Leicester
Leicestershire
A compact East Midlands city with museums, parks, libraries, indoor play, and easy family options for mixed-weather days.
12 listed places
View guideDays Out Directory
Family days out and kids activities across the UK
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Manchester
Greater Manchester
A lively city for families, with museums, libraries, parks, sports venues, indoor play, and creative activity spaces.
16 listed places
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Reading
Berkshire
A Thames Valley town with riverside walks, museums, libraries, parks, soft play, and easy London travel for family day trips.
14 listed places
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Start with the kind of day you need
Free days out
Find parks, libraries, museums, and public spaces for lower-cost family plans.
Browse ideasIndoor activities
Useful ideas for rainy days, cold weather, and backup plans.
Browse ideasRainy-day plans
Indoor museums, libraries, and wet-weather backups when parks are off the cards.
Browse ideasToddler-friendly
Gentler days out and early-years options for younger children.
Browse ideasParks
Plan playground trips, picnics, walks, and budget-friendly fresh air.
Browse ideasFeatured places
Featured family listings
Ages 3–12FreeindoorRainy day
Museum
Leicester Museum & Art Gallery
A central Leicester museum with art, local history, dinosaur displays, and calm indoor galleries for families. Free entry makes it a strong rainy-day option, though event days can be busier so check what's on before travelling.
- Age
- 3-12
- Place
- Indoor
Ages 1–12Freeoutdoor
Park
Abbey Park
A large riverside park with playgrounds, boating lake paths, pets corner, and picnic lawns for low-cost Leicester family time. Free entry suits sunny weekends and school holidays, with cafés nearby for longer visits.
- Age
- 1-12
- Place
- Outdoor
Ages 3–12FreeindoorRainy day
Museum
Manchester Museum
A University of Manchester museum on Oxford Road with natural history, ancient worlds, and family-friendly indoor galleries. Free entry to permanent galleries supports budget school-holiday plans; book ahead for temporary exhibitions and check quiet-time details on the official site.
- Age
- 3-12
- Place
- Indoor
Ages 3–14FreeindoorRainy day
Museum
Manchester Art Gallery
A free city-centre art gallery on Mosley Street with family-friendly indoor galleries and temporary exhibitions near Metrolink stops. Useful for rainy-day culture stops; confirm opening times and family activities on the official Manchester Art Gallery website.
- Age
- 3-14
- Place
- Indoor
Ages 1–12PaidindoorRainy day
Soft Play
Play Factore
A large indoor play arena near the Trafford Centre with multi-level soft play, slides, and party packages for energetic Greater Manchester family sessions. Advance booking is common on wet weekends—confirm prices, age guidance, and opening times on the official Play Factore website.
- Age
- 1-12
- Place
- Indoor
Birthday-friendly venue
Check website
Ages 4–12Freeindoor
Museum
Reading Museum
Reading Museum in the Town Hall tells the town’s story across family-friendly galleries near Forbury Gardens and the Abbey Quarter. Free entry supports low-spend rainy-day plans; confirm opening times and family events on the official Reading Museum website.
- Age
- 4-12
- Place
- Indoor
How to use the days out directory
Choose a city, then filter by age, indoor/outdoor, budget, SEN-friendly options, and birthday-friendly venues. The directory is designed for quick planning rather than exhaustive local coverage.
How to find rainy day options
Start with indoor activities, museums, libraries, soft play, bowling, cinemas, swimming pools, and craft studios. Keep a printable or quiet activity ready for travel and waiting times.
How to find free and low-cost days out
Free listings usually include parks, libraries, public venues, and some museum-style options. Low-cost listings can be good for shorter visits when you want structure without a full premium day out.
Check before travelling
Please check the official website before visiting, as opening times, prices, and availability can change. This is especially important for school holidays, party bookings, special sessions, and accessibility needs.
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