Bank holidays bring with them the promise of that glorious extra day to escape the confines of the office. Whether you're spending the weekend alone or with friends or family, the UK has plenty on offer to enjoy - especially if you don't want to spend a penny. And with the weather set to be pleasant for most of the May Bank Holiday Weekend - from Saturday 2 May to Monday 4 May - you might be on the hunt for some outdoorsy fun.
With that in mind, we have compiled a list of some of the best things to do this weekend - without breaking the bank. Here's our rundown of free things to do over the early May Bank Holiday for you to peruse.
Visit the UK's Most Spectacular Gardens for Free
As the spring weather starts to finally bloom, days out to see some of the UK's most beautiful gardens are firmly on the horizon. And the good news is exploring the country's most magnificent green spaces doesn't need to break the bank - with entry to plenty on offer for free. The country has so many green spaces, parks and gardens to explore for free. Elsewhere, there are big discounts on other regal gardens too, including Winston Churchill's birthplace, Blenheim Palace. A family could save more than £80 on a trip to visit the Oxfordshire pile with the National Open Garden Scheme in May. Designed to make gardens more accessible, the scheme, which has been running since 1927, includes both open days to major tourist attractions and private visits 'by arrangement' to smaller gardens. As well as the Open Days, hundreds of private owners have agreed to allow visits to their gardens by appointment.
UK's First Pitbull Lookalike Competition
Mr Worldwide superfans and baldies alike will unite in London. The UK's biggest Pitbull tribute and F1® Arcade will host the nation's first ever Pitbull lookalike competition over the early May Bank Holiday weekend. Taking place at 3.05pm on Saturday, 2 May, the competition invites guests to suit up, throw on the shades and embody the global icon. For those looking to perfect their look, free bald caps and signature sunglasses will be available on-site for participants. The winner of the lookalike competition will be saying 'Dale!' all the way to the bar, with a £1,000 tab to enjoy at F1® Arcade St Paul's.
Bournemouth Beach, Dorset
Many of the country's best beaches, such as Bournemouth Beach, are also free to enjoy. With the weather in the UK being known for its unpredictability and frequent rainy skies, holidaymakers may be concerned what the forecast could be for their trip. Stretching for seven miles along the Dorset coastline is Bournemouth Beach, which ranked as the best beach to be on if it starts to rain - making it an ideal free day out this bank holiday, especially with Monday's slightly gloomier forecast. The area scored the highest for natural shelter and having indoor facilities nearby to take cover in, such as cafes and toilets - also providing food and entertainment for the weekend. The beach is largely protected from strong winds due to its proximity to the Isle of Wight at the east, and it has Purbeck Hills offering shelter from the west.
Gorleston Pavilion Theatre, Great Yarmouth
A day out in Great Yarmouth could also be on the cards. Gorleston Pavilion Theatre is marking its 125th birthday year with a Vintage May Bank Holiday weekend. On Saturday 2 May, an Old Tyme Music Hall show will reunite cast members from over 30 years of the theatre's Summer Season, including audience favourites Olly Day and Nigel 'Boy' Syer. Sunday 3 May brings an outdoor May Day Festival at the Pavilion Bandstand, featuring live performances from The Knightingales and The Rogue Shanty Buoys, Punch & Judy shows, Maypole dancing, and family-friendly activities. The celebrations continue into the evening with a May Day After Party in the theatre bar from 7pm featuring Alex Mallett who appeared on the X Factor with his brother Leo as part of the duo ITG.
Visit London's Covent Garden
London's Covent Garden is one of the city's most popular attractions - since it is free to enter. As the May Bank Holiday weekend arrives, Covent Garden will be coming into its own with a vibrant neighbourhood-wide programme of al fresco dining, seasonal sipping, cultural experiences and exciting new openings. From terraces to West End stages, it's the ultimate destination for long weekend plans in the heart of London. True, you may have to pay for food or drink once you're there - but it's totally free to stroll around. Visitors can enjoy outdoor dining across the iconic piazza and surrounding streets, with terraces and balconies at the EL&N Deli & Bakery, Ladurée, Harry's, SUSHISAMBA, VyTA and more offering prime spots for long weekend dining. A packed programme of cultural activities includes West End theatre and Covent Garden's Showtime Specials, Royal Opera House tours, and the final weeks of the London Transport Museum's Art Deco exhibition. There is also often street theatre you can watch - at no cost at all.
Seaham Beach, Durham
Seaham Beach is far superior to some of the busier, crowd-filled beaches in the UK. Fancy a beach day further up north for the May Bank Holiday? Seaham Beach in County Durham is known, above all, for one thing: it has multi-coloured sea glass along its shores. It's also a hidden cove - so much so that it only has seven reviews on Tripadvisor. But visitors, despite being few and far between, adore the beach, with one summarising: 'Even though it was school holidays the beach wasn't crowded and it is a lovely place for children and families. Thoroughly enjoyed our time spent on it.' Another added: 'Treasure trove of sea glass across the entire beach, all within a stunning setting. Easy access from the carpark at the top of the cliff with stairs leading down to the beach. Decent cafe with facilities located in the car park.'
Ancient Fire Festival, Isle of Man
Oie Voaldyn is a free festival with a large-scale fire show and fireworks display. Ancient fire rituals, flaming torches and Viking performers will take over the Isle of Man coastline this May Bank Holiday as Oie Voaldyn (pronounced 'oy-ee vohl-din'), the Island's annual May Eve festival rooted in Celtic and Norse heritage, returns on Sunday 3 May. Flames and folklore will light up the coastal town of Peel on the Isle of Man. This is a free event, suitable for the whole family. It's ideal for families or curious travellers looking to make the most of the extra day off with something a little different. Torchlit processions descend towards the beach, gorse fires are lit across the shoreline, and a theatrical face-off plays out, brought to life through costumed performers, drummers, fire-spinners and a community choir singing traditional Manx songs.
Go Wild Swimming
Wild swimming is a popular pastime, notably because you can avoid charges. Beaches are often packed and pools, lidos and leisure centres can sometimes be booked up on bank holidays. However, some of the country's most beautiful areas for wild swimming remain much quieter and more peaceful. With warmer spring temperatures approaching, it's a great time to give wild swimming a go. Some of the best spots in the UK include Coniston Water, Cumbria, Loch Etive in Glencoe, Scotland, the River Wye and plenty of smaller areas in Cornwall and Norfolk.
Enjoy a Walk in the Peak District
The Peak District - often passed over for the more famous Lake District - is full of beauty. Hiking around the beautiful, bleak moorlands and along remote ridges of the Peak District is soul-lifting and a pure treat - as our travel writer Tom Chesshyre found on a mammoth 364-mile walk, over 32 days, for his new book 'Wild Peaks: On Foot Through England's First National Park'. Trails are well-marked and you can catch a train to the likes of Edale, Glossop and Hope and set forth, no need to drive. Tom says: 'It's a dreamy landscape - the 'green lung' of the north. Stanage Edge and the Roaches are two of my favourite spots. You don't have to cover 364 miles, though, just pick a bit you like best!'
Grab a Free Drink!
Fancy a free pint? Well, this bank holiday you might be in luck. Many pubs across the UK are offering free drinks this bank holiday. If you walk up to the bar and speak two special words to the bartender in a Greene King pub, you'll be handed a pint. Greene King's website says: 'On 4 May, we're giving away 100,000 free pints across our pubs. All you need to do is head to your local and say the words: 'I'm home.'' Jenki, meanwhile, is offering free matcha with new flavours.
Check Out a Free Museum
Museums around the country, including the British Museum in London, have not charged entrance fees since 2001. Since 2001, government policy has allowed free admission to national museums and galleries - those sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. This encompasses big names such as the British Museum, Design Museum, National Gallery, Tate and Sir John Soane's Museum in London. Elsewhere in the country, this includes the National Museums Liverpool, Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester and National Coal Mining Museum for England in West Yorkshire. Take your pick!
Try Geocaching
A basic membership to try geocaching is free of charge. Geocaching became a worldwide phenomenon in the early noughties after the first 'cache' was hidden in woods in Oregon, US, by a computer consultant who left clues to his secret trove on the internet. He also left simple instructions for its finders to 'take some stuff, leave some stuff', unknowingly giving birth to a craze that would see millions of geocachers hide and seek treasure. Roll on 20 years and the geocaching trend is back. Guided by a GPS-enabled device, geocachers use coordinates, or 'waypoints', for the treasure hunt - which can be downloaded from an app or website. The National Trust describes geocaching as a 'treasure hunt for the digital generation'. A geocache is a waterproof treasure box hidden outdoors and the aim of the game is to find them. An app was developed so geocachers could pinpoint locations - and won't cost you a penny.
Enjoy a Picnic - With a View
London's Primrose Hill is one of the UK's most popular picnic spots. It's no surprise Brits love a picnic during a bank holiday weekend - especially if the sun's out. Whether you want to linger over a family feast or just stop to drink in the landscape, there's something for you. We have previously compiled a ranking of Britain's 100 best picnic spots for you to check out. Highlights include Wye, near Ashford, Kent, Golitha Falls, in Liskeard, Cornwall and Hell Bay, Bryher, Isles of Scilly.
