The summer holidays are in full swing – but keeping kids entertained until September can be more than a little tricky.
It’s especially hard to keep the boredom at bay when you’re managing a tight budget, and the cost of living crisis can make even the simplest of extra curricular activities feel excessive.
Luckily, there are lots of free tourist attractions around the UK to help you keep costs down and enjoy quality time together as a family.
Here are the best free things to do in the UK for summer 2024.
Natural History Museum, London
Starting off with an all-time classic, we’ve got the Natural History Museum in London.
Since opening its doors in 1881, its housed an infinitely growing collection of natural history specimens – that were originally displayed in the British Museum.
The museum doesn’t just offer ticketed exhibitions – there are plenty of free things to see and do, including the dinosaur exhibition, the Volcanoes and Earthquakes gallery and an array of skeletal friends, including the famous whale, stegosaurus and the blue whale, AKA the largest mammal on earth.
Roskilly’s Farm, Cornwall
Based at the Tregellast Barton Farm on the Lizard Peninsula, Roskilly’s is a working Cornish Dairy farm.
Naturally, admission is completely free – and four-legged furry friends are welcome.
Latest London news
- Thunder over London left people ‘worried the world was ending’
- Plane crashes into east London field with man in hospital
- Banksy fish shop owner reveals safety worries after newfound fame
To get the latest news from the capital visit Metro.co.uk's London news hub.
The family-run business milks an impressive 125 Jersey cows, used to make Roskilly’s ice cream and fudges without the use of pesticides and artificial fertilisers. Get stuck in!
The National Football Museum, Manchester
A visit to the National Football Museum in Manchester is imperative for any sports fan.
The world’s biggest football museum, it’s open daily from 10am-5pm.
Admission is free for residents of the City of Manchester, under 5s and National Art Pass and Museum Association Members, so get your bookings in now.
Royal Albert Dock, Liverpool
The most-visited free tourist destination in North West England, Liverpool’s beloved Royal Albert Dock offers museums, galleries, restaurants and more, including Tate Liverpool, The Beatles Story, Merseyside Maritime Museum and the International Slavery Museum.
Opened in 1846, it was the first structure in the UK to be built solely from cast iron, brick and stone, with no wood in sight.
In 2013, it was regenerated, and now more than six million visitors travel to stroll along its paths each year.
Parliament Buildings, Belfast
Eager to see where the Northern Ireland Assembly sits? A visit to the Parliament Buildings on Belfast’s Stormont Estate will cost you nothing, nada, zilch.
The buildings are open to the public from 9am-4pm, Monday to Friday (except on public holidays).
Public tours are also available, but you’ll need to book your space.
Shambles, York
One of the most famous landmarks in York, Shambles is one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval shopping streets.
Think cobbled streets, wooden beams and tiny doorways, as some of these buildings date back as far as the 13th century.
Shambles is believed to have inspired the famous Diagon Alley from the film adaptation of the Harry Potter franchise and, as such, it’s home to an array of Hogwarts-inspired shops.
The streets were originally comprised solely of butchers, with each shop specialising in a different form of meat. Fear not, vegetarians: these days it’s filled with a vibrant mix of independent retailers, ranging from sweet shops to woollen mills.
Devil’s Dyke, Sussex
Wanting to soak up some crisp, autumn fresh air? Pumpkin spiced lattes at the ready, for a trip to Devil’s Dyke in Sussex is completely free.
A V-shaped valley with a depth of 100 metres, it’s managed by the National Trust. Housing some incredible panoramic views, this remarkable piece of landscape offers the opportunity for walking, cycling, and even hang-gliding.
But be warned: bring a hair bobble, because it’s incredibly windy at the top.
The Helix Park, Falkirk
Spanning over 350 hectares of greenery between Falkirk and Grangemouth in Scotland, The Helix is home to the Kelpies – also known as the largest equine sculptures in the world.
An impressive engineering achievement, the Kelpies are 100ft tall and weigh over 300 tonnes each, a tribute to the horses that historically propped up the Scottish economy by pulling wagons and coal ships.
Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford
And finally, housed inside Oxford’s Museum of Natural History, the Pitt Rivers Museum is inundated with fascinating things.
With over 500,000 items, including an Ethiopian Priest’s crown, Siberian reindeer knickers and a Roman shoe, it’s entirely possible to spend hours in here. Or, get lost entirely.
Your Daily Horoscope
Do you have a story to share?
Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
MORE : What do the nine Banksy pieces mean? We look at the clues
MORE : Banksy confirms fish on City of London police sentry box as his seventh mystery artwork
![Metro Travel presents... The Getaway Newsletter](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/client-mu-plugins/metro-newsletters/signups/images/travel-signup-logo.png)
Share this with