KEEPING the kids entertained in the school holidays can be a costly challenge, with prices rocketing.
Tickets for Kew Gardens in London can be more than £20 each, while Stonehenge is from £57 for a family.
But days out with the children don’t need to come at a price.
Pack a picnic and head to one of these beautiful beaches, scenic walks or amazing museums, all completely free to enjoy.
North West
Blackpool, Lancashire: Kids will adore the miles of sand and seeing the trams, piers and donkeys.
visitblackpool.com.
Lake District walks, Cumbria: Check out the best buggy, child and wheelchair-friendly strolls at lakedistrict.gov.uk/miles withoutstiles.
Science and Industry Museum, Manchester: Explore the best big ideas of the past 250 years, with exhibitions on the solar system and more.
See scienceandindustrymuseum.org.uk.
Tate Liverpool: Whether you’re a fan of Andy Warhol or Monet, there is art to suit all at tate.org.uk.
East of England
Southwold, Suffolk: Spot boats and visit the Victorian pier as you amble along the seafront town.
See exploresouthwold.co.uk.
Museum of Zoology, Cambridge: See specimens from the entire animal kingdom, from molluscs to elephants, at museum.zoo.cam.ac.uk.
Great Notley Country Park, Braintree, Essex: Explore a play trail with giant seesaw, climbing forest, tyre swings and sandpits.
Explore-essex.com.
Ferry Meadows in Nene Park, Peterborough: This 500-acre country park has lakes, meadows, woodlands and riverside to explore.
See nenepark.org.uk/ferry-meadows.
East Midlands
Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire: This traditional resort has a glorious Blue Flag beach that slopes gently down to the North Sea, flanked by grassy dunes.
See mablethorpe.info.
Green’s Windmill and Science Centre, Nottingham: Climb to the top of this working windmill and learn how they make award-winning flour.
Plus check out the science area and playground.
See greensmill.org.uk.
Museum of Making, Derby Silk Mill, Derbyshire: The site of the world’s first factory now tells the story of the area’s industrial and creative heritage.
See derbymuseums.org.
London
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford: Explore rock pools, a treehouse and sand pits at Tumbling Bay Playground near the ArcellorMittal Orbit.
See queenelizabetholympicpark.co.uk.
Imperial War Museum, Lambeth: See Spitfires, trench art and more. Must book entry in advance at iwm.org.uk.
Horniman Museum, Forest Hill: A quirky museum with taxidermy and more.
See horniman.ac.uk.
Changing of the Guard, Buckingham Palace: Takes place daily at 10.45am for 45 minutes.
South East
Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, Sussex: Unspoilt sands and lots of birds, sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk.
Windsor Great Park, Berkshire: Acres of parkland, woods and trails with years of royal history.
Windsorgreatpark.co.uk.
Viking Coastal Trail, Kent: Takes in the coast of Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate where you can see Viking ship Hugin.
See visit kent.co.uk.
Fort Nelson, Hampshire: A defensive fort overlooking the Solent.
Must be pre-booked at royal armories.org.
Wales
St Fagans National Museum of History, Cardiff: Walk around Wales from Celtic times to today at this open-air museum.
See museum.wales/stfagans.
Llandudno, North Wales: Traditional seaside town with Victorian pier, Punch and Judy shows and an Alice In Wonderland trail. A short hop from Conwy.
See visitconwy.org.uk.
Big Pit National Coal Museum, Torfaen: Experience life as a miner, 300ft underground.
See museum.wales/bigpit.
Tenby, Pembrokeshire: Lovely resort with three beaches and castle.
See visitpembrokeshire.com.
West Midlands
Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail, Cinderford, Gloucs: Features stunning artworks set in beautiful woodland.
See forestofdean-sculpture.org.uk.
Tolkien Trail, Birmingham: The places and people that inspired Lord Of The Rings and The Hobbit.
Visit birmingham.gov.uk/tolkien.
Cannock Chase Forest, Staffs: Woodland walks, cycle rides and a “fairy tree” on Route To Health sculpture trail.
See forestry. gov.uk/birchesvalley.
Sheldon Country Park, Birmingham: 300-acre oasis with 17th century dairy farm and views of planes flying from airport.
See birmingham.gov.uk/sheldonpark.
South West
Ashton Court Estate, Bristol: 850 acres at this Grade I-listed country park and mansion with hot air balloon rides and roaming deer.
See bristol.gov.uk.
Studland Bay, Dorset: Stunning stretch of sand with one of the best climates in Britain.
Visit nationaltrust.org.uk.
Bath City Farm, Wilts: Lots of livestock for kids to meet.
See bathcityfarm.org.uk.
Donkey Sanctuary, Sidmouth, Devon: A working farm with donkeys and nature trail.
See thedonkey sanctuary.org.uk.
North East
Bamburgh, Northumberland: Vast expanse of golden sand, with views of Bamburgh’s striking castle too.
See bamburgh.org.uk.
Discovery Museum, Newcastle: See Turbinia, once the world’s fastest steamship.
Details at discoverymuseum.org.uk.
Souter Lighthouse, Sunderland: Red and white 1871 lighthouse on cliffs that are home to a host of birdlife.
See nationaltrust.org.uk.
Northumberlandia, Cramlington: Land sculpture at commu-nity park.
See thelandtrust.org.uk/space/northumberlandia.
Yorkshire
Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorks: Enjoy fantastic rock pooling and fossil hunting.
See robin-hoods-bay.co.uk.
Brimham Rocks, Ripon: Spot the dancing bear and turtle among the weird and wonderful rock formations.
See nationaltrust.org.uk/brimham-rocks.
National Railway Museum, York: Classic locos such as the Mallard.
See railway museum.org.uk.
Royal Armories Museum, Leeds: The national collection of arms and armour, with combat demos and jousting events.
See royal armories.org.
Scotland
V&A, Dundee: Next door to the RRS Discovery the museum is home to Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s restored Oak Room.
See vam.ac.uk/Dundee.
West Sands, St Andrews, Fife: Two miles of beautiful beach backed by dunes featured in movie Chariots Of Fire.
Visitscotland.com.
National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh: Meet Dolly the Sheep and make a Chinese dragon dance.
nms.ac.uk.
Glasgow Gallery of Modern Art: Modern masters like David Hockney.
Glasgowlife.org.uk/goma.