Where to have some fun for free with the kids this summer | Tenant news

Stuck for things to do with your children in the last few weeks of their school holidays? We’ve got you covered!

To help you keep your children entertained, we’ve pulled together some fun, free activity ideas that won’t break the bank.

Visit some beautiful parks and outdoor spaces:

• Sky Garden, London
• Hyde Park, London
• Walton Gardens, Warrington
• Yorkshire Wolds Way National Trail, Hull
• Middleton Park, Leeds

Free entry museums:

• Museum of Lincolnshire Life, Lincolnshire
• Cumberland House Natural History Museum, Portsmouth
• Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (MIMA)
• Dorman Museum, Middlesbrough
• Arbeia Roman Fort and Museum, South Shields.

Cheap and free activities to do at home or locally

Take a trip into nature

There are so many things you can do for free in nature, all it requires is a little imagination. Woodland Trust has some great suggestions of fun things your family could do in the woods from a scavenger hunt, to wildlife and tree spotting. Check out woodland activities for children and families.

Have a cheap picnic

Who doesn’t love a good picnic? While trying to cater to everyone’s taste buds can be expensive, there are ways you can throw a picnic for less. You could try bringing leftovers, making your own dips and taking advantage of the reduced items aisle at your local supermarket. Learn more clever budget picnic hacks.

You could also try:

• Visiting the animals at your local farms
• Seeing what open houses you can visit for free in your local area
• Checking out your local library and creating a reading challenge
• Organising a sports day at the local park with your kids and their friends and ask each family member to bring an item of refreshment
• Having your own ‘family bake-off’ – take it in turns to bake something. You can judge each others goodies and crown your very own 'bake-off champion'.

Also check your local council’s website to find out what free activities for kids or sports workshops they’re running.

Eat for free

Many supermarket cafes, restaurants chains and other places to eat at across the UK, are offering ‘Kids Eat Free’ or ‘Kids eat for £1’ deals this summer. Here’s where to find them:

• Asda – children can eat for £1 all day
• Bella Italia – children can eat for £1 with any adult main (Monday-Thursday, 4-6pm)
• Beefeater – two children get free breakfast with one paying adult
• Sainsbury’s cafes – offer one child hot meal or lunch bag for £1 with any adult main meal over £5.20
• Morrisons – youngsters eat free all day when an adult meal over £4.49 is bought
• Sizzling Pubs – children can eat for £1 when an adult main meal is bought (between 3pm – 7pm)
• Whitbread Inns – two under 16s can eat breakfast for free when one great value £9.50 breakfast is purchased
• Future Inns, under 12s eat for free with any adult meal
• Table Table – two children under 16 can get a free breakfast every day with one paying adult.

You can find more offers at http://www.moneysavingcentral.co.uk/kids-eat-free.