12 cheap and free things to do with kids during summer

As schools break up for the summer, many parents will be looking for affordable ways to keep the kids entertained over the holidays.

While good weather isn't guaranteed, summer offers plenty of opportunities to get out and about without spending a fortune.

From £1 kids’ meals to discounted cinema tickets and budget-friendly outings, Which? has rounded up the best ways to keep your family occupied this holiday.

1. Kids eat cheap and free deals

Some supermarkets offer free or discounted meals during the school holidays:

• Asda runs its 'Kids Eat for £1' all-day offer year-round, with no adult spend required.
• Morrisons has a deal where kids under 16 eat free when an adult spends £5 or more on a meal at its cafés.
• Tesco: Kids can eat free every day with any adult purchase in The Café when dining in. The offer runs 25 June to 1 September. You'll need a Clubcard or the Tesco app to claim it, and a child must be present.  
  

Restaurant, pub and hotel food offers

These deals might be useful if you’re looking to save cash while treating your kids to an evening meal out.

• Angus Steakhouse Kids under eight eat free every day between 12pm and 5pm when you order at least one adult main course.
• Ask Italian: Up to two children can eat free with the purchase of an adult main meal when you redeem the offer through the free ASK Perks rewards app. The promotion runs 29 June to 6 September in Scotland and 17 July to 6 September in England and Wales, and is available all day, every day.  
• Banana Tree One free kids’ drink, main meal, and dessert for each adult main meal purchased each Sunday of the year.  
• Bella Italia Kids aged two to 11 can eat free with the purchase of an adult main from Sunday through to Thursday. 
• Beefeater Up to two children under 16 can eat breakfast for free with the purchase of every adult breakfast. 
• Bill’s Up to two children can eat free when one adult orders any main course, including breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner. The offer is available Monday to Friday until 1 September (excluding Saturdays and Sundays). 
• Café Rouge Kids can eat for free between 12pm and 4pm every day of the week with the purchase of any adult main. 
• Dobbies Garden Centres You can get a children’s breakfast with any adult traditional or full breakfast, or a child’s hot meal or a pick-and-mix lunch box with any adult main course for just £1. This is available every day and also includes a free child's drink. 
• Franco Manca Children under 12 can get a free kids' pizza with the purchase of an adult meal at selected restaurants from Monday to Thursday. 
• Holiday Inn Children under 12 get a free meal from the kids' menu at breakfast, lunch and dinner when dining with an adult guest who orders from the full-priced menu. The deal is limited to four kids per family. 
• Ikea From 11am, families can get a kids' meal of pasta and tomato sauce for just 95p at Ikea cafés across the UK. Other children's dishes cost between £1.95 and £2.95.  
• Las Iguanas Kids under 12 eat free seven days a week with the purchase of an adult main via the My Las Iguanas app.
• Premier Inn Up to two children under the age of 16 can eat free with a full-paying adult who buys a full Premier Inn breakfast or meal deal.
• Purezza Available all year round, you get a free kids' pizza for every adult pizza purchased. Then it’s £5 for every additional child’s pizza. The child must be under 10 years old to qualify. 
• Sizzling Pub and Grill Children can dine for £1 with the purchase of an adult’s main meal. The offer is usually available on weekdays from 3pm, but during the holidays it’s available from 12pm.
• TGI Fridays Kids can get a free meal with the purchase of an adult's main meal every day during the summer holidays. The offer is available to new and existing Stripes Rewards members, which is free to join. It runs 25 June to 6 September in Scotland and 26 June to 6 September in England and Wales. 
• The Real Greek Children under 12 can get a free meal on Sundays at The Real Greek for every £15 spent by an adult. 
• Travelodge For every full-paying adult, up to two children under 15 get breakfast for £1 each at Travelodge hotels.  
• Turtle Bay All day, every day, one child can get a free meal from the kids’ menu when an adult spends £15 or more. 
• Yo! Sushi Kids under 12 eat free all day from Monday to Friday during all school holidays when dining with a full-paying adult with a minimum £10 spend. The deal will get one free kiddo bento box – one free box per full-paying adult. 
• Zizzi Kids can get a free Bambini meal with every adult main meal purchased during the school summer holidays. You'll need to be a member of Zizzi's free Zillionaires' Club to claim the offer. The promotion runs 17 July to 6 September in England and Wales, 26 June to 14 August in Scotland, and 1 July to 31 August in Northern Ireland. The offer is valid for dine-in only and can be used for up to six free children's meals per table. 

Find out more: dine out for 50% less in top UK cities (even at Michelin-starred restaurants).

2. Watch a film for less

Most major chains offer lower prices during the holidays, so it’s a great time for you and the family to catch a film. Releases you can see this summer include Toy Story 5, Minions & Monsters, and the live-action Moana. 

Cinema deals to look out for include:

• Cineworld runs its Movies for Juniors screenings, where children and accompanying adults can get tickets for £3.99. 
• Odeon offers its Odeon Kids scheme, letting adults pay kids’ prices as low as £1 during the school holidays at selected cinemas.
• Vue has its Mighty Mornings sessions from 10am daily, with seats priced from £2.49 per person when booked online.
• Picturehouse All children's tickets will just cost £3 this summer across its cinemas. The chain will also be showing a range of classics such as E.T, and Jurassic Park, alongside its Picturehouse Kids' Club screenings of Hook, The BFG, and Looney Tunes.

Find out more: best and worst TV streaming services.

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3. Explore a museum or gallery for free

There are plenty of free museums across the UK, covering science, art, technology and history that are open across the summer. 

In London, most major museums and galleries are free, such as the Tate Modern, Tate Britain, the V&A, the Natural History Museum, the British Museum, the Science Museum, the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery.

Other cities also have free museums and galleries, such as the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester, The Biscuit Factory art gallery in Newcastle and the Industrial Museum in Bradford. 

Most also have temporary exhibitions to supplement the permanent collections, so there will always be something new, even if you've visited before. As special exhibitions tend to be ticketed, do check beforehand. 

• Find out more: best museums and galleries in the UK.

4. Book a holiday club

Local councils put on activities and provide healthy food for low-income households during the holidays through the government's Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme. 

The programme is available to school-aged children from reception to year 11 who receive benefits-related free school meals. 

Often, parents will need to sign up to these sessions online through their local council's website and will need a special code to book. This code is usually issued alongside a free school meals code. 

This summer, Lambeth Council in London is offering a range of activities children can enjoy, including art classes, chocolate workshops, and team sports days. Salford City Council is offering a huge variety of free sessions from Monday 28 July, including sports, arts and crafts, drama, dance, music and cooking – with a healthy lunch included each day. 

You can also use tax-free childcare accounts to pay for holiday clubs, childminders and sports activities. Providers are listed in your tax-free childcare account.

• Find out more: tax-free childcare and help with childcare costs.

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5. Explore the great outdoors 

A trip to your local park or nature reserve is a simple way to keep kids entertained during the summer holidays, especially with the warmer weather and longer evenings across July and August. 

It’s also a great time for spotting wildlife, from ducks and swans to sheep, butterflies and nesting birds. Pack a picnic to keep costs down or make a day of it with a woodland walk.

Forestry England offers free walking and cycling trails, play areas and printable activity sheets at sites across the UK. Many also feature family attractions such as Stick Man trails, Gruffalo sculptures and wildlife-spotting activities, although parking charges may apply.

You can also visit one of the Wildlife Trusts’ wildflower meadows across the UK, with most sites free to enter.

• Find out more: best UK walks for 2026.

6. Visit a city farm

You don’t have to head deep into the countryside to experience rural life. Even in the heart of the city, your little ones can make new furry and feathery friends at local community farms. As some locations require advance booking – especially during the summer holidays – it’s always best to check their website before you travel. 

Although many farms offer free entry, most are charities that appreciate a small optional donation to help with animal care.

Places you can visit include: Deen City Farm & Riding School near Wimbledon, Stonebridge City Farm & Gardens in Nottingham, Bath City Farm near Bath, and Surrey Docks Farm in south-east London. 

• Find out more: best UK days out for free.

7. Join a football club

Kellogg’s is bringing back its football camps with the English Football League. There will be 39,000 places available across 73 clubs for children aged five to 15 throughout July and August. 

Led by FA-qualified coaches from professional club charities, the sessions focus on drills, tournaments, and small-sided games. It also caters to all ability levels, from beginners to experienced players.

To book, you’ll need to buy a promotional pack of Kellogg’s cereal and enter the code online. This is an incredibly popular event, so places may have been taken. However, it's always worth checking to see if there is still a spot available for your child. There's a maximum of two claims per household and a maximum of two camp places per child. 

• Find out more: 10 top toy trends for 2026.

8. Complete Junior Parkrun

Every Sunday morning (usually at 9am), children aged four to 14 can participate in a free, timed 2K Junior Parkrun in parks across the UK. Kids can take part solo, but a parent or guardian must accompany those under 11 to and from the event and remain on-site throughout. Adults are also welcome to join in the run. 

For a bigger challenge, children of all ages are welcome at the Saturday 5K events, although these tend to be a bit busier.

• Find out more: best gifts for runners 2026.

9. Get creative with a workshop 

High street retailers often run free or low-cost workshops for children during the school holidays. Here are just a few:

• Ikea is hosting a range of fun workshops in stores nationwide this summer. Kids can enjoy making hot air balloons and picture frames, and can take part in the ‘Summer Saviours’ challenge. Kids will need to help Bjorn Bear track down essentials for his summer picnic – and there are prizes for those who manage to find them all. 
• Pets at Home is running free My Pet Pals workshops for kids aged four to 10 years across most of its stores this summer. The store’s pet advisers host these 45-minute sessions and teach children how to care for their pets. 
• Waterstones The high street book store has a number of events on across the summer, including interactive readings, craft events, and quizzes.

10. Visit a heritage site 

While major English Heritage attractions like Stonehenge, Dover Castle, and Kenilworth Castle charge an admission fee, some of their smaller locations are free to enter.

English Heritage manages over 30 free sites where visitors can see Roman ruins, historic engineering, and castle remains. Most sites open during daylight hours and have free parking, but it is best to check specific opening times and parking fees before you go.

Some of the free sites include:

• Bayard's Cove Fort - Devon
• Silbury Hill - Wiltshire
• Eynsford Castle - Kent
• Wall Roman Site - Staffordshire
• Byland Abbey - North York Moors
• Castlerigg Stone Circle - Cumbria.

11. Use your Blue Peter badge for free entry

A Blue Peter badge can be a brilliant money-saver, giving your child free entry to more than 200 UK attractions in 2026. 

The scheme covers big-name days out such as Stonehenge in Wiltshire, Edinburgh Zoo and the British Motor Museum in Warwickshire. Shakespeare’s Globe in London is included, too. You can see the full list of participating venues on the BBC website.

To get a badge, children can appear on the show, win a competition or send in a creative entry such as a drawing, photo or video by post or online. There are six badge types, including Blue, Green and Gold, each with its own criteria.

Badges can take up to 10 weeks to arrive, so if your child doesn’t have one yet, it’s worth applying now for future savings. If they already do, it’s a great time to make the most of it.

12. Make fun at home 

There are some days in the summer when, sadly, the sun isn’t shining, so have some rainy-day activities up your sleeve. 

There are plenty of fun things you can do at home to keep the kids entertained during the break. Here are a few you could try out:

• Baking Roll up your sleeves and roll out the dough. Opt for some sweet treats such as cakes or biscuits, or give making your own burger or hot-dog buns for the barbecue a go. Baking is a fun activity for the kids to get involved in, and it helps teach them a new skill. 
• Have fun crafting Giving the kids a fun crafting activity can keep them busy for hours. This can include making sock puppets, building cardboard box robots, tie-dying T-shirts, or scrapbooking the year so far.
• Movie night Create a cosy movie night at home with a selection of your kids' favourite films, popcorn and blankets.
• Make a movie Give the kids your phone or a camera and let them attempt to make a short movie. They can plan the story, the shots and then shoot! The next day, you could help them edit it together – and maybe you could host a film premiere in the living room. That’s at least two days' worth of fun.

Find out more: best board games 2026.

Top tip

'Do your research first' 

'Whatever you plan on doing this summer, you should always do a little bit of research and try to find offers beforehand online, as it could save you money,' says Which? money writer Ruby Flanagan. 

'For example, Tesco Clubcard vouchers are worth double their value if exchanged at any of Tesco's 100 Reward Partners, which include Cadbury World, Chessington World of Adventures Resort, Legoland, Blackpool Pleasure Beach Resort and Leeds Castle. 

'National Rail's Days Out Guide also offers two-for-one deals on attractions such as The Shard, Big Bus Tours and Battersea Park Children's Zoo in London when you travel by train. 

'When planning your days out, you can also work out whether it's worth buying memberships or annual passes if you visit a few times a year.'

This article is updated regularly to feature new deals. It was last updated on 2 July.