After a difficult year, people across the nation are looking forward to the summer, especially as attractions around the country continue to re-open. However, many families are also looking to keep costs down which can be challenging, especially during the summer holidays when the kids need entertaining more than ever. Finding days out for kids that will keep young minds active is important but how possible is it to achieve all of this on a budget?
To find out, Clarks analysed over 1,000 5* Tripadvisor reviews to reveal The Best Free Days Out for Kids. The categories include: educational, historical, cultural, and animal/ nature related activities. The data shows that from museums and botanical gardens to farms and art galleries, there is something fun (and free) to do for absolutely everyone.
Top 15 Nature Days Out
| Rank | Town | Name of Attraction | No. of 5* reviews |
| 1 | Bournemouth | Bournemouth Beach | 5844 |
| 2 | Edinburgh | Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh | 5451 |
| 3 | Edinburgh | Princes Street Gardens | 4515 |
| 4 | Cardiff | Cardiff Bay | 3599 |
| 5 | London | Kensington Gardens | 2874 |
| 6 | Lincoln | Steep Hill | 2154 |
| 7 | Swansea | Gower Peninsula | 1820 |
| 8 | Bournemouth | Hengistbury Head Beach | 1689 |
| 9 | Hastings | Old Town Hastings | 1586 |
| 10 | Bournemouth | Lower Gardens | 1313 |
| 11 | Glasgow | Glasgow Botanic Gardens | 1299 |
| 12 | Poole | Sandbanks Beach | 1257 |
| 13 | Sheffield | The Botanical Gardens | 1148 |
| 14 | Sheffield | Sheffield Winter Garden | 999 |
| 15 | Belfast | Botanic Gardens | 955 |
Bournemouth takes the top spot for nature days out, thanks to Bournemouth Beach and its 5,844 5* reviews on Tripadvisor. This rating isn’t surprising given how much the beach is cared for; it is raked by tractor every summer morning and manually, litter picked twice a day by locals to maintain its natural beauty.
In second, and third place is Edinburgh, taking both spots thanks to its natural charm. The city’s Royal Botanic Garden, which is not just a tourist attraction but a scientific centre for the study and conservation of plants, has received 5,451 5* reviews from happy visitors. Similarly, the Princes Street Gardens, which lie in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle, received 4,515 5* reviews. Rounding out the top five is Wales’ vibrant Cardiff Bay (3,599) and London’s Kensington Gardens (2,874) – one of the UK’s Royal parks, which were once the private gardens of the residents of Kensington Palace.
Top 13 Animal Days Out
| Rank | Town | Name of Attraction | Number of 5* reviews |
| 1 | Brighton | Devil’s Dyke National Trust | 586 |
| 2 | Sutton Coldfield | Sutton Park National Nature Reserve | 573 |
| 3 | Sheffield | Our Cow Molly Dairy Farm & Ice Cream Shop | 316 |
| 4 | Lincoln | The Natural World Centre, Whisby | 145 |
| 5 | Birkenhead | Tam O’Shanter Urban Farm | 138 |
| 6 | Nottingham | Stonebridge City Farm | 127 |
| 7 | Newcastle Upon Tyne | Ouseburn Farm | 119 |
| 8 | Belfast | Black Mountain | 116 |
| 9 | Bristol | Windmill Hill City Farm | 66 |
| 10 | Weston Super Mare | Uphill Local Nature Reserve | 66 |
| 11 | Sheffield | Heeley City Farm | 65 |
| 12 | Bath | Bath City Farm | 58 |
| 13 | Bristol | St Werburghs City Farm | 58 |
For those who want to see some cute animals on their day out, the best place to go is Brighton’s Devil’s Dyke National Trust, where there is plenty of wildlife to enjoy, with wild cattle grazing nearby to help maintain the area naturally. In second place with 573 5* reviews, is Sutton Coldfield’s Sutton Park National Nature Reserve, which is home to a number of varieties of rare wildlife and even wild ponies.
In third place is Sheffield’s Our Cow Molly Dairy Farm & Ice Cream Shop, which is home to over 80 cows and has earned 316 5* reviews; this place is a must-visit for any ice cream and animal lovers. Rounding out the top five here is The Natural World Centre, Whisby with 145 5* reviews, followed by Tam O’Shanter Urban Farm in Birkenhead with 138 5* reviews.
Top 15 Educational Days Out
| Rank | Town | Name of Attraction | No. of 5* reviews |
| 1 | London | The British Museum | 52753 |
| 2 | London | Natural History Museum | 24540 |
| 3 | London | V&A – Victoria and Albert Museum | 23507 |
| 4 | Edinburgh | National Museum of Scotland | 15890 |
| 5 | York | National Railway Museum | 13280 |
| 6 | Glasgow | Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum | 11143 |
| 7 | London | Imperial War Museums | 6650 |
| 8 | Glasgow | The Riverside Museum of Transport and Travel | 6205 |
| 9 | Cardiff | St Fagans National Museum of History | 5350 |
| 10 | Manchester | Science and Industry Museum | 4834 |
| 11 | Liverpool | Museum of Liverpool | 4605 |
| 12 | Manchester | The John Rylands Library | 4123 |
| 13 | Oxford | Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology | 4110 |
| 14 | Liverpool | Merseyside Maritime Museum | 3843 |
| 15 | London | Museum of London | 3392 |
Educational activities don’t have to be boring for the nation’s kids. The British Museum in London has a staggering 52,753 5* reviews, likely due to its wide variety of galleries, tours and artefacts on display. In fact, London’s museums take three of the top five spots, with the Natural History Museum and its incredible animal and dinosaur exhibits, coming in second (24,540), and the Victoria and Albert Museum in third (23,507).
The V&A (as it is known locally) is home to the world’s largest collection of decorative arts and has over 23,000 5* reviews on Tripadvisor. The top three spots offer something for everyone: the history buffs, animal lovers and the artists too.
Top 15 Historical Days Out
| Rank | Town | Name of Attraction | No. of 5* reviews | |
| 1 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh Old Town | 11620 | |
| 2 | York | Shambles | 9552 | |
| 3 | Liverpool | Liverpool Cathedral | 6616 | |
| 4 | York | York City Walls | 5811 | |
| 5 | Chester | Chester City Walls | 3807 | |
| 6 | Edinburgh | St Giles’ Cathedral | 3557 | |
| 7 | Chester | Chester Cathedral | 3495 | |
| 8 | Norwich | Norwich Cathedral | 2921 | |
| 9 | Gloucester | Gloucester Cathedral | 2724 | |
| 10 | Worcester | Worcester Cathedral | 2156 | |
| 11 | Liverpool | Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King Liverpool | 2028 | |
| 12 | Glasgow | Glasgow Cathedral | 1679 | |
| 13 | St. Albans | St Albans Cathedral | 1634 | |
| 14 | Peterborough | Peterborough Cathedral | 1517 | |
| 15 | Cambridge | Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial | 995 |
Surprisingly, London does not appear once in the top ten historical days out and instead, Edinburgh takes the top spot. With 11,620 5* reviews, Edinburgh’s Old Town, sits on top of a volcano (that fortunately hasn’t erupted in 340 million years) and boasts a castle which was once home to an elephant. Old Town has got lots of amazing history and charm and is well worth a trip.
In second place is York’s Shambles with 9,552 5* reviews. The cobbled and winding street with leaning overhanging buildings is believed to be the inspiration behind JK Rowling’s Diagon Alley, making it a perfect spot for Harry Potter fans. Liverpool Cathedral comes in third place with 6,616 5* reviews, perhaps as it is one of the world’s tallest non-spired church buildings and the tallest structure in Liverpool, making it a very impressive structure to enjoy on a day out.
Top 15 Cultural Days Out
| Rank | Town | Name of Attraction | No. of 5* reviews |
| 1 | London | National Gallery | 29373 |
| 2 | London | Camden Market | 17611 |
| 3 | Edinburgh | Royal Mile | 14964 |
| 4 | London | Covent Garden | 14193 |
| 5 | London | Borough Market | 9100 |
| 6 | London | Wallace Collection | 4994 |
| 7 | Manchester | The John Rylands Library | 4123 |
| 8 | London | National Portrait Gallery | 3643 |
| 9 | Edinburgh | Scottish National Gallery | 3259 |
| 10 | Glasgow | Buchanan Street | 2974 |
| 11 | London | British Library | 2587 |
| 12 | London | Tate Britain | 2463 |
| 13 | Edinburgh | Scottish National Portrait Gallery | 1712 |
| 14 | Liverpool | Walker Art Gallery | 1616 |
| 15 | Liverpool | Liverpool Central Library | 1612 |
Unlike the historical category, London dominates cultural days out, with six out of the top ten attractions located in the capital. The National Gallery (29,373) and Camden Market (17,611) take first and second place, with Covent Garden (14,193), Borough Market (9,100) and Wallace Collection (4,994) taking fourth, fifth and sixth place, respectively.
Edinburgh takes third place, with Royal Mile receiving 14,964 5* reviews, which is the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town and stretches from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
Rosie McKissock, Kids Business Manager at Clarks, said: “Lots of us are looking to save money where we can, but with kids to entertain during the holidays, that can be tricky. So, we looked at free days out across the country which will keep kids happy but won’t break the bank. Knowing that kids have very different interests, we broke the free days out into categories making sure there is something for everyone in the family to enjoy over the school holidays.
“It’s been a difficult year for lots of families, so spending quality time together, which doesn’t cost a fortune, is going to be high on the agenda for lots of us this summer.
Whether the plan is a civilised day out at a gallery or a jam-packed day on the beach, Clarks will ensure the little ones’ feet are kept comfy all day. It’s never too early to get kitted out with school trainers, and our wide range of girls’ and boys’ trainers offers something for everyone – no matter the adventure.”
See the full report to find out more about The Best Free Days Out for Kids.
Please enjoy public spaces, such as those listed, responsibly and in line with government rules and advice.
