A-Z of Top Things to do for FREE

Holidays are expensive times, there’s so much to see and do here on the Fylde Coast. If you packed everything in to your few days break you’d spend a fortune. But not with our A-Z of things to do for free in the Blackpool area!

The Covid pandemic showed us how to rediscover simple pleasures and family fun. Now the cost of living crisis is making us look for things to do that don’t cost money. So, in alphabetical order, here’s our list of top things to do for free – to make your money go further!

New for 2024!

We’ve revised and updated this page to include really affordable things to do and tips to make your money go much further. There’s also another post here about Cheap Days Out in Blackpool. Have you got any more ideas? Leave a comment below!

Our A-Z of Top things to do for FREE!!

Affinity Lancashire & free events

Affinity Lancashire is the Fylde Coast shopping outlet. During school holidays and at special times of the year they host FREE fun events for all the family. And NEW for 2022 is the Little Cod Kids Club! When you’ve looked around the shops, enjoy a look at the Marina and don’t forget the playground for the kids. Treat yourself to an ice cream while you’re there!

Here’s one of their free events in full swing in 2021 –

Amusements

Arcades and amusements can be VERY expensive if you let them! But you can still enjoy all the fun and atmosphere without blowing the bank! Take a couple of pounds of 2ps into the amusements and play the penny falls. It’s absorbing and good fun – see if you can develop enough skill to win!

Competitions between friends and family are good too. Each go in with the same amount of money and a set time and see who’s got what at the end. Can you collect the most prize money and coupons?

Art Galleries

Grundy Art Gallery is the Blackpool areas official gallery, find it on Queen Street in Blackpool. And the Solaris Centre at South Shore often has displays in the public space.

Did you know that there’s a strong independent arts scene too? Independent artists hold exhibitions and displays at HiveArts on Church Street and various other venues.

Art Trails

There are public art trails along both Blackpool and Cleveleys promenades. Talk a walk and explore the pieces. Some places have lots of artwork that’s not arranged in an official ‘trail’ as such, but still worth a visit. Take a look at this ‘Art Trails’ page.

• Ten pieces of artwork line New South Promenade at Blackpool, between Squires Gate Lane and the Sandcastle Waterpark.

• At Cleveleys, the story of the Sea Swallow is brought to life in a variety of sculptures on the beach and seafront. The photo below is Mary’s Shell on Cleveleys beach.

Take a look at this video – walking along the prom and exploring the Mythic Coast –

Attractions

Most seaside attractions will cost you a fair amount of money. Largely comparable to each other it’s not that they’re expensive for what you get. More that the total amount for a family can make your holiday expensive – especially if you’re feeling the pinch.

But there are some attractions that you can visit without breaking the bank – do you know any more?

• Take a tram ride to Fleetwood and visit Fleetwood Museum – just £4 and under 18’s/carers go free
• Go to Showtown – the new museum of fun and entertainment. Admission is £15 for adults – but that buys you unlimited visits for a full 12 months!

(Visit the) Beach

It’s a family pass time that was once THE thing that everyone did when they came on holiday. Deckchairs and towels, buckets and spades and away you went for a full day on the beach. Why don’t you enjoy precious family time together and have a day on the sands?

• Adults can do nothing, have a snooze and generally unwind…
• Games that kids can play on a beach are limited only to the imagination!
• Try your hand at beachcombing – it’s amazing what you’ll find on the beach.
• There’s plenty of space to run around, play ball games, splash in puddles, and much more!

Things to do for Free… Bike Rides

One great thing about the Fylde Coast is that it’s so flat. It makes it a great place to enjoy, for walking and cycling alike. The majority of us enjoy intermittent exercise so hills are one thing we can do without!

Because it’s so flat, bikes are a normal way of getting around in these parts, so many people have them. Get on your bike with your family and go for a bike ride. There are various trails to follow, the most obvious one is the seafront. It’s an official Sustrans cycle path all the way from Lytham to Fleetwood – and beyond if you’re feeling really adventurous.

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Crabbing

Have hours of fun fishing about to see what you can find in the water! With a sandy shore, one thing that the Fylde Coast doesn’t have a lot of is rock pools. But if you know where to go you can still enjoy a great time fishing for crabs. All you need is a line, some bait/bits of fish and a bucket. Please don’t leave any litter/line behind, and please don’t harm/kill the crabs!

• The Boating pools at Fleetwood seafront, near the Sea Cadet Base are a good spot for crabbing
• Do you know any more?

Events Calendar

Don’t forget to take a look at the Visit Fylde Coast events calendar. There’s hundreds of things to do listed on there, and a lot of them are free or very cheap.

Explore South Shore

Head away from the beaten track and explore the outer fringes of Blackpool seafront. North and South Shore are both worth a look – there are loads of things to find! We went for a walk around South Shore near the Solaris Centre. Here are some ideas for ways to pass a day on having fun without spending loads of money!

Free Family Entertainment at the Piers

Have you been to Pirates Bay family bar at Central Pier, where you can enjoy free family entertainment? Shows are daily at weekends and during school holidays. Ideal for rainy days, entertainment starts from early afternoon and goes right through to closing time!

Feed the Birds

Local authorities aren’t keen on the public feeding the seagulls so it’s never a good idea to purposefully take food to the seafront for them. It encourages them to steal (they’re very clever) and their poo pollutes the seawater. That might sound dramatic, but there’s thousands of them and they each do a fair sized plop!

But it’s great fun feeding the birds at the local park or nature place – there are loads of places all along the coast where you can visit. Visit a local pet shop first and get some cheap wild bird seed to take with you – it’s the best food to give them. You could also chop up left over green vegetables and salad leaves. Bread (especially white) is best avoided – it’s junk food with little nutritional value and it dirties their water.

If you’re taking kids (large or small!) you can divide the food up before you go and spend a cheerful hour getting to know the wildlife. Enjoy a walk around, run off some energy and see what else you can see!

Geocaching

Never heard of it? This modern twist on a treasure hunt combines modern technology and the great outdoors. Use your mobile phone to find the hidden clue – then go plant some clues of your own! Get started and find out more about Geocaching here.

Ice Creams

I’ve got the sweetest of sweet tooths and LOVE an ice cream for a treat when I have a day out at the coast! But let’s face it, with even a normal sized family it’s a dear-do!

If you’re really strapped for cash, stop by in one of the many small supermarkets that have popped up everywhere. Buy a box of ice creams or lollies for a much cheaper price – and make your money go a lot further!

Illuminations

Known as the ‘Greatest Free Lightshow on Earth’, the Blackpool Illuminations have always shone daily from the end of August to the beginning of November, every year. Now, with an extended season, they’re on until January. Walking along the promenade in the cool dark air, looking at the lights twinkling and enjoying the atmosphere of the crowds is one thing you must do!

Kids Club with Harry the Hound

Houndshill Shopping Centre hosts a kids club on the first Saturday of each month (except December). Free to attend and no need to book, just pop in and have a go. It’s a different theme each month.

Litter Picking

People are a lot more environmentally conscious these days than they used to be, which is no bad thing. Why not head off for a spot of litter picking – wherever you pick it’s worth it! The Fylde Coast is a windy place all year round. Sadly that means even a lot of rubbish that’s been disposed of properly gets blown away and accidentally turned into litter. Plus what people drop (please don’t!) and the rubbish that washes in from sea.

Litter picking is every bit as important around schools, grass verges and the street you live in, as it is in parks and on the beach. If you know a grot spot why don’t you clean it up? It’s very, very satisfying.

Things to do for Free… Look at Local History

Do you look at old buildings and wonder what the walls would say if they could talk? There’s loads of fascinating information to uncover, all over the Fylde Coast. We’ve covered a fair bit of our local history here on the various Visit Fylde Coast websites. There’s a lot more for us to do – so keep reading your weekly enews!

Nick Moore’s fascinating History of Blackpool includes so much detail about all this area. Read it in full – or search for something – here.

If you want to look at historical information, Blackpool Central Library is a great place to start.

Look inside Lytham Windmill

It’s a well known landmark on Lytham Green, and houses a fascinating exhibition of artefacts. See what life was like in the local area long ago, and take a climb to the top of the mill. It’s open during the summer season, so please check the opening times before visiting Lytham Windmill.

Music at North Pier

Did you know that, during the season, there’s music in the Garden Bar at the end of North Pier? Subject to weather, of course! Pop along and enjoy all kinds of popular music played in the open air (but sheltered) sun lounge – you can even have a dance too.

Pack a Picnic

We all eat on the hoof today, but why not make an event out of your take-out? Make a traditional home-made picnic, filled with all of your favourite goodies, and pack it up with a blanket and deck chairs, and head off with your family and friends to enjoy a ‘free’ alfresco meal.

You could take your picnic to your local park. Or head to the seafront, or take it with you on a bike ride (but don’t try to take deck-chairs on a bike!!)

If a picnic feels like hard work, or if you’re in a rush, you could always buy your picnic while you’re out. Places like Pound Bakery and Greggs sell very reasonably priced sandwiches and takeaway picnic food. Much cheaper than visiting a cafe or restaurant.

Penny Farm

Do you love animals? Penny Farm is the World Horse Welfare sanctuary at Marton, not far from the M55 motorway. It’s home to lots of rescued horses and ponies and they hold regular fun days, with free admission.

(Visit the) Piers

You can explore each of the three piers in Blackpool, free of charge. Take a walk to the end and take in their very different atmospheres.

• North Pier is a memory of times gone by with the wide, open deck.
• Central Pier is packed full of fairground rides and
• South Pier is a place for adrenaline seekers!

Ride a Bike

All the Fylde coastline is quite flat, which makes it perfect for riding your bike! It’s a great way to get around – and see much more than you would in a car. Grab your drinks and a snack and get on your bike!

Go Rock Pooling

Although this isn’t a rocky coastline, there are some rock pools to explore, if you know where to look! The best ones in the area are actually in the man-made sea wall at Blackpool South Shore. The wall is armoured with seabees. They’re pre-cast concrete hexagonal ‘nut’ shapes, designed to dissipate the energy of the waves. The concrete sections have become colonised with seaweed and each time the tide goes out, each seabee holds a little pond of water that’s full of life. You’ll find all kinds of interesting things here. Go take a look!

Not exactly rock pools, but there are pools along the stone groynes on the beaches at Cleveleys and Fleetwood. Ideal for paddling and playing in the water, they’re also home to lots of tiny little fishes and watery creatures that are worth a look.

(Build) Sandcastles

You can’t come to the seaside and not build sandcastles! It’s certainly one of our top things to do for free. The very best sand for this job is the damp sand left behind when the tide goes out. The dry sand at the top of the beach is no use at all – it doesn’t hold together.

Go prepared and take your sandcastle building equipment – buckets and spades and things to make shapes with. If the bigger kids in your family are feeling creative you could even take a garden spade and bucket with you and build something really adventurous! If you do, be sure to take some photos and send them to us!

Shipwreck Spotting

How many shipwrecks do you know of here on the Fylde Coast? We bet that you’ve got no idea just how many there are. First stop is the shipwreck memorial – find it on the seafront at the boundary where Cleveleys meets Blackpool. All of the Fylde Coast wrecks are listed on it. Some of them can actually be seen on the beach – take a look –

Stanley Park

Arguably the jewel of the Fylde Coast. It’s a beautiful park, owned and run by Blackpool Council but looked after and supported by the amazing Friends of Stanley Park. They’re a dedicated group of volunteers who do everything from tending the gardens to raising funds and organising the free music events at the bandstand each summer. There’s lots to do at Stanley Park – if you haven’t been for a while you really should go and take a look.

Survey…

There are loads of different public surveys that you can take part in – they’re great fun for kids! Some are at a particular time, like the Big Garden Birdwatch which takes place in January.

Others can be done whenever the mood takes you. Like the Seaweed Survey – a great way to get more out of a beach walk, it’s FREE and will help us to better understand environmental change.

You can also look for Mermaid’s Purses and record how many you find. Do you know what a Mermaid keeps in her purse?

Be a Tourist

Are you lucky enough to live on the Fylde Coast? Why don’t you be a tourist for the day? Do something different and go and follow where your feet take you. Head to Blackpool and go for a walk on the seafront. Pop in the RNLI and have a look at the lifeboats. Walk to the ends of the Piers, sit in the sunshine with an ice cream. Treat yourself and go in the attractions. How long is it since you last went up The Tower?

You can do the same in each of our lovely coastal towns. Potter about in Fleetwood, Cleveleys, Lytham or St Annes. Rediscover what’s so great about these places, and why you’re lucky to have it all right on your doorstep.

Travel with a Transport Pass

Get a Blackpool Transport pass to cover the duration of your visit. Then ride the wheels off the Blackpool Transport trams and buses! Even for a day visit they’re excellent value. An adult day ticket (£6 at time of writing) gives you unlimited travel on buses and trams. This means you can wander about as you wish and just hop on and off. It also opens up the whole of the Fylde Coast and loads more things to find, see and do in Cleveleys, Fleetwood and Lytham St Annes.

Walk as far as you can!

Walking is good exercise, it’s good for the mind, it’s amazing what you see on foot and it’s free! It doesn’t matter where you walk, just pick a direction and set off. Don’t forget, if you’re walking on the beach or seafront, you can always catch a bus or a tram back. Just remember to take some money and your phone with you.

Funny story: Many years ago, when I was a child, we were on holiday in Blackpool with my parents and grandparents. Walking on the beach one day my grandad kept saying ‘let’s see what’s round the corner’. We carried on walking and walking, then walked some more, looking for that elusive ‘corner’. We ended up in St Annes and, exhausted, caught a bus back to base. That day went down in family history!

Walk in the Countryside

If you love the greenery of trees and the sounds of nature, formal parks and windswept seafronts are probably not your thing. So what about a walk in a wild place instead?

Here on the Fylde Coast there’s a couple of woods which come immediately to mind, and some natural areas too. Or you could of course travel out to the rural areas of nearby countryside and make a day of it.

• Salisbury woodlands is between the Victoria Hospital/golf course and Blackpool Zoo
• Witch Wood at Lytham was part of the Clifton estate
• The Towers at Cleveleys is a very small wood, but very handy for the local area
• Fleetwood Marsh Nature Park isn’t wooded, but it’s a wild and natural area
• Marton Mere is a nature reserve not far away from Blackpool Zoo

What’s On Guide

Another reminder, don’t forget to look at the Visit Fylde Coast What’s On Guide!

Can you think of any more top things to do for free?

We’ve been jotting ideas down for some time to come up with this list – but it’s by no means exhaustive. If you know of any other things to do for free please get in touch and we’ll add it to the list. Just email jane@therabbitpatch.co.uk. Or add your idea with a comment below.

Don’t forget – they’ll cost you some money but there’s another really long list of things to do here.

While you’re here…

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