April showers have certainly brought May flowers, and just in time – there’s an extra day to play with this weekend. Now the sun has its hat firmly on until pushing 9pm, there’s time for a walk, train, or drive to break up the routine with a visit to one of the UK’s free museums, coastlines, theme parks or art installations. From London’s lidos to Cornwall’s Lizard coastal walk and Cardiff’s open-air museum to a world-class Glasgow art gallery, here are the best British days out to take this bank holiday and beyond.
1. Puffin Island Boat Trips, Anglesey
The heatwave has fully taken hold – so it’s time to get outside. Seacoast Safaris offer wildlife-packed boat trips to the furthest corners of Puffin Island (or Ynys Seiriol) off Anglesey, where seabirds such as guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes and, of course, puffins, make their springtime home. Animal-loving members of the family will be thrilled by the possibility of seeing porpoises or dolphins, while history buffs will be enamored by the island’s ruined abbey. Tickets: Priced at £29.95 for adults and between 95p and £22.95 for children, depending on age.
2. Eureka! The National Children's Museum, Halifax
Lengthy museum tours and art observation can often be a bit of a slog for little legs – but not this one. Eureka! in Halifax has the colour and chaos to keep kids onside, actively encouraging button pressing by children 11 and under across a maze of giant body parts, child-sized shops and musical playgrounds. From 23 May, families will find the museum's Circus Week, with themed craft, dress-up opportunities and performances by circus act, The Wheelnuts. Tickets: Adult tickets from £18.95; children between £8.45 and £18.95 depending on age.
3. The Queen’s Joust, Leeds Castle
Kent’s Leeds Castle is kicking off the bank holiday weekend with a ride back in time. A medieval jousting tournament complete with a feast, crashing lances and a cup for the champions is set to take place between England, France and Norway from Saturday. Although visitors will not be on horseback, spectators are requested to provide applause for the armour-wearing knights twice daily at 1pm and 3.30pm. Tickets: General admission is £34.50 per adult; £24.50 per child.
4. Adventure Island, Southend-On-Sea
Southend-on-Sea has all the ingredients for an exhilarating bank holiday. Between your choice of 75 salt and vinegar slinging chippies, ride the Rage rollercoaster, take a spin on the City Wheel and plunge on a pirate ship at free admission fun park Adventure Island. Bring a bucket and spade, pennies for the pier and taste for all things battered to embrace the underrated Essex coastline properly. Tickets: Free admission; £25 per person for unlimited rides.
5. The Lizard Coastal Walk, Cornwall
If you’re braving bank holiday carmageddon to reach Cornwall this weekend, you’ll likely want to stretch your legs along its coastline. This seven-mile loop from Kynance Cove takes you towards Lizard Point, the most southerly part of the UK mainland, past dramatic cliffs and wildflower fields. Pack a wicker picnic of scones and pasties, or stop off at Wavecrest Cafe for a local ice cream with a view once you’ve reached Lizard Point. Tickets: Free.
6. Horniman Museum & Gardens, London
Leave central London for far leafier Forest Hill and you’ll find all the quirks of the Horniman Museum. Aside from some impressive skyline views, a blend of hands-on displays of anthropology, natural history, and musical instruments welcomes visitors inside, accompanied by a taxidermy walrus. Here, the immersive exhibition “Voyage to the Deep”, inspired by Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, is taking kids on an underwater voyage until November. A market of seasonal produce also sets up each Sunday, with sunset quartets in the bandstand scheduled this summer as the museum celebrates its 125th birthday. Tickets: Free entry.
7. Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow
With more than 22 themed galleries, daily organ recitals and world-class art collections, Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is one of the UK’s most-visited free museums. Current highlights include works by Spanish artist Salvador Dali and pioneering painters The Scottish Colourists, with Creative Citizens, a community-focused display of drama, music and art open until 1 June. And Barbie mania isn’t yet over at the Scottish institution. From 13 June, Kelvingrove will host a major exhibition with over 250 objects dipping a heel into the history and design of the iconic dolls. Tickets: Free entry; Barbie tickets from £8.
8. St Fagans National Museum of History, near Cardiff
For a step straight into Welsh history, St Fagans open-air museum has 100 acres of reconstructed ancient cottages, farmhouses and a Victorian school, a short drive from the city centre. The living history village features everything from practical exhibits with demonstrations of blacksmithing, pottery and weaving to farmyard animals and late-night ghost tours. Visit this summer to see Women and Sport: Wales, and Wales is...our home – highlighting Chinese communities that have been in Wales since at least the early 1900s. Tickets: Free entry.
9. Colourscape, Bath
This weekend, the Eye Music Trust will present a “labyrinth” of glowing chambers at Bath Recreation Ground. Don a colourful cloak to make your way through the series of inflatable interconnected coloured tunnels, aglow entirely from natural daylight. From Saturday 23 May, the immersive experience will host live music performances by Korean flautist Hyelim Kim and guitarist Richard Durrant, blending the colours with sound and movement for what promises to be a “unique journey through colour, sound and space”. Tickets: £15 per adult; £12 per child.
