WITH the UK heating up this month, it can be tempting to splash the cash and make the most of the sunshine.
During the May Bank Holiday, the UK could hit highs of 25C according to the BBC – compared to just 23C in Santorini that day.
BUT there are still lots of fun things you can do to make the most of the weather without having to spend a penny.
This includes everything from outdoor swimming pools and playgrounds to markets and hikes – so here are eight of the best ideas for how to make the most of the weather.
1. Hit up a lido
Lots of outdoor swimming pools are free across the UK – if you know where to find them.
In Swansea there is Blackpill Lido, while many seapools like Shoalstone Seawater Pool in Devon has no entry charges either, along with Bude Sea Pool.
2. Go to a huge adventure playground
While most small playgrounds are free, there are some bigger adventure ones that don’t cost either – there’s the Lower Leas Coastal Park in Folkestone, which is the biggest in the southeast.
Or in London there is the Tumbling Bay Playground in the Queen Elizaeth Olympic Park.
3. Head to a seaside theme park
Did you know that a lot of theme parks on the coast are free to visit?
One’s like Dreamland in Margate or Adventure Island in Southend-on-Sea have free entry – instead you pay to go on the rides (so non riders can get all of the vibes without the cost).
4. Go to a museum
The UK is one of the best in the world for having free museums, so you’re spoilt for choice.
In London there is everything from the Natural History Museum and Science Museum to the Tate Modern and V&A Museum; in York there is the National Railways Museum while the Museum of Liverpool and the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford are all free too.
5. Explore some castle gardens
History buffs can explore some beautiful castle grounds without having to reach into their wallet.
Try Liverpool Castle (weirdly not in Liverpool but in Lancashire) or Cardiff Castle in Wales (although you will need a ticket go into the castle itself).
6. Try a garden centre
With everything from animals to playgrounds, why not take the kids to a garden centre?
There’s the celeb-popular Burford Garden Centre in the Cotswolds or Bridgemere Garden Centre in Cheshire, which is the biggest in the UK.
7. Plan a hike
If you love a good walk, the UK has lots of them.
There is the recently opened King Charles III Coastal Path, running along the Kent coast; a short option of Hadrian’s Wall that takes just a few hours; or part of the Thames Path from Windsor to Eton which is around four miles.
8. Explore some markets
If you can avoid wanting to spend, then a beautiful market is often the place for stunning architecture and even sometimes some live shows.
Grainger Market in Newcastle is known for its food, while Leadenhall Market in London is beautiful just to look at.