SUMMER is behind us and in its place, cooler, wet weather is here – which makes it harder to find ways to keep the kids busy without breaking the bank.
We’ve searched high and low to find you the best cheap and free activities, days out, museums and events you can enjoy this month – from pottery painting for just a fiver and FREE swimming sessions.
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Families spend almost £4,600 a year per child keeping them entertained, according to a survey of 2,000 parents by car manufacturer Leapmotor.
That doubles to a whopping £9,200 for a family with two children.
But there are ways to soften the blow and make the most of free activities and days out near you.
Here we help you enjoy the latest events for less – and most won’t cost you a penny.
Paint pottery for less
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Pottery painting has become a hit for dates, family days out and catch-ups with friends.
But costs can rocket if studios add separate charges for the pottery, paints, glazing and firing.
At The Painting Pot in Selby, North Yorkshire, items start from £5 for fridge magnets.
There is no separate studio fee, with the cost of paints, glazing and firing included in the price of your item.
At The Happydashery in Leighton Buzzard, you pay a £5 studio fee and can choose an item to paint from as little as £5.
Community centres, libraries and local arts groups also sometimes run cheaper pottery or air-dry clay workshops.
Search Eventbrite and Facebook using phrases such as “pottery taster” and “ceramics workshop”, followed by your postcode.
For example, community organisations in and around Columbia Road in Tower Hamlets have offered free and low-cost creative workshops.
At Gladstone Pottery Museum in Stoke-on-Trent, visitors can sit at a potter’s wheel and throw a pot with an expert for £3, or make a bone china flower for £2.
But you will also have to pay museum admission, which is around £8.75 for adults and £6.10 for children.
Have a ball with padel
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Padel is one of the hottest sports around, with celebrities including David Beckham and Serena Williams giving it a go.
But you don’t have to pay superstar prices to get on court.
The game is normally played as doubles, so four people can share the court cost at venues that charge by the hour rather than per player.
For example, a £20 court booking would cost just £5 each when divided between four players.
I’ve saved hundreds on days out with my kids
Natalie Smith, from Dymchurch, Kent, saves thousands of pounds a year on days out with her children.
She says plenty of organisations offer free entry for kids at their locations and events, but simply don’t advertise it.
Meanwhile, the full-time blogger also uses Blue Peter badges to take her kids Finn, 15, and Lola, 13, to attractions across the UK.
Natalie said: “My biggest tip is to get a Blue Peter badge. These get kids into over 200 attractions across the UK – including theme parks, zoos, museums, gardens – all for free.”
She also uses her Tesco Clubcard points to pay for events and days out.
You can also save big when travelling to free attractions.
Natalie explains: “Train companies offer good deals too. National Rail does a Two For One, where you can get a London activity, like a River Thames boat cruise, included in the price of your ticket.
“And on Southeastern Railway kids can travel for £1.
“There are lots of these offers out there but companies don’t actively advertise them so people aren’t aware.”
At Hove Beach Park, non-member padel sessions can cost around £8 per player, depending on when you book.
Watch out for racket hire, balls and booking fees, which can bump up the final bill.
Apps including Playtomic and MATCHi can help you find courts and available slots.
Some venues allow you to join an “open match”, meaning you only have to book your own place rather than find three friends.
Look out for beginner socials, mix-in sessions and opening offers at brand-new clubs.
Council leisure facilities can also be cheaper than private clubs, while off-peak sessions in the early morning or on Sunday evenings may cost less.
For example, Padelsphere in Northumberland charges £40 an hour for a court at peak times but you can save £12 by booking an off-peak session.
Sweat for less in a sauna
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If you need a break from the kids after a long summer, you don’t need to shell out for a luxury spa day to try a sauna.
Communal sessions, where you share the sauna with other customers, are usually cheaper than hiring the whole cabin.
For a free sweat, head to the volunteer-run Dulcie Community Sauna in Margate.
There is no booking system, so visitors can simply turn up, although donations are welcomed.
Opening times can change depending on volunteer availability and the weather, so check its social media pages before travelling.
Community Sauna Baths runs not-for-profit saunas at several London locations, including Hackney Wick, Peckham and Stratford.
Communal sessions start from around £9.50, while NHS workers, students, over-65s and people on low incomes may be able to bag concessionary rates.
Some operators also offer discounted community sessions, concessionary tickets or “pay what you can” slots.
The British Sauna Society has an online map that can help you find venues near you.
If a venue charges per cabin rather than per person, gather a few pals and split the bill.
But check the small print before stripping off.
Towels, lockers, cold plunges and changing facilities may cost extra – and some venues expect you to bring your own robe and flip-flops.
Seek medical advice before using a sauna if you are pregnant or have a heart condition or other health concerns.
Make Eventbrite your new best friend
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Event websites can be a goldmine for free entertainment, from craft workshops to walking clubs.
Ikon Gallery in Birmingham runs free Family Saturday sessions, usually on the first Saturday of the month.
Families can drop in for hands-on activities inspired by the gallery’s exhibitions, although donations may be encouraged.
Meetup is also worth a look if you want to make friends while trying something different.
Groups including Metropolitan Walkers organise walks in and around London, with non-members able to try up to three for free.
Language learners can also find regular exchanges in London and other cities.
These events may be free to attend, but you could be expected to buy a drink if the session is held in a pub or café.
Enter your location on Eventbrite and select the “free” filter to hunt for workshops, markets, talks and performances.
Facebook Events can also uncover community fêtes, festivals and opening-week freebies that do not appear on the bigger booking sites.
Try nearby postcodes as well as your own, particularly if you can walk, cycle or travel there cheaply.
Useful search terms include “taster”, “community”, “open day” and “family workshop”.
Remember, a free event may still require a ticket, while some venues expect you to buy food or drink.
It is also worth checking council “what’s on” pages, library newsletters and community-centre noticeboards.
Get fit for free
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Parkrun is one of the easiest ways to get moving without spending a penny.
The free 5km events are held at locations across the UK, normally on Saturday mornings.
You will find them in places including Bushy Park in London, Heaton Park in Manchester and Cardiff’s Bute Park.
You don’t need to be an experienced runner either.
You can jog, walk, volunteer or simply go along to support someone else.
Junior parkrun also holds free 2km events for children aged four to 14, usually on Sunday mornings.
Register online before your first event and take your barcode if you want your time recorded.
Starting times and arrangements can vary, so check your local event page before setting off.
The event itself is free, but factor in the cost of getting there – particularly if the nearest car park charges at weekends.
Become a culture vulture
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Britain is packed with museums and galleries offering free admission.
In Liverpool, options include the World Museum and Museum of Liverpool.
London has the British Museum, Natural History Museum, Science Museum, V&A and Tate Modern.
Meanwhile, Scotland’s free attractions include the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh and Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow.
In Northern Ireland, the Ulster Museum in Belfast also offers free admission.
Special exhibitions may cost extra, and some venues recommend booking a free timed ticket during busy periods.
Pack snacks or a picnic if permitted to save extra cash.
Check opening hours and admission costs with the venue before travelling.
Bag a free taster
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You can often try a new hobby without paying a penny.
Try Tag Rugby runs free beginner taster sessions in locations across the UK, including London, Nottingham and York.
You don’t need any rugby experience, and the sessions are open to people with different fitness levels.
Enter your postcode on the Try Tag Rugby website to find your nearest session.
It is also worth keeping an eye on social media.
Venues often advertise one-off trials and opening offers on Instagram before they appear on their websites.
We found free children’s swimming and tennis tasters at David Lloyd in Bromsgrove and free sensory-room sessions at the Lake District Calvert Trust in Keswick, Cumbria.
The trust’s accessible sensory room includes bubble tubes, interactive projections, coloured lighting and features designed for children and adults.
Try searching for phrases such as “first class free”, “free taster session” and “opening offer near me”.
Gyms, yoga studios, climbing centres and sports clubs also regularly use free trials to attract new customers.
Follow local venues on Instagram and join their mailing lists, as flash deals may not appear on their main websites.
But don’t let a free trial turn into a costly commitment.
Check whether you need to enter your card details and whether you will automatically be moved onto a paid membership.
If so, set an alert on your phone reminding you to cancel in time.