Family days out over the Christmas holidays do not need to come at a price – just pack a picnic, wrap up warm and head to one of these 30 magical museums or wintery walks around the UK – all completely free.
Midlands
Make like Frodo on the Tolkien Trail in Birmingham
See the places and people that inspired author JRR Tolkien to write Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. Download maps at birmingham.gov.uk/tolkien
Greet the cheeky meerkats in Nottingham
Stonebridge City Farm’s friendly residents to befriend include meerkats, ponies, pigs and a tortoise. It also has gardens and a play area. Open daily 10am-3pm. stonebridgecityfarm.co.uk
Spark their curiosity in Derby
Set in a former silk mill, the Museum of Making has a treasure trove of artefacts, including the world’s smallest engine, run using a human hair and a Toyota Corolla that has been exploded and suspended above reception. Closed Mondays. derbymuseums.org
Nationwide
Find a Gruffalo in the woods
Head to one of the Forestry Commission’s sites for a wintery walk or seek out a Gruffalo in the deep dark woods of Wendover Woods in the Chilterns, Bucks; Yorkshire’s Dalby Forest; Cheshire’s Delamere Forest and others. forestryengland.uk
Hear stories of courage at Christmas
Teach your kids about the sacrifices of the generations before them and see everything from Spitfires to trench art at Imperial War Museum London and IWM North in Manchester. Open daily, 10am5pm. iwm.org.uk
Meet a little donkey
Get up close to a star of the nativity story at one of the Donkey Sanctuary’s sites around the UK. Sidmouth is open daily, with Manchester, Leeds, Belfast, Birmingham and Ivy Bridge open on weekends. thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk
South West
Discover the toys of Christmas past in Devon
See Victorian marble runs, vintage toys and learn about 4,000 years of glass at House of Marbles in Bovey Tracy, Devon. The factory and visitor centre has free parking and a play area too. visit.houseofmarbles.com
Step onto the sculpture trail in Gloucestershire
The Royal Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail near Cinderford, Glos, features four miles of artworks by renowned artists set in woodland. Open 8am to dusk daily, except Christmas Day. forestofdean-sculpture.org.uk
Meet ice cream makers in St Keverne, Cornwall
Head to Roskilly’s Organic Farm to see the cows and explore the ponds, orchards and meadows. There are sheep, pigs and birds there too. Check online for opening times. roskillys.co.uk
Northern Ireland
Expand your horizons in Belfast
Art to dinosaurs and 1920s fashion to the history of The Troubles – it’s all at Ulster Museum in the Botanic Gardens. Open 10am5pm daily except Mondays. ulstermuseum.org
Get mixed up in a maze in Larne
Carnfunnock Country Park in Larne, Co Antrim, is 470 acres of woodland and walking trails, plus a maze in the shape of Northern Ireland. Some activities carry a charge. carnfunnock.co.uk
East of England
Learn about lifeboat heroes in Norfolk
The Henry Blogg Museum in Cromer pays tribute to the RNLI’s most decorated lifeboatman, who saved 873 souls from the North Sea. Kids can learn about his life and his dog Monte, as well as the bravery required to go to sea. Closed Mondays. rnli.org.uk
Burn off energy on a trail in Essex
Explore a 1.2km play trail with giant seesaw, climbing forest, tyre swings and sandpits at Great Notley Country Park near Braintree. Great spot for birds and cycling, with Green Flag status. Open daily from 8am to dusk. explore-essex.com
Yorkshire
Climb the rocks in Ripon
Spot the dancing bear and turtle among rock formations at Brimham Rocks, plus spectacular views. Parking charges apply. nationaltrust.org.uk/brimhamrocks
Board the Polar Express in York
See classic locos like Mallard and traditional royal carriages, as well as the futuristic Japanese Bullet Train at the National Railway Museum. There are also Christmas themed crafts and science shows daily. railwaymuseum.org.uk
Experience a Victorian Christmas in Barnsley
Pop in to Cannon Hall to learn how residents above and below stairs celebrated. Open Thurs-Sun, 11am-4pm, until Dec 24. cannon-hall.com
Wales
Step back in time in Cardiff
Take a walk around Wales from Celtic times to present day at St Fagans National Museum of History in Cardiff. The open-air museum has more than 40 original buildings from different eras, which will be trimmed up for the festive season. Open daily 10am-5pm, parking £6. museum.wales/stfagans
Go underground in the Valleys
Experience life as a miner at Big Pit National Coal Museum in Torfaen, South Wales, which is set within a real coal mine. Visits include travelling 300ft underground to see what it was really like at the coal face. Open daily 9.30am-4.30pm, tour times vary. museum.wales/bigpit
Scotland
Have designs on Dundee
Standing resplendent on the city’s waterfront, V&A Dundee is Scotland’s first dedicated design museum and home to everything in architecture and fashion, as well as Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s restored Oak Room. Open 10am5pm daily except Tuesdays. vam.ac.uk/dundee
Climb aboard in Glasgow
The Scottish city’s award-winning Riverside Museum tells the story of transport, big and small, with exhibits including skateboards through to a tall ship on the River Clyde outside. There’s also a Victorian street, dressed in festive finery. Open 10am-5pm daily. glasgowlife.org.uk
London and the South East
See instruments from times past in Forest Hill, London
The quirky Horniman Museum has been wowing families since Victorian times with its taxidermy and instrument collection. There’s an animal walk and beautiful gardens too. Open daily 10am-5.30pm. horniman.ac.uk
Meet Bagpuss and friends in Kent
Set in a beautiful Victorian building, The Beany House of Art and Knowledge in Canterbury has a fascinating collection of art, books and artefacts. The Smallfilms Gallery tells the story of Bagpuss, The Clangers and Ivor the Engine. canterburymuseums.org.uk
Admire the world’s finest art in London
There’s a work of art to suit every taste, from Warhol to Monet within the Tate Britain in Pimlico and Tate Modern on the South Bank. Catch Hew Locke’s vast installation The Procession. Open daily. tate.org.uk
North East
Be immersed in a festive story in Newcastle
Explore tall tales and magical worlds at Seven Stories, the National Centre for Children’s Books, which is filled with interactive exhibitions and has a huge Judith Kerr archive, plus Christmas events. Open daily 10am5pm, sevenstories.org.uk
Make some four-legged friends on a farm in Gateshead
Hold guinea pigs, feed the goats and meet some rare breed cattle at the charity-run Bill Quay Farm. This community project has fantastic views over the River Tyne, regular Christmas markets and an arts space. Open daily, 10am-3pm. facebook.com/billquayfarm
North West
Witness the bright lights of Blackpool
The UK’s ultimate seaside town needs no introduction – and is as much fun in winter as on a sunny day. There are six miles of its famous festive illuminations to enjoy plus a free ice skating rink, no booking needed. visitblackpool.com
Explore a host of outdoor art in Lancashire
The Ribble Valley Sculpture Trail is a 1.5-mile circular stroll near Clitheroe featuring 22 original artworks inspired by local wildlife and history. There are wonderful views of the Forest of Bowland and a “trim trail” for a workout on the way. ribblevalley.gov.uk
Blow their minds in Manchester
Explore the big ideas of the last 250 years at the city’s Science + Industry Museum, with accessible exhibitions covering everything from the textile industry to the wonders of the Solar System. Open 10am-5pm daily, booking is required. scienceandindustrymuseum.org.uk
