As the cost of living continues to rise the prospect of a long six-week summer break will be daunting for many parents. How to fill the endless days without spending a fortune?
Thankfully there are plenty of fun free activities for all the family taking place all over the UK this summer. From acrobats and kite flying to following brightly painted 5ft rubber duck sculptures along the seafronts, there are lots to keep everyone busy.
Here are just a few of the fun free things to do...
Notting Hill Carnival
This three-day festival of Calypso, Steelpan and Caribbean jazz has become one of the biggest street festivals in Europe. It offers a day devoted to family-friendly fun with children’s parade on Sunday, August 28. This year will see a group of participants from the Emancipated Run Crew wearing green lead the parade and will complete the route in their own time in honour of those who died in the Grenfell Tower tragedy five years ago.
Notting Hill, London
The festival’s Children Day is on Sunday, August 28
Elizabeth Gaskell's garden trail
“Every Plant that Peeps up is a Treasure” wrote Elizabeth Gaskell about her garden in Manchester, and this summer, families can discover these treasures for themselves.
The celebrated Victorian writer lived here with her family from 1850 until her death in 1865. Her gardens are hosting a free family nature trial. You can discover fun facts and things to do as you make your way around the area. Explore colourful herbaceous borders, daisy scattered lawns, a carefully cultivated vegetable patch and a rose and clematis-covered pergola.
Elizabeth Gaskell’s House, 84 Plymouth Grove, Manchester M13 9LW
Until Sunday, September 4
Acrobatics in Stockton
Stockton street theatre festival features famed aerial artist Gratte Ciel as well as a variety of other performers. There is a fun-packed family entertainment schedule too. Kids can learn about the 75th anniversary of Indian Independence courtesy of Circus Raj and The Grand Indian Bazaar!
Or how about catching a show from Madame Zucchini and her amazing vegetable entertainment? You can also make your own veg art (veg is provided).
Stockton-on Tees, County Durham
Thursday, August 4 to Sunday, August 7
Family fishing fun
The Environment Agency, Angling Trust, Canal & River Trust and Angling Trade Association are holding hundreds of low cost and free events to get families fishing this summer. Taking place all over the country, from the North West to the South East, the events are part of National Fishing Month in August. Please go to the website for more details.
England and Wales
Sunday, August 1- Wednesday, August 31
https://anglingtrust.net/getfishing/events
Eastbourne International Airshow
Take a picnic and grab a spot on Eastbourne’s seafront to watch the Red Arrows, Battle of Britain planes and a Typhoon taking part in Airbourne, the south coast town’s annual airshow. It’s all free to watch, from 11 am each day.
Eastbourne beach, Eastbourne, East Sussex
Thursday, Aug 18- Sunday, August 21
Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
Watching hundreds of hot air balloons taking off at dawn and dusk at Bristol’s annual festival is always a sight to behold. The event returns to its original home at Ashton Court Estate family entertainment, including fairground rides, demonstrations, model aircraft displays, food and drink, and music.
Ashton Court Estate, Long Ashton, Bristol, BS41 9JN
Thursday, August 11 - Sunday, August 14
https://www.bristolballoonfiesta.co.uk
Baby pygmies at Bath City Farm
Situated on a beautiful 37-acre plot in Bath, this is a popular visitor attraction for families and children, with a play park, farm animals and nature trails.
Events include an Animal Tour on Thursday, July 28 - kids can feed pigs, sheep and pygmy goats as well as groom ponies, cuddle baby pygmies, chicks and chickens. and spend some time giving treats to the rabbits. There is also an opportunity to plant your vegetables.
Bath City Farm, Kelston View, Whiteway, Bath BA2 1NW
Tuesdays to Saturdays
Follow that duck in East Sussex
Spend a day at the East Sussex coast and follow a public art trail to find brightly painted 5ft rubber duck sculptures on streets and along seafronts. The giant Rubber Duck Sculptures coming to Hastings and Bexhill have all got individual names such as Banana Duck, Captain Duck and Duck’ L’orange!
Hastings/St Leonards/Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex
Until Sept 4
Time travel through StoryTrails Live Tour
The UK’s largest immersive virtual storytelling project is travelling the UK, local audiences will be able to ‘time travel’ to explore stories of historic change in their communities. In Sheffield audiences will be introduced to environmental campaigner and founder of the Peak District National Park Ethel Haythornthwaite. The remaining tour stops at Lincoln, Wolverhampton, Swansea, Newport, Bristol, Swindon and Slough. It finishes in Lambeth and Lewisham in London.
UK wide
Friday, July 22 to Sunday, September 18
Aldeburgh Carnival, Suffolk
Suffolk will welcome back its award-winning seaside three-day festival this summer.
As well as a carnival parade, there’s a Chinese lantern parade through the streets followed by a seafront firework display. You can also enjoy plenty of music from performers, including the Suffolk School Of Samba. There’s also a chance to try your hand at kite flying.
Aldeburgh
Saturday, August 13 to Monday, August 1.
Fossil-hunting beneath the Essex cliffs
Calling all intrepid fossil hunters! Get down to Walton-on-the-Naze in Essex. It’s less plundered than the more famous sites along the Jurassic Coast, and you may well find the teeth of prehistoric sharks in the shingle above the tideline.
Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex
All days
Adult days
The cost of living is skyrocketing but you can still make the most of the summer at a selection of free events taking place all over the UK. From open air theatre and dancing along to some eighties legends to a homage to fromage here is our pick of what to enjoy. Happy hols.
Shalamar and The Fizz in South Shields
The South Shields festival has been in full flow this summer, and it will end with a bang this weekend. Bop along in Bents Park on Sunday to legendary soul band Shalamar. The Grammy award-winning US band will be performing from their catalogue of hits, including A Night to Remember, I Can Make You Feel Good, There It Is, and I Owe You One. They will be sharing the stage with none other than former Eurovision winners The Fizz. The group, who changed its name from Buck’s Fizz due to a legal dispute, now comprises of Cheryl Baker, Mike Nolan and Jay Aston.
The Makers Market at Trentham
Once every month, Trentham Shopping Village in Stoke-on-Trent hosts The Makers Market, an artisan market that showcases award-winning local food & drink, art, crafts and vintage artisans. The market is free to enter and is on Saturday, August 20 and Saturday, September 17.
Outdoor art in Sussex
The Rathfinny Wine Estate, which overlooks the English Channel, is home to one of the enormous illuminated text sculptures by the Turner prize-shortlisted artist Nathan Coley.
As well as that in Alfriston, East Sussex, five more are dotted around the county, including at West Beach in Newhaven Spend a day in Sussex discovering the artwork.
Until Monday Aug 29
Spot beavers in the Otter
These are the peak months to spot England’s first breeding wild beaver colony in 400 years in the appropriately named Otterton, Devon. Usually nocturnal, beavers venture into the half-light at dusk over summer. There are 15 families thought to be in the rewilded River Otter estuary. So far most sightings have been to the south of the village
Burning Man Festival Comes to Derbyshire
Sculptures from the Burning Man arts and cultural festival, held annually in the US, were brought to Chatsworth in Derbyshire. The sculptures will be displayed around the estate’s free-to-access parkland. The Burning Man event is normally held in Black Rock, Nevada, and culminates in the ceremonial burning of a huge wooden man.
The Chatsworth Estate exhibition in Bakewell will feature eight existing sculptures and four works built on site, including three sculptures that will be created with the help of visitors and community groups.
On until Saturday, October 1
chatsworth.org/events/burning-man
The National Theatre’s outdoor festival
The National Theatre’s open-air River Stage festival offers club nights and drag artists, dance and National live-streamed theatre shows. There’s a bar and street food stalls to keep you refreshed while watching every performance. Get ready for a whole host of great acts bringing music, dance, family workshops, theatre, club nights and so much more to London’s South Bank.
Every weekend until Aug 14
Snettisham Spectaculars birding display
Britain’s best birding spectacle occurs when spring tides sweep over the Wash to send tens of thousands of waders into the sky. Snettisham Spectaculars are a rare chance to see UK wading birds in their hundreds and thousands, literally being pushed off the mudflats by the fast incoming tide. They take off in one great throng, performing an incredible show - which is why it really is a spectacle.
See it at RSPB Snettisham, King’s Lynn on various times and days from Friday August 12 to Thursday October 13
Live music from the Band Stand with Mersey Swing
Catch the sounds of Liverpool’s hottest Jazz musicians and get jumpin’ with Mersey Swing’s Lindy hoppers! To mark Sefton Park’s 150th anniversary on Sunday, July 31, live music from the Band Stand with Mersey Swing. musicians and get jumpin’ with Mersey Swing’s Lindy hoppers!
Chef masterclasses in Manchester
Traders, bars and artisan producers will be showing of their produce in Manchester. There will also be masterclasses from chefs, and other takeovers going on over the duration of the festival. Among them will be a ‘ fire pit’ set up, sponsored by BBQ-makers Weber, featuring outdoor cookery from Sao Paulo Project’s Caroline Martins, Robert Owen Brown and Francisco Martinez from South American restaurant Fazenda.
Cookbook publisher Octopus will also be presenting a host of its food writers at the event in Cathedral Gardens, including broadcaster Kate Humble, Lia Leendertz, Edd Kimber and Jeremy Pang. Cooks Pip Payne and Nicky Corbishley will be offering tips on making great food without breaking the bank, while 2018 Bake Off winner Rahul Mandal will be doing demonstrations too.
Free tickets for these events, from Thursday September 15 to Tuesday September 26, are available to book now.
The Little Cheese Festival in Caerphilly
Yes, you read that right! The Big Cheese Festival is a regular event at Caerphilly but this year it cannot take place in its usual format due to development works taking place in Caerphilly Castle - but a mini version event is happening instead
As well as an amazing cheese market there will be live music, with different music areas, food and drink stalls, craft sessions, and small funfair rides. The Little Cheese Festival is running on Saturday, September 3, and Sunday, September 4, and entry to the festival is free.
World Triathlon Para Series
The UK’s first-ever standalone World Triathlon Para Series will take place in Prince of Wales Dock, Swansea, this summer. You can go along and show your support at this festival of high-quality insport and competitive para-sports events.
The World Triathlon Para Series will be held in Swansea on Saturday, August 6. There will also be live entertainment, food and drink, and an event village, with the event free to enter.
triathlon.org/paratriathlon/events
Switched on
The National Science and Media Museum in Bradford has a new exhibition.
Switched On will take visitors on a journey from the first radio microphones to the invention of colour television and the rise of on-demand video and streaming services Visitors will learn about influential trailblazers like David Attenborough, who led the introduction of colour on BBC2 or Delia Derbyshire, who created the Doctor Who theme tune in 1963, marking the first television tune made purely from the electronic sound. Visitors will also be able to experience first-hand the last century of broadcasting innovations through six interactives, including a live camera feed that will show the evolution of television displays over time.
On until Sun 1 Jan 2023
www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk
Horse around in the Kelpies
The Helix parkland is a beautuful place to walk and cycle including around 500km of connected cycle paths. It is also home to The Kelpies, two 30-metre-high horse head sculptures which are a true feat of engineering. Located between Falkirk and Grangemouth, they are largest equine sculptures in the world. The Kelpies’ name reflects the mythological transforming beasts that possess the strength and endurance of 100 horses.
community@thehelix.co.uk
Music and dancing at The Commonwealth Games
It may have escaped your notice but there is a little sporting event happening in and around Birmingham.
But as well as the actual 2022 Games, there are lots of fun free events taking place too. And you don’t need to have tickets to the Games to soak up the atmosphere.
There will be lots of free events and activities, including steel bands, Bhangra dancing, DJ sets and big screen sports action dotted across several sites around Birmingham and the West Midlands until August 8. Please check out the official Commonwealth Games schedule.
birmingham2022.com/festival/sites
Home fun...for free
With families feeling the pinch and airports in chaos, research suggests 42% of parents will not be taking their children on holiday this summer.
If you are staying put more than usual over the lengthy break, hereour experts reveal 10 free or low-cost activities you can try at home...
Create your own cinema
“Creating a cinema in your home is great, as everything you need is already in your house,” says toddler expert Amanda Jenner.
“To incorporate some arts and crafts into your day, spend some time with your children creating some at home cinema tickets that are on theme with the film.
“Making the effort to really immerse your child within your cinema experience, why not try playing dress up with your little one, especially if their favourite character is in the film you’re watching.”
Try keeping a boredom jar
“A frankly ingenious idea that could proactively save many parents from the misery of a bored child over the summer is the boredom jar,” says Julian House, managing director of www.myfavouritevouchercodes.co.uk.
“It just goes to show what a little pre-planning and organisation can do – simply obtain a jar and write a series of tasks, activities or challenges for your children to do.
“These can be anything from making a daisy chain bracelet to making the best paper hat. Any time your kids say that they’re ‘bored’, you can get the jar out and find something to do.”
Enjoy a scavenger hunt
“If you and your child are looking for something to do at home this summer holiday no matter the weather and at no cost, an entertaining and physical activity that you can do indoors or outdoors could be creating a scavenger hunt,” says Amanda.
“This activity could include hiding some shapes or snacks around the house or in your garden, then letting your little one search around the house looking for the items.
“If your child is looking to do something with their friends this summer, why not invite them over to take part in a group hunt.”
Repurpose arts and crafts
“Arts and crafts activities are a great way to keep the kids occupied but buying all the individual supplies to help your little one on their journey to becoming the next Picasso can be costly,” says Julian.
“Instead, look around the home for household rubbish which could be repurposed for an arts and crafts project. Do you have a large cardboard box lying around, perhaps from buying a TV or moving houses? Perfect! It can be your children’s next canvas.”
Build an obstacle course
An obstacle course is an ideal activity for toddlers according to Lovevery, whose products support stage based development for children aged 0-3yrs with their Play Kits subscription programme.
They say: “Consider starting small—just two or three elements, so they can feel successful before you add more.”
Try to give your child:
- Something to jump to (spots on ground), over (a rope or a line, and into (hoops).
- Something to crawl through or under (a play tunnel, a table, or a chair).
- Something to walk on carefully (a board laid flat on the ground) or climb over (bean bag chairs, or large stuffed animals).
Make your own fort
Building your own den or fort could help you shake the habit of being glued to the TV say the experts at retailer Millets.
They say: “Embrace your space and make the most of your house by pretending each room is a different zone.
“Place a few chairs of differing heights around the living room and make sure that their backs are facing the inside of the den.
“Add some finishing touches to your den by stringing up lights or making a sign for it.
“Why not think about camping out together as a family in the back garden?”
Decorate with bunting
Once you’ve made your den, the magical spell to spruce up your tent, den or fort is made up of a pinch of creativity, a sparkle of colour, and a dash of different materials, Millets’ experts continue.
Here’s what you need to do:
“Gather around five different patterned fabrics and/or brightly coloured pieces of scrapbook paper.
Start to draw the shape and size of your first flag out on the paper.
Cut out the flag. Use this flag as your template flag and use it to cut out the rest of the triangles.
Attach the flags to a string. If you used paper, you can punch three to four holes at the top of each flag and simply thread a piece of string, ribbon or twine through the holes to hang the flags. If you used fabric, you can either sew the top edge of each flag around a piece of twine or ribbon, or you can use a bead of fabric glue to attach the string, for an easier option.
Hang your flag banner by tying the ends of the string to nails in the wall or by draping it over the outside of your den, fort or in the eyes of your little one, their make-believe castle surrounded by a moat or guarded by a scaly fire-breathing dragon!”
Enjoy sensory play
Here’s an idea for DIY Spice Paints from Lovevery, suitable for a toddler:
You’ll need:, Water, small bowls or cups for mixing the paint, a few spices of different colours (choose spices with concentrated pigments like turmeric, paprika, nutmeg, tandoori, cinnamon, and matcha.)
To make the paints: Put a tablespoon of the spice into a small bowl or cup and add just enough water to make a paste. Some spices can stain, so consider protecting clothes and surfaces before you start.
Play water balloon toss
Parenting expert Sue Atkins says this is a sure fire winner.
“Get the kids to fill lots of balloons with water,” Sue, , who is working with the Uh Oh Milo! educational stories for young children, advises. “And depending on how many there are you can set up different water balloon games.
“You can keep it simple and play ‘keepy uppy’ or have one person in the middle of a circle and when they drop the balloon it bursts open soaking the player.”
Make a pocket fan
Experts at LoveCrafts.com shared this from gluesticksblog.com.
Supplies : Three 5x8ins rectangle pieces of plain paper, two lolly sticks, a tiny hairband, A tool and a straight edge for scoring.
Instructions : Score each paper on the 1/2ins mark. You can fold it without scoring, but scoring will help children get even folds all the way across.
Accordion fold each piece of paper. Then fold each piece of paper in half. Using a glue stick or hot glue gun, adhere each fan piece together until you have one seam left.
Glue a popsicle stick to each side. Close with a mini hair band and it is ready to travel.
