Family fun: 9 outdoor attractions in England with free parking

With the cost of living still on the rise and school holidays on the horizon, you may be starting to wonder how you’ll entertain the kids this year while sticking to a budget. As every parent knows, they grow up so fast — so, it’s important to make memories and spend quality time with the whole family while you can. However, paying for transport, meals out, and tickets for attractions also means that the cost of holidays and day trips can really start to add up.

To help you make lasting memories with your children without breaking the bank, the automotive experts at My Motor World have rounded up 9 family-friendly attractions across England that offer free parking (and in some cases, even free entry). So, all you need to do is pack up the car, and you’ll have one less cost to worry about!

London: Richmond Park

Free parking might seem like a tall order in the country’s capital city, but you may be surprised to learn that Richmond Park offers free parking to its visitors. Here you can treat the kids to a break from city life and enjoy one of the many outdoor activities they offer, including horse riding, power kiting, bike hire, and rugby.

Find out more at the Richmond Park website.

The North-East: Beamish Open Air Museum

Based in County Durham, Beamish is a world-famous open-air museum that brings the history of North-East England to life. Much more immersive and engaging than your average textbook, its doors are open to families (and dogs!) every day from April to November.

Find out more at the Beamish website.

The North-West: Chester Zoo

One of the UK’s largest zoos, Chester Zoo has over 20,000 animals and 128 acres of zoological gardens to explore. As well as special events like shark experiences, they even offer exclusive after-hours access, food, and drinks packages, making it a perfect destination for family trips out in the North-West.

Find out more at the Chester Zoo website.

Yorkshire: Castle Howard 

As well as being an impressive historical landmark and walled garden, Castle Howard caters for kids of all ages. Children can ride the land train through the grounds to the lakeside play area and Adventure Playground, enjoy lunch and an ice cream at the café, and get a birds-eye view from the new treetop walk.

Find out more at the Castle Howard website.

The East Midlands: Stonebridge City Farm

The perfect break for families in the city, this farm in Nottingham runs a petting zoo, café, and community events like music and dance workshops. Both parking and entry is free, but the farm is a charity so relies on visitor donations to keep running.

Find out more at the Stonebridge City Farm website.

The West Midlands: Hoo Zoo & Dinosaur World

This zoo and dinosaur park in Birmingham boasts the UK's most realistic dinosaurs and is a great way to teach your kids about prehistoric animals. Their family-run zoo also has interactive exhibits about conservation and houses animals like wolves, big cats, meerkats, and much more.

Find out more at the Hoo Zoo & Dinosaur World website.

The South-East: Frimley Lodge Park

This park in Surrey doesn’t charge for parking and has plenty of woodland and picnic areas for you and the kids to explore. They also have a miniature railway, a pitch and putt course, and football and cricket pitches available to hire.

Find out more at the Frimley Lodge Park website.

East Anglia: BeWILDerwood Treehouse Adventure

Ideal for experiencing the great outdoors, BeWILDerwood is an award-winning forest that boasts treehouses, wobbly wires, slippery slopes, storytelling, boat rides, marsh walks, and more. And if that wasn’t enough, parking is free to all visitors!

Find out more at the BeWILDerwood website.

The South-West: Longleat Safari Park & Stately Home

Longleat is the number one safari park in the UK, and the first to open outside of Africa back in 1966. Home to over 120 species, you and the family can see their amazing animals by car, foot, train, bus and boat, or book a spot in a close-up animal encounter show.

Find out more at the Longleat website.