Free and Cheap Summer Holiday Activities for Kids

Budget-friendly summer fun: Free and low-cost things to do with kids across the UK

The school summer holidays represent a time for imagination, exploration, and boundless energy. But for many parents, that excitement is tempered by a stark reality: the cost and logistics of entertaining children for six weeks can be staggering. Not to mention that seven in ten parents report feeling mentally or physically exhausted by the end of the summer break according to a survey conducted by Milad Sherzad at The Sun.

Recent data from Action for Children paints a sobering picture. 51% of UK parents worry they'll be unable to afford a holiday or even short breaks this summer, while 52% fear being unable to afford decent activities for their children. Meanwhile, additional research reveals that families now face an average £1,049 per child for six weeks of holiday childcare. That's £635 more than equivalent term-time care! Regionally, those outside London in the south-east are paying around £216 a week, while Wales is close behind at £209.

As a parent myself, I too feel the pressure to make the summer holidays magical and often spend much of the monthly budget to make it a reality. Yet here's the heartening truth: magic doesn't live in expensive camps or exotic destinations. It thrives in simple, thoughtful experiences like local wildlife walks, DIY splash zones, and library treasure hunts.

This guide will equip you with free and cheap summer holiday activities for kids drawn from community wisdom, cost-cutting savvy tips, and child-centred innovation. Build a summer rich in connection, discovery, and memory without hurting your budget.

Activities for kids near me: Finding local fun

If you've ever typed "activities for kids near me" into your phone while juggling snacks, sunscreen, and a bored child, you're not alone. It's one of the most searched-for phrases by parents each summer and with good reason. Finding fun, local, low-cost ways to entertain kids can feel like a full-time job. But it doesn't have to be.

Here's how to uncover hidden gems and budget-friendly options right on your doorstep.

1. Start with the local free stuff

You don't need to spend to entertain. Here's where to look first:

• Your local library – Most libraries offer free story time, Lego clubs, crafts, and the nationwide Summer Reading Challenge.
• Community centres – Check the community noticeboards or websites for events like family discos, sports tasters, and arts sessions.
• Local parks and green spaces – Many councils now host free activities like nature trails, pop-up play zones, and outdoor cinema screenings.
• Facebook community groups and WhatsApp chats – These are often the first-place locals share under-the-radar events, free taster classes, and quiet times at play centres.

2. Use tools to discover what's on near you

It's not always obvious what's happening nearby, so let these sites do the heavy lifting for you:

• LetsGoWithTheChildren.co.uk – Search by location, age, budget, and interests. Includes farm parks, splash pads, museums, mini trains, and more. Many listings include entry-free attractions or low-cost ticket bundles.
• Nextdoor App – Find local activity announcements, open days, and parent-recommended events tailored to your postcode.
• Local council websites – Many have "what's on" sections with free events, especially during school holidays.

3. Find local deals with daily discount sites

Looking for something a bit more exciting without overspending? With a little forethought, there's a deal for that:

• Find up to 70% off activities like roller skating, bowling, soft play entry, escape rooms, and climbing centres at Groupon. Great for rainy days or trying something new on a budget.
• Great for local activities, Wowcher often has deals on multi-child bundles and family passes. Watch out for limited availability and book early.
• LivingSocial is a dream for anyone wanting things to do in their local area. Save up to 80% on crafting experiences, fairs and sports tutoring.

Fun doesn't have to be fancy. Sometimes the best days are spent playing in the park, running through a sprinkler, building a den in a library nook, or bowling thanks to a £4 Wowcher code. It's all out there, right near you!

Summer activities for kids that won’t break the bank

When the school gates swing shut for six weeks, the pressure to keep children entertained without draining the bank account ramps up fast. But a great summer doesn't have to cost a fortune. With a bit of planning and some well-timed know-how, a wealth of budget-friendly fun is open to you.

Here are some standout ways to enjoy the summer holidays without overspending:

Join free and low-cost activity programmes

Many well-known organisations run free or heavily subsidised summer schemes (often in partnership with local councils or charities). These aren't just filler activities; they're full of enrichment and fun.

Museums with free-entry days

Many UK museums are free to enter year-round, from the Science Museum in London to regional gems like the National Railway Museum in York. Look for special summer programming, including interactive exhibits, storytelling sessions, and hands-on crafts especially designed for kids.

Sport England's active kids initiatives

Pop-up sessions promote physical activity during the summer and are often free to attend. Think football, tennis, rounders, or track and field in local parks. They're open to all ages and usually don't require booking.

Supermarket-sponsored clubs

Retailers like Asda and Morrisons have previously offered free kids' meals in their cafés and even funded holiday activity clubs in partnership with community organisations. Expect simple arts and crafts, physical games, and even lunch included.

Local School holiday clubs

Some schools and youth services host Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programmes, particularly for children on free school meals. These often include everything from forest school sessions to dance workshops, with meals provided at no cost.

Hobbycraft free kids' craft clubs

These quick but creative workshops are often completely free in-store during holidays. They are perfect for keeping the kids amused if you have popped into town to do some shopping.

Cheap indoor activities for kids when the sun is too strong (or the rain won’t let up)

Having some cheap indoor activities for kids on your itinerary is essential during the summer, a season that can swing from heatwave to downpour within the same hour. And yet, being indoors doesn't have to mean resorting to screens or listening to "I'm bored" on repeat. With a little creativity, your home, local library, or community centre can become the stage for scientific experiments, theatrical productions, arts and crafts, engineering feats, and even jungle-themed obstacle courses.

Here are some of the most engaging, low-cost ways to keep kids entertained indoors, drawing on ideas from crafts, STEM, imaginative play, and even a little DIY mischief.

Get crafting for hours of inexpensive fun

Kids don't need expensive kits or Pinterest-level setups to create something extraordinary. Often, what's in your recycling bin is all they need.

• Recycled art projects: Cereal boxes become castles, toilet rolls become binoculars, and plastic containers become mini greenhouses. Encourage themed challenges like "make a jungle animal" or "build a robot from scratch."
• Paper-based Fun: Origami tutorials on YouTube, paper plate animals, or folded fans on a hot day can offer hours of quiet concentration.
• DIY friendship bracelets: All you need is string or embroidery thread from a retailer like Hobbycraft. As a bonus, they double as adorable handmade gifts for friends and family.
• Homemade board games: Fold up cardboard for a DIY game board, use buttons or Lego as pieces, and let your child invent the rules. Design trivia cards, obstacle squares, or even silly forfeits.

STEM activities for kids that feel like play

STEM activities (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) may not seem fun, but balancing creativity and learning is always beneficial for growing children. Indoors is the perfect setting for kitchen experiments, problem-solving games, and hands-on discovery, and it doesn't have to feel like schoolwork.

• Baking soda volcanoes: Fill a small cup or container with baking soda (about 2-3 tablespoons). Add a few drops of washing-up liquid, food colouring, and glitter for extra drama.
• Balloon rockets: Tie a string across the room, thread a straw through it, tape on a balloon, and release.
• Marble run mayhem: Build your own run using cardboard tubes, tape, and boxes. Try timing the marbles to spark a competitive twist.

Indoor games, physical challenges and imaginative play

If the weather has squashed outdoor plans, bring the movement and energy indoors. Not every activity needs to be noisy or high-energy, though. Give kids space to explore narrative, emotion, and role-play. You don't need lots of space, just imagination!

• DIY obstacle course: Use cushions, blankets, stools, and string to create indoor Ninja Warrior zones. Add a stopwatch for extra fun.
• Treasure hunts: Hide clues around the house with mini tasks or riddles at each step.
• Balloon tennis or keepy-uppy: All the energy of a garden game, but with no smashed windows.
• Blanket fort theatres: Add puppets (or socks), dim the lights, and host a storytelling session.
• Costume box creations: Encourage kids to raid the wardrobe and invent characters for a homegrown drama hour.

Neurodiverse-friendly summer activities (from a mum who gets it)

As a mum to an autistic son, I know that the typical summer checklist doesn’t always work for every child. Busy crowds, noisy events, and unpredictable changes can be more overwhelming than exciting. What most people see as fun can feel exhausting or even unmanageable for neurodivergent kids.

So, while this guide is full of brilliant ideas, I am including a few that have worked for my family: activities that give children space, control, and the freedom to engage on their own terms.

Free activities for kids: Zero cost, maximum joy

Finding genuinely free ways to keep children entertained during the summer holidays isn’t always easy, but it is possible. While libraries and local clubs offer brilliant value (and we’ve already covered them), there’s a whole other layer of no-cost fun that often gets overlooked. Our parent spending survey has some interesting insights that may free up some money. In the meantime, below are some of the most rewarding free things to do with kids.

Museums with free entry and extras

Museums are a goldmine for parents looking for enriching days out that don’t cost a penny. Across the UK, many of the most celebrated cultural venues are completely free to enter, offering not just a quiet place to escape the rain or the heat but truly immersive, hands-on experiences for children of all ages.

From the Cardiff National Museum to the Ulster Museum in Belfast, many of these institutions offer free drop-in activities during the school holidays.

Museum	Location	Why It’s Great for Kids	Cost
Science Museum	London	Hands-on galleries, interactive science exhibits, and the Wonderlab (paid entry optional)	Free
National Railway Museum	York	Climb aboard trains, watch turntables in action, and enjoy free family trails	Free
Young V&A	Bethnal Green, London	Creative play zones, design labs, storytelling areas — designed with children in mind	Free
Manchester Museum	Manchester	Dinosaurs, Egyptian mummies, and hands-on nature spaces for under 10s	Free
Walker Art Gallery	Liverpool	Big Art for Little Artists room with sensory play and creative activities	Free
The Great North Museum: Hancock	Newcastle	Interactive natural history exhibits, planetarium shows (some paid), and summer workshops	Free

My son enjoying a day out at Eureka! The National Children's Museum, which offers unlimited free entry for 12 months after paying a low free on your first visit.

Free outdoor destinations worth the drive

If you’ve got access to a car, summer opens up in a whole new array of options. Suddenly, it’s not just about the local park or the nearby soft play; it’s about woodland adventures, wild coastal walks, rock pooling, splash zones, cliff climbs, and landscapes where kids can get muddy, wet, sun-kissed and totally worn out by teatime.

For outdoor activities for kids, here are my top 3 suggestions for places to visit:

Delamere Forest, Cheshire

• Miles of waymarked walking and cycling trails, plus a Gruffalo-themed sculpture hunt.
• Tree climbing, den building, and letting imaginations loose.
• Free access, with parking £2-£6 depending on stay length.

Charmouth Beach, Dorset

• One of the UK’s top fossil-hunting beaches and part of the UNESCO-listed Jurassic Coast. You’ll find ammonites, belemnites, and if you’re lucky, the odd ichthyosaur vertebra.
• Head to the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre (free entry) for fossil-spotting guidance and interactive displays.
• Great for curious kids who love dinosaurs, geology, and treasure hunting.

Whitley Bay, Northumberland

• Wide golden sands, a newly refurbished promenade, and St Mary's Island with its causeway-accessible lighthouse.
• Free paddling pool and play areas right on the seafront.
• Many activities are free or very low cost; just pack a few coins for arcade rides or ice-cream.

Blaise Castle Estate, Bristol

• Historic folly set in 400 acres of parkland with a deep gorge, riverside walks, and ancient woodland.
• Adventure playground, café, and a museum in the old mansion (free entry).
• Free access and parking, with plenty of space for picnics and nature play.

No car, no bother! - Find cheap local activities

Don't worry if you don't have a car; there is no need to miss summer adventures. In fact, many of the UK's best attractions are easily reachable by public transport. With some planning, trains and buses can open up a world of free or cheap family activities.

Reduced rail travel

• Family & Friends Railcard – For £30 a year, this Railcard gives up to 1/3 off adult fares and 60% off kids' fares (ages 5-15). It pays for itself in just one or two trips.
• GroupSave – Many train operators like Southern, Southeastern, and Greater Anglia offer discounted fares when 3-9 people travel together off-peak.
• Advance Tickets – Booking ahead, even by a few days, can halve the cost of day returns to museums or seaside towns. Trainline is a good place to start.

Low-cost buses

• £2 single bus fares – As of 2025, most bus operators in England still cap single adult journeys at £2 under the government scheme. The cap makes hopping between nearby towns or getting into the city centre far more affordable.
• Local council passes – Some councils offer free or discounted travel for under-16s during the school holidays. Check your local authority website for details.

What a cheap day out looks like: A real family trip to Hastings for £25

Sometimes it helps to see exactly how far a modest budget can stretch. Here’s one of my favourite summer days out with a total spend of around £25 for me and my son.

Destination: Hastings Seafront in East Sussex

Travel by train, self-catered lunch, and a handful of budget-friendly extras

Item	Cost	Notes
Off-peak return group train fare	£10.80	Kids under 16 discounted; booked 1 week in advance
Packed picnic from home (plus a few extras)	£2.00	Sandwiches, fruit, crisps, water bottles
Ice creams from local van	£4.00	2 single cones with sprinkles
Bucket and net from pound shop	£4.00	Used for hours of rockpooling and crab hunting
Mini golf (2-for-1 offer)	£5.00	One adult paid, kids go free. Voucher found online

Total: £25.80

We arrived around 10:30am, found a shady spot on the beach, and spent most of the day rotating between paddling, exploring the rockpools near the cliffs, and playing 'who can build the best sandcastle'. After lunch, we took a stroll down the pier and used a 2-for-1 code for a round of mini golf before heading back on the train with sandy feet and full hearts.

Low-cost summer activities for older kids and teens

When I think back to my early teen years, the last thing I wanted to do was spend the school holidays tagging along on family picnics or playing rounders with my little cousins. What I really wanted was independence and time with friends. Essentially, it was somewhere to hang out that wasn’t just my bedroom.

And that hasn’t changed. Teenagers want to make their own plans, choose their own company, and do things that feel a bit more grown-up. With that in mind, here are some smart, social, and seriously budget-friendly ways to help older kids make the most of their summer, with just the right amount of freedom.

Urban photo scavenger hunt

• Make a list of quirky or artistic things to find in your local town or city (e.g. a red door, a mosaic, graffiti art, a dog in sunglasses).
• Teens can team up, tick off the list, and post their best snaps to Instagram or BeReal.
• Great for social media content and exploring their town in a fresh way.

Skate parks and pump tracks

• Free to use and found in most larger towns, skate parks are ideal hangout spots for teens with scooters, BMXs or boards.
• Social, active, and self-led, with crucially no cost beyond transport.

Budget-friendly cinema clubs

• Look out for student and teen discounts at local cinemas.
• Vue, Odeon and Showcase often run £4.99 or less tickets during summer weekdays.
• Alternatively, set up a garden movie night with a borrowed projector or even an iPad under a blanket fort.

Music, podcast and chill zones

• Many towns now have youth hubs or creative spaces with free studio sessions or open-mic nights.
• Teens can record podcasts, share playlists or jam in low-pressure, supervised spaces.

Conclusion - Make summer memories without the cost

Looking back, the summer holidays I remember most aren’t the ones that cost the earth. They’re the messy, silly, spontaneous ones like building dams on a stony beach, getting soaked by a garden hose or finding a new shortcut home that took three hours. Kids don’t need five-star resorts or expensive day passes. They need time, attention, and just enough structure to keep things interesting.

But this guide is proof that with a bit of planning, some local knowledge, and a few well-placed rejections of overpriced attractions, you can create a truly special summer. Remember to check the days out and experience discounts on Savoo, including real savings on everything from theme park entry to family fun days. You can also learn how to save money on a family holiday and explore 10 money-saving tip for families.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do school summer holidays start?

School summer holidays in the UK usually begin in mid-to-late July and run through to early September. Some areas, particularly in Scotland, break up and go back earlier. To avoid surprises (or turning up at the gates two weeks too early), it's always worth checking the exact dates with your child's school or using the official GOV.UK school term and holiday date checker.

Are there free summer activities for kids?

Yes, there are plenty of free activities for kids if you know where to look (and our blog is full of them). From free-entry museums and public splash parks to bowling offers, nature walks, and even DIY adventures at home, it's entirely possible to plan a summer filled with excitement without spending a penny.

Simply type 'free activities for kids near me' into a search engine to unlock a universe of summer holiday possibilities.

Can I save on kids activities with a discount code?

Absolutely, and in many cases, you should never pay full price for kids activities. Whether you’re booking soft play, bowling, a local attraction, or even a family day out at a theme park, there are often discount codes and deals available if you know where to look.

Savoo days out discounts are always available, featuring exclusive offers and voucher codes for everything from indoor play centres to zoos, escape rooms, and summer events. You'll find discounts for kids’ activities at up to 50% off.