Wondering what’s on over the summer holidays for families? Check out our What’s On guide.
Family days out can add up quickly, especially in a place like the Lake District where it’s easy to fill every day with attractions, boat trips, and adventure activities. But the good news? Some of the best experiences here cost little to nothing at all.
A quick disclaimer before we dive in. A handful of ideas on this list do come with small unavoidable costs; things like parking, transport, or memberships such as the National Trust, which can often save money in the long run. We’ve also included a couple of worthwhile excursions just over the National Park boundary.
And of course, while this guide focuses on budget-friendly adventures, if the weather has other plans then you might want to check out our guide to rainy days in the Lake District instead.
But if you’re looking for affordable ways to explore more of the Lakes, or searching for more things to do in the Lake District with kids, here are our favourite free family activities to get you started.
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When planning your visit to the National Park, please arrive early or late in the day to avoid crowds if visiting over sunny weekends or school holidays. Please also take all litter home with you, don’t bring BBQs, and park your car in designated parking areas.
1. Go for a Walk
This is the obvious one, isn’t it?! Going for a walk in the Lake District is one of the most popular things to do. You are completely spoilt for choice, from short flat walks to long, challenging ones. Take a picnic (with a flask, obviously!) and it makes it as close to a free day out as you can get. Our Lake District family walks page has some ideas to get you started.
For something more ambitious, there is the Wainwright Challenge. Alfred Wainwright was a local fellwalker, author and illustrator who mapped 214 Lake District fells in his pictorial guides. These range from small, family-friendly peaks to major summits like Helvellyn and Scafell Pike. While climbing all 214 is a big undertaking, ticking off a few smaller fells can be a fun family goal.
2. Visit a cave
Exploring caves is always a winner with kids. Two of our favourites in the Lake District are Rydal Cave and Cathedral Cavern, both offering a fun adventure without costing a penny. Visit on their own or combine with a family walk. Don’t forget a torch!
3. Play in the woods
You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to woodland walks in the Lake District. There’s something about being amongst the trees that kids seem to love, and somehow everyone always leaves in a better mood. Woods are also a great option on hot days for shade, or when the weather isn’t great and you need a little shelter. We love Dodd Wood, Skelghyll Woods, and Eggerslack Woods. Or if you’re based in Kendal, Serpentine Woods on the fringe of the National Park is a lovely option.
4. SUP and kayaking
Stand-up paddle boarding (SUP) is a brilliant low-cost family activity in the Lake District. While there’s the upfront cost of buying a board and kit (this is the one we recommend), once you’re set up it makes for an affordable day out time and time again. If you’re a regular visitor to the Lake District, it’s a wise investment. Alternatively, an inflatable kayak may be easier with younger kids.
For families we recommend choosing launch spots with easy access rather than long walks carrying equipment. We especially like Fell Foot Park and Millerground on Windermere.
5. Geocaching
If you’ve never tried Geocaching before, think of it as a real-life treasure hunt. Using the Geocaching app on your phone, you search for small hidden containers left by other people, often tucked away along walking routes or in interesting locations.
There are plenty of ‘caches’ hidden across the Lake District, and it’s a brilliant way to make an ordinary family walk feel much more exciting for kids.
6. Do the free activities at Brockhole
Brockhole on Windermere makes a brilliant family day out, and while there are plenty of paid activities on offer, it’s easy to visit without spending much at all. Visiting the Brockhole site itself is totally free.
The only cost is parking (see prices here), but once there, children can make the most of the excellent adventure playground (free), walk around the grounds (free) and enjoy the lakeside setting (free). A lovely, simple morning is burning off energy at the park, having a picnic (well yes, food costs money), and then wandering down to the shores of Windermere.
7. Meditate at Conishead Priory
Just sitting outside the National Park boundary near Ulverston, Conishead Priory is a Gothic Revival building set within peaceful grounds and home to the Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre. The grounds are free to explore and dog-friendly, making it a lovely place for a wander.
The Kadampa Temple for World Peace is open to visitors daily (11am–5pm), where you can simply look around or join one of the free 15-minute guided meditations at 12:30pm and 2pm. These sessions are open to everyone, including children, although it’s worth being mindful that it’s a quiet, reflective space.
There are also drop in kids’ classes every Sunday for £3.50 where kids will be gently guided in relaxing meditations and fun activities. There’s also a café and gift shop on site. Admittedly these aren’t free, but worth noting.
You could also combine a visit to Bardsea Beach while you’re in the area for a flat, coastal walk to enjoy a sea breeze.
8. Explore the Lakes through a lens
This is a simple but effective way to encourage less-than-enthusiastic kids out on a walk, and it’s completely free. Bringing small toys or figurines along (Lego is always a winner) can turn a simple route into something more creative, using natural backdrops to build a mini photo series or even a stop-motion video in the wild. It’s a great way to help children see their surroundings in a different way.
9. Scooter and play at Grange-over-Sands Promenade
Just outside the Lake District National Park boundary and overlooking Morecambe Bay, Grange-over-Sands Promenade is brilliant for children. While there’s no beach for sand-play and paddling here (the shoreline is mostly tidal flats and salt marsh) the long, flat promenade makes a refreshing change from the fells, ideal for walking, biking, scooting and roller skating with a sea breeze. Along the way there is a play park, outdoor exercise equipment, a skate park, and tennis courts.
10. Do a Nature Hunt
A nature hunt is a simple, free activity that encourages children to explore the outdoors more closely. It’s a great option for younger children who enjoy spotting and collecting things, and also works well for older children with an interest in wildlife and nature.
Families can create their own list on paper to tailor it to their child, or download one like this one from Etsy (nominal cost).
11. Visit a Festival
The Lake District punches above its weight when it comes to festivals, and we are spoilt for choice. The festivals tend to take over a town or an area for a weekend, with lots of things to see and do that are free. Some ideas are:
- Kendal Mountain Festival every November
- Ulverston Dickension Festival in November
- Lakes International Comic Art Festival in Bowness-on-Windermere every September
- Keswick Midsummer Festival in June
12. Ambleside Roman Fort & Borrans Park
Ambleside Roman Fort and Borrans Park sit side by side on the edge of Lake Windermere, making them an easy combined family stop.
The Roman fort dates back around 2,000 years and is the remains of Galava, built to guard the Roman road between Ravenglass and Brougham. It is also thought to have served as a supply base and may once have housed around 500 Roman soldiers. The site is free to enter and open daily, with a National Trust information leaflet available from the Armitt Museum in Ambleside.
Next door, Borrans Park offers a wide open green space right by the lake, with plenty of room for ball games, picnic benches, and direct access to the shoreline. It’s an easy place for children to run around after exploring the ruins.
Parking is available in Ambleside, or the area can also be reached on foot from the Windermere Lake Cruises stop at Waterhead, following the lakeshore path.
13. Watch the sunrise or sunset by a lake
Whether it’s sunrise or sunset often depends on the age and routine of the children, as well as the time of year. In earlier years, it might mean early morning trips for a lakeside breakfast picnic as the sun came up; in later years, it becomes evening visits with a picnic tea or a flask of hot chocolate while watching the light fade over the water.
Either way, it’s a simple, free way to enjoy the Lake District at its most atmospheric.
14. Visit a Waterfall
The Lake District is full of waterfalls, and they make a brilliant free family outing. There’s something about being near running water that seems to reset everyone’s mood, whatever their age. Some are dramatic and well-known, others are smaller and tucked away, and many can be visited as part of a longer walk or as a short standalone stop. Family favourites are Aira Force and Stock Ghyll Force (walk guides coming soon).
15. Visit the park and jetty at Millerground
A few minutes’ drive north of Bowness-on-Windermere, Millerground is a hugely popular family spot, and it’s easy to see why. With parking, a playground, lake access, and sometimes a visiting coffee van, it’s an easy win.
Parking is at Rayrigg Meadow Car Park on Rayrigg Road, a pay-and-display car park with toilets open during the summer months. From here, a short walk leads across a large open field to a decent-sized playground, where the coffee van will be on popular days. Then from the park, steps lead down to the jetties at Millerground. This is where you’ll find a stone ‘beach’ popular for wild swimming, launching kayaks and paddleboards, or simply setting up for a picnic and skimming stones.
16. Castlerigg Stone Circle
This Neolithic stone circle dates back to around 3000 BC and is one of the earliest in Britain. It’s free to visit and sits around a 30-minute walk east from Keswick town centre (so outside the National Park boundary, located here), with some parking also available on site if needed.
The setting is what makes it particularly impressive, with views towards Helvellyn creating a dramatic backdrop. Children with an interest in history will enjoy the information boards that explain more about this prehistoric monument.
17. Free with NT membership
There are a few places in the Lake District that are ideal for children and families, that aren’t exactly free. However, with an annual National Trust family membership, entry to and parking at all their places are completely free. So, if you already have a National Trust membership, the following places are definitely an excellent ‘free’ way to spend a day:
- Allan Bank in Grasmere
- Skelghyll Woods close to Ambleside
- Sizergh Castle near Kendal
- Aira Force waterfall near Ullswater
It’s worth noting that the Wild Trail at Sizergh Castle is free to enter, even without National Trust membership.
18. Inspire the next Turner
A simple, free way to enjoy the Lake District is to take art materials outside and use the surroundings as inspiration. A small sketchbook and pencils, watercolours, or pens are all that’s needed to create something in the moment, whether that’s a quick sketch or a more detailed piece.
The Lake District has long inspired artists; it’s easy to see why when the light shifts across the fells and water. You never know, it might even inspire the next Turner.
There’s no pressure to produce a finished artwork; the focus is simply on observing and responding to what’s around you. It’s a relaxed activity that suits all ages, from young children through to teens and adults.
19. Julia Donaldson Trails in the forest
While not strictly free, the trail packs are only around £4, which is a small cost for such a popular family activity, so it’s worth including.
The Room on the Broom Trail can be found at both Grizedale Forest and Whinlatter Forest. As families explore the forest, children follow clues linked to Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s story, helping to find missing items and complete simple themed activities along the way.
Trail packs are available on site and include a lanyard, activity cards, ingredient stickers, colouring bag, pencil and materials to create a witch’s wand. It’s an easy, story-led way to add a bit of structure and extra fun to a forest visit.
20. Get in a lake for a paddle or swim
Whether it’s in wellies or wet shoes, paddling in the Lake District is always a hit with kids (and adults too). Anywhere with safe lake access works well, and it doesn’t need to be complicated. For ease, Millerground and Cockshott Point on Windermere are good options, but it’s always worth checking local signage for blue-green algae warnings.
For swimming, Grasmere is a popular choice. You can park at Rydal Water car park and walk through the trees to the shore, or park in Grasmere village and walk round to the beach. For most of the year, a wetsuit is highly recommended.
Open water can be very cold even in summer; take care to enter slowly and stay within your depth and ability. See RNLI guidance on open water safety.
21. Get on your bikes
If you have bikes, cycling is a great free way to explore the Lake District with kids, especially on traffic-free routes designed for families.
One of the best is the Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Trail, a flat, wide path following a former railway line. It offers an easy, scenic route without any traffic to worry about. For a more forest-based ride, both Grizedale Forest and Whinlatter Forest have marked cycle trails for different abilities, with bike hire available on site. Another option is the Ravenglass and Eskdale Valley, where quieter roads and riverside paths offer a more scenic, low-traffic ride for confident family cyclists.
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Also, feel free to share your walk photos in our Lake District Kids Facebook Group or on Instagram using by tagging @lakedistrictkidsuk in your caption so we can share with our wider community.