Here at Off Out Nottingham, we love a freebie but we love sharing freebies with YOU even more! From parks to museums, big days out and hidden gems, there’s something for everyone here, and all FREE to enjoy.
I know how hard it is to find affordable activities your little ones will actually enjoy! With the rising cost of living and the loooooong summer to fill, this is a post you’ll want to save!
Special Events
FREE activities, festivals and special events for the summer holidays
- Summer Reading Challenge – All Libraries
- Crafts and Activities at Local Libraries – Over 100 to choose from!
- Robin Hood Adventure Trail, Across the City Centre
- Nottingham Beach, Old Market Square from 15th July 2026
- Newark Pop Up Beach 1-16 August 2026
- Nottingham Pride – 25 July
- Full Shebang Festival – 5 September
- Mansfield Carnival – 1 August
Free to enter on foot – Parking Charges Apply
- Room on the Broom Trail at Sherwood Pines
- Sherwood Forest – Robin Hood Festival 1 – Knights Ride in Once More – 2-3rd August
- Sherwood Forest – Robin Hood Festival 2 – Fantasy in the Greenwood – 9-10th August
- Sherwood Forest – Robin Hood Festival 4 – Grand Finale – 23-25th August
- Thoresby Park Woodland Festival – 25 and 26 July (£9 parking applies if driving)
Play Days and Fun Days
- Craft Event at Sutton Lawn – 29h July 10.30-2pm
- Play Day at Brierley Forest Park, Huthwaite – 5th August 10.30-2pm
- Picnic and Play in the Park at Chesterfield Road Park – 16th August 11-3pm
- Mini Police Fun Day at Carr Bank Park – 25th July 11-3pm
- Lark in the Park – 5th August
- Chilwell Play Day – 19th August 12-4pm
- Eastwood Play Day – 6th August 12-4pm
- Killisick Community Fun Day – 5th September 11-4pm
FREE Activities and Workshops
- Family Hub Events for under 5s
- Pets at home – My Pet Pals Workshops – Daily (booking required)
- Nottingham Contemporary Summer Family Activities – Tues, Weds, Thurs – tbc for 2026 (booking required)
- Bassetlaw Museum Workshops and activities– tbc for 2026
- D&B Mini Mini Con (at Arnold Methodist Church) 5th August 10-4.30pm
FREE Cinema and Theatre
Movie Thursdays at Nottingham beach – Films start at 6pm
Our Favourite FREE Place to go!
It’s the Library! If you haven’t been to the library recently, you must get down and see how much things have changed. Libraries are fantastic places to read and relax, but they also have loads of free activities and don’t forget to sign up to borrow books, of course.
The summer reading challenge is a great way to get your kids reading. You get a free booklet to fill in and stickers every time you’ve read more books. When you’ve read 6 books you get a medal and a certificate!
Loads of the libraries in Nottingham are lovely but our favourite children’s sections are:
- Nottingham Central Library
- Beeston Library
- West Bridgford Library
- Sherwood Library
But there’s actually 74 libraries across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire so check out your local one today!!
The Clocker with Liz Mackenzie (7+)
Free, booking required
- Nottingham Central Library | 7 August | 10.30-11.30am
- Wollaton Library | 11 August | 11 August | 2-3pm
Jonathan Emmett’s Storytime
- The Book Family Robinson |Wednesday 19 August | 10.30-11.30am Nottingham Central Library
- Great Dinosaur Mistakes | Wednesday 19 August | 1.30-2.30pm Nottingham Central Library
Tickets free, booking required
Summer Craft Sessions:
29 JULY
Radford-Lenton Library, Panpipes Craft, 10.30am–12.30pm, FREE
Southglade Park Library, Castanets Craft, 10.30am–12.30pm, FREE
31 JULY
St Ann’s Valley Library, Lego Session, 11am–12pm, FREE
The Meadows Library, Jingly Jellyfish Craft, 1pm–3pm, FREE
3 AUGUST
Sherwood Library, Panpipes Craft, 1.30pm–3.30pm, FREE
4 AUGUST
Wollaton Library, Jingly Jellyfish Craft, 10.30am–12pm, FREE
5 AUGUST
Bulwell Riverside Library, Lego Session, 10.30am–12.30pm, FREE
Hyson Green Library, Panpipes Craft, 11am–1pm, FREE
Radford-Lenton Library, Castanets Craft, 10.30am–12.30pm, FREE
Southglade Park Library, Paddington Day!, 11am–3pm, FREE
Strelley Road Library, Castanets Craft, 11am–1pm, FREE
7 AUGUST
Clifton Library, Panpipes Craft, 2pm–4pm, FREE
Dales Centre Library, Castanets Craft, 1pm–3pm, FREE
10 AUGUST
Dales Centre Library, Lego Session, 3pm–5pm, FREE
12 AUGUST
Bulwell Riverside Library, Castanets Craft, 10.30am–12.30pm, FREE
Hyson Green Library, Jingly Jellyfish Craft, 11am–1pm, FREE
Radford-Lenton Library, Lego Session, 10.30am–12.30pm, FREE
Sherwood Library, Castanets Craft, 10.30am–12.30pm, FREE
Southglade Park Library, Lego Session, 10.30am–12.30pm, FREE
14 AUGUST
The Meadows Library, Castanets Craft, 1pm–3pm, FREE
17 AUGUST
Nottingham Central Library, Castanets Craft, 11am–1pm, FREE
19 AUGUST
Hyson Green Library, Lego Session, 11am–1pm, FREE
Sherwood Library, Lego Session, 1.30pm–3.30pm, FREE
Southglade Park Library, Panpipes Craft, 10.30am–12.30pm, FREE
20 AUGUST
St Ann’s Valley Library, Panpipes Craft, 11.30am–12.30pm, FREE
21 AUGUST
Clifton Library, Lego Session, 2pm–4pm, FREE
Dales Centre Library, Jingly Jellyfish Craft, 1pm–3pm, FREE
The Meadows Library, Lego Session, 1pm–3pm, FREE
24 AUGUST
Nottingham Central Library, Jingly Jellyfish Craft, 11am–1pm, FREE
St Ann’s Valley Library, Jingly Jellyfish Craft, 2pm–3pm, FREE
Strelley Road Library, Lego Session, 11am–12.30pm, FREE
25 AUGUST
Wollaton Library, Castanets Craft, 10.30am–12pm, FREE
26 AUGUST
Bulwell Riverside Library, Jingly Jellyfish Craft, 10.30am–12.30pm, FREE
Hyson Green Library, Castanets Craft, 11am–1pm, FREE
Radford-Lenton Library, Jingly Jellyfish Craft, 10.30am–12.30pm, FREE
28 AUGUST
Clifton Library, Castanets Craft, 2pm–4pm, FREE
The Meadows Library, Panpipes Craft, 1pm–3pm, FREE
Nottinghamshire Libraries (Inspire)
Our Top 10 FREE Parks and Walks
These are all FREE entry but parking may apply if you’re driving there!
- Rushcliffe Country Park
- Gedling Country Park
- Long Eaton West Park (Free Parking)
- Wollaton Hall and Deer Park
- Woodthorpe Grange Park (Free Parking)
- Victoria Embankment (2 hrs Free Parking)
- Highfields Park (Free Parking)
- Thoresby Park (They also have a small free play area in the cafe!)
- Rufford Abbey Country Park
- Sherwood Forest
Our Favourite FREE Museums and Galleries
These are all FREE entry but donations are welcome
- Nottingham Contemporary
- Lakeside Arts and UoN Museum of Archaeology
- Green’s Windmill and Science Centre
- Erewash Museum (Pop up Beach)
- Mansfield Museum
- Museum of Making (Derby)
- Derby Museum
Free places to see animals
FREE Entry Garden Centres and Farms. Some have other activities as listed below!
- Stonebridge City Farm
- Lanes Open Farm
- Trowell Garden Centre (fish)
- Planters Brookfields (Pop up Beach, Animals, fish, dinosaurs)
- Notcutts Wheatcroft (Summer trail, animals, fish)
Honourable Mention
IKEA – Love it or Hate it – It is FREE Entry and nice to have a wander around. They have free activities for kids, a summer trail and also offer free 45 mins childcare in the Smaland Creche. Plus they have air con for when it is just too hot!
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