FREE Family Days Out

If you’re looking for ‘free days out near me’ and are based in Scotland, then these towering structures are a sight to behold! They were constructed to become a local greenspace to connect all the local communities together and transformed 350 hectares into a brand new recreational green space and visitor attraction!

Did you know that it also includes splash play areas, a kids’ play park, trails and plenty more? It’s the perfect kids day out, plus it’s f r e e to visit – so why not head there for your ‘free family days out near me’?

Please note: if you want to go on the tour, you will have to buy tickets. But it’s still one of many cheap family days out that you can enjoy!

What’s more impressive is that the Helix & The Kelpies stand 30 metres tall and are the largest equine sculptures in the world!

In the heart of Scotland’s capital, you’ll find an iconic and historic area that is rich in culture. The Royal Mile connects the marvellous Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, but that’s not even the best part.

Take your family out for a day of exploring as you venture across the cobbled stones and narrow stairways and discover all sorts of interesting finds.

For that glimpse of history, head to St Giles’ Cathedral, the old and new Scottish Parliament and other various buildings with stunning architecture. Then, to top it off, you’ll find an array of food and drink spots that will tickle your fancy.

It’s one of the most iconic and ‘free family days out near me’ that everyone will enjoy!

Choo-choose to head over to the wonderful National Railway Museum for a family fun day!

It features over 100 locomotives and exhibits on the history of the railways! You can immerse yourself in all things to do with train engineering and how travel went from horses to trains! There’s even a BRAND NEW virtual reality experience, which is one of many ‘free activities for kids near me’ that they’ll jump head first into! After all, who doesn’t like escaping into a new world?

With a wide range of things to do and trains to see, the kids will have a grand time at this British museum!

Looking for ‘free activties for kids near me’ but something that you can enjoy too? Why not soak in the fresh, outdoor air as you stroll across this stunning coastline? Did you know it’s is an Area of Natural Beauty? With a beautiful stretch of golden sands and plenty of space to roam around – it’s a hit for families seeking ‘free family days out near me’ and those with dogs who has bounds of energy!

Whether you choose to bring your bikes for some beachside cycling, take your shoes off and walk barefoot on the soft sand or sit back and watch the wildlife surrounding you wander past. Did you know you could spot seals here?!

Also, Northumberland Coast is a Dark Sky site, meaning it’s an incredible place to stargaze! Why? Because it’s exceptionally more darker in the surrounding areas where there’s no light pollution. So, you’ll be able to catch the stars sparkling so brightly.

Discover a beautiful garden that spans 48 hectares! A tranquil countryside in the heart of the city centre – and it’s free to visit! Making it one of many ‘free family days out near me’ such a great choice!

You can explore acres of woodland, run through meadows, leisurely walk alongside lakes and discover remnants of the city’s industrial past.

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You can’t beat a public garden trip – especially when it doesn’t cost anything. You can enjoy a fun-filled family day out there – especially if the weather’s sunny and you bring along a picnic!

There’s so much open space for them to roam about, but also plenty to see. Whether it’s a flower garden blooming all around you, a hedge maze they can get lost in, a nature trail or a little pond where they can watch the fish swim about. Some public gardens even have sculptures your kids can look at in awe, so pack a picnic, wear your outdoor clothes, grab a camera (to take pictures of any animals you see) and find a garden attraction.

Here’s a list of garden attractions and beautiful parks you can visit for free family days out:

• The Royal Botanical Gardens, Birmingham
• Sky Garden, London
• Hyde Park, London
• Walton Gardens, Warrington
• Cawdor Castle, Scotland – for enchanting gardens.
• Aberglasney Gardens, Carmarthenshire, Wales – a medieval gem!
• Clyne Gardens, Swansea, Wales – visit the Japanese gardens.
• Margam Country Park, Port Talbot, Wales

Have you ever wanted to deep dive into the history and legacy of the Titanic? At the Maritime Museum, you’ll find a permanent exhibition of the untold story. From Liverpool’s role in the story to a unique insight into the events surrounding and leading up to its tragic end.

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Add visiting museums to your list for the best ‘free family days out near me’! Many of them have free entry and make perfect days out even when there’s bad weather, so there’s no excuse! Seek out the little, independent museums for surprising and unusual days out. Educate and enlighten yourselves on days past and treasures that have been unearthed.

Keep an eye out for exhibitions at some of the UK’s best museums – some of these are free too and the best family-friendly days out! Plus, some of them have the best ‘free activities for kids near me’ that they can get stuck into!

Here’s a list of some more free museums that you can visit as well:

• Museum of Lincolnshire Life, Lincolnshire
• Cumberland House Natural History Museum, Portsmouth
• National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh
• Arbeia Roman Fort and Museum

Got little Lord of the Rings and Hobbit fans in the family? Ever wanted to channel your inner Hobbit or Elf? How about taking a walk on the fantasy side and getting in touch with what inspired J.R.R. Tolkien himself?

The trail starts off at Sarehole Mill and goes to Mosely Bog (which inspired The Old Forest!). Plus, there are many more places to visit!

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Have you ever wanted to visit the areas that inspired Harry Potter? With their walking trails, you definitely can! It’ll excite fans of both beloved worlds, no matter the age. And the best part? It’s free!

• The Potter Trail, Scotland. The tour starts at Greyfriars Bobby and ends on Victoria Terrace. All you have to do is book a time.

Walking trails, especially is they’re associated with an iconic franchise, is the best ‘free family days out near me’ that will entertain you all, create the best memories and have you exploring brand new areas! So, make sure you add it to your ‘free days out near me’ list and let us know how you found it!

A Forestry England site, it’s one of the best days out for anyone in the Midlands! Not only has it got miles of enchanting woodlands to explore, but also a child’s play area and a Go Ape! You will need to purchase Go Ape tickets. 

Whether you head out orienteering, bring your furry friends along or journey on two wheels throughout Cannock Chase. It’s the perfect day out for all ages! Pack a picnic too and enjoy the lovely views as you have a munch!

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The UK has a wide range of glorious forests that you can wander in, and the best part is…they’re all free to visit!

Some of them even have free-roaming wildlife, like deer, rabbits, miniature ponies and more. Also, your kids or teens will also have fun exploring the outdoors, so grab your walking boots, put on your waterproof coats and get outside! Also, perfect on bank holiday weekends when you have extra time!

Here’s a list of the best free forests you can visit:

• Ashdown Forest, East Sussex
• Fingle Woods, Devon
• Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire
• Grizedale, Cumbria – in the heart of the Lake District!
• Hackfall Woods, North Yorkshire
• Gwydyr Forest, Betws-y Coed, Wales
• Afan Forest Park, South Wales
• Three Lochs Forest Drive, Scotland
• Tollymore Forest Park, Northern Ireland

And if you’re lucky and the weather is shaping up to be a nice day, then it’s the perfect opportunity to get outside and enjoy a ‘free day outs near me’ at your local or further away, forest!

Do you have kids that love dinosaurs? Have they ever wanted to walk among the giants? Look no further than our incredible list of free days out for kids, where they can see dinosaur footprints and other fossils!

The Natural History Museum in South Kensington is the BEST place to witness the roarsome-ness of the giants that once walked the Earth. You can browse fantastic fossils, find out how fossils are formed, what killed the dinos and even see an animatronic T-Rex! It’s literally one of our favourite ‘free family days out near me’ that suits everyone! Whether you like space, prehistoric eras, crystals of how earthquakes work!

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There are amazing places to find real-life dinosaurs and prehistoric fossils around the UK. From shark teeth and dinosaur footprints to the Jurassic Coast!

• Dinosaur Coast, North Yorkshire
• Bracklesham Bay, Sussex (you can find shark teeth here…)
• Keates Quarry, Swanage (dino footprints from a group of Sauropods!)
• Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales
• Jurassic Coast, Devon and Dorset
• Dinosaur Footprints at Compton Bay, Isle of Wight

The best ‘free activities for kids near me’ are for those who love history, dinosaurs and ancient creatures… Check out the Titansaur: Life as the Biggest Dinosaur exhibit too!

It doesn’t matter what age you are, a visit to the beach is always lots of fun (if you don’t count the change for some ice creams).

Take a picnic, bring a football, bucket & spade or a frisbee and have some much-needed outdoor activities for kids! The kids will also love hunting for pretty or cool seashells or even seeing some tidepools! Will they find some tiny crabs You’ll have to visit and find out!

If your local beach is more stone than sand then skimming stones and rock pooling are the order of the day! See our top picks for the best beaches in the UK.

And if those don’t tickle your fancy, then here are some more beaches you’d love to go to:

• Boscombe Pier Beach, Bournemouth
• Southsea West Beach, Portsmouth
• Porthmeor Cove, Cornwall
• Caister-On-Sea Beach, Norfolk
• Bowleaze Cove, Weymouth
• Gower Peninsula, Wales

A beach trip is one surefire way to spend a ‘free family day out near me’, from building sandcastles and looking for curious critters to enjoying an ice cream!

Like tiny creatures? Maybe those you don’t normally see and are hard to find! Then this calls for a session of crabbing! Head to the coast and get finding – there is an initial outlay of around £5 for the kit which consists of a bucket, a net and a crab line.

But once you have the equipment, crabbing is hours of fun and you can use it again and again! It’s the perfect ‘free activities for kids near me’ where they learn, explore and discover sea life like never before!

You can also visit Mudeford Quay in Dorset, and there are plenty of crabs to catch! Some people recommend using bacon as bait, but we’ve heard that crabs seem to like cat food…

One of many fun ‘free days out near me’ is definitely a visit to an animal farm! Everyone loves cute and adorable animals, whether they bleet or moo! Adults love animals and it is one of many heartwarming ‘free activities for kids near me’ that they’ll remember forever!

With free admission, it’s the perfect day out for kids, and a Cornwall trip will be amazing too! There’s a mile of easy walking (so great for all ages!), and the free walking trail includes The Top and Bottom Ponds, Long Meadows, The Old Withy Woods, the Old Orchard and more!

You can also grab a cheeky Cornish ice cream after…

A natural phenomenon has to be the Giants Causeways and the one place you have to explore. Being Northern Ireland’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site it’s special with incredible rock formations that are out of this world and uniquely spectacular.

Also, boasting fun and enjoyable walks, it makes for epic ‘free family days out near me’! So, add it to your bucket list this year!

Many parks have nice large pathways too, so it’s perfect for zooming along on a bike or scooter! Maybe you can mix it up by renting a bicycle for two or a reclining bike, pack a picnic in your backpack and have a fabulous outdoor adventure for free!

More and more communities are also putting in skate parks – so you can enjoy the curves with a board or scooter (the shredding teens usually don’t show up until noon!).

So, dust off those bikes, strap on your helmets, and get ready for a pedal-powered day of family fun and exploration!

Many local councils run free family activity sessions such as sporting and fitness sessions for all ages that make for an amazing and totally free day out, especially during the school holidays!