It's that time of year when you need to find the perfect pumpkin, the one that will become a spooky lantern. Find out how to pick the best pumpkin and see our top picks of places to find them.  How to pick the perfect pumpkin 1. Make sure it's the right colour! Perfectly ripe pumpkins more »

Get ready for an amazing adventure at the Cheltenham Literature Festival as it celebrates its 75th anniversary! Running from 4th - 13th October 2024, this festival is packed with activities that will spark your imagination, fuel your creativity, and keep you entertained! Get involvedStorytelling Magic Head over to the Story Shack, where you’ll hear tales more »

Warburg Nature Reserve in the Chiltern Hills runs various projects to conserve our wildlife, including a badger vaccination and water vole recovery programme. See their work for yourself! Visit www.bbowt.org.uk for further details.

There are lots of horse chestnut trees in Beaumont Park, Huddersfield which makes it a great place to go conker hunting. This can be combined with a walk along the nature trail or a hunt for some interesting statues.

Well-known for its avenue of horse chestnut trees, Hamilton Gault Park in Taunton is a great place to start looking for champion conkers. There are also play areas, skate parks and football pitches to keep you entertained this autumn. Click here for more details.

Scenes in the Square, in Leicester Square London, is a free audio walking tour where you can discover more about your favourite movie and tv characters from DC Super Heroes to Disney with many more in between. To find out more go to www.leicestersquare.london/whats-on/scenes-in-the-square.

Take a walk on the wild side at The British Ironwork Centre and Sculpture Park and see dinosaurs and dragons on their extinction trail. Over 128,000 species are thought to be endangered, and over 16,000 animal and plant species are on the brink of extinction and this trail highlights some of these. Go to https://www.britishironworkcentre.co.uk more »

Haugh Woods, Herefordshire is famed for its butterflies and moths, with over 600 species living there! The very rare Pearl-bordered Fritillary butterfly thrives in the recently coppiced areas, as do the rare Wood White butterfly and Drab Looper moth. Try and spot them for yourself. Visit www.visitherefordshire.co.uk for more details.

This week at Crockford Bridge Farm in Surrey, their annual outdoor Pumpkin Market is open with Pumpkins and gourds of every shape, size and colour piled up on haybales in a display to be picked, along with some great fun family activities. https://www.crockfordbridgefarm.co.uk has full details.

Coram’s Fields, Central London is a children’s only park and playground open all year round for children under 16. The park is steeped in history and for 80 years Coram’s Fields has existed solely for children and young people like you as noted by their well-known policy that ‘no adult can enter without a child‘. more »

At Yorkshire Pumpkins there's the perfect pumpkin for everyone - from ones that fit in your hand, to ones that fill a wheelbarrow! There’s orange ones, white ones, pink ones, blue ones, knobbly ones, stripey ones and even leopard print ones! Farmers Rob and David will be in the field to answer your pumpkin growing more »

Epping Forest is the rumoured hangout of the legendary highwayman Dick Turpin and there are various walks that you can take to see if you can spot him. To find out more head to efht.org.uk

This week in Weymouth there's some spooky goings on with a free Zombie treasure hunt. Seafood Sally has stolen the Pirate Lord's golden doubloons and he needs your help to find them them. weareweymouth.co.uk has more details.

Royal Pump Room Museum in Harrogate is giving kids free entry this week and putting on a bat trail - if you dare try to find them. Go to yourharrogate.co.uk for more info.

LittleBird.co.uk is your one-stop shop for family fun, offering amazing deals on handpicked experiences that make weekends and holidays unforgettable! With offers on theme parks, theatre, exhibitions, events, products, gifts, educational activities, and books, LittleBird offers something special for every family member—all at unbeatable prices. Check out their blog for insider tips, seasonal ideas, and exciting more »

The Black Swan Art Museum in Frome celebrates art by 5-19 year olds with an annual competition and entries can be viewed there now. There's also the opportunity to see other artists at work. www.blackswanarts.org.uk has more information.

Ferry Meadows, Peterborough has fun for all ages with their varied landscapes that include meadows, woodland and lakes, offering everything from fishing to walks to watersports. www.nenepark.org.uk/ferry-meadows has more details.

Check out the Horniman Museum and Gardens in Forest Hill, London, for a whole host of global artefacts that celebrate human creativity, imagination and adaptability with everything from aromatic herbs to reindeer skin and a walrus! There's also special events throughout the year so go to www.horniman.ac.uk to find out more.

Want to go to a real windmill and look around... for free? Green’s Mill is a restored and working 19th century tower windmill in Nottingham, UK. In the early 1800s it was owned and operated by the mathematical physicist George Green, who the windmill is named after. Entrance is free and there’s a science centre more »

Located on the historic waterfront of the city, the V&A Dundee is Scotland's first museum dedicated solely to design. The museum building itself is an incredible feat of innovation and design to marvel at, before you even set foot inside. Delve into a world of creativity through permanent displays and ever-changing exhibitions which showcase the more »

This festive season, let Blue Diamond Garden Centres help you make your home sparkle with holiday magic. From exclusive collections like Mr Christmas to the inspiring Flick Book Christmas Brochure, Blue Diamond Garden Centres have everything you need to create unforgettable moments with your loved ones. Whether you’re searching for stunning decorations, unique gifts, or more »

A colony of penguins has arrived in London for the next 8 weeks to highlight climate change in the Antarctic.  Twelve adorable penguins can be found in the Fleet Street Quarter in London, all with QR codes that once scanned tell you their tale. Go to fleetstreetquarter.co.uk to find out more.

The People's History Museum in Manchester is the National Museum of Democracy. Here you can explore the past to help make changes for the future and meet those that have done this already. phm.org has more details.

Leeds is about to sparkle with Christmas fun, as the streets come alive with festive cheer. The Leeds Christmas Market brings the city centre to life with cosy wooden stalls selling unique gifts, handmade crafts, and delicious treats from all over the world. Families can enjoy twinkling lights, traditional fairground rides and even some ice-skating! more »

World Museum in Liverpool is packed with a planetarium, an aquarium, and exhibits showcasing ancient civilisations, the World Museum is ideal for curious kids. Special family-friendly events and hands-on science activities make it a standout destination. Find out more at liverpoolmuseums.org.uk.

Create your own Christmas lights walk or bus tour in London by searching for the best Christmas lights in London to find out where they are and how to plan your route.

This is your last chance to catch the Bath Christmas Market in Bath Somerset. Wander through the cobbled streets for free to get in the festive spirit with their sea of twinkling lights and winter chalets. www.bathchristmasmarket.co.uk has more info.

Winchester Cathedral hosts some lively Christmas celebrations including concerts and a lantern parade, alongside its Christmas Market. For more info go to winchester-cathedral.org.uk.

Visit the Bournemouth Christmas Tree Wonderland and walk through Christmas trees from across the world, with stunning illuminations and installations to see too. It's all for free! Go to christmaswonderland.co.uk for more information.

The Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market is the biggest German-style Christmas Market outside Germany! There's a live music programme and much more. www.thebfcm.co.uk has more details.

Calling Santa’s little helpers! My Christmas Orchestral Adventure returns this December at the Royal Albert Hall for more family festivities! Oh no! Father Christmas is due at the biggest Christmas concert in the whole world but conductor Tim has lost his Christmas spirit. Join his brother Tom, Albert’s Orchestra, National Youth Choir of Great Britain more »

This is your last chance to follow the Lantern Sculpture Trail in Derby. You can see 11 giant lantern sculptures whilst discovering new places, people, and stories in the area. Go to visitderby.co.uk for more details

Wollaton Hall in Nottinghamshire has lots of festive activities this week including a Gingerbread Christmas Trail and Yuletide Hidden History Tour. Go to wollatonhall.org.uk to find out what's on when. Closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Monster Supplies in Hoxton, London has the weirdest and most wonderful gifts ranging from Fairy Dust to Werewolf Letter Writing Packs. Recently voted No 1 Kids Shop, all profits go to Ministry of Stories, a creative writing and mentoring charity for young children. Find out more at monstersupplies.org

January is the perfect time to plan something fun. Is it time to get on some wellies and start running? Pretty Muddy Kids is an event run in aid of Cancer Research. Raise some money for charity and stomp around in some mud. It’s 5 kilometres and open to ages 6 to 12 and takes more »

It’s panto season and you can catch Jack and the Beanstalk at The Theatre Chipping Norton. With fantastic costumes and plenty of laughs, this giant-sized panto is on until January 12th. Go to chippingnortontheatre.com.

Brandon Country Park in Suffolk, is a great park to explore. There's an arboretum with its copper beech and intriguing monkey puzzle trees. There are a variety of walks within the park, many on hard surfaces or on firm paths so suitable for all the family. These lead around the forest taking you to a more »

Bridging The Tamar Visitor and Learning Centre in Plymouth explores the history of the Tamar Bridge whilst offering you the opportunity to find out more about how operators manage and monitor the road bridge, the Saltash Tunnel and the tolling system. It's free to visit and there are various free tours too. www.bridgingthetamar.org.uk has more info. more »

St Abb's Head in Berwickshire is famed for its seabird colonies and stunning dramatic cliffs, making for a fun family walk and if you're lucky you'll spot seals and otters too. Go to www.nts.org.uk for more details.

Go back in time and find out more about the railways at the Monkwearmouth Station Museum in Sunderland. Housed in an outstanding Grade 2 1840s station building, you can enjoy a number of interactive galleries and sidings that include a wagon shed with two rare railway trucks and a classic Rover P4 car, and learn more »

Why would someone collect horse shoes? It turns out that donating horse shoes is a real thing and at The Great Hall in Oakham Castle, Rutland, there’s a unique collection of over 230 ornate ceremonial horseshoes donated by Royalty and nobility such as Dukes, Earls, Viscounts, Barons and Bishops. The exact origin of this custom more »

The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich has 14 different galleries for you to explore and get up close to the actual uniform Admiral Nelson was wearing when he was fatally wounded at the Battle of Trafalgar. See the most experienced explorers being pushed to the extremes of human endurance through the stories of heroic explorers more »

Rice Lane City Farm in Liverpool is a great free animal farm where you can see many farmyard animals including rare breeds such as Ryeland sheep and Berkshire Pigs. There's also huge fields and woodland to explore. ricelanecityfarm.co.uk has more details.

Do you have an aeroplane fan in your family? Then they'll love a day out at Manchester's Runway Visitor Park where you can watch planes taking off from the busy Manchester airport runways from just a few metres away! The park is also home to a variety of retired planes, including the spectacular supersonic airliner, more »

Liverpool's World Museum is a wonderful, free attraction in the heart of the city. The museum really does give you a great choice when it comes to things to see and do: choose between the planetarium, dinosaurs, Ancient Egypt gallery, a bug house and an aquarium. Don't miss Little Liverpool, a daily, hands-on fantasy world more »

Find out more about money at the Bank of England Museum. Marvel at ancient gold bars and their modern market equivalent, then learn all there is to learn about bank notes and the people who have been celebrated on them. The Bank of England’s collection of interesting bank notes includes a selection of forgeries and more »

The Francis Crick Institute, in Kings Cross London, is a place for curious minds and what better way to explore the mysterious and marvellous world inside your head than an exhibition all about the brain! The Brain exhibition is free to visit and now open. Find out more at crick.ac.uk

The Library of Birmingham is not your standard library! It’s an outdoor Amphitheatre, surrounded by wild flower planting, in Centenary Square providing performance space for music, drama, poetry reading and storytelling. There are two outdoor garden terraces, and a panoramic viewing gallery at the summit, where you are able to enjoy stunning views from one more »

Redwings Horse Sanctuary in Aylsham is located in the pretty Norfolk countryside. It is free to enter and home to many rescued animals including horses, ponies and donkeys. Meet the residents and hear about their stories and how they ended up at Redwings. Full details at https://www.redwings.org.uk/.

This week the Stepping Into Stories Kids Literary Festival takes place in London from 4th - 9th Feb 2025. Sixty children's book events are taking place throughout the week, with leading names from across the world of children's writing and illustration. http://www.steppingintostories.org has more info.

Discover Roman history at the Mithraeum, London. There you can see Roman artefacts and an ancient temple that was only discovered when a building was to be built. Find out more at londonmithraeum.com.

The Little Liverpool gallery is a hands-on fantasy world, crammed with fun activities to help you play and learn. Find out more at liverpoolmuseums.org.uk.

Visit the Design Maker over at the Design Museum, High Street Kensington London to see how design has shaped the world around us. You can also construct and build your own micro city or create your own graphic, fashion or product designs. For more info go to designmuseum.org.

Crystal Palace Park in South London has so much fun for all and it's free. From dinosaurs to gorillas, mazes and rusty laptops it's a great day out. Go to crystalpalaceparktrust.org for more info.

Have you ever wondered where in the world museum objects come from? Or why as humans, we like to collect things? At The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge in Canterbury, their Curious Stories exhibition looks into the origins of the museum collections and questions how we present and share stories of objects today. Find more »

Blaze Farm in Wildboarclough is an award winning farm set on the edge of the Peak District. Walk along one of their nature trails and spot the different wildlife whilst taking in the breathtaking views through the meadows and woodland. Blaze Farm is free to enter and more info can be found at www.blazefarm.com.

See the Pelicans get fed in St James Park in London. First introduced to the park in 1664 as a gift from the Russian Ambassador, over 40 pelicans have since called the park home. You can often see them being fed between approximately 2:30pm and 3:00pm each day, next to Duck Island Cottage. Find out more »

Irchester Country Park in Wellingborough is a former ironstone quarry with several long and short trails in nature, as well as a great play area. northnorthants.gov.uk has more info.

Hawthorns Urban Wildlife Centre in Southampton gives you all you need to know about the wildlife in Southampton and how the city's open spaces help protect and increase the variety of life on this part of the Earth. Go to southampton.gov.uk to find out when it's open.

Guildford Museum, in Guildford Surrey, has a great animal trail challenging you to find out how many different ones you can spot. For full details go to www.visitheritage.co.uk.

Saltwell Park in the heart of Gateshead is one of our most popular parks in the UK and a great example of a Victorian park. There's a play area, pets corner, maze and much more to explore. www.gateshead.gov.uk has more details.

St Albans Museum and Gallery in St Albans has newly created state of the art gallery spaces that showcase over 2,000 years of local, national and international treasures for you to see for free. www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk has more info.

In the heart of Tower Hill in London stands one of the largest and most impressive sections of the London Wall which was built around AD 200. This Roman wall provided security and defence for Londoners and is free for all to walk along. Head to english-heritage.org.uk formore details.

Ashton Court Estate in Bristol is a site of specific science interest with over 300 hectares of grasslands, woodlands, ponds and ancient oak trees. It has the UK’s oldest deer park with over 200 deer and is also home to lesser-horseshoe-bats, great crested newts and skylarks. Go to bristol.gov.uk to find out more, including free more »

Ruislip Lido in Hillingdon, London, has a 60 acre lake with sandy beaches, a splash pad and a railway line that takes you around the lake and the vast woodland. hillingdon.gov.uk has more details.

The 100 acres of Ryton Pools Country Park in Warwickshire, are just waiting to be explored. The many different habitats are home to a wide range of birds and other wildlife. There is easy walking around the site, and access to an adjoining ancient woodland, Ryton Wood. There is a regularly updated events programme so more »

The George Miller museum Bristol, celebrates the amazing story of George Müller, who cared for and educated over 10,000 orphans in Victorian Bristol. The interactive multimedia museum lets you explore what day to day life used to be like for orphans in that era and between now and 17th April there's a free activity adventure more »

The Easter Bunnies trail in Painshill Park, Cobham, Surrey is on now until the 27th April. This family friendly event invites you to wander through the grounds and find the playful bunnies hiding amongst the trees and flowers. It's just for fun and free so head to painshill.org for more info.

For a free Easter egg hunt between now and 27th April you can take part in The Big Egg Hunt, a self guided art trail across London where you can find giant decorated eggs across the city. www.elephant-family.org has all the details.

There is so much to see and do at Young V&A! A free museum in Bethnal Green, Young V&A is your space to imagine, play and design. Draw and create in the Open Studio, put on a show and perform on the Stage and get hands-on with interactives. What will you discover? Young V&A, The more »

Looking for free family activities in London? Look no further! The National Gallery’s Roden Centre for Creative Learning offers a vibrant space for all ages to explore, create, and imagine for free. Uncover one of the UK’s largest gallery learning centres and enjoy an exciting range of hands-on activities inspired by the National Gallery’s iconic more »

Hidden City is running the Great Eggsventure in London this Easter for all participants of their immersive treasure hunts. The city wide competition rewards players with Easter eggs for their clue cracking skills and creative problem solving. There's also a chance to win giant eggs. Tickets must be purchased but if you're under 10 you more »

The Easter Egg hunt window trail in Guildford is a free family adventure on now until 21st April. Collect 12 hidden letters in participating shops to unscramble a secret phrase. www.experienceguildford.com has all the details.

At Hestercombe's in Somerset, Dotty duckling has lost her eggs and she needs your help to find them. On now until 22nd April find out more about the trail at hestercombe.com.

Head to Brimham Rocks, just outside Harrogate in North Yorkshire to see weird and wonderfully shaped giant rock formations, created by an immense river 100 million years before the first dinosaurs walked the earth. For more information go to nationaltrust.org.

The Diana Memorial Playground in Kensington, London has a wooden pirate ship at the centre of a great play area designed to let your imaginations run wild! It also includes a sensory trail, teepees, a beach around the pirate ship and various play sculptures; all set against a lush backdrop of trees and for free. more »

Chester City Walls are the oldest, longest and most complete in Britain, parts of which are almost 2000 years old. Chester is the only city in Britain that still has the full circuit of its ancient defensive walls. Walking the complete circuit gives amazing views into the city and a fantastic insight into Chester's long more »

Arnolfini in Bristol is an international art gallery on Bristol’s Harbourside and is a great space to explore and learn about modern art. On the last Saturday of every month, there is also a free family film screening, as well as free arty activities for families. For more details go to www.arnolfini.org.uk.

How do you fancy going to Dracula's castle? Built in 1557, Slains Castle in Aberdeen is one of the most famous castle ruins in Scotland. Bram Stoker, the author who wrote "Dracula" used it as inspiration for the castle that the evil vampire lived in. If you fancy a fascinating, slightly creepy day out, this more »

Want to discover where Robin Hood used to hide out? Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve covers 450 acres and incorporates some truly ancient areas of native woodland. Slender birch trees grow alongside more than one thousand veteran oaks, most of which are over 500 years old, including the 800 year old Major Oak, which is more »

See 500 years of magnificent paintings, drawings, sculpture, silver and ceramics from Wales and across the world at National Museum Wales in Cardiff. The story starts in space with the Big Bang and takes you on a 4,600 million year journey, bringing you face to face with dinosaurs and woolly mammoths on the way. It's more »

Valence House Museum in London tells the story of Barking and Dagenham and its people throughout the ages. Based in the borough’s only surviving manor house, explore the galleries with hands-on activities or visit the peaceful herb garden. There is a year-round programme of fun family activities, from seasonal crafts, a popular teddy bear’s picnic, more »

Step back in time and stroll through streets of Victorian Leeds with authentically recreated shops and houses, and explore how toys and games have changed over time upstairs in the Childhood Galleries at Abbey House Museum, Leeds. The museum is home to one of the largest selections of working penny slot machines in any museum more »

Barnes Children’s Literature Festival, the largest children's literature festival in the UK, returns on the weekend of 21 & 22 June 2025. The festival is celebrating its eleventh birthday this year!  Over 100 author events, performances and free activities will take place around beautiful Barnes‘ pond. The festival always attracts much-loved names from the world of children‘s books and this more »