Summer is a magical time of year. The sun is out, it’s warmer outside, and everyone is generally in better spirits.
With longer days and more palatable weather, many of us also like to be out and about doing things. Though it can sometimes seem like all the best activities and days out are rather expensive.
While this can be frustrating, the good news is that there are plenty of creative ways to have fun this summer, all while taking things easy on your bank account.
From fossil hunting to visiting a lavender field, here are 20 free summer activities.
1. Go on a self-guided walking tour
If you’re visiting a city you’ve never been to before or fancy rediscovering the one you live in, why not consider taking a self-guided tour?
Self-guided tours are great because you get to discover and learn about all the different sights at your own pace – and at a fraction of the cost of a regular tour.
The app, GPSmyCity, has a great collection of walking tours for over 1,000 cities. From The Beatles Tour of London to the Harry Potter Trail in Edinburgh, there’s a walking tour for everyone. You can choose between the paid-for and free versions of the app.
2. Forage for food
Foraging, which involves searching for, identifying, and collecting food in the wild, has become an increasingly popular activity over the past few years.
It’s a great excuse to get out into the fresh air, become more in touch with our natural world, and get some exercise. Plus, finding your own ingredients can really help to up your cooking game.
Whether you live in the quiet countryside or the bustling streets of the city, you can get involved with foraging this summer. Just check out this beginner’s guide from National Geographic to learn more.
3. Visit a lavender field
A trip to a lavender field is sure to be one that you won’t forget in a hurry. You can find them pretty much all over the UK and while some require a small entry fee, many are free if you just fancy taking a stroll through the rows of vibrant purple.
A treat for the senses, lavender blooms from June-August, so summer is the perfect time to visit. Some lavender fields even allow you to take a picnic – though it’s worth checking this beforehand.
To find out about some of the most stunning lavender fields in the UK, take a look at this article from Condé Nast Traveller.
4. Visit a stunning lookout point
If you’re looking for something to take your breath away this summer, then why not visit a stunning lookout point?
From the Sky Garden in London to Glastonbury Tor in Somerset and Orrest Head in the Lake District, we sure aren’t in short supply of free-to-visit viewpoints boasting incredible vistas here in the UK.
Check out this article from Red Bull for some inspiration. Whether you want a magnificent picture with your family or just want to take in the views, many of these can be combined with a city visit or country hike.
5. Gaze at the stars
The night sky is the gift that keeps on giving. When stargazing, you can try to spot other planets or comets, learn about different constellations and the myths and legends associated with them, or simply marvel at the infinite nature (and beauty) of our universe.
Stargazing is also incredibly accessible because you can just go outside and look up. Plus, there’s something even more magical about doing it on a warm, summer evening.
To get started, check out our introductory guide.
6. Take a walk along the coast
A perfect alchemy of sand, sea, salt, and rock; there’s something about the coast that’s truly impressive to behold – and with nearly 8,000 miles of coastline here in the UK, there’s plenty to explore. So if you’re looking for something cheap, cheerful, and active to do this summer, head out for a coastal walk.
You could take it easy and stroll along your closest beach one afternoon with an ice cream in hand. Or, to step it up a notch, you might want to strap on your walking shoes and tackle one of the UK’s famous trails, like the Northumberland or Pembrokeshire Coast Paths.
Whatever you decide, there are plenty of routes all over the UK. Hopefully, our article, 7 of the best coastal walks to try in the UK, can give you some inspiration.
7. Visit a farm
Paying a visit to a farm can be an entertaining and valuable experience – particularly if you have any kids in your life. It’s a great chance to get some fresh air, connect with nature, and learn more about where our food and other products come from.
Visiting a farm will also give you the opportunity to meet all kinds of cute and friendly animals, from rabbits and chickens to reindeer and alpacas.
There are lots of farms all over the UK that are not only open to the public but free to visit. Check out this article from Good To to find out about some of the best.
8. Do some browsing at a market
Markets are bustling social hubs filled with entertaining characters and intriguing knick-knacks, and there’s plenty of interesting conversation to be had and things to learn. Because of this, it’s possible to enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of a traditional market without spending any money.
From a few stalls on your local high street to world-famous trading places like Borough and Leicester markets, there are lots to visit all over the UK. If this sounds interesting, why not pay one a visit and spend some time wandering between the stalls this summer?
9. Swim wild
When the weather is beautiful, we don’t always want to be stuck indoors at our local leisure centres swimming laps. So, if you’re looking to do some swimming this summer, why not consider getting a little wild?
Wild or ‘open water’ swimming is essentially swimming outdoors in natural bodies of water like rivers, lakes, and oceans. Not only does this get you outside amongst nature but the colder temperature of natural water has a whole host of benefits for your mental and physical health.
To find out more about wild swimming and how to get involved, take a look at our introductory guide.
10. Volunteer outdoors
Volunteering can be a fun and rewarding activity to get stuck into this summer. There are lots of roles that’ll get you out into the sunshine – many of which also involve some light exercise too.
You could do anything from collecting seeds and trimmings from endangered plant species to helping with a beach clean-up. Lots of outdoor volunteering roles involve helping to preserve nature, so if this is close to your heart, there’ll be plenty of opportunities to make a difference in one of these roles.
For more information on how you can get involved with outdoor volunteering, why not visit the volunteering section of our website?
11. Take a day trip to an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
From the high peaks of Snowdonia to the low marshes of North Kent, the UK is home to some of the most stunning and varied natural scenery in the world. And some of these places, which are considered to be particularly impressive, have been recognised as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) by the government (known as National Scenic Areas or ‘NSAs’ in Scotland).
What’s more, with over 86 of these astonishing places all over the UK, no matter where you live, you’re never too far away from one – making a day visit quite possible. AONBs are perfect places to have a hike and take a picnic, all while admiring the best of what the natural world has to offer.
For some ideas on some of the best AONBs to visit, check out our article on the subject. Or, you can visit the National Association for AONBs’ website here.
12. Attend a festival, carnival, or parade
After a few years of social-distancing restrictions, many of us are now enjoying getting together again to celebrate things like art, music, culture, and self-expression. And, luckily, you don’t need to splash the cash to get involved in the festivities.
Whether you want to listen to some live music, commemorate and/or learn about another culture, or celebrate everything LGBTQ+, there are plenty of festivals, carnivals, and parades all over the UK that are free to attend.
To find out what’s on near you this summer, check out this list from inews.
13. Go fossil hunting
There’s no wonder why people love hunting for fossils. Discovering something that no other person has laid eyes on, which serves as a window to our world millions of years ago, is a truly thrilling prospect.
Plus, the UK has plenty of great places to find these prehistoric imprints, such as the Jurassic Coast, which stretches all the way from East Devon to Dorset.
Fossil hunting is a great way to spice up your trip to the beach this summer. This beginner’s guide from Get Outside will show you how to get started.
14. Try birdwatching
Like stargazing, birdwatching is a truly accessible summer activity – all you need to do is head out the door and look around you.
Many of our native bird species head off to warmer places throughout the colder months. But they return during the spring and summer when the temperatures are more bearable. This makes summer the perfect time to start birdwatching, as it’ll help you get more of a feel for our native birds.
To help you get started with birdwatching, why not check out our beginner’s guide? Or, to find out which birds to look out for over summer, have a read of this article from Real Homes.
15. Climb a mountain
The UK is home to some of the most breathtaking mountains in the world. And while they might not be as tall as those in mountain ranges like the Alps, the Himalayas, and the Andes, they’re also far less difficult to climb.
This means, as long as you have a reasonable level of fitness, you should be able to walk to the top of some of our tallest peaks.
Climbing to the top of one of these gargantuan wonders and standing at the summit is something you’ll never forget. Take a look at this article from Much Better Adventures to find out about some of the best mountains to climb in the UK.
16. Visit a public garden
From large botanical gardens to hidden, off-the-beaten-track oases, there are plenty of free public gardens to explore all over the UK.
Public gardens are the perfect places to take a picnic, learn about the different flora and the importance of plants in our world, or simply take a calming stroll and admire the beauty around us. Spending time in green spaces like public gardens is also particularly beneficial for our mental health.
So why not check out this article from The Guardian on some of the best free public gardens in the UK?
17. Attend a gig
With ticket prices for just about everything being high nowadays, it can be difficult to imagine seeing some live music while pinching the pennies. But the truth is that wherever you live (especially in cities and large towns), it’s relatively easy to find a free gig – if you know where to look, of course.
For example, it’s worth getting in touch with your local church to see if they’re running any free recitals. If you live in the London area, St James’ in Piccadilly famously runs a series of free lunchtime concerts featuring anything from piano recitals to brass bell ensembles.
Alternatively, you can see if any bands are playing at your local pub or even visit a busking hotspot.
18. Go geocaching
If you’re in the mood for something adventurous that’s filled with possibilities, you might want to try geocaching this summer.
Geocaching involves searching for small waterproof containers hidden in the countryside, cities, and everywhere in between. Inside each geocache, you’ll find a logbook to sign, proving that you’ve found it, and maybe even a small treasure.
There are tens of thousands of geocaches hidden all over the UK, so there’s plenty of adventure to be had. All you need to get started is a GPS-enabled device and the free geocaching app. This will give you the coordinates you need to find your first treasure!
19. Visit a museum or art gallery
Want to inject a little bit of art and culture into your summer days? If so, then a museum or art gallery could be a relaxing and enjoyable way to spend an afternoon. Though there are plenty that charge an entrance fee, some of the UK’s biggest and best galleries and museums are completely free to visit.
Whether you want to learn about conflict through the ages at the Imperial War Museum in London, or marvel at the works of maestros like Salvador Dali and Damien Hurst at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, there’s truly something for everyone!
Take a look at our articles, 14 UK museums you won’t want to miss and 11 of the best art galleries to visit in the UK, to find out more.
20. Discover a castle
The UK is a hotspot for castles. Throughout England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales, there are thought to be over 4,000. In fact, Wales has the most castles per square mile of any country in Europe.
Ranging from long-ruined structures like those at Perevil and Tintagel to working, inhabited castles like Alnwick and Bamburgh, there’s plenty to see and discover. Though some of these ancient fortresses charge an entry fee, there are many that you can visit free of charge.
Why not check out our article, 15 of the best castles to visit in the UK, to get inspired? Alternatively, you can take a look at this list of free-to-enter English Heritage sites.
Final thoughts...
As you can see, there are plenty of activities you can enjoy this summer without splashing the cash. So whether you want to get outdoors, learn something new, or experience some art, there’s hopefully something for you here.
We also run plenty of virtual activities on our Rest Less Events platform – from fitnesses classes to cooking demonstrations – and you can tune in while enjoying the summer sun. While there’s a paid-for premium membership, which will give you access to all of our events, you can also sign-up for two events per month with our free subscription.
For more ideas for things to do this summer, you might want to read our article; 8 fun and unique activities to get you moving this summer. Or head over to the hobbies and activities section of our website.
Our everyday finance section also has more money-saving tips.