Free things to do in Cardiff with kids

Albany Gallery

Cardiff

A free art gallery in Cardiff with changing exhibitions, open Wednesday to Sunday with no need to book.

Ants Inya Pants Play Centre

Cardiff

Family-run soft play off Newport Road - one big frame, toddler zone, cafe and adults always free.

CaféFood on siteIndoor playUnder-5s area+5 more

Art Central Gallery

Barry

Free rotating exhibitions of paintings, photography, textiles and sculpture, plus the odd artist talk thrown in.

Barry Island Pleasure Park

Barry · ages 0+

Free to walk in, then you pay in tokens for the rides, from gentle waltzers to a 215-foot thrill tower.

Brean Theme Park

Burnham-on-Sea

Free entry with over 40 rides, from a dark coaster to go karts, and you pay only for a wristband or the rides you actually fancy.

Accessible toiletFirst aidIndoor playOutdoor play+4 more

Bridgend Miniature Railway

Bridgend

A short train ride round the woods on a members-run miniature railway, with picnic spots and open days announced on Facebook.

Birthday partiesBooking requiredCash onlyFree parking+3 more

Bute Park

Cardiff

A free, sprawling park with a story trail, a champion tree hunt and a carved animal wall to spot along the way.

Baby changeBike parkingCaféDog friendly+3 more

Butetown Pavilion

Cardiff

A free community hub with parent and toddler groups, a reading corner and free wifi, open weekdays only.

Wi-Fi

Cardiff Indoor Flea Market

Cardiff

Free to browse over 70 vintage, antique and retro stalls across three halls, with two cafés for a break between finds.

Accessible toiletBaby changeCaféDog friendly+3 more

Cardiff Tibetan Buddhist Centre, Kagyu Samye Dzong Cardiff

Cardiff

Drop in for mindfulness and meditation classes, a browse of the library, or a quiet retreat at this Cardiff Buddhist centre.

Accessible toiletCaféWheelchair accessible

Cardiff Winter Wonderland

Cardiff · ages 3+

Free to wander around, with an outdoor ice trail through the castle grounds, a covered rink, a big wheel and funfair rides you pay for separately.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBooking requiredCard only+5 more

Cathays Library

Cardiff

Free local library with rhyme time sessions and a heritage collection of old Cardiff maps and photos to dig through.

Indoor seatingToiletsWi-Fi

Charlcombe Bay Beach

Clevedon

A pebbly, rock-edged bay near Clevedon for a proper coastal walk out to Black Nore Lighthouse.

Clifton Suspension Bridge

Bristol

Free walk across a famous bridge, plus a museum with hidden vaults, a film and a children's trail to hunt down.

Bike parkingCaféGift shopGroup bookings+5 more

Coed y Werin

Caerphilly

Free woodland walking with sunny glades, boggy dips, ancient rocks and fungi to spot along the way.

Parking

Cold Knap beach

Barry

A pebbly beach with a duck-and-swan lake next door and remote-controlled boats to watch in summer.

ToiletsWheelchair accessible

Crealy Theme Park & Resort

Exeter

Devon theme park near Exeter - rides for Plymouth day-trips. Soft Play N.

ParkingToiletsCaféGift shop+1 more

Doniford Farm Park

Watchet · ages 0-12

Free to walk round and feed the animals, then pay a small fee to let the kids loose in the indoor playbarn.

Allergy awareCaféGift shopIndoor play+2 more

Fforest Fawr Car Park

Caerphilly

A free woodland car park with a sculpture trail and valley views, plus picnic tables right by the cars.

Free parkingPicnic areaPicnics allowed

Ffotogallery

Cardiff

Free photography exhibitions in Cardiff, though the gallery is shut until October 2026 for its next big show.

Forest Farm Country Park

Cardiff · ages 0-99

A free woodland reserve for muddy walks, bird hides and spotting damselflies along the canal.

Dog friendlyFree parkingOutdoor playWheelchair accessible

G39

Cardiff

A free contemporary art gallery in a converted warehouse, with changing exhibitions, a zine and artist-book library, and talks to drop into.

Dog friendlyFree parkingStep-free accessWheelchair accessible

Grangetown Hub

Cardiff

Free story and craft sessions plus a parent and toddler group in a library that's open till 7pm on Wednesdays.

ToiletsWi-Fi

Insole Court

Cardiff

A Victorian mansion with ornate gardens to wander, a walk-through audio drama exhibition, and a café for cake afterwards.

Accessible toiletAllergy awareBaby changeCafé+8 more

Kings Weston House

Bristol

Free grounds to wander with views over the Bristol Channel, plus a café for cake when the legs give out.

Accessible toiletCaféDog friendlyFree parking+3 more

Lawrence Weston Community Farm

Bristol

Free entry to a working city farm where kids can get hands-on with animals and gardening, open six days a week.

ParkingPicnics allowedPushchair friendlyToilets+1 more

Lisvane & Llanishen Reservoirs

Cardiff · ages 6-18

Open water swimming, sailing, kayaking and paddleboarding on two reservoirs, plus walking trails around the water.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBike parkingBirthday parties+13 more

Llandaff North and Gabalfa Hub

Cardiff

A free local library with a story and rhyme time, a dinosaur craft session and a proper toddler area to potter about in.

Baby changeIndoor seatingToiletsUnder-5s area+1 more

Llantarnam Grange

Cwmbran

Free contemporary art and craft exhibitions to wander round, with a craft shop and café to round off the visit.

Allergy awareBlue badge parkingCaféFree parking+4 more

Makers Guild Wales (Craft in the Bay)

Cardiff · ages 7+

Free craft gallery by Cardiff Bay showing work from Wales's makers, best for browsing with a curious seven-year-old plus.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBike parkingBirthday parties+4 more

Margam Country Park

Port Talbot

Free entry to a big country park with a farm trail, adventure playground, a fairytale village and Go Ape tree top ropes if you want to pay for more.

Blue badge parkingCaféDog friendlyGift shop+5 more

National Museum Cardiff

Cardiff

Free Cathays Park museum with dinosaurs and art - Soft Play N never.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBlue badge parkingBreastfeeding friendly+14 more

National Roman Legion Museum

Caerleon, Newport

Free Caerleon Roman museum with barracks and garden - Soft Play N never.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBike parkingDog friendly+13 more

Norwegian Church Arts Centre

Cardiff

A small white timber church by the water where you wander the art on show and hear how it once served Norwegian sailors, then grab cake in the café.

Accessible toiletAllergy awareBaby changeBlue badge parking+8 more

Ogmore Castle

Bridgend

Free ruined stone walls to clamber over by a river, open daily from 10am to 4pm.

Dog friendlyParking

Old Beaupre Castle

Cowbridge

Free ruins to poke around after a walk across a couple of farmers' fields near Cowbridge.

Toilets

Oldbury Court

Bristol · up to age 13

Free riverside park with a play area, open grass for sport and paths to run along, open from 8am until dusk.

Accessible toiletBaby changeCaféOutdoor play+1 more

Pierhead Building

Cardiff

Free entry to Cardiff Bay's landmark building, with a giant floor map of Wales, a trail for 5 to 7 year olds and free tours of the Senedd.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBike parkingBottle warming+13 more

Powerhouse Hub

Cardiff

A free local library hub with parent and toddler groups, books, computers and wifi, open right through the week except Sundays.

Indoor seatingToiletsWi-Fi

Prior's Wood

Bristol

Free woodland walking with bluebells in spring and buzzards overhead, though the paths get properly muddy.

Roath Park

Cardiff

A lake to pedalo across, two playgrounds, a trim trail and a wildlife trail, all free to wander round.

Baby changeCaféOutdoor playToilets

RSPB Newport Wetlands

Newport

Free wetland reserve with four trails, dragonflies and water voles to spot, and 7,500-year-old human footprints preserved in the mud.

Accessible toiletBaby changeCaféDog friendly+9 more

Rumney Partnership Hub

Cardiff

A free library and community space with books, public computers and wifi, open most days except Friday and Sunday.

Indoor seatingToiletsWi-Fi

Sandford Station Railway Heritage Centre

Winscombe

Free railway heritage stop where kids can climb aboard a vintage coach and stand on the footplate of a real shunter engine.

Bike parkingGift shopIndoor playOutdoor play+2 more

St Fagans National Museum of History

Cardiff

Free Wales open-air history museum near Cardiff - buildings, farm and craft demos.

Accessible toiletCaféGift shopParking+2 more

St Fagans National Museum of History Car Park

Cardiff

Free entry to 50 rebuilt historic buildings, woodland and parkland to wander, though parking will cost you £7.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBike parkingCafé+9 more

St John's House Trust

Bridgend

Free entry to a historic house that opens just twice a month, with forest school activities laid on for children.

St Quentin’s Castle (Llanblethian Castle)

Cowbridge

Free ruins to clamber round on the edge of Cowbridge, with steep old steps that make it feel like a proper explore.

Bike parkingDog friendly

St. Mellons Library and Hub

Cardiff

A free local library with parent and toddler groups, computers and a community hall for all sorts of activities.

Indoor seatingToiletsWi-Fi

The Insole Court Community Choir

Cardiff

A weekly evening sing for adults at Insole Court, no audition and no need to read music.

The Senedd

Cardiff · ages 5-7

Free entry to watch Welsh democracy in action, with a trail and play area built for 5 to 7 year olds.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBike parkingBlue badge parking+14 more

The Turner House

Penarth

A free gallery behind Penarth station, small enough for a quick look on the way to the train.

Free parking

The Workers Gallery

Porth

A free community gallery in Porth open Saturdays, showing exhibitions and hosting local cultural events and groups.

Accessible toiletBike parkingGift shopIndoor seating+1 more

Underfall Yard

Bristol

Free look round a working dock engineering yard, with hydraulic pumps and a drum you can climb into.

CaféToilets

Victoria Park

Cardiff · up to age 12

A free park playground and splash play area in Cardiff, good for a couple of hours with kids up to about 12.

Baby changeFood on siteOutdoor playToilets

Whitchurch Hub

Cardiff

Free story times, toddler groups and craft sessions like dinosaur mask-making at a local library that doubles as a rainy-day fallback.

Indoor playIndoor seatingToiletsWi-Fi