Free things to do and see
There are few places in the world offering more for eager culture vultures hunting for free things to do. Free museums and art galleries sit on top of the list. For the more outdoor-minded, grab a map from the local tourist office or visitor centre and go on a treasure hunt through town or countryside. Farmers’ markets offer a vivid tableau of community life, and often encourage you to taste free samples. See window shopping in a new light. The displays are often works of art in their own right and the architecture and design of some of the most famous shopping emporiums in the world is breathtakingly impressive.
Be at one with birds of prey at Rosliston Forestry Centre
There’s something special about being close to a bird of prey; those round watchful eyes on high alert, fixing you with a dominating stare.
Location: Rosliston, Derbyshire
Discover dinosaur footprints on the beach
Everyone who has been to the beach has seen footprints left in the sand, but have you ever seen ones that have been left by a dinosaur?
Location: Brook, Isle of Wight
Trip-trap along the Red Squirrel Trail
This family-friendly cycle and walking path encompasses an exciting trail of artwork, sculpture and trolls under bridges.
Location: Newport, Isle of Wight
Picnic in Blackpool’s largest park
Stanley Park, in the heart of Blackpool, is renowned for being one of the region's finest parks.
Location: Blackpool, Lancashire
September events: Be blown away at St Annes International Kite Festival
St Annes hosts the spectacular annual Kite Festival, featuring magnificent kites from all over the world.
Location: St Annes on Sea, Lancashire
Free fun for the family at Monkwearmouth Station Museum
Monkwearmouth Station Museum has received national commendations for work with young children and provides fun and education for the whole family.
Location: Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
Rainy Day Activities: Sunderland Museum
Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens is a great place for the whole family to spend the day – and it’s free.
Location: Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
July events: Sunderland International Airshow
Pack a picnic, head to the beach and lie back for dazzling aerial acrobatics, classic aircraft, live music, fireworks and traditional seaside fun.
Location: Sunderland, Tyne and Wear
Find yourself on a farm in the heart of Nottingham
Stonebridge City Farm is a slice of the countryside in the heart of a city centre.
Location: Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Rainy Day Activities: Explore Earth and space at Liverpool’s World Museum
Need ideas on things to do when it rains? Visit one of North West England’s oldest museums and get a hands-on look at our planet from the oceans to the stars.
Location: Liverpool, Merseyside
Explore Cornwall’s mining heritage
Sandy beaches, cream teas, ancient woodlands and innovative architecture make for a fascinating family day out in Camborne and Redruth.
Location: Cornwall
Rainy Day Activities: Explore mining history at Woodhorn Museum
Explore hundreds of years of mining heritage at this unique museum in Northumberland, built from what was once the largest pit village in the world.
Location: Ashington, Northumberland
Experience life in a WWI trench at the Lancashire Museum
Tens of thousands of proud Lancastrians perished in the Great War, whose experiences in the trenches are brought to life at the Museum of Lancashire in Preston.
Location: Preston, Lancashire
Visit Battlefield 1403, site of the Battle of Shrewsbury
Visit the site of the Battle of Shrewsbury in Shropshire and discover how it changed the course of English and French history.
Location: Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Discover the birthplace of the Tank
Learn the history behind the birth of the tank - the machine that broke the stalemate of World War 1 – at the Museum of Lincolnshire Life.
Location: Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Relax with a day's birding at Langford Lakes
Open bodies of water are a rarity in south Wiltshire, making Langford Lakes nature reserve an attractive stopping-off point for a host of wild birds.
Location: Salisbury, Wiltshire
Trot over to meet Redwings Horse Sanctuary's rescued residents
Come nose to nose with some of Redwings Horse Sanctuary's most delightful residents at Redwings Ada Cole Rescue Centre in Essex.
Location: Nazeing, Essex
July Events: South Tyneside Festival
This fabulous summer festival brings three months of free entertainment to the vibrant seaside resort of South Shields.
Location: South Shields, Tyne and Wear
July events: Alice's Day
Rediscover the charm of Wonderland with a fun-packed day of events on Oxford’s unique Alice’s Day.
Location: Oxford, Oxfordshire
Enjoy panoramic views on the Bath Skyline Walk
Enjoy a family break in Bath with some outdoor fun at Bath Skyline’s woodland play area before enjoying sweeping views across the city.
Location: Bath, Somerset
Find fabulous free fun by the sea in Portsmouth
If you're looking for a great break that won’t break the bank this summer then Portsmouth is the place to be.
Location: Portsmouth, Hampshire