

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