Free Autumn family days out including National Trust, Heritage Open Days and farms

As the weather takes a turn into Autumn it can feel trickier to enjoy a family day out without blowing the budget.

But there is plenty of free events and fun to take advantage of without spending a fortune, including special offer to get brilliant days out for nothing.

If you're looking to keep costs down while making the most of the season, here are some autumn days out to add to your family's calendar...

Visit a National Trust or English Heritage Heritage Open Days attraction

Heritage Open Days 2026 runs from 11 to 20 September, giving visitors free access to thousands of historic buildings, museums, churches, castles, gardens and landmarks across England.

It's the country's largest festival of history and culture, with more than 5,800 free events taking place this year.

As part of the scheme, you can visit lots of National Trust and England Heritage sites without paying admission fees.

Some venues typically charge between £10 and £30 per adult for admission, meaning a family of four could save a decent £40 to £100 on a day out as part of the offer.

Search the Heritage Open Days website by postcode before the weekend. You could be surprised to discover free events happening right under your nose.

Some of the top venues taking part include Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire – a National Trust property that normally charges for entry, as well as Buxton Opera House.

Explore free National Trust sites

Many people think of the the National Trust as venues that charge admission, but there are actually hundreds of countryside sites, beaches, parklands and walking trails can be enjoyed for free, making them an ideal low-cost family day out.

Thanks to colourful foliage, wildlife spotting and seasonal woodland walks, now is the time to get outside and enjoy these sites.

If you have a dog you can also take part in the charity's free Pooch Passport scheme. Simply pick up a passport at a participating venue and get a stamp each time you visit a new venue with your four-legged friend. After five stamps, you'll get a free pack of dog treats.

For families with four-legged friends, it can be a fun way to turn an autumn walk into a challenge while discovering new places around the country.

Some of the best-value National Trust places to visit include:

Box Hill, Surrey for panoramic autumn views and family-friendly walking routes.

• The White Cliffs of Dover, Kent for spectacular coastal scenery and clifftop walks.

• Hardwick Estate, Derbyshire, where visitors can enjoy woodland trails and parkland surrounding the historic estate.

• Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire, which offers miles of paths through woodland and lakeside scenery.

• St Helens Duver, Isle of Wight, a wildlife-rich coastal walk with sandy views and easy family routes.

Volunteer at an English vineyard harvest

Autumn is grape-harvesting season at vineyards across the UK, and several estates are inviting volunteers to help pick grapes by hand during September and October.

You will learn how English wine is made and experience the harvest from inside the vineyard and usually get free lunch or snack.

However, it's not one for younger children, but if you have adult kids and are looking for a memorable way to spend a day outdoors, it's definitely worth considering.

Some of the vineyards looking for volunteers include Ham Street Wines, Kent, The Mount Vineyard, Kent, Albury Vineyard, Surrey, and Bluestone Vineyard, Wiltshire.

Check out small local vineyards near you for opportunities.

Visit a farm for free

You don't have to pay for a petting zoo or expensive attraction to enjoy a day on the farm. Across the UK, many working farms welcome visitors free of charge, particularly those with farm shops, cafés, pick-your-own fields or seasonal events.

Autumn is one of the best times to visit, with harvest displays, pumpkin patches, farm trails and opportunities to see livestock up close.

Many farms offer animal viewing areas, tractor and machinery viewing areas, as well as farm cafés and picnic spaces.

Look for working farms open to public to uncover hidden local gems.

You can also use the National Farmers' Union Open Farm information

Universal Credit £1 days out at top attractions

If you're claiming Universal Credit or certain other benefits, you may be entitled to heavily discounted tickets at some of the UK's biggest attractions.

Many venues now offer special low-cost entry schemes, with tickets available from as little as £1.

In most cases, only one member of the household needs to qualify and discounted tickets are available for up to six people.

We have compiled a full list of discounted Universal Credit days out which includes the Tower of London, Edinburgh Zoo and the Eden Project in Cornwall.

Visit a community orchard or free apple harvest event

Autumn is apple season, and across the UK many community orchards open their gates for free harvest days, apple festivals and picking events.

Unlike commercial pick-your-own farms, these events are often run by charities, volunteers and community groups.

Visitors can help harvest fruit, learn about traditional apple varieties and enjoy family-friendly activities without paying an entry fee.

Free events taking place this autumn include the Brighton Permaculture Trust Apple Harvest Day on Sunday 20 September 2026.

There is also the Standen Fruit Farm Community Orchard Apple Day in Kent on Sunday 27 September 2026.

Look for events near you on community notice boards or through eventbrite.