KIND TO THE WALLET · A HUDDLEPIN LIST
Free things to do in Brighton with kids
Proper days out that cost nothing to get in: parks, museums, farms, trails and the free events on this month. Bring a picnic and you're done.
30 free places 5 free events this month 2 indoors
FREE EVENTS · NEXT 30 DAYS
Free events coming up
Free to attend. A few need a ticket booked in advance, and the listing says so.
Wed 7 October2 things on
Thu 8 October1 thing on
Fri 9 October1 thing on
Sat 10 October1 thing on
Sun 11 October1 thing on
Mon 12 October1 thing on
Tue 13 October1 thing on
Wed 14 October1 thing on
Thu 15 October1 thing on
Fri 16 October1 thing on
Sat 17 October2 things on
Sun 18 October2 things on
Mon 19 October2 things on
Tue 20 October2 things on
Wed 21 October2 things on
Thu 22 October2 things on
Fri 23 October2 things on
Sat 24 October3 things on
Sun 25 October2 things on
Mon 26 October3 things on
Tue 27 October2 things on
Wed 28 October2 things on
Thu 29 October2 things on
Fri 30 October2 things on
Sat 31 October2 things on
Sun 1 November2 things on
Mon 2 November1 thing on
FREE PLACES
30 free days out in Brighton
8 outdoors for a fine day, 2 indoors for a wet one. Filter below.
FreeAshburton Park
Croydon
A free playground for a quick outdoor run about, with parking on site so you can just turn up.
Outdoor playParkingToilets
FreeAshdown Forest
Forest Row
Open heathland and woodland trails where kids can hunt for Winnie-the-Pooh spots, spy grazing ponies and just walk for hours, free to get in.
Accessible toiletBlue badge parkingCaféDog friendly+5 more
FreeBrooklands Park and Lake
Lancing
A free park built around a lake, with a big adventure play area and a flat path all the way round for buggies and wheelchairs.
Outdoor playWheelchair accessible
FreeChurch of Scientology of Brighton
Brighton
A free self-guided tour of multimedia displays and a personality test, open daily in Brighton for anyone wanting a look inside.
Toilets
FreeClarence Pier
Southsea
A seafront fairground of rides, arcades and adventure golf, paid for by the token or the wristband, whichever way you fancy losing money.
Baby changeIndoor playKids menuFood on site+3 more
FreeFriston Forest
Eastbourne
Miles of walking and cycling trails through woodland near Eastbourne, free to wander with paid parking at the two main car parks.
Dog friendlyParkingPicnic areaToilets
FreeGreen Door Store
Brighton
An 18+ live music venue near Brighton station with gigs and club nights, doors usually at 7pm.
Blue badge parkingLockers
FreeHam Road Park.
Shoreham-by-Sea · ages 6+
A free concrete skate park with bowls and terrain plus a separate beginners area for kids getting their balance on a board.
FreeHelm Gallery
Brighton
Free contemporary art gallery with a bar serving craft coffee and cocktails, open late Fridays and Saturdays.
CaféFood on site
FreeHORTON'S STEAM FAIR
Arundel
Vintage steam-powered fairground rides, a big wheel and old-school games set up for one weekend only in Arundel.
FreeKingston Beach
Shoreham-by-Sea
Free rock pools and a swim spot with limited parking, right by Shoreham-by-Sea.
FreeMill Hill
Shoreham-by-Sea
A free hilltop walk with a flat, easy trail, grazing ponies and sheep to spot, and views to hold a picnic up to.
Dog friendlyFree parkingWheelchair accessible
FreeOne Garden Brighton
Brighton
A free walled garden in Stanmer Park to wander with themed areas, a Halloween trail in October, and a counter-service café for cake afterwards.
Accessible toiletBike parkingCaféChanging Places+6 more
FreePaxton+Glew Contemporary Art Gallery
Brighton
Free wander round contemporary paintings, prints, photography and sculpture in a ground floor gallery just off Brighton Place.
Dog friendlyStep-free accessWheelchair accessible
FreePhoenix Art Space
Brighton
Free wander through changing contemporary art exhibitions in a big gallery space just past St Peter's Church.
Baby changeCaféParkingToilets+1 more
FreePlaw Hatch Farm
East Grinstead
Free entry to wander a working farm and watch the cows being milked at 4pm.
Café
FreeRaystede Centre for Animal Welfare
Lewes
A free-entry animal sanctuary near Lewes where you wander at your own pace and catch a guided tour at half eleven.
Booking requiredCaféDog friendlyFree parking+2 more
FreeSeaford Head Nature Reserve - Sussex Wildlife Trust
Seaford
Free clifftop walking with sea views, birdwatching and grazing animals to spot along the way, dogs welcome on a lead.
Dog friendlyToilets
FreeSeven Sisters Cliffs
Seaford
Chalk cliff walking, cycling and kayaking along the coast, with an easy pushchair trail down to the beach.
Accessible toiletBike parkingCaféChanging Places+10 more
FreeShoreham Fort
Shoreham-by-Sea
A Napoleonic-era coastal fort you can only get into on the volunteers' open days, tea and history included.
FreeThe Comedy Rooms
Worthing
A first-floor comedy venue in Worthing with free entry and evening or Sunday shows to book online.
FreeThe Downs Link Playground
Southwater
A free playground with a mix of play equipment and a sandpit to dig in.
FreeThe Grange
Brighton
A free art gallery and museum with exhibitions to wander round, no ticket needed.
Accessible toiletBlue badge parkingToiletsWheelchair accessible
FreeThe Hope & Ruin
Brighton
A pub venue with gigs, poetry nights and a plant-based kitchen, open to families until 8pm.
Baby changeFood on siteToiletsVegetarian options
FreeThe Mint House
Pevensey
A free look round a sixteenth-century building in Pevensey, open for a summer exhibition you can just walk into.
FreeThe Open Studios
Brighton
Free galleries you can wander into off the street, no ticket and no booking required.
FreeThe Secret Garden, Antony Dale Trust
Brighton
A free sculpture garden open Sundays and bank holidays, with a café on site and a bit of a walk from the bus stop.
Bike parkingCaféFood on site
FreeWhitehawk Library
Brighton
Free local library with wheelchair access, toilets and wifi to duck into on a Brighton day out.
ToiletsWheelchair accessibleWi-Fi
FreeWoodford Park
Reading
A free park with a splash pool for summer, a play area to burn an hour, and a quiet garden if you need five minutes' peace.
CaféFree parkingToilets
FreeWoods Mill Nature Reserve - Sussex Wildlife Trust
Henfield
A free circular walk round a lake and ancient woodland, with bluebells, butterflies and fungi depending on the season.
Picnic areaPublic transport nearbyToilets
MAKE A DAY OF IT
Free entry, café on site
Free to get in, somewhere to warm up with a coffee when the kids have run out of steam.
Good to know: free days out in Brighton
Are they completely free?
Entry is free at all 30. Some charge for extras (parking, a café, a paid trail or exhibition inside) and each listing spells out what costs what, taken from the venue's own price list.
Which free places are indoors?
Paxton+Glew Contemporary Art Gallery and The Comedy Rooms are under a roof, the ones to keep for a wet day.
Where can I park for free too?
Ashburton Park, Ashdown Forest, Clarence Pier, Friston Forest and 5 more have free parking listed, so the whole day genuinely costs nothing.
Whereabouts are they?
Across Croydon, Forest Row, Lancing, Brighton, Southsea and 11 more, all in or around Brighton, with the full address and directions on every listing.
PLAN A DIFFERENT DAY
What's on, when you need it
Everything open and on in Brighton today, with times and prices.
TOP PICKDRAGONS · free- Fri14 things · Forest Bathing+ at Friston Forest
- Sat14 things · Where are all the Lesbians?
- Sun13 things · The Biba Look: Photography and Fashion
THE WEEKENDER
Next weekend, sorted. Every Thursday, free.
The best family things happening around Brighton, one hidden gem, and a rainy-day backup plan, from a dad who's been there with a bored seven-year-old.
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