In the summer months, we can enjoy longer days and making memories with our loved ones – but you don’t need to spend a fortune to enjoy it. From staycations and scenic walks with friends to discovering hidden gems in your own city with the kids, there’s plenty of ways to embrace summer on a budget. We've gathered a few ideas to help you make the most of the sunshine without stretching your wallet.
Find free events near you or volunteer
There’s lots of free events across the UK. Using a website or app like Eventbrite, you can browse the different free activities including museums, music, arts, entertainment, and more.
Festivals often put out open calls for volunteers which means you can enjoy events and give back to your community at the same time. If you're a music fan, you could consider volunteering at festivals like Glastonbury, or if you live near or in London, there's the London Music Festival too. You can find opportunities on websites such as Festaff. Or you could sign up with organisations like The Pleasance Trust to volunteer during Edinburgh’s Fringe Festival and experience the citywide arts and entertainment festival.
Visit free attractions and sights
In Scotland many museums and public attractions are free to enter including the Royal Botanic Gardens (Edinburgh and Glasgow) Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum (Glasgow) or the The Scottish National Gallery (Edinburgh).
In England, attractions such as the Natural History Museum in London offer free entry. If you're a fan of hiking, you could take yourself on a walking tour of the Tolkien Book Trail in Birmingham. You could go hunting for hidden treasure by geocaching in Coed y Brenin Forest Park in Wales. Or why not enjoy the natural wonder of the world at the Giant’s Causeway in County Antrim, Northern Ireland (which is free to access and walk around).
Be a tourist in your hometown
Exploring your local area on foot is completely free – and you never know what you might find. Being a tourist in your own city or hometown can be a fun way to find a new area or thing to do. Cities like Aberdeen, Glasgow and Belfast have a loads of street art that you can explore. If street art isn’t your thing, you could explore some historical areas like Manchester’s canals at Castlefield, the Royal Albert Dock in Liverpool or The Water of Leith in Edinburgh.
Staycation at home
There are so many things you can do with your indoor spaces depending on if you want to relax with friends and loved ones or to create an at-home adventure if you have young kids.
You could set up your own cinema and put out a comfy collection of pillows and blankets before settling in for a movie marathon with snacks. If you love camping, have a camping trip in your back garden on a sunny evening or simply have a sheltered BBQ picnic and roast marshmallows with your little ones. Try a potluck dinner with friends and set up a theme for people to create their own costumes at home.
Use public transport for discounts on attractions
Travelling on public transport could be a good way to save and benefit from discounted entry to certain attractions. Children under 5 can travel for free on most trains and buses if they’re travelling with a paying adult. Please note that the age where children can travel for free changes slightly depending on which regional service you're using. If you’re over 60 you can claim a free bus pass, and there may be other discounts available for students or concessions.
You can also find rail providers that offer a 2 for 1 deal or 1/3 off on travel to different attractions such as Sea Life Brighton, Thorpe Park and the Avon Valley Railway.
If you live or are visiting London, have a look at the London 2 for 1 pass. This helps you save by giving you discounts and free entry to more than 90 attractions in the city including the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Tower Bridge and London Zoo.
Small budgets, big plans
If you're budgeting this summer, you don't need to miss out on big plans or making memories. You can still enjoy meaningful time with your family and friends in beautiful, exciting places. While managing your money can feel like a lot of pressure, we hope these tips can help you have fun during a low-budget summer.