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You are here: Things To Do > Activities > Free Family Summer Activities
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We know the school holidays can be an expensive time, so we have put together our top 10 ideas for things to do in Exeter this summer, completely free! Whatever the weather (although we're hoping for plenty of Devon sunshine), there is plenty going on to keep everyone entertained. Plus there are some great free family events in Exeter over the summer holidays.
1. Visit Exeter’s Royal Albert Memorial Museum and go on a voyage of discovery from pre-history to the present day through 16 galleries of displays. With free entry & summer holiday activities, workshops and drop-in sessions, there is something for all ages.
2. Visit the library... Exeter Central Library runs regular family activities for all ages and is easily accessible from the city centre.
3. Join the famous Red Coat Guides on a walking tour of Exeter, to discover more about the fascinating and turbulent history of the city. Tours run daily throughout the year, with a wide range to choose from. There is no need to book – just turn up, tours last approx. 90 minutes.
4. ...Or if you prefer to do things at your own pace, follow one of Exeter’s self-guided heritage trails – kids can solve puzzles and quizzes along the way.
5. On warm days, pack your swimming stuff and head to Heavitree Park, which has paddling pools in which to play and cool down, or St Thomas Splash Pad, with water fountains, tipping buckets and cannons for plenty of water fun!
6. Visit the Custom House Visitor Centre on Exeter’s Quayside to learn more about the history of the Quayside through fascinating displays, exhibits and a short film - ‘Exeter, 2,000 years of history’.
7. Attend a milling day on the second Friday of every month or look for wildlife in the garden of Cricklepit Mill.
8. Film fans, head to the Bill Douglas Cinema Museum for interactive exhibits for children, or see a favourite film as part of the Odeon Kid’s Club – whilst not strictly free, tickets are just £1 per person! Plus you can book online in advance with no booking fees. There are kids screenings every Saturday and Sunday morning, plus every day during the school holidays.
9. Find space to run free! Head out of the city to Haldon Forest Park, where themed walking and cycling routes are well-signposted, or follow special trails aimed at families with small children. You will also find family-friendly marked trails at Stoke Woods, an old forest dating back to the Roman times on the edge of Exeter, or visit one of five Valley Parks in the city, all great for walking, kicking a football around or enjoying a family picnic.
10. Take a family bike ride following the route of the Exeter Canal... this flat, traffic-free route is great for families, plus you can stop off at the Double Locks pub for refreshments in the large, waterside beer garden with an outdoor play area!
Number of results: 73
, currently showing 1 to 21.
Sidmouth
Visit The Donkey Sanctuary - the largest sanctuary for donkeys in the world at Sidmouth in Devon. Visitors are free to spend time meeting the 500 rescued donkeys.
Exeter
Exeter’s Royal Albert Memorial Museum reopened after a multi-million pound refurbishment with the galleries & facilities of a modern museum.
Prince of Wales Road, Exeter
A museum dedicated to the audience's experience of the moving image. Explore the visual culture from magic lanterns to Marilyn Monroe.
SEATON
Running 155km from Exmouth in Devon to Studland in Dorset is the Dorset and East Devon Coast World Heritage Site, selected by UNESCO because of its outstanding earth science interest.
Holcombe, Teignmouth
A small cove situated at the base of the cliffs between Teignmouth and Dawlish. A small isolated beach used primarily by local residents.
Bovey Tracey
Riverside Mill plays host to one of the South West’s biggest crafts venue with galleries, craft shop & café with a great landscape view.
Exmouth
Sandy Bay in Exmouth is a half-mile long privately owned beach which is sheltered and ideal for families. The beach is good for swimming and water sports, and there is a lifeguard during the summer months.
Exeter
Popular with birdwatchers, walkers and picnickers, Belle Isle Park is a quiet riverside park easily accessible by foot or bicycle from Topsham Road or the Exeter Quay.
Topsham
Topsham’s Museum has many things to learn about for those visiting including the town’s history, shipbuilding & Exe Estuary’s wildlife.
Topsham
Managed by the RSPB, Bowling Green Marsh nature reserve is an area of coastal grazing marsh alongside the River Exe Estuary, on the outskirts of Topsham.
The Old Library, Exeter
There are numerous sculptures situated in this unique setting both in the open and in university buildings. The walk includes sculptures by Dame Barbara Hepworth, Peter Randall-Page and Paul Mount together with other renowned artists.
EAST DEVON
This compact and accessible estuary supports a particularly well developed saltmarsh flora that includes such characteristic plants as glasswort, sea puslane, and sea lavender.
Exeter
One of Exeter’s most distinguished parks, the annual blossoming of Pinces Garden’s 45 metre wisteria arch is an unmissable spring event. Home to the Exeter Croquet Club and the Pinces Gardens’ Bowls club.
Exeter
Popular family park with a wide range of recreational facilities including paddling pools, six tennis courts, basketball court, skate park, bmx track, bowling green and kick about area.
Teignmouth
Located on the estuary side of town, this charming beach takes you back to days gone by. Local fishermen mend nets, sand eels are caught, boats bob up and down with the tide and children splashing and playing.
Exeter
Discover & explore Haldon Forest park. Whether you want a quiet gentle stroll or an exhilarating mountain biking experience, there’s something for you at Haldon Forest Park. 3,500 acres of woodland just fifteen minutes from Exeter.
Exmouth
Exmouth Local Nature Reserve consists of tidal sand & mud at the South end of Exe Estuary – it’s one of the biggest Nature Reserves in Devon
Exeter
Grade II listed in the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens, Rougemont Gardens were originally part of the defences of Exeter Castle. They were converted into gardens in the late 18th century, and purchased by the city council in 1912...
Exeter
Ever wondered where can you see a Snow Leopard or Peacock in Exeter? The impressive University of Exeter Streatham campus, just a twenty minute walk from the High Street, hosts 39 sculptures, some indoors and some in the beautiful grounds.
Axe Estuary Wetlands
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