Great Free Things to Do With The Kids Hunt

[MSE Martin]

The summer holidays are nearly upon us and if you're tearing your hair out at the thought of entertaining your kids for six long weeks, here's a bit of help. I'd like to tap MoneySavers wealth of knowledge to come up with some free things to keep the little 'uns entertained. Whether it's indoor or outdoor activities, games that can be downloaded from the net or free places to visit.

Click reply to post your ideas.

[*Louise*]

Royal Botanical Gardens - Edinburgh
Duck Pond, Arthur's Seat - Edinburgh
Museum of Childhood - Edinburgh

Local Park - ANYWHERE!

[Penny-Pincher!!]

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Freebie Days Out For The Kids Holidays!! Lets List Them!!
Thought it might be an idea to list different places people could visit with the childrens school holidays imminent

The places I know of are:

National Gallery-London
Science Museum-London
Tate Gallery-London
Natural History Museum-London
National Potrait Gallery-London
Museum Of London-London
Victoria & Albert Museum-London
British Museum-London

Tubes in London are now free for the under 11's and buses in London are free for all children under the age of 16-ID may be required if children look older.

We normally take a packed lunch with us as the prices in these places are normally very expensive!

Many Thanks!!

PP
xx

[Princessa]

http://www.alnwickcastle.com/index.php

We went here last Summer, I don't know if they charge now but it was free then. It's got lovely gardens to have a walk around, and it's also where they filmed Harry Potter (it's hogwarts!) so fun for the kids (and why I went, lol!)

[A LANCASHIRE LAD]

National Football Museum
Deepdale Preston North End FC

Unbelievable collection of the finest football artifacts ever ......

DONT MISS THIS !

[hobo28]

Markeaton Park - Derby
National War Museum - Salford
Heaton Park - Manchester
Ripley Water Gardens - Ripley, derbyshire
Pennington Flash - Leigh, Wigan

As usual tho, car parking fees apply

[Rachie B]

Margam park - Port talbot http://www.neath-porttalbot.gov.uk/margampark/ ( free entry just pay car parking £2 a day )

Bryngarw Park - Bridgend - http://www.bridgend.gov.uk/Web1/grou...ng/003622.hcsp as above for parking charges

Tredegar park - Newport http://www.ukattraction.com/south-wa...degar-park.htm

Amelia Trust farm - no fixed entry ,but donations welcome http://www.ameliatrust.org.uk/

Cardiff Bay barrage - sand pit & play park http://www.cardiffharbour.com/barrage/todo.htm

St Fagans museum of welsh life http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/stfagans/ car parking £2.50 a day

[Edinburghlass]

Edinburgh, www.cowparade-edinburgh.co.uk

As the holidays are already here in Scotland there is still time to spot and photograph all 94 cows before they leave the streets on 23 July

We bought day tickets for the bus and spent the afternoon on Friday spotting some 60 odd in varying areas of the town.

[Queenie]

Originally Posted by MSE Martin

.... I'd like to tap MoneySavers wealth of knowledge to come up with some free things to keep the little 'uns entertained. Whether it's indoor or outdoor activities, games that can be downloaded from the net or free places to visit.

I'm going to emphasise that you check out your local Tourist Information Board and Library too - often they have leaflets promoting events which are free or some which include money off vouchers to local attractions.

Days Out Uk - is a website which sometimes has vouchers for places, worth checking.

Real Days Out - is another searchable database, giving a idea of prices (including free entry attractions)


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For printables and art & crafts ideas and a whole host of other stuff, check out:-

Family Fun

Kids Domain - Summer Boredom Busters

Rainy Day Fun and Boredom Busters

Holiday Boredom Busters

Summer Craft Activities

[Scarlett1]

you're local beach with a bucket and spade

[Sallys Savings]

There are many animal rescue centres that let you look around for a small donation...i.e. woodgreen animal shelter at Godmanchester.

Cycle routes around reservoirs/nature reserves.

Check out if your local council are holding any holiday schemes.

Look for ideas at your local leisure centre...there are the normal football / hockey / swimming courses etc but also there may be offers. Ours offer the badminton / squash / and gym for 14-16 year olds a half price rate if used between 9 and 5 in the school holidays

Is there a play bus visiting?.....Some villages in our area have a mobile skate park visit.

Some places/sports have a try it free day, so keep an eye in the local newspapers....we've tryed archery, canoeing and pottery this way.

Group up with other families for a fun/sports afternoon in the park. It gets the community together and lets your little ones have a great time too.

Go pond dipping

Go on a wellie walk if it rains.....mine have always loved this..letting them get as wet as they like

Arts/crafts....make own skittles from drink bottles, paper mache pigs, make up play dough or slime using cornflour and water,

Visit your local library..they have lots of books with ideas as well as having story time/sing alongs and other events going on in the holidays at a really cheap price. (ours has magicians, snake visits, etc)

Google on the internet for crafts/arts

Have a dress up day....through all bits and pieces together and make up fancy dress. Even if its with old newspapers, scissors and sellotape.

Cooking......whether its cookies and cakes or a meal..its always fun

Our local museum is free for residents in the town..so maybe yours is too.

Let your children loose with a digital camera and see what images they can come up with on a walk/visit/even just in the house.
They could make up a game ..taking photos of close up objects in the house and other people have to guess what they are.

Get all the old photographs out and go down memory lane...if they arent in photo albums yet let your children arrange them into albums.

Watch old home made videos/dvds.

Make old fashioned tents in the garden with sheets, poles, garden forks, washing line, clothes horses, pegs etc.

Paint or chalk the paving slabs (make sure they can be brushed off after with an old broom and water)

Wash the car...mine always loved doing this and getting as wet as anything..it always ended up in a water fight

Go swimming.

Local nature reservoirs often have special spotting afternoons/days..so contact them and see.

If they're old enough get them to make up their own magazine..interview neighbours, relatives, local sports news, photographs/drawings, birthday greetings etc. etc.

make up your own treasure hunt, or the older children make one up for the younger ones.

Cycle rides...perhaps get the children to use mapquest so they have to follow instructions?


I always had a list of things to do and places to go at the begining of the holidays so if boredom stepped in there was always something different up my sleeve rather than putting me on the spot. So have a look in the library and talk to other mums for ideas too.

[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]

Originally Posted by rainbowkanga

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

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!