Let’s go on an adventure for some autumn fun,
Galleries, farms… the list has just begun!
There is so much to do and see,
The best part is, all these attractions are completely free!
North
🎃 Trick or Treat Trail, Manchester 🎃
26th October – 27th October 2019 10.00am – 6.00pm
Get your spook on this Halloween and head to Manchester City Centre for a trick or treat trail! Pick up a map and discover trick or treat houses scattered across the city, – there will be a different character waiting to greet you at each one. Check off each point as you go and collect a special treat! Perfect spooky fun for the whole family! Find out more here.
🚢 Merseyside Maritime Museum, Liverpool 🚢
Open daily 10.00am – 5.50pm
The Merseyside Maritime Museum is in the Royal Albert Dock in Liverpool, one of the biggest and most important ports in the UK! From luxury liners and tragedies such as The Titanic, poignant galleries on the slave trade and exhibitions on smuggling, there is definitely something to intrigue everyone. Plus, there are often family activities to get involved, making it the perfect family outing this October. Find out more here.
🐠 Bolton Aquarium, Bolton 🐠
Open daily 9.00am – 5.00pm *Except Sundays 10.00am – 4.00pm
Take your little ones to Bolton Aquarium for a fantastic day out looking at some amazing fish! From fierce piranha’s to one of the smallest fish in the world, the Pygmy Glass Danio, there is so much to see! Find out more here.
🐑 Ouseburn Farm, Newcastle Upon Tyne 🐑
Tuesday – Friday 9.30am – 5.00 pm / Weekend 10.30am – 4.30pm
Based right in the centre of Newcastle is Ouseburn Farm, a great place to visit with kids as they can pet, feed and learn lots about the farm animals! Plus, enjoy fundraiser and street food events too. So, for a moo-arvellous day out for all the family in Newcastle, you know where to go! Find out more here.
👼 Angel of the North, Gateshead 👼
Open all year
Antony Gormley’s Angel of the North is the UK’s most famous piece of public art and a must-visit the next time you are in Newcastle! At 54m wide and 20m high, this impressive sculpture is taller than four double-deck buses and with a wingspan as big as a jumbo jet! Find out more here.
Midlands
✈ Royal Air Force Museum Cosford, Shropshire ✈
Open daily 10.00am – 5.00pm
For an action-packed day out with the family visit the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford in Shropshire this October! Housed in wartime hangars, and in the National Cold War Exhibition, there is a huge display of aircraft and exhibits to explore. Plus, children can learn to fly in the interactive gallery, Fun ‘n’ Flight! Find out more here.
🛵 Coventry Transport Museum, Coventry 🛵
Open daily 10am – 5pm
Do you have a transport fanatic in your family? This October why not pay a visit to the Coventry Transport Museum, home to the largest collection of British road transport in the world. The museum has over a million archived items, 250 motor vehicles, 120 motorcycles and 300 bicycles for you to see! This month, the museum is running an interactive exhibition for children as a very small fee, for more information click here.
⛪️ Lichfield Cathedral, Birmingham ⛪️
Open daily 8.30am – 6.15pm
Discover over 1300 years of history at Lichfield Cathedral, the only medieval three-spired Cathedral in the UK! Plus, see a medieval wall painting, the famous Herkenrode stained glass, the Lichfield Angel and much more. Find out more here.
📺 BBC Birmingham Public Space, Birmingham 📺
Monday – Saturday 10.00am – 5.00pm / Sunday 11.00am – 5.00pm
Bring the family to the BBC Birmingham Public Space where everyone can get involved in a range of exciting activities! Children can have a go at presenting Newsround or the local weather as well as having their photo taken with Dr Who’s TARDIS and an old Dalek! Whilst parents can take a touchscreen-tour of the radio drama studio. Find out more here.
🐞 Kingsbury Water Park, Sutton Coldfield 🐞
Open daily 8.00am – 6.00pm
If you are looking for a free family day outdoors then Kingsbury Water Park is the perfect place to visit. With over 600 acres of country park and 15 glorious lakes, there is plenty of room for the children to run around! Plus, explore all the hidden corners, spot birds and wildlife and visit the Children’s Farm which has a collection of friendly animals to meet and greet. Find out more here.
South West
🧟 Poole Zombie Fest 2019, Poole 🧟
26th October 2019 10.00am-8.00pm
Looking for a free, fun fay of spooktacular activities? Poole Zombie Fest, taking place on the High Street down to Poole Quay, is the place to go! Get the whole family involved and wearing zombie fancy dress – once there you will be able to visit the special effects team and face painting stands where experts will be on hand throughout the day to add those spooky finishing touches! Enjoy a parade of the undead creatures too. Find out more here.
🎨 Poole Museum, Dorset 🎨
Monday – Saturday 10.00am – 5.00pm / Sunday 12.00pm – 5.00pm
Poole Museum is housed in a converted 19th Century warehouse on the quayside in Poole. See displays from across the ages, including an Iron Age Poole longboat, a vast collection of Poole Pottery and regular exhibitions. Plus, the museum has a dedicated area for art and craft activities for younger visitors on the third floor. Find out more here.
🎨 House of Marbles, Devon 🎨
Monday – Saturday 9:00am – 5.00pm / Sunday 10.00 am – 5.00pm
House of Marbles is a working glass and games factory, but also makes a wonderful day out! You and the family will get to see some being created by highly skilled craftsmen. The games museum allows you to step back in time and relive your childhood, the marble museum has a fascinating collection of colourful marbles and the glass museum offers you 4,000 years worth of history to learn about. Find out more here.
🚴♀️ Lanhydrock Cycle Trails, Cornwall 🚴♀️
Open daily 9.30am – 5.00pm
The trails around the National Trust property of Lanhydrock are free (if you bring your own bikes, to hire bikes will cost a small fall) and make the perfect outing this Autumn! The trails have a variety of different difficulty levels, so finding the perfect one for all the family to enjoy won’t be tricky! Find out more here.
🌉 Clifton Suspension Bridge, Bristol 🌉
Open 24 hours
Visting Bristol this October with the family? Visiting Clifton Suspension Bridge is a must-do on your trip! Enjoy a free guided tour at the weekend, or simply enjoy the view from Clifton Village. Plus, if you can check out the bridge when it is illuminated at nighttime! Find out more here.
South East
🐶 Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary, Ventnor 🐶
Open daily 10.00am – 4.30pm *weather permitting
Donkeys all have such unique characters and you can spend the day getting to know this great bunch. The sanctuary is home to lovely donkeys and well-behaved dogs. On the 23rd October 2019 go along to their special event ‘Donkey Halloween’! Find out more here.
🚗 Mercedes-Benz World, Surrey 🚗
Monday – Friday 8.30am – 6.00pm / Saturday 9.00am – 6.00pm / Sunday 11.00am – 5.00pm
This famous motor car company offers families wonderful entertainment all year round, where you just don’t learn about the history of this well-known vehicle make but you can enjoy driving experiences, special exhibitions and fun free things for the kids to do! See them ‘take to the road’ on a specially designed indoor driving circuit in a miniature Mercedes! Every child is presented with a driving licence as a memory of their first driving adventure. Find out more here.
🌳 Itchen Valley Country Park, Eastleigh 🌳
Open daily 5.00am – 6.00pm
With over 440 acres of stunning woodland, this country park is sure to be a hit with your little outdoor explorers! Follow marked trails, which all vary in length and ability, to discover what wonderful wildlife call this country park their home. Find out more here.
🎨 Towner Art Gallery, Sussex 🎨
Tuesday – Sunday 10.00am – 5.00pm
This award-winning contemporary art gallery and museum located in South East England has lots to offer little culture lovers! Explore major exhibitions of the UK and international contemporary art, as well as a renowned collection of art from across the ages. Find out more here.
🦋Booth Museum of Natural History, Brighton🦋
Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri & Sat 10.00am – 5.00pm / Sun 2.00pm – 5.00pm *Closed Thursdays
This awesome museum is packed with fascinating natural history! It is home to a collection of over 650 types of butterfly and some amazing fossil and bone collections. Plus, there is an interactive discovery gallery where you and the family can really get hands-on with the exhibits. Find out more here.
Scotland
🧀 St Andrews Farmhouse Cheese Company, Pittenweem 🧀
Monday – Saturday 9.30am – 4.30pm / Sunday 11.00am – 4.30pm
This cheese making company uses traditional methods to make their delicious cheese and families can find out all about how it is made using the milk from their happy, healthy cows! Find out more here.
🐬 WDC Scottish Dolphin Centre, Moray 🐬
Open daily 10.30am – 5.00pm
Learn all there is to know about seals and dolphins at this wonderful centre! The viewing window is a great place to spot them using some binoculars. Sound is even played into the viewing area making you feel you’re out in the water with them. Plus, enjoy beautiful walks along the tumultuous River Spey! Find out more here.
🧙 The Potter Trail, Edinburg 🧙
October 2019 – March 202o 2pm every day
Calling all Harry Potter fans! Grab your wand and embark on a free guided tour of Edinburg designed especially for potter fans! You will discover the magical locations that inspired characters and scenes in the series, visit the places where JK Rowling wrote the books and even learn a spell or two along the way. Find out more here.
🏰National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh🏰
Open daily 10.00am – 5.00pm
Dramatic highland landscapes, heroic histories, tartan and bagpipes are among the defining images of Scotland for many people! Learn all about Scottish history, culture and it’s people at the National Museum of Scotland! With so much to discover as well as plenty of free family-friendly activities to take part in, a great day will be had by all! Find out more here.
🐎 Tollcross Children’s Farm, Glasgow 🐎
Open daily 10.00 am – 3.30pm *Except Fridays close 3pm
Tollcross Children’s Farm is a wonderful place to take the kids for a couple of hours! The farm is home to some lovely animals, including horses, peacocks, llamas and some adorable lovebirds! There is plenty to see and do including the story of Cock Robin in 3D. Find out more here.
Wales
🎣 Snowdonia National Park, Snowdonia 🎣
Open 24 hours
Snowdonia is the largest National park in Wales and the perfect place to take your family on a day trip! The list of things your family can enjoy here is endless, from cycling to fishing, golf, and many watersports too! Find out more here.
👣 Bute Park, Cardiff 👣
Open daily 7:30am – 7:30pm
Fancy a fun autumn walk with the family in Cardiff this October? Bute Park is the place to go! – With 130 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens and woodland and a variety of self-led trails to guide you on certain activities, you can most definitely enjoy a family stroll here and perhaps even a yummy picnic too. Find out more here.
🏰 St Fagans Museum of History, Cardiff 🏰
Open daily 10am-5pm
St Fagans Museum is an open-air museum in Cardiff chronicling the historical lifestyle, culture and architecture of the Welsh people. There is plenty to do for the whole family on site, including arts and crafts, workshops and activities. Plus, the museum is set in the grounds of St Fagans Castle and Garden, perfect for walks with the kids! 29th – 31st October 2019 6pm-9pm head to the museum for a night of FRIGHT-fully good family fun for a small fee! Find out more here.
🌳 Margam Country Park, Port Talbot 🌳
Open daily 10:00am – 4:30pm
With 1,000 acres of park and woodland, there is plenty to do at Margam Country Park including visiting the Margam Castle, the Orangery and gardens, a deer park, a children’s fairytale village, adventure playground and rare breeds farm trail! Find out more here.
London
🏰 The British Museum, Bloomsbury 🏰
Open daily 10am – 5:30pm
This iconic museum is a must-see if you’re visiting London this October! Home to over 7 million artefacts from across the globe, The British Museum has lots of displays on different aspects of art, culture and history. Plus, there are lots of free activities and exhibitions that are on offer every day, perfect for young children! Find out more here.
🏅 Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London 🏅
Open daily
Opened for the London 2012 Olympics, Queen Elizabeth Park is a great free day out for mini sports lovers and novices alike! Check out the London Stadium, the London Aquatics Centre and the Copper Box Arena before exploring the parklands, waterfalls and adventurous playgrounds which surround the ground. Maybe your little one will be the next Usain Bolt! Find out more here.
🦆 Coram’s Fields, Camden 🦆
Open daily 9am-6pm
One of the most child-friendly spaces in central London! Coram’s Fields covers 7 acres and includes a children’s playground, sandpits, a duck pond, a pets corner and cafe! Note, you can only get through the gate if you have a child under the age of 16 with you. Find out more here.
🚀 Science Museum, South Kensington 🚀
Open daily 10.00am – 6.00pm
The Science Museum is a great place to see, touch and experience science first hand! With over 15,000 objects on display including world-famous objects such as the Apollo 10 command capsule and Stephenson’s Rocket, there is something for all the family. Find out more here.
🎨 The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square 🎨
Open daily 10.00am – 6.00pm
The National Gallery is an art museum in Trafalgar square with a collection of over 2,300 paintings dated from the mid-13th century tp 1900. Every Wednesday throughout October the gallery will be holding ‘Welcome Wednesdays’ a term-time event for babies, toddlers and parents! Enjoy interactive music, storytelling, dance, and messy art activities! Find out more here.
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