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50 free UK attractions
  • The historic urban farm is run by a charitable trust and aims to provide an enjoyable and educational experience for kids and adults alike. The farm is home to a variety of farm animals including; pigs, sheep, goats and chickens. Visit their website for more information. 
  • The trail is an 8.5 mile, traffic-free route for walkers and cyclists. The route runs along the former Midland railway lines through the Peak District’s spectacular limestone dales. For more information go to visitengland.com.
  • This museum consists of 40 galleries displaying art, social history, archaeology and ethnography. The art gallery is famous for its Pre-Raphaelite paintings, which are part of the largest public collection in the world. Go to their website for more information. 
  • This fortress was built by the Romans in Lincoln between AD50-60. Follow the Roman trail through the heart of the city and you’ll be able to explore the remains of the Roman city in the Cathedral Quarter as well as enjoying the Roman artefacts found there. Visit the website for more information.
  • The Royal Academy of Music hosts free lunchtime concerts on Fridays featuring symphonic repertoires and other ensembles, giving audiences the chance to hear the most promising performers of the future in a more informal setting. All performances are free, but for popular concerts you'll need to book in advance. 
  • Sitting prominently in the city's spectacular Albert Dock just yards from where 18th century slave trading ships were once fitted out and repaired, the International Slavery Museum looks at all aspects of historical and contemporary slavery and is an international hub for resources on human rights issues. 
  • The Street School Museum was designed by legendary architect, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, for the Glasgow school board, and is now a museum which tells the story of 100 years of education in Scotland. The building is a prime example of Mackintosh’s famous work. For more information about your visit go to the GlasgowLife site. 
  • The Museum of Childhood has lots of fun and free things to do for people of all ages. There are four main galleries including: Moving Toys, Creativity, Childhood and the Front Room Gallery. Visit their website for more information. 
  • Big Pit is a real underground coal mine that has become one of Britain’s leading mining museums. You can enjoy a multi-media tour of a modern coal mine with a virtual miner as well as exhibitions in the Pithead Baths and the historic colliery building where you can see and interact with machinery that would have been crucial to the mining operations at Big Pit. Visit the website for more information.
  • For over a century the gallery has showcased the work of renowned artists from around the world, including the works of Picasso, Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko and Frida Kahlo. The gallery is also a hub of contemporary art and has played host to works from Sophie Calle and Paul Noble. Visit the gallery's website for more information.

  • The stone circle is one of the most visually impressive prehistoric monuments in Britain and can be found in the spectacular setting of the rugged Lakeland hills. The circle consists of 38 boulders of different sizes, some which stand over five feet high. The origins of the stone circle are unknown but it is believed that it may have been used for ceremonial purposes. Visit the Mysterious Britain website for more information.
  • It is one of London’s most famous sites, found at the iconic Trafalgar Square, The National Gallery is home to a collection of paintings from the 13th to 19th centuries as well as spectacular visiting exhibitions. For more information on what you can expect to see at the acclaimed gallery, visit the website
  • The amphitheatre was built around AD 90 to serve the Roman legionary fortress, and large sections of the building are still visible today. Caerleon is said to have the finest remains of Roman barrack buildings in Europe. The National Roman Legion Museum is host to a wide range of artefacts that have been discovered in the region. Visit their website for more information. 
  • Housed in a landmark industrial building on banks of River Tyne in Gateshead, BALTIC is a major international centre for contemporary art. The gallery has no permanent collection; instead a diverse and ever-changing calendar of exhibitions. Visit the gallery's website for more information. 
  • The Botanic Gardens is home to the Palm House and Tropical Ravine. The gardens were established in 1828 by the Belfast Botanic and Horticultural Society. The Palm House boasts a range of tropical plants, hanging baskets and birds of paradise while the Tropical Ravine has some of the oldest plants around. For more information, visit the website

  • Originally built in the 1790s, Blaise Castle House was the home of wealthy Bristolian merchant, John Scandrett Harford. These days you can view the costume and toy collections belonging to the house as well as the recreated Victorian school room. Visit the website for more information.
  • Get lost in this hedge maze designed in the shape of Northern Island. The maze has seven central spaces, one to represent each county of Northern Island, and there plenty of dead ends to throw you off course. Visit the website for more information. 
  • The museum tells the story of football throughout the ages and also houses one of the world’s best football collections. The museum is home to extensive archive footage from the BBC of interviews with fans and players. Football’s Hall of Fame, where the greatest players, managers and teams of English football are celebrated, can also be found at the National Football Musuem. Visit the museum's website for more information. 
  • Walk in the footsteps of giants on the coast of the wild North Atlantic Ocean in County Antrim. The 40,000 interlocking basalt columns are world-famous and play a major part in Ireland’s heritage. Climb the Shepherd's Steps or get a cliff top view of the spectacular coastline. See here for more information. 

  • The Ashmolean is the world’s oldest university museum and home to the famous university’s outstanding collection of art and archaeology. The Ashmolean was Britain’s first public museum and it now houses the world’s largest collection of Raphael drawings as well as the only Minoan collection in Britain. Visit the Ashmolean website for information. 
  • Spend a few hours enjoying the scenic coastal walk that runs between Bournemouth and Boscombe piers.  Bournemouth boasts stunning sea cliffs, beach huts and end of pier entertainment. If you look beneath the surface, you’ll be able to see the northern hemisphere’s first artificial reef which lies about a mile from Boscombe pier. For more information go to visitengland.com.  
  • The museum celebrates the history of former local resident, William Fox Talbot who was famous for his contributions towards the invention of photography. The museum also has an extensive collection of historical photographs and often showcases the work of various photographers. Visit their website for more information.
  • ‘Another Place’ is a series of 100 life-size figures created by renowned sculptor and creator of the Angel of the North, Antony Gormley. The sculptures have previously been found in Cuxhaven, Germany, Stavanger in Norway and De Panne in Belgium but are now a permanent fixture in Merseyside. Take a look at VisitEngland for more information. 
  • The multi-award winning garden is one of the largest temperate glasshouses in the UK and is home to more than 2,500 plants from all over the world. The equivalent size of 5000 domestic greenhouses, the Winter Garden also houses the Bessemer Gallery, a collection of contemporary art and fine craft. Visit the Welcome to Sheffield website for more information.
  • The challenge involves a series of walks through Upper Teesdale that range in difficulty. There is everything from family-friendly routes through to 19 mile hikes. The walks are split into four categories: rainbow, bronze, silver and gold and progress in difficulty. You can register with Teesdale Challenge Walks if you want to complete a set of walks and receive a certificate. Visit the challenge website to learn more. 
  • The Park was designed over 200 years ago and YSP has been using the space since 1977 to display a wide range of fascinating exhibitions and installations. There is also the Underground Gallery which has been cut into the hillside of the Bothy Garden and provides three gallery spaces, ideal for sculpture. Take a look at the park's website to learn more. 
  • The museum will give you an insight into the life of textile manufacturer and Victorian millionaire, Henry Butterfield, who originally lived in the mansion. You will also be able to explore the other areas of the museum including; the costumes display, the mounted birds and animals and William Morris stained glass. Visit the website for more information. 
  • Dating from the 14th century, the historic landscape of Callendar Park also contains a section of the Antonine Wall World Heritage Site. You can experience the fully restored 1825 kitchen where costumed helpers will take you through the samples of early-19th century food and tell stories of working life in a large household. Visit the local community trust site to learn more. 
  • The bike trails are graded green, blue and red in relation to their difficulty levels and there are options for people of all abilities. For the more adventurous there is a Jumps Park designed to suit daring mountain bikers looking for an adrenaline fix. For more information, visit the website
  • Make friends with the furry residents of the Donkey Sanctuary at Sidmouth and experience the charity’s great work first hand. The Devon Sanctuary has around 500 donkeys in their care currently and the site is both family and dog friendly. The sanctuary also offers donkey assisted therapy to hundreds of school children in the local area. Visit their website for more information. 
  • This historic landmark on the south bank of the Thames is the centrepiece of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site and the grounds and buildings are now open to the public. Visit the website for more information on what you can see and do. 
  • Found in County Down, the landmark is visible from most of the North Downs and the tower has two floors of displays and exhibitions that track the history of the building. Reach the top of the tower and you’ll get fantastic views of the Northern Irish countryside. Visit the website for more information.
  • Dinorwig Quarry closed in 1969 and today the workshops on site tell the story of the Welsh slate industry. The workshop and buildings have been designed as though the quarryman and engineers have only just left and there are also talks and demonstrations that will give you an insight into the lives of those who worked at the quarry. For more information, visit the Musuem Wales site. 
  • The Roman Fort once housed a garrison that guarded the entrance to the River Tyne. The excavated remains at the site, along with detailed reconstructions, give a unique insight into life in Roman Britain. The remains of the Fort include barracks, granaries and gateways and visitors can also enjoy the sights and sounds of the Roman garden. Visit the website for more information. 
  • The Horniman Museum and Gardens boast an extensive collection of anthropology, natural history and musical instruments as well as a variety of special exhibitions, shows, workshops and activities. The broad range of attractions on show means there is sure to be something for everyone to enjoy. For more information about your visit, go to the museum's website

  • Holyrood Park is just a short walk from the heart of Edinburgh and the park’s highest point, Arthur’s Seat, is a dormant volcano which rises 251 metres above sea level. Take the time to scale the hill and make the most of the stunning views of the Scottish capital that can be seen from the peak. Go to the Visit Scotland website for more information. 
  • This gallery is the largest public gallery in London that is dedicated solely to photography. The gallery was founded in 1971 and houses the latest emerging talent, established artists and historical archives. Visit their website for more information. 
  • The Crags is a beautiful wooded valley in the South Pennines with more than 400 acres of unspoilt woodland and Gibson Mill at the heart of it. The valley is home to a host of flora and fauna as well as waterfalls, streams and stacks of millstone grit. For more information before you visit, go to the website.
  • Explore the unique rock formation that lies 500m off the south Devon coast with an afternoon spent ‘wild’ swimming in the bracing waters of Thurlestone Bay. The area is famous for its unusual arch that has been created over time by the crashing waves. More experienced swimmers may be able to swim through the arch while those who are less confident can enjoy floating over the reef. Take a look at the Visit England website for more information.
  • The farm has a wide variety of animals, both big and small, ranging from cows and sheep to guinea pics and ducks. Visitors have the chance to feed all the animals, either with feed bought from the farm shops or in the animal handling sessions. The farm also teaches about home food production and horticulture, and the site even grows its own fruit, vegetables and herbs as well as producing its own honey. Visit Experience Nottinghamshire's website for information about the farm. 
  • The Waterfront Museum tells the story of industry and innovation in Wales over the last 300 years. Visitors can discover the vast industrial and maritime history of Wales with a range of interactive and traditional displays on offer. For more information on what to expect at the museum, visit the museum's website.
  • Set in the grounds of Stratford Park in Stroud, Gloucestershire, the Grade II listed mansion is home to a collection that tells the fantastic story of Stroud’s rich and diverse history. The museum has a whole range of items on display, including dinosaur bones and historical paintings. Visit the museum's website for more information. 
  • Take advantage of the knowledge of local residents with the Brighton Greeters scheme. All you need to do is sign up online and you will be assigned a local guide for a free, two hour tour of the seaside town. The city-wise volunteers will be able to show you the best of this vibrant and cosmopolitan coastal resort. Visit the website for more information about the scheme. 
  • The world-famous fiesta is in its 37th year and is Europe’s largest ballooning event. The fiesta takes place in Bristol every summer over four days and attracts over 100 hot air balloons. There are a number of other attractions that take place over the weekend as well. 2015 dates: August 6-9.
  • Take a walk through the ancient woodland area in Northumberland and enjoy the extensive river scenery as well as the 101 acre Stawardpeel Site of Specific Scientific Interest. Keep an eye out for the medieval pele tower and a reconstructed Victorian summer-house that can also be found in the area. For more information, visit the National Trust page

  • St Fagans is one of Europe’s leading open-air museums and Wales’ most popular heritage attraction. Set in the grounds of St Fagans Castle, you can visit over forty buildings from a range of historical periods and experience the traditional crafts and activities on offer. Visit the website for more information. 
  • At the museum you can explore the wonders and diversity of the natural world as well and having the time to enjoy displays on world cultures, art and design, science and technology and the history of Scotland. Visit the website for more information. 
  • The museum includes a large-scale replica of Hadrian’s Wall, one of the most iconic features of the north of England. There are also major displays exploring the diversity of the animal and plant kingdoms as well as spectacular objects from the Ancient Greek and Egyptian cultures. Visit the website for more information. 
  • The Harris is recognised as one of the leading contemporary art museums in the north west and houses many objects of national significance. The collection includes fine art paintings, sculpture, drawing and print as well as costume and textiles, ceramics and glass and contemporary art. Visit their website for more information. 
  • If you want to experience a truly British tradition, watch the Changing of the Guard outside Buckingham Palace. The event also takes place at Windsor Castle and Horse Guards Parade. At Buckingham Palace it takes place daily from May to July and on alternate days for the remainder of the year. For more information on when and where you can see this, visit the website

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