You don’t need to spend a fortune to have fun with the family this autumn and winter. From fireworks to forest trails, science festivals to playing pirates, there are plenty of exciting attractions and events out there that are totally free.
Click or scroll on to discover our pick of the best things to do in the UK for some free family fun...
Harry Potter is big business in tourism but amazingly Edinburgh's Potter Trail – a walking tour around the Old Town – is completely free. So grab your wand and don your wizard robe to set off on a magical tour around some of the haunts that inspired JK Rowling as she wrote her books.
Calling all wannabe explorers, sailors and pirates: adventures aplenty await you at Greenwich’s National Maritime Museum. The brilliant interactive AHOY! gallery allows kids to immerse themselves in life at sea, firing canons, hauling ropes or stoking the boilers.
Or set sail across the Ocean Map, an interactive ‘map of the world according to fish,’ where kids can search for sea creatures and find their home port. There’s a host of family events on weekdays during term time too.
Get the kids outside and into the joys of rambling or cycling on one of the guided events taking place during this annual festival, which usually runs in October and November every year.
Local experts lead a range of walks and rides around the national park where they'll divulge secrets of the forest and fascinating historic facts, while helping you spy the local wildlife along the way. Many of the events are free but require booking.
See your child’s inner thespian released as they rummage in the Royal Shakespeare Company's dressing-up box. Located on the second floor, it’s guaranteed to provide some incredible photo opportunities.
The whole family will also enjoy The Play’s The Thing, a free exhibition offering fascinating insights into the history of theatre-making in Stratford-upon-Avon. It features interactive exhibits and intriguing items from the RSC Collection, one of the most significant Shakespeare and theatre collections in the world.
A torchlit procession through Penrith brings this lovely celebration of rural life to a close. Everyone's encouraged to dress as sheep, cows or drovers, so get the kids enthused in advance by helping them make their own animal masks.
The annual day-long festival takes place on 25 October and there are live performances throughout the day, food and craft stalls and an overall magical, carnivalesque feel.
Giant dinosaurs, a maze, a sandpit and a boating lake: there’s a lot to love about Crystal Palace Park in south London. Follow the lakeside trail to spot the extinct beasts – there are more than 30 heritage-listed statues here.
They were created by Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins in the 1850s, and marked the first ever attempt to make 3D models of dinosaurs based on fossilised remains. Head to the playpark for more dino-themed fun, with bones to discover in the sandpit.
Follow a magical trail around Lancaster’s centre to marvel at the colourful and thought-provoking illuminations brightening the city’s heritage buildings, squares and shops during this family-friendly evening event, which takes place from 6-8 November this year.
There will be music and dance performances too, followed by a fireworks display.
Autumn is the best time of year for fungi – get the kids spotting different species on tree branches, along rotten logs and among the grass. The Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust has fantastic nature reserves like Foxholes in Oxfordshire, where you can find fairy rings on woodland strolls.
Bird lovers should head for the trails around the Nature Discovery Centre. Routes take in the lake and Thatcham Reed Beds, both fantastic places for spotting waterbirds.
It isn't always easy convincing kids to go to art galleries, but once they discover the Family Space sessions at the excellent South London Gallery in Peckham, they won’t want to leave.
These free ‘make and play’ art workshops take place on the last Saturday of the month from 11am to 1pm. Aimed at families with children aged five to 12, they're a fantastic way for kids to be creative and have fun at the same time.
Inspire the kids to get sporty by following in the footsteps of the world’s greatest athletes around East London's amazing sporting venue, the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park– formerly the hub of the London 2012 Olympics.
There are climbing walls and interactive fountains for little ones to explore, while the Tumbling Bay Playground offers treehouses, rock pools, and sand pits, all inspired by the beauty of the great outdoors.
Wind in the Willows fans will know that Ratty was actually a water vole, and these loveable little creatures were once a familiar sight in Kielder Water until the predatory mink wiped them out.
However, thanks to the delightfully named Restoring Ratty project, over 1,400 water voles have now been reintroduced to the area. The best places to spot this protected native species are Kielder campsite and Ratty retreat Hide on the Forest Drive – although please note there is a £5 toll to travel this 12 mile road.
You don’t need to live in the countryside to have a fun day out in the forest. The London Wildlife Trust runs regular free family events at Walthamstow Wetlands and other locations.
Activities on offer range from Guide in a Hide birdwatching sessions to magical story telling events. Check the website for an up to date list of what’s on offer.
The thrill of seeing a wild pony will stick in a child's mind, especially with the majestic landscape of Dartmoor as a backdrop. There are numerous trails to follow around the tors, moorlands, valleys and forests in this remarkable corner of north Devon, which is steeped in spooky tales.
Misty autumn days are a particularly atmospheric time to explore.
York’s wonderful National Railway Museum is the perfect place for amateur engineers and trainspotters. The newly restored and refurbished Station Hall – re-opening on 26 September – offers the opportunity to explore 100 years of railway travel via historic vehicles, including Queen Victoria’s opulently decorated carriage.
Under 6s will love the play area where they can build their own Stephenson’s Rocket or run their own toy railways.
For a fun and free day out with kids big and little, community farms are great. The people of Bath are very lucky to have Bath City Farm on their doorstep, with its wonderful views over the picturesque city.
The farm has lots of livestock for youngsters to meet and learn about, and a lovely play area too. It's free, though donations are welcome.
Dare to enter the Giant’s Lair and you'll encounter an assortment of mythical wood-carved creatures on this delightful story trail in Slieve Gullion Forest Park.
Spot little fairy houses, dodge dragons and creep past ogres for over a mile. There’s an adventure playground in the park too.
Another of autumn’s most impressive spectacles is the annual rutting of fallow deer. Watch as males congregate to groan and lock antlers in this fierce mating competition – that's one way of learning the birds and the bees...
You can go deer spotting for free in Bushy Park and Richmond Park in London.
Little knights and warrior queens will love exploring the array of arms and armour on display, and learning about the military techniques of Saxons, Vikings and medieval knights at this free Leeds museum.
There are live combat demonstrations, elephant armour on display (the world's largest animal armour) and plenty of cuddly friends to meet in the gift shop.
The pretty Cornish port of Padstow gets into the Christmas spirit from 4-7 December, when celebrity chefs and an array of food, drink and craft producers congregate for its annual festival (under-16s go free).
Inspire older kids to help out in the kitchen this Christmas at one of the chef demonstrations, and take little ones to the Christmas Market. Live music, festive treats, fireworks and local ales and cider mean there's something to appeal to everyone.
Set in 400 hectares (988 acres) of beautiful countryside, Strathclyde Country Park offers something for all ages. There's a 3.5-mile (5.6km) walk that loops around the loch while outdoor adventure playgrounds provide endless fun.
Water babies can splash about at the watersports centre, board a family fun boat or hire a pedalo, while guided nature walks teach budding wildlife enthusiasts all they need to know.
Kids will find it all too easy to embrace their inner emperor at the National Roman Legion Museum in Wales. There's plenty for all to see and do here, not least the opportunity to get a close look at intricate mosaics and artefacts.
The Roman Life and Death in Caerleon trail is filled with interesting facts to help the whole family gain the most from their visit and learn all about the Romans in Wales.
Brighton's Rampion Visitor Centre gives all ages the chance to learn more about Rampion Wind Farm, the south coast's first offshore wind farm. Discover the relationship between energy and climate change, and the incredible technology the nearby farm uses in order to harness the power of the wind to create cleaner, greener power.
Open Tuesdays to Sundays, this environmental attraction offers hands-on exhibitions, interactive displays, games and videos and even a virtual reality experience. Better still, it's totally free to visit.
The old Museum of Childhood in London’s Bethnal Green has been transformed in recent years, reopening in 2023 as the Young V&A. No longer just a repository of old toys and games, it’s a bright, lively place where children can learn, explore and play in a variety of interactive environments.
It’s also a great nostalgia trip for parents, with collections featuring vintage toys and computer consoles, while art lovers can enjoy classic illustrations by Quentin Blake or Rachel Whiteread’s astonishing installation Place (Village), made from over 100 old dolls’ houses.
A great, family-friendly alternative to the pricey Bonfire Night celebrations in London is the Coram’s Fields Fireworks display. It’s free for all (although adults must have children with them to be admitted), and includes fun fair rides, food stalls, and performances by local youngsters.
Or you could always wrap up warm and head over to Primrose Hill, one of the highest natural points in the capital, to enjoy a spectacular panoramic view across the city, illuminated by some of its most spectacular fireworks displays.
While Stonehenge, the UK's most famous megalithic structure, is notoriously expensive and overcrowded, another of its great prehistoric marvels can be visited for free. Dating from roughly 2850 to 2200 BC, Avebury henge is the largest stone circle in Britain, and just one of a remarkable set of Neolithic ceremonial sites in the area.
Others, like West Kennet Avenue and Long Barrow, The Sanctuary, and Silbury Hill, are all accessible by foot from Avebury, offering the perfect opportunity to introduce children to the many beguiling mysteries of Britain’s Bronze Age past.
Once limited to places like Germany, Austria and Switzerland, traditional Christmas Markets have been lifting festive spirits in Britain since the 1980s. One of the biggest and best is in Manchester, running from 7 November to 22 December this year (with some stalls running until 4 January 2026).
With classic wooden chalets selling mulled wine (for parents only, of course!), handmade gifts and other seasonal treats, it boasts more than 200 stalls spread over nine locations, and even if you don’t buy anything, it’s a perfect way to soak up the festive atmosphere with the family.
One of Britain’s most iconic locations, the White Cliffs of Dover offer breathtaking views over the English Channel – as far as France on a clear day. There are many trails to explore, but for the best views over the cliffs, take the coastal path towards South Foreland Lighthouse and just take in the spectacle.
It's an ideal spot for bird watching or picnicking, and there’s even a play area for the kids. Nearby attractions include Fan Bay Deep Shelter, a World War II artillery emplacement, and Dover Castle – although note that both have admission charges.
One of Scotland’s most popular visitor attractions, the National Museum of Scotland truly has something for everyone. Thousands of objects are spread across multiple galleries, exploring everything from art, design and fashion, to science, technology and world cultures.
The vast, light-filled atrium of the Grand Gallery is one of Scotland’s most spectacular indoor spaces, while kids will love the Natural World displays, which include a host of dinosaur skeletons, including of a Tyrannosaurus rex.
One of Britain’s most unique and fascinating institutions, the Pitt Rivers Museum traces the history of human existence via a collection of more than 500,000 exhibits, including everything from ritual and decorative objects to masks, tools, toys and costumes.
It’s a deeply atmospheric place, with every corner of its vast main hall crammed with old display cases and unusual objects, including an enormous 19th-century totem pole. The famous shrunken heads are no longer on display, but there’s still plenty to see for all the family, especially for those with older children.
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