Great Free Things to Do With The Kids Hunt

kristi

llanberis in North Wales is a lovely day out without spending much. The National Slate Museum is FREE and its not as boring as a museum, you can walk around the old houses, there are free demonstrations and the largest working waterwheel in Britain and also a 3D film explaining the Welsh Slate business. You used to have to pay but since the welsh government have bought it it is free. There is the Quarry Hospital which has all the old machines and hospital equiptment on display, this cost us £2 for family or 4. Also there is the slate caverns which is FREE, they are beautiful to look at and walk around. There is a lake with activities around it. There is the Electric Mountain, the visitor centre is free to go in but you have to pay for the trip under the mountain. You can also go up mount Snowdon pay for the train or walk for free. It is well worth a trip.

looneyleo

Visit your local authority website and county website for details of activities and summer fun events. Mansfield has some fantastic things on this year! Well done!

For 0 - 5 age range find out if you are in a Sure Start area. There are always things to do for free - or very low cost.

Most of all...leave jobs for later and just spend time with your kids. Ask them what they would like to do and let them take the lead. I spent an hour yesterday playing with my 3 year old with her dolls house. She loved it and so did I!

Have a fab summer - get dirty, get wet and get wild!

angecull31

National Museum of Scotland
Chambers Street
Edinburgh

Something for all the family and free too!!!!

What more can you ask for

rainbowkanga

Check out your local netmums site - they have a list of local events going on. Our swimming pools are free for school aged children over the summer holidays.

If you belong to National Trust there are great places for "free" day (I've more than received back my membership) with a picnic, games and lovely grounds

Many local parks have summer play teams on hand

Local libraries have free craft and storytelling sessions

julienetmum

rainbowkanga wrote:

Check out your local netmums site - they have a list of local events going on.

They also have a section with ideas of things to do in the summer holidays

gingerdad

Some near me

Brockhole Lake District Visitor Centre
Fell Foot Park
Sellafield Science Museum
Dock Museum - Barrow
National Railway Museum - York
Sizeragh Farm - Farm Trail

Good internet activities

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/fun

RSPB also do a great free wildlife explorer pack

Sally_Young

Most local Authorities run summer play schemes, special events at parks / pools

Look out for vouchers eg free child places in local newspapers

Others have noted parks and libraries - again your Council website should list events

Near me - Newcastle upon Tyne - free things to do
Discovery Museum - great water play for under fives
Laing Art Gallery - Newcastle story - dressing up box
Hancock Museum - currently closed for refurbishment
Jesmond Dene - Pets corner
Walk along Quayside - go over Millenium Bridge, (better still try to go when it's tilting), ride up and down in lifts at the Baltic, laugh at the exhibits, go to the stage, take a picnic and feast in the Baltic Square
Saltwell Towers in Gateshead
Sunderland - Winter Gardens, Mowbray Park and library - particularly stuffed lion

Get a cheap day return Metro ticket and travel around the system

Watch out for special events - community festivals, Mela, Kite Festival, Miners Picnic, Airshow, magicians or music in Park - local listings

Pay for activities - Centre for Children's Book - expensive for single visit but can get year round family ticket (two visits and you have covered your outlay money). Whitehouse Farm near Morpeth (can take your own picnic)

Watch out for activities at Sage, then Northern Stage when it opens later this year

Big moneysaver is always to have your own food and drink. Little children in particular love picnics

happysinglemum

Hi All,

This is my first ever post, although I've been making use of the forums for ages now. thought it was time I contributed something! For anyone who lives in (or is visiting) the Lincoln area, I thought these might be usefule - my son loves them!

Hartsholme Park, Skellingthorpe Road, Lincoln (just off A46 bypass) - free parking, a play area, woods for hide and seek, a cafe and a lake with boat house. Loads of grassy areas for football / cricket / rounders / running around - and loads of trees to climb!

Hubbards Hills - I think there's a small charge for parking, but not expensive. They have a cafe, plenty of wide open spaces, woods to go for a walk, and a lovely, clean, shallow stream for the kids to play - or fish - in (take a fishing net)! And a towel and swimming gear, oh yes, and a football, cricket stuff, rounders, frisbee, etc... Cafe not too expensive, but it's lovely to take a picnic too. Only about half an hour from Skegness too, so could be combined.

'The Collection' - New museum in Lincoln. Free entry. Not sure what it's like yet, as I've yet to visit, but they have an 'Egyptian Sleepover' arranged for August for the kids, so I'll find out then!

Hope these are useful to someone...

happysinglemum

If you go to a Lincolnshire Tourist Information office, there are leaflets for Fantasy Island with vouchers for ride tokens:

Spend £12 and get another £12 of ride tokens free.

Spend £18 and get another £18 of ride tokens free.

not exactly a free day out, but if you live near enough, or are on holiday there, it makes it much cheaper than paying full price!

looby75

Princessa wrote:

http://www.alnwickcastle.com/index.php
and it's also where they filmed Harry Potter (it's hogwarts!) so fun for the kids (and why I went, lol!)

They also filmed parts of the 1st and second film at Durham Cathedral....which is also free to enter