The evenings are getting lighter but your wallet doesn’t have to – here’s how to have fun in the sun without splashing the cash!
Get in shape
Want to keep fit but can’t stand the gym? Help is at hand. Sign up to Green Gym and get in shape while helping to improve the environment. The initiative sees volunteers tackle physical jobs outdoors, helping to build strength and stamina. The projects, coordinated by the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, include planting trees, putting in benches and clearing paths.
Go sailing
Embrace your inner Popeye and work onboard a ship this summer. The Jubilee Sailing Trust is interested in volunteers to help maintain their vessels. In return, you’ll be provided with three square meals a day (and not just cans of spinach) as well as accommodation onboard the ship. If you have a craft, such as carpentry or engineering, that’s a bonus – but all you really need is the right attitude.
Walk the canals
You don’t need to travel to Venice to experience canals – Britain has 3,000 miles of the watery wonders. So, whether you fancy a 10-minute stroll or an all-day hike, there are plenty of options available to you. As well as being picturesque and traffic-free, canal towpaths tend to be flat, making them perfect for all levels of fitness and stamina! There are canals in most of Britain’s major cities, including London, Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh. Visit the Canal & River Trust website to find more.
Visit a museum
Let’s be honest: it’s going to rain at some point this summer. When it does, instead of complaining, head indoors to one of the UK’s many museums. Learn more about slavery at Liverpool’s International Slavery Museum, visit the British Library in London, or brush up on your Scottish history at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in Ayr.
Visit an art gallery
Brush up on your art history by visiting a gallery. Learn about 20th-century British art at Leeds Art Gallery, peruse the Victorian paintings at Liverpool’s Walker Art Gallery. If you have the little ones to amuse don’t forget to check out your local gallery’s website as many offer free art and craft sessions!
Swim outdoors
Tired of swimming lengths in packed swimming pools? Maybe it’s time you went ‘wild swimming’. An increasing amount of hardy souls are taking the plunge in Britain’s rivers, lakes and waterfalls. The water temperature can be a little chilly, but nothing beats the heady rush of swimming outdoors. From the river Dart in Devon to Lake Windermere in the Lake District, Britain is packed with outdoor swimming locations – and jumping in won’t cost you a penny. Find more places on the Wild Swimming website.
Go to a music festival
What’s more rock’n’roll than going to a music festival for free? Charities such as Oxfam organise stewarding at some of the UK’s biggest festivals, including Glastonbury and Bestival. Most stewards work eight-hour shifts in return for entry to the festival, separate camping and a meal ticket for every shift worked. Beer tokens not included.
Listen to classical music
It’s not just rock music lovers who can get into festivals for free – there are plenty of opportunities available for classical music fans, too. The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra has a number of volunteering positions, including stewards who get to see performances while working.
Head to Speakers’ Corner
The spiritual home of soapbox oratory, located at the north-east corner of London’s Hyde Park, Speakers’ Corner has long been a destination for democratic discussion. Everyone from born-again Christians to deadpan comedians have spoken here, and few subjects are off limits. Plus, if you get tired of listening to them harp on, you can always head for a picnic in Hyde Park.
On yer bike!
With Sir Bradley Wiggins winning last year’s Tour de France, an influx of Brits are getting on their bikes. Saddle up this summer and head out on some of Britain’s many bike routes. In London, the Jubilee Greenway route takes you right past the Olympic stadium. Across in Wales, the Taff Trail provides stunning views as it winds its way from Cardiff to Brecon. There are so many routes to choose from, you could be cycling all summer - check out Visit England for more ideas.