Published: 11/7/2019
Cinema trip here, Sea Life Centre there… it all adds up. Entertaining the kids over the summer months can be expensive. Trust us, we know the feeling!
To help you in your quest for keeping the kids occupied, we’ve put together a short guide on some free family days out. These are all accessible by coach so a big summer doesn't have to cost you an arm and a leg.
Don’t forget! All our coaches now have Wi-Fi and our onboard entertainment service VUER, which has hours of TV shows, films and games to keep the kids quiet on your travels.
Every day, 10am - 5:50pm
Nearest National Express stops: London Victoria Coach Station, Royal Albert Hall
We know this is just the one museum, but it’s so big you’ll need at least a day to get around it all properly.
Located on Exhibition Road in South Kensington, the National History Museum is one of three major exhibition halls on the famous road and allows visitors to get up close and personal with various specimens from all walks of natural history, including dinosaurs, human evolution, sea life and space.
15-18 August
Nearest National Express stop: Eastbourne
The award-winning Eastbourne International Airshow attracts crowds of thousands each year and is one of the biggest and best free family days out for plane fans.
Welcoming the best military and civilian aviation teams in the UK to the coastal town, the Eastbourne Airshow features a 2-mile flying display line along the beautiful Eastbourne seafront and often includes the Chinook and RAF Typhoon jets. On the ground, there’s plenty of exhibitions and activities for the family.
8-11 August
Nearest National Express stops: Bristol (Ashton Gate Stadium), Bristol Bus & Coach Station
The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta is one of the most renowned events in Europe, let alone the UK!
This free, family-friendly event sees up to 100 hot air balloons from all over the world ascent over the Bristol area in what is quite the spectacle. This year, the Fiesta will be celebrating its 50th anniversary.
15-21 July
Nearest National Express stop: Birmingham Digbeth Coach Station
Birmingham’s annual free-entry film festival returns this July with a blockbuster line-up of musicals!
We all know how pricey those cinema trips can get, so why not cosy up on a deck chair in the city’s popular Brindleyplace Square, with films like Moana, Mary Poppins and The Greatest Showman all scheduled to play on the big outdoor screen.
July - September
Nearest National Express stop: South Shields
The South Tyneside Festival is a free-to-enter festival for all the family that runs for three months. Highlights include free concerts on four consecutive Sundays with Marti Pellow, Lightning Seeds, Midge Ure and Gabrielle (July 14, 21, 28 and August 4) and various Kids Fun Fest events.
If you're looking for a summer you'll never forget but need to watch the pennies then we're here to help.
Take a look at our great value fares and destinations pages below to help you make plans for less - Big Summers Little Sums!
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