Free Days Out for Familes this Summer

Have a blast this summer without breaking the bank! Treat the kids to some fun with our round-up of free days out and activities the whole family can enjoy.

The six-week summer holidays have officially landed for school kids here in the UK. And like many parents, you’re probably looking for ways you can survive the summer without spending a fortune!

We understand how testing these weeks can be on parents, and with money tighter than ever, we’ve rounded up tons of ways you can fill out your days this summer with low-cost and free activities your kids will love.

Go for a walk

Kick start your summer hols with a simple and most importantly, free walk! Pull out the kid’s bikes, scooters or rollerblades and head out for a stroll. Check out your local nature reserve, wander through your local park or grab your boots and head out on a hike. Why not explore some local landmarks?

Keep the kids entertained on the way with drinks & snacks or play some fun games along the way like collecting fun items & treasures or seeing what they can spot! With so many incredible sights, free gardens and parks to visit across the UK, a walk is the perfect way to spend the day exploring without spending a fortune.

Why not have a look at our National Trust or English Heritage pages for free family fun. You will be surprised at how many incredible sights are available to visit near you!

Here’s a list of 7 National Parks you can visit, free of charge:

1. South East: Petworth Park, West Sussex
2. Wales: Chirk Castle, Wrexham
3. South West: Trengwainton Garden, Cornwall
4. Northern Ireland: Castle Ward, County Down
5. Midlands: Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire
6. North East: Cragside, Northumberland

Visit the local park

Kids love going to the park, making it a great option for a free day out! Hours of fun can be had at your local park throughout the summer and can cost you absolutely nothing if you get organised. 

Keep the kids entertained on the playground or feed the ducks at your local lake. Pack your bag with your kids’ favourite snacks, take a ball, some rackets or the bikes and spend the day making memories in the sunshine that won’t cost you a penny.

Head to the seaside

If you’re fortunate to live by the sea, make the most of it with a beach day! Grab your towels, sun hats and deck chairs and pitch up on the sand for a fun-filled and free day out

Make sure you pack up some tasty lunches, or if you’re feeling beachy, treat the family to some fish & chips or ice cream. You could even head over to the arcade to try your hand at the 2p machines! Hours of fun can be had at the beach making the best of memories with your family. And if you’re making the day of it, you may even catch an unbeatable sunset.

Enjoy a Picnic

Luckily for us, there are so many beautiful outdoor spaces around the UK perfect for setting up a picnic.

Picnics are a super affordable way to have some fun with your family. Why not let your kids help prep the picnic and don’t forget to pack your bat and ball! You probably have all the ingredients for a good picnic lying around in your fridge & cupboards already. And the best part is, you don’t even have to leave the house if you don’t want to.

Try Geocaching

If your kids aren’t fond of walking, you might want to try Geocaching. This could be the perfect way for you and the kids to blow off some steam this summer. Simply download the Geocache App, create an account and use the app to navigate a Geocache nearby!

Once you locate your Geocache, there will be a logbook for you to date and sign to show others you have found it! You will also see how many others have found the same Geocache. And to make it even more exciting, you can even create your own Geocache for others to find.

Geocaching is a fantastic way to spend your summer days outdoor & exploring without having to spend any money!

Check out your local library

If your kids love books or reading, make the most of your free local library! Borrow books and audiobooks as well as DVDs and allow your children to explore and learn during their time away from school. The library is also a great source for finding free activities and family-friendly events in your area so keep your eyes peeled!

Splash around

When the sun is shining, all kids want to do is keep cool and play with water! Many splash parks across the UK are completely free to use and are fantastic for having fun and staying cool during the summer. But if you don’t fancy leaving the house, why not enjoy some water play from home? Blow up the paddling pool and fill up the water guns and the kids will stay entertained all day long. Buckets, bowls, jugs and cups work perfectly too!

Grab some free lunch

Did you know that throughout the kid’s summer holidays, many eateries are offering free & affordable meals for children! This is a great incentive to help ease the pressures of the rising cost of living, which will no doubt be heightened during the summer break.
Asda Cafe, Dobbies, Morrison’s, Beefeater and Sizzling Pubs are just a few in the lineup offering free kids’ meals. Head over to our Kids Eat Free blog for an updated list!

Camp out!

If you don’t want the effort or expense of a full-blown camping trip, pitch up a tent in your very own garden for a night or two! If you’re finding the summer holidays need spicing up a little, why not create a cosy nest with fairy lights & snacks right outside your back door.

You don’t have to spend a fortune to get that camping experience – gaze at the stars and roast marshmallows from your very own garden without having to spend a penny.

See What’s On

Make the most of all the free, local events in your area. Tap into Google, ‘What’s On in (your town)’ and you will see a list of all the events happening near you! Fun fairs, festivals, fun runs and more are all free to attend and are happening all throughout the summer. Mark your calendars with the dates and enjoy some fun-filled days out, free of charge!

Have a Games day

You can’t beat a good old-fashioned game day to keep the kids entertained, so why not pull out all your favourites and spend the day competing against one another. Mix it up with indoor and outdoor play – you could even head to your local park for a friendly kickabout or ball play! Before you know it, a full day of fun will have passed without having to reach for your purse. But who’s going to win?

Seek out offers for activities

If you really fancy treating the family to a fun day out – whether it be a theme park, water park, fairground or your local zoo, make sure you always seek out days out discount codes before booking!

You’ll spot tons of deals, sales and promo codes for some of the UK’s top attractions here at NetVoucherCodes including Alton Towers, Thorpe Park and Legoland as well as Tiqets or Attraction Tickets, where you will find tickets for tons of attractions.

It’s always worth checking in your local newspaper too for local offers as well as Facebook groups! And we always recommend booking online and in advance as this way you’re guaranteed the best rates.