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 this summer holidays
I know how hard it is to find affordable activities your little ones will actually enjoy for the Nottingham Summer Holidays! With the rising cost of living and the loooooong summer to fill, this is a post you’ll want to save!
If you’re looking for our full bumper Summer Holidays Guide check it out here!
FREE Festivals
These festivals are free entry and have some element of a family offering!
- Nottingham Pride – 25 July
- Full Shebang Festival – 5 September
- Mansfield Carnival – 1 August
- 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)
- Hoopla! – King Edward Park St Anns – 4 August 2026 10-2.30pm – booking required
- Hoopla! – Forest Rec Nottingham – 6 August 2026 10-2.30pm – booking required
- Hoopla! – Melbourne Park Aspley – 11 August 2026 10-2.30pm – booking required
- Hoopla! – Bulwell Forest Garden – 13 August 2026 10-2.30pm– booking required
FREE Pop Up Beaches
Free to enter on foot – Parking Charges Apply
- Nottingham Beach, Old Market Square + Free activities
- Mansfield Pop Up Beach – 1st-31st August 2026
- Planters Brookfield
- Garden King Newhall + paddling pool!
- Erewash Musum
- Newark on Sea – 1-16 August 2026 – Programme of Activities
- Boogie on the Beach with Ignite Dance Studio – 1 August, FREE
- Radio Newark Beach Bingo & Quayside Quiz – 1 August, FREE
- Rhubarb Theatre: The Big Dippers Show – 2 August, FREE
- Radio Newark Beach Bingo & Quayside Quiz – 3 August, FREE
- Make Creatures from the Sea – 4 August, FREE
- Ball Play with The Joker Entertainment – 5 August, FREE
- Seaside Storytime – 6 August, FREE
- Radio Newark Beach Bingo & Quayside Quiz – 7 August, FREE
- Arts & Crafts with St Mary Magdalene Church – 7 August, FREE
- Boogie on the Beach with Ignite Dance Studio – 8 August, FREE
- Latino Sounds Band – 8 August, FREE
- Rainbow Theatre: The Rainbow Sailors Walkabout – 9 August, FREE
- Inspire Craft Activities & Treasure Hunt with Hollie Thorpe – 10 August, FREE
- Make Creatures from the Sea – 11 August, FREE
- Inspire Craft Activities & Treasure Hunt with Hollie Thorpe – 12 August, FREE
- Seaside Storytime – 13 August, FREE
- Radio Newark Beach Bingo & Quayside Quiz – 14 August, FREE
- Boogie on the Beach with Ignite Dance Studio – 15 August, FREE
- Sand Sculpture Annie – 15 August, FREE
- Radio Newark Beach Bingo & Quayside Quiz – 15 August, FREE
- Professor Paul Temple’s Punch & Judy Show – 16 August, FREE
- Sand Sculpture Annie – 16 August, FREE
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 – Bridgford 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
- Play in the Park at Sycamore Park St Anns – 3rd August 3-5pm
- Play in the Park at Victoria Park St Anns – 4th August 3-5pm
- Play in the Park at Robin Hood Chase Park St Anns – 10th August 3-5pm
- Play in the Park at King Edward Park St Anns – 11th and 18th August 3-5pm
- Play in the Park at Brewsters Park St Anns – 17th August 3-5pm
- Play in the Park at Clifton Playing Fields – 5th August 3-5pm
- Play in the Park at Clifton Flower Park- 12th August 3-5pm
- Play in the Park at Clifton Scafell Way Park – 19th August 3-5pm
FREE Activities, Trails and Workshops
- Robin Hood Adventure Trail, Across the City Centre
- Room on the Broom Trail at Sherwood Pines
- Pets at home – My Pet Pals Workshops – Daily (booking required)
- Nottingham Contemporary Summer Family Activities – Tues, Weds, Thurs, 28 July – 20 August – booking required
- Bassetlaw Museum
- Workshops and activities
- 27-28 July · ArchaeolLogy Week – Roman, Viking & Anglo Saxon Shields · FREE
- 29 July · Tiger crafts & storytelling · FREE
- 30 July · Friendship bracelets & Hama Beads · FREE
- 31 July · Lego Day · FREE
- 4 August · Jewellery making · FREE
- 5 August · Handmade Theatre Company – Puppet Petting Farm · FREE
- 6 August · Rolls Royce STEM Activities · FREE
- 10 August · Wizard of Oz crafts · FREE
- 11 August · Retro Computer Games & Debutots
- 12 August · Badge & magnet making · FREE
- 13 August · Clay Day · FREE
- 14 August · Lego Day · FREE
- 15 August · Makers Market & Summer Fayre
- 17 August · DIY Squishies · FREE
- 18 August · Rapunzel crafts · FREE
- 19 August · Forest School & Nature Crafts · FREE
- 20 August · Pom Pom keychains · FREE
- 21 August · Lego Day · FREE
- 24 August · Papercraft toys · FREE
- 25-26 August · Playmobil · FREE
- 27 August · Lego Day · FREE
- 28 August · Lego & Debutots – BOOKING REQUIRED
- The Magic Faraway Tree Museum Adventure, 27 July – 28 August, FREE
- Workshops and activities
- D&B Mini Mini Con (at Arnold Methodist Church) 5th August 10-4.30pm
- Rushcliffe Country Park –
- Wildlife Safari – 28 July & 4 August · Booking required
- Den Building – 7 & 11 August · Booking required
- Stonebridge City Farm – Pokemon Day – 17th August
- Painting by the River at Victoria Embankment – August 3rd 10-12pm
- CQB Arena Long Eaton – Free Family Fun Day – Saturday 1st August, 10-4pm – FREE
- Fusion FC – Family Open Day – Sunday 2nd August, 10am – 3pm – FREE
- Derbion – Free Character Meets – Gabby’s Doll House – 6th August, Kpop Demon Hunters – 13th August, Paw Patrol Marshall and Rubble – 20th August – book a slot online!
- Green’s Windmill – Games Day (3+), 31 July, 7, 14, 21, 28 August 10-4pm
- Erewash Museum – The Lotta and Lola Museum Trail Saturday 22 August – 13 September
- Lakeside Arts
- Boxtropolis – a cardboard city! Wed 10 Jun – Sun 6 Sep 2026, drop in
- Festival of Archaeology (7+) 25th July 12pm , drop in
- Mansfield Museum
- The Lotta and Lola Museum Trail Saturday 22 August – Sunday 13 September
- Paper Cup Noise Makers – 28 July – 10am-1pm – FREE
- Carnival Masks – 29 July – 10am-1pm – FREE
- Carnival Crowns & Headdresses – 30 July – 10am-1pm – FREE
- Carnival Flags – 31 July – 10am-1pm – FREE
- Paper Hand Puppets – 4 August – 10am-1pm – FREE
- Finger Puppets – 5 August – 10am-1pm- FREE
- Stick Puppets – 6 August – 10am-1pm- FREE
- A Colourful Whirr – 11 August, 10am-1pm – FREE
- A Head-dress – 12 August, 10am-1pm – FREE
- A False Face – 13 August – 10am-1pm – FREE
- A Necklace of Paper Beads – 14 August – 10am-1pm – FREE
- Jigsaw Day – 18 August – 10am-1pm – FREE
- Make Your Own Jigsaw – 19 August – 10am-1pm – FREE
- Board Game Day – 20 August – 10am-1pm – FREE
- Make Your Own Board Game – 21 August – 10am-1pm- FREE
- Museum Object Handling Session – 25 and 27 August – 10am-1pm – FREE
- Family Stores Tours – 26 and 28 August – 11am, 12pm and 1pm – FREE – booking required
- Harley Gallery Museum Makes (Ages 3-11) Weds and Fridays in the Summer Holidays · Time: 2pm-4pm · Drop in
- Smyths Toys – Free Mini Pokemon Make and Take – 1st August from 9am while stocks last
- Family Hub Events for under 5s
FREE Cinema and Theatre
Movie Thursdays at Nottingham beach – Films start at 6pm
- 23rd July – Sing
- 30th July – Grease Sing-A-Long
- 6th August – Aladdin (Live Action)
- 13th August – The Greatest Showman Sing-A-Long
- 20th August – School of Rock
- 27th August – Mamma Mia!
Panto in the Park – Kings Park Retford
- The Wizard of Oz on Monday 10 August 2pm
- Rapunzel on Tuesday 18 August 2pm
- Sleeping Beauty on Wednesday 26 August 2pm
Geoffrey Jumper at Erewash Museum 31st July 11.15am – 3pm
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!!
Here’s just some of the Free Activities you can find there this summer:
Summer Reading Challenge – All Libraries
Read 6 books over the holidays and collect stickers for your booklet. Get a medal and a certificate when you’ve completed it!
City Libraries
- The Clocker with Liz Mackenzie (7+)
- Nottingham Central Library | 7 August | 10.30-11.30am – booking required
- Wollaton Library | 11 August | 11 August | 2-3pm – booking required
- Jonathan Emmett’s Storytime
- The Book Family Robinson |Wednesday 19 August | 10.30-11.30am Nottingham Central Library booking required
- Great Dinosaur Mistakes | Wednesday 19 August | 1.30-2.30pm Nottingham Central Library 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)
- BeatFeet Percussion Workshop (Ages 6-11) Booking required*
- Cotgrave Library – 11 August · 10.30am
- Mansfield Woodhouse Library – 11 August · 2pm
- Offbeat Author Workshop (Ages 7+) · Booking required*
- Arnold Library: Friday 21 August, 10am
- Beeston Library: Monday 17 August, 10am
- Bingham Library: Friday 21 August, 2pm
- Hucknall Library: Wednesday 19 August, 10am
- Kirkby-in-Ashfield Library: Wednesday 19 August, 2pm
- Mansfield Central Library: Thursday 20 August, 2pm
- Newark Library: Tuesday 18 August, 2pm
- Retford Library: Saturday 15 August, 10am
- Southwell Library: Tuesday 18 August, 10am
- Sutton-in-Ashfield Library: Thursday 20 August, 10am
- West Bridgford Library: Monday 17 August, 2pm
- Worksop Library: Saturday 15 August, 2pm
- Offbeat Artist Workshop (Ages 7+) · Booking required*
- Arnold Library: Saturday 8 August, 2pm
- Beeston Library: Tuesday 4 August, 10am
- Bingham Library: Saturday 8 August, 10am
- Hucknall Library: Thursday 6 August, 2pm
- Kirkby-in-Ashfield Library: Thursday 6 August, 10am
- Mansfield Central Library: Friday 7 August, 10am
- Newark Library: Wednesday 5 August, 2pm
- Retford Library: Monday 3 August, 10am
- Southwell Library: Wednesday 5 August, 10am
- Sutton-in-Ashfield Library: Friday 7 August, 2pm
- West Bridgford Library: Tuesday 4 August, 2pm
- Worksop Library: Monday 3 August, 2pm
- Mansfield Central Library
- Cinemini Film Workshop (Ages 2-5) – 6 August · 10am & 1.30pm · Free · Booking required*
- Family Film Day – 6 August · 10am-2.30pm · Booking required*
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 indoor 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
- Willow Tree Farm (booking required)
- Trowell Garden Centre (fish)
- Planters Brookfields (Pop up Beach, Animals, fish, dinosaurs)
Honourable Mention
IKEA – Love it or Hate it – It is FREE Entry and nice to have a wander around. They often have free activities for kids, kids food offers in the café 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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