From bumper bank holiday weekends to the summer school holidays, this year is packed with opportunities to get outside and explore with the family. Make the most with our round-up of the best days out, things to do, and free activity ideas across the UK.
Give Easter egg crafting a go
Easter is the perfect time to get creative with craft projects for kids – such as rock painting. You’ll simply need some round rocks, acrylic or water-based paint, fine liners or marker pens, and a few small brushes – cotton buds are also great for perfect polka dots! Have fun painting the rocks to look like colourful Easter eggs (look to Pinterest if you need inspiration!) and use them in your Easter egg hunt, your seasonal décor, or hide them around the park to cheer up somebody else’s walk!
Set up an Easter egg hunt
It’s a classic activity that kids love at Easter. Search online to see if there are any local hunts happening in your area – or you could even organise one in your neighbourhood! Prizes don’t need to be chocolate or sweets; try hiding coloured balls, plastic eggs or painted rocks, which can be collected and exchanged for a prize.
Explore local green spaces
There are 199,672 hectares of green space in Britain according to Fields in Trust, which campaigns to protect parks and green spaces, and ensure everyone can benefit from them. From playing fields and recreation grounds to parks, woodlands and public gardens, visit the Fields in Trust website to find public green spaces near you – the perfect way to get outside and explore for free.
Try something new
Looming school holidays can seem like a long stretch of time for parents to fill, especially in summer, but without the school routine it could be the perfect time for kids to try something new – from sports to martial arts, music groups to theatre skills, outdoor pursuits to arts and crafts. Check your local community groups and youth centres to see what’s happening in your area and get involved.
Local attractions
The UK is studded with attractions including castles, stately homes, historic buildings and gardens, coasts, countryside and more. What’s more, entry is often free or a voluntary donation, while entrance fees are sometimes waived or cheap for children during certain periods. For details of family days out in your area and any current special offers, National Trust, Woodland Trust, Historic England, Historic Scotland and English Heritage can be good places to start.
Consider a staycation
Love the idea of a family holiday, but don’t want to travel far? From camping, glamping and caravanning to holiday cottages, treehouses and unusual holiday lets, there are plenty of ways to enjoy a change of scenery without leaving the UK.
Tip: If you have bank holidays off work, booking annual leave around these days means you can make the most out of your paid leave allowance. Around Easter, you could enjoy 16 days off for the ‘price’ of 8 – literally double!
Don’t want to stay overnight? Why not take the opportunity to explore somewhere you’ve never been within an hour or two of home – take a look at local bus and train timetables to see where you could get using public transport. Don’t forget, up until 31 March 2023, you can travel for £2 on some bus routes.
You could even turn your own garden into a beach, with a paddling pool, sand pit, BBQ and some inflatable toys – best of all, you can easily go inside if it starts to rain!
