Vicky Parry
10th May 2025
Reading Time: 3 minutes
The summer holidays are geared towards families with children – which is great! But what if you don’t have a family – or your children are away with their grandparents this school break? We’ve come up with lots of cheap things and free days out for adults to do during the holidays so you can stay entertained on a budget.
Visit London Zoo for £3
London Zoo is a fun way to spend a day but it can quickly add up – thankfully, they offer £3 advance tickets for households on Universal Credit. You need to book in advance and make sure you have proof of your Universal Credit when you visit.
Two for One Cinema Tickets
A classic date option, make the most of two-for-one cinema ticket deals to save a lot of cash on your next movie night. We’ve all heard of the Meerkat Movies two-for-one deal by now, but did you know there are many more ways to save on your cinema tickets?
Vue for Two offers two tickets for just £9 for O2 and Virgin Home Broadband customers, every day of the week (even outside of the Easter holidays). Amazon Prime customers can also take advantage of two Odeon tickets for £10 (two recliner seats for £15) every month. We have lots more ticket offers and discounts on our cinema deals page.
Cheap Theatre Tickets
If live performance is more your thing, keep an eye out for cheap theatre tickets. If you’re in London, you’re in luck – try websites like TodayTix to find last-minute cheap tickets every day of the week. Live close by? Popping to your local theatre to ask the box office is always a great way to grab a bargain ticket.
Those lucky enough to be under the age of 25 can also nab cheap tickets for many performances at the National Theatre, while Hampstead Theatre does so for under-30s and the Old Vic offers £10 tickets for the first five performances of shows for people of any age.
Blue Badge holders can also benefit from free companion tickets with many theatres – while your ticket will be full price, you’ll essentially save 50% as the second ticket is free. There will be restrictions on these tickets, offered on a first-come first-served basis, so book as far ahead in advance as you can. Check each theatre’s website for specific Ts&Cs on their companion ticket schemes.
Don’t live in London? Never fear! Sites such as Manchester Theatres offer loads of great local deals (such as buy two adult tickets, get two children’s tickets free). It’s always worth checking your local theatre’s website for deals, too.
Resident Discounts
Did you know that most areas with tourist attractions will offer a resident discount scheme? Portsmouth Historic Dockyard offers a 30% discount for local residents, for example, while those living in York can make the most of free entry to York Minster, as well discounts up to 50% off lots of local attractions with the YorkCard.
Windermere residents can get 50% off local boat tours and attractions between October and May, and 20% off during peak times the rest of the year. Edinburgh’s Resident Rewards card goes a step further, with discounts on food and drink and free days out.
Free Museum Days
One of the best free days out you can have as an adult is at a museum. They’re not the dusty stuffy places you remember being dragged around as a child anymore, either – museums are one of the best places to go to learn something new, discover interesting things about your local area, or find free activities to engage you with the local community.
Many museums are free or donation-only these days already, but over the holidays you may find the ones with an entry fee will waive the ticket price.
Library Learning
When was the last time you went to the library? They are valuable hubs in communities, and offer lots of activities for people of all ages to enjoy free days out. It’s not just about reading, either – there are loads of free things you can do with your library. Many will run social groups or craft days, where you can learn a new skill with little or no cost. And don’t forget to sign up for a library card to borrow a book or two while you’re there!
Visit a Free Heritage Site
The National Trust and English Heritage both offer great days out for anyone interested in history, grand houses, and nature trails through acres of woodland parks. But did you know that many of their sites are free to enter?
The English Heritage has a list of free sites (you may have to pay for parking) and the National Trust lists woodland walks across the UK, so you’re bound to find one near to you. Pack up a picnic and put on your walking boots for an interesting – and free – adventure!
If you want to plan ahead and make sure you’ve got lots of free days out lined up to fill your summer days, check out our list of the best free summer festivals.
