Summer is here and the kids are off school for at least 6 weeks. I’m a mum myself so I know how expensive the summer could get. This year more than ever, we all need a bit of help finding ways to reduce our spending so I have put together this epic list of free summer activities for kids North West.
I love writing about family days out North West but I’ve seen how expensive some of them get. This post is all about the free (or low cost if you need to pay for public transport or petrol and parking) events and places you can visit across Manchester, Cheshire, Liverpool, Lancashire and the Lake District.
I have a whole series of posts on Things to do with kids in the North West summer 2022 and these are free and paid events. So if you do want the odd treat then head to that page next.
Free summer activities for kids Manchester
Below are all the free events happening this summer but you can find Free things to do in Manchester with kids all year round here.
Trafford Palazzo Summer Fest
Throughout August
Free events but some need booking to limit numbers. Full details here – Trafford Palazzo | Events
This summer there are loads of things for kids to enjoy at Trafford Palazzo including crafts on Wednesdays, dance school on Mondays, BootCamp Fridays (sports and fitness events for kids), live music on Fridays, glitter face painting and a closing party on Saturday 27th August.
Trafford centre free activities
This summer there is a free outdoor cinema and outdoor entertainment area. You do need to pay to enter the beach and fairground area though so be prepared for that. Find out more here – Summer Daze at the Trafford Centre.
Manchester museum of science and industry
Open every day this summer holidays, from Saturday 23rd July to Sunday 4th September. You’ll find loads of interactive science fun this summer including Power UP in the must-see, free hands-on exhibition. Play the very best video games from the last 5 decades. Tickets are free but must be booked in advance here.
Refract 22, Sale
This 10 day festival, curated by Waterside arts, runs from Thursday 21st July to Saturday 30th July, this event promises the very best in live comedy, music, dance, experiential performance and theatre.
Here are the family events that are part of the festival:
- Groove sensations, for children 3 and under and their grown-ups. Wed 27th July at 11am. Ranging from beautiful electronic soundscapes to hard-grooving funk and jazz, the GB Trio incorporates specially created animations and actions into their eclectic set designed to entrance young and not-so-young. Tickets £4.50 Booking essential. In the cabaret club Waterside, Sale
- Groove into the woods for children aged 3-7. Wed 27th July 13:30. A mix of animation, interactive music making and solid groove from Groove baby Organ trio. Tickets £9 adult, £7 children. Booking essential. In the Cabaret club, Waterside Sale.
- Fashion spies, Thursday 28th July, 6-7pm. The Cabaret club, Waterside, Sale. Fashion Spies puts audiences right into the heart of the show. Find yourself on an undercover mission as you travel around the world with Quick Duck Theatre – your choices will help to thwart the biggest threat that fashion has ever seen. Devil Wears Prada meets Spy Kids in this fabulous and surreal choose-your-own-adventure comedy. The stakes and the shoulder pads have never been higher. Tickets start from £10 and must be booked in advance.
- Splat! Friday, 29 July, 11:30-12:15. The Cabaret Club, Waterside, Sale. Splat is a physical comedy about Art and Creativity for ages 3-7. Set in an artists’ studio the show follows two aspiring artists one dedicated and serious the other erratic and messy. Tickets cost £9 adults, £7 child. Booking essential.
Book any of the events here and Find the full festival programme here.
Free outdoor family theatre Tameside
These popular free family theatre events are back fr 2022. You do need to book a free ticket for the priority seating area. Find full details and book all these events here – Theatre Productions in Tameside
- D.O.C – Wednesday 3rd August 2022. A family-friendly, fun-packed, interactive travelling medicine show. Showtimes 11.30am & 2.30pm, Victoria Park, Denton, M34 2AL
- Reynard The Fox, Wednesday 10th August 2022. Engaging outdoor theatre for family audiences of all ages, using The Fabularium’s unique aesthetic, strong imagery and all performed upon their traditional wooden cart. It features storytelling, puppetry, original live music and The Fabularium’s bespoke animal headpieces. Showtimes 11.30am & 2.30pm, Cheetham Park, Stalybridge, SK15 2BT
- Alice in Wonderland, Wednesday 17th August 2022. Alice, a young, curious girl, follows a white rabbit down a rabbit hole and ends up in Wonderland! There, she begins on an adventure she will never forget. Showtimes 11.30am & 2.30pm, Hollingworth Primary School Playing Field, Spring St, Hollingworth, SK14 8NQ
- There Be Monsters, Wednesday 24th August 2022. Fantastic outdoor heroic romp-around from acclaimed outdoor performers The Fabularium. Showtimes 11.30am & 2.30pm, Hyde Park, Hyde, SK14 4JX
- Circus in the Park, Wednesday 31st August 2022. Bringing their unique blend of mayhem and madness, the outrageous Circus Sensible will thrill and excite the whole family. Between shows you will be able to try your hand and some of the amazing circus skills. Showtimes 11.30am & 2.30pm Ryecroft Hall Park, Audenshaw, M34 5ZJ
Picture this exhibition at The Lowry
This is a free family exhibition featuring 6 children’s books. There will be illustrations and artwork from the books, alongside filmed extracts from stage productions, with a variety of props, costumes, designs and posters. Throughout there will be interactive opportunities for visitors to draw, write, perform, read and play and even devise their own production ideas. At the heart of the exhibition will be a stage, featuring daily readings of the featured books and many other titles, as well as performance, music-making and artist-led workshops.
The six books / productions featured in Picture This are:
- Room on the Broom, by Julia Donaldson and longtime collaborator Axel Scheffler.
- Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, written by Lewis Carroll and illustrated here by Chris Riddell.
- Coming to England, by Floella Benjamin, with illustrations by Diane Ewen.
- Wild is by Emily Hughes.
- You Choose, by Nick Sharratt and Pippa Goodhart.
- The Little Prince, the story of a little adventurer from planet B-612 by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, with illustrations here by Chris Riddell.
Find out more here – Picture This | Exhibitions | The Lowry
The Great Northern Giant sandpit
Now – until 31st August 2022
The Great Northern Warehouse’s iconic amphitheatre has reopened its newly redesigned playhouse and ever-popular giant sandpit this week for families to enjoy throughout the summer. With 50 tonnes of sand, some wooden logs to sit on and play with and buckets and spades to borrow, it’s the perfect place to stop off. Not the photo below if before the recent renovation!
Salford Literacy trail
14th July – 9th September 2022
20 book benches are located around Salford (central Salford, the Quays, Eccles, Worsley and Swinton) this summer. You can download your free trail map here and start hunting for these colourfully decorated benches.
Free events at Manchester libraries
There are often free or low-cost events running in local libraries. You can also sign your child up for the summer reading challenge. This summer the theme is Gadgeteers. Find out more about this great initiative here.
This year they have teamed up with Science Museum Group for a very special science-themed Challenge that will inspire you to use your imagination and creativity! Gadgeteers will feature amazing books, awesome rewards, and plenty of ideas for cool experiments and activities to discover the science all around you.
Find your nearest library here – Libraries | Manchester City Council
Visit a park
A trip to the park is always fun for kids. Perhaps you want to try a different one though.
Find the best Parks to visit in Manchester here.
Go for a walk
If you have a young child, still in a pushchair then you need my post filled with pram-friendly walks manchester. I haven’t got a post specifically for older children but they’ll still enjoy many of the ones listed in this post. Many also have fantastic playgrounds.
Free for National Trust members
A fairytale summer, Dunham Massey – 23rd July 2022 until early September
There is magic afoot – a fairy-tale summer inspired by the whimsy and joy that only childhood fairy tales can bring!
There is a self-led family trail all about fairy tales as well as daily activities including stringed-musical happenings on the lawn, to cosy literature-laden children’s stories in the Orangery, daily activities and events add that little bit of fairy dust to the proceedings.
Activities will change daily and are free with the admission fee. No need to book. * Find out more here.
Free for RHS members at RHS Bridgewater
The great garden adventure
23rd July to 4th September 2022.
Activities include:
- thrilling storytelling sessions with Zoo Lab (Mondays, except for 1st August),
- toddler Tuesdays,
- Well-being Wednesdays (connect with nature on a 45 minute guided walk),
- Big bug hunt every Thursday,
- visits from Wild Wings Birds of Prey (Fridays 29 July, 12, 19, 26 August, 2 September, Monday 1 August 11am – 4pm) and
- planting and craft activities every Tuesday and Thursday plus Fridays 12, 19, 26 August, 2 September.
- Plus free, self-guided explorer quest trail through the gardens.
Free, drop-in event included in admission price. * Find full details of all family events here.
Free summer events for kids Cheshire
Lion Salt Works
There are several family activities happening at Lion Salt works this summer.
Union Jack Ribbon Wands and Jubilee Crafts, free, drop-in, 26 July – 27 July, 10:30-3:30pm
Cardboard dinosaurs, 2nd and 3rd August, free, drop-in, 10:30-3:30pm
Stained glass window art, 9th and 10th August, free, drop-in, 10:30-3:30pm
Summer seascape art, 16th and 17th August, free, drop-in, 10:30-3:30pm
Summer garden tiles, 23rd and 24th August, free, drop-in, 10:30-3:30pm
BFG in pictures, Grovesnor museum Chester
23 July – 4 October 2022
The BFG in Pictures features 40 reproductions for Roald Dahl’s much-loved story The BFG including illustrations not used when the book was first published in 1982. First exhibited at House of Illustration in 2016, The BFG in Pictures will visit numerous sites across the UK.
Storytelling session, 28 July, 11th & 24th August @ 11.00am – 11.30am, Free. Drop in.
Look out, there’s a giant about, make your own giant ears, 23rd, 24th, 25th August, 11am – 2pm, free drop-in
More events at Chester Grovesnor museum
- Art through time, 2 August @ 11.00am – 2.00pm, free drop-in
- 2D or Not 2D, 3 August @ 11.00am – 2.00pm, Free. Drop in.
- Surrealist Museum, 4 August @ 11.00am – 2.00pm, Free. Drop in.
- Dreams Around the World, 9 August @ 11.00am – 2.00pm, Free. Drop in.
- Secrets and Spies, 16-18th August @ 11.00am – 2.00pm, Free. Drop in.
Visit your local library and join the summer reading challenge
The reading agency’s Summer reading challenge is back and this summer the theme is Gadgeteers. Find out more about this great initiative here. This year they have teamed up with Science Museum Group for a very special science-themed Challenge that will inspire you to use your imagination and creativity! Gadgeteers will feature amazing books, awesome rewards, and plenty of ideas for cool experiments and activities to discover the science all around you.
Find your nearest library in West Cheshire and Chester here, Warrington libraries here and in East Cheshire here.
Many children’s libraries also run free or low cost kids activities too.
Go for a walk
I have a blog post filled full of Child-friendly walks in Cheshire. It’s a free outdoor family and lets face it w need a few free days out during the summer holidays.
If you have a young child, still in a pushchair then you need my post filled with Pram-friendly walks in Cheshire.
Visit a free water play areas
Church walk paddling pool, Northwich – free but you do need to pre-book. There are male/female toilets which also double as changing rooms and an onsite shop selling food and drink. There are numerous seats around the pool and grass areas for picnics etc. Adjacent to the pool you’ll find a fantastic family park with lots of play equipment (Vickersway park).
Congleton paddling pool – Another lovely free paddling pool for children under 11 years. There is one communal toilet with a baby change unit and a gradual ramp for wheelchair access. The grass area around the pool can be used for picnics etc. A short walk from the pool you’ll find the town’s park with beautiful gardens, play equipment, toilets and a café serving take-away ice cream and refreshments in the summer.
Sandy Lane Park and Aqua Park – situated upon the banks of the River Dee, approx 2.5 miles east of Chester city centre and includes Sandy Lane Aqua Park and the adjacent play area which looks across the River Dee to the Meadows. The park has beautiful views of the local area, which provides a stimulating play environment and the Aqua Park/Water Park includes a 10 feature spray facility close to a grassed picnic area. Aqua park open until 4th September, play area remains open after this. No need to book.
Splash pad at Victoria Park, Widnes – Lovely interactive water features as part of a larger play area. Free, no need to book.
Visit one of the many Cheshire parks
Castle Park, Frodsham – This is one of our favourite parks in Cheshire. The play area is amazing with lots of great equipment like slides and swings as well as a fantastic sand play area which is particularly fun in the summer months.
Victoria Park, Widnes – This is a fantastic park to visit in the summer as there is a free water play area with loads of sprinklers for kids to run through. As well as this, there is a large play area, duck pond and a butterfly house too.
South Park, Macclesfield
Victoria Park, Macclesfield
West Park, Macclesfield
Sankey Valley Park, Warrington
Bollington Recreation Ground, Bollington
The Carrs Park, Wilmslow
Lacey Green Park, Wilmslow
Free summer activities for kids Lancashire
Rockpool ramble, Blackpool
Monday 25th July, 1-3pm. Free event but donations encouraged. Places must be booked.
Explore the weird and wonderful creatures that live inside the artificial rockpools created on Blackpool’s sea wall.
Book here – Rockpool Ramble
Mud dipping, Beach Cafe Fylde, South Promenade, Lytham St Anne’s
Wednesday 27th July, 1-3pm, free but donations welcome. Pre-booking essential.
Discover the mysterious creatures living within the muddy saltmarsh of the Ribble Estuary.
Book here – Mud Dipping
Egg case hunting, North Beach Car Park, St Annes, Lytham St Annes
28th July, 1-2pm
Join Lancashire wildlife trust, hunting for shark, skate & ray egg cases along the beach.
Free, donations welcome. Book here – Eggcase Hunting
Beach art, Lytham St Annes
2nd August, 10:30-12.
Get your creative juices flowing on the beach at St Anne’s for our ‘Beach Art’ competition
Free, donations welcome. Book here – Beach Art
BioBlitz on Lytham St Annes local nature reserve
29th and 30th July, Join anytime between 11am and 2pm.
Help Lancashire wildlife trust to record the magnitude of species that exists on the reserve.
Free. Book here – BioBlitz on Lytham St Anne’s Local Nature Reserve
Big butterfly count at Hyesham Nature Reserve
3rd August, 10-11:30 am
Get close to butterflies and learn why we need to protect them. Finishes with a craft and explore some ideas of how to encourage butterflies at home.
Free, booking required – Big Butterfly Count at Heysham Nature Reserve
Minibeast Hunting in the Sand Dunes
4 Aug 2022 10:00 – 12:00 am
Join a minibeast adventure in the sand dunes and bug hunting equipment to find and name the many mini creatures that call the dunes home. Prepare to be amazed by beautiful butterflies, moths, caterpillars, ladybirds, snails and even earwigs, beetles and spiders!
Free, donations welcome, book here – Minibeast Hunting in the Sand Dunes
Fylde Sand Dunes Guided Walk
North Beach Car Park, St Annes,
Sunday 7th August, 10 am – 12 noon
Free guided walk along the dunes. Booking essential to manage numbers.
Book here – Fylde Sand Dunes Guided Walk
The Whale: Plastic Ocean, Preston flag market
30th July 2022
With the use of exquisite puppets, comedy and music, Circo Rum Ba Ba explore the tale of sea creatures and their battle to survive in an ocean full of rubbish.
30 minute show, several time slots available.
Free but you need to book tickets here.
Visit a park
Play areas and parks in Lancashire:
- Ashton Gardens, Lytham St Anne’s. Lovely gardens to walk around and a large play area with equipment for all ages.
- Lytham St Anne’s promenade. Small play area right on the seafront.
- Lowther Gardens, Lytham. Small gardens and a nice play area for under 10s.
- Park view 4u is a fantastic free park in Lytham with sand and water play, separate areas for toddlers and teens and a fantastic adventure play area.
- Stanley Park Blackpool has an animal farm themed play area as well as sporting areas, model village and so much more.
- Visit the free splash park at Lytham St Annes. Free but needs pre-booking here – Splash Park Water Play Area
Things to do for free on the Lancashire coast:
- Walk on the piers at Lytham St Anne’s, Blackpools 3 piers or Southport. Perhaps take some change to enjoy a bit of fun in the arcade.
- Play on the beach,
- Enjoy the free splash park at Lytham St Annes (free but you need to book here).
- At Lytham’s end, the windmill is free to enter if it is open when you visit.
- Fairhaven lake (Lytham) is free to walk around and there is a free art council-funded sculpture trail around the lake (pick up a free guide from the visitors centre). Find out more here.
- Fly a kite on the beach. The coast is often far out on the Lancashire coast.
Free summer activities for kids Liverpool
Liverpool museums
There are lots of free entry museums in Liverpool and many of them are running regular free or low cost family events such as trails and craft workshops. Find a full list here – What’s On | National Museums Liverpool (filter by date and “families”).
HAF (holiday activities and food) programme
Liverpool City Council has been allocated funding by the Department of Education to provide holiday activities and healthy food for children. The focus of the programme is on children eligible for benefits-related free school meals. There are absolutely loads to choose from. Find out more here – HAF (Holiday Activities and Food) Programme.
Interactive Storytelling, The Atkinson, Southport
Saturday 2 July, 10.30am, 11.30am, 1.30pm, 2.30pm
Wednesday 27 July, 11am
Wednesday 10 August, 11am
Wednesday 17 August, 11am
Wednesday 24 August, 11am
Session duration: 30 minutes
Interactive storytelling and imaginative play sessions for children aged 3-7. Ignite your child’s imagination, develop their confidence and encourage their communication skills with these family sessions featuring:
- storytelling
- music & nursery rhymes
- drama games
- sensory & imaginative play
- bubbles
- puppets
- crafts
Free, booking required
Book here – Interactive storytelling
Make It! Craft Workshop, The Atkinson, Southport
28th July, 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th August 2022
Free family arts and crafts activities, with all materials supplied and all for free!
Drop-in any time between 11am – 3pm and get creative.
Children under 12 must be supervised by an adult.
Young Curators Summer Sessions, The Atkinson, Southport
Tuesday 2, 9, 16 & 23 August 2022, 11am – 3pm.
Age 14 – 18. Free, lunch included.
In these free summer sessions, you will work with industry professionals to develop your creative skills and understanding of museum collections. Across the 4-week programme, you will get hands-on experience working with art and cultural pieces and engage with curatorial practices as an art form. Booking essential and you must attend all 2 sessions. Find out more here – Young Curators Summer Sessions
Are you messin?, Bluecoat, Liverpool
Get hands-on with artworks in this interactive exhibition that will immerse and captivate audiences of all ages, and inspire creativity in young visitors.
There are also a number of free workshops over the summer like clay, slime, storytelling and more. Find out more here – Bluecoat | What’s On.
Take a trip to the beach
There are some great beaches to visit in and around Merseyside. Have you seen the sculptures on Crosby beach? Well worth a visit. Then, of course, there is the fantastic seaside town of Southport. Great if you looking for all the traditional fun at the beach with piers, arcades and an amazing play area right by the beach.
If you want something wilder, then Formby beach might be the beach for you. You can also enjoy woodland walks and see if you can spot some red squirrels.
Over on the Wirral, there are some great beaches to visit too like New Brighton, West Kirby and Thurstaston.
Free summer activities for kids Lake District
I can’t find any free summer events in the Lake District but there are lots of free things to do.
You can find my guide to the best Child-friendly walks in the lake district here and if you are looking for a walk that is suitable for a pushchair then you need this post – Pram-friendly walks lake district.
The only cost associated with going for a walk is car parking. If you are a National Trust member you can find many car parks where you can park for free. You’ll also be able to visit many of the fantastic National Trust properties across the UK.
We have lots here in the North West including Wray castle, Allan Bank and Aira force to name just a few in the Lake District. They often have fantastic free or very low-cost events on in the school holidays and family trails throughout the year too. For a small monthly fee (see here for * current membership costs) or find out Why you’ll love the National Trust for kids here.
Visit a park. There are some really good and free parks in the Lake District.
- Fitz park, Keswick – has lots of equipment and even a sand play area.
- Rothay park, Ambleside which is a little bit tucked away. It’s a real hidden gem. There is lots of great play equipment for all ages. Find it on Rothay road in the centre of Ambleside. There is also a small play area for little ones by the pitch and put at the bottom of the town centre.
- Bitts park, Carlisle – Play equipment for children aged 3 to 10 year olds, plus a Pirate Ship sand play area. You’ll also find a Putting Green, Crazy Golf course, a mini maze and a seasonal FunSplash water splash park with spray jets and tipping bucket.
- Ford park, Ulverston – There is a natural playground, surround by grassy mounds with a Zip Wire, climbing stilts, swings and more. From here you can also climb up Sir John Barrow Monument where you can enjoy stunning views over the surrounding areas of the Lakes in one direction and across to Blackpool in the other direction
In Barrow-in-Furness you can get free entry into the Dock museum (free parking too). Here you can find themed galleries (some that change frequently), and a sea-themed adventure play area.
Find more things to do in the lake district with kids here
Free things to do at home this summer
- summer outdoor activities for kids
- 50 Fun things to do outside at home
- The ultimate guide to outdoor activities for children of all age