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School holidays can be an expensive time, so I've put together a guide of events, attractions and things to do that are free or low cost to help you save money and have fun!

There are key sections of the website that will have lots of free things to do:

• Parks
• Museums & Places of Interest
• Beaches
• Local Libraries

Check out my other guides too:

• The Mum's guide to Hitchin Big Summer Holidays Guide!
• Full list of events on the What's On Guide- you can search by date or event view.
• Holiday Clubs and Classes
• Attractions to travel to like Beaches, Theme Parks, Zoos and Museums in the Things To Do section if you fancy a day out
• Pubs in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire with play areas
  
• Places where kids eat free (or for £1) during the summer holidays
• My top tips when travelling with children 
• Tried and Tested reviews for places I've been to with the boys
• My top things to do in Herts, in partnership with 'Helping Herts'
• Hertfordshire Libraries Summer Reading Challenge
• Places to stay cool
• The best places to meet other parents and carers in Hitchin
• Dog-friendly places in Hitchin

Please do check event/attraction details before travelling, as I can't keep this entire list updated I'm afraid!

Follow my pages on Instagram and Facebook where you'll find all the latest news on the grid and in my stories and highlights.

Hitchin - Events and Things To Do

 

North Herts Family Centres Summer Holidays Activities
FREE OR LOW COST
Join us for a fun filled summer with exciting events for Hertfordshire families. Below are just some of the sessions that we’re running:

The World of Martin Brown: Horrible Histories and Other Dazzling Drawings at North Herts Museum
FREE
Running until 21st September 2025 (Closed Mondays)
Quiet Opening SEN Session -Tue 29th July 2025 9-10am
Explore Humour, History, and Creativity at "The World of Martin Brown: Horrible Histories and Other Dazzling Drawings" North Herts Museum proudly hosts a major touring exhibition by Seven Stories, The National Centre for Children's Books: "The World of Martin Brown: Horrible Histories and Other Dazzling Drawings". This exhibition was first created by the South West Heritage Trust in collaboration with Martin Brown and Events of Wonder for display at The Museum of Somerset in Taunton, the exhibition showcases original cartoons, artwork, and exclusive behind-the-scenes insights from acclaimed illustrator Martin Brown. Visitors will enjoy original illustrations from the beloved Horrible Histories series, explore Martin's early cartoon work, and discover his recent children's books like Lesser Spotted Animals and Nell and the Cave Bear.
More details




Kids Sessions at North Herts Museum

• Fossil Handling - Free Kids Session - Thu 14th August 2025 10.45am, 11.30am, 12.15pm - FREE
• Photo Prints - Cyanotype - Kids Holiday Workshop - Thu 21st August 2025 11am and 1.30pm - £6 per child

More details

Hitchin Parent Hub at Granello Lounge
Wednesdays 9:30 - 11am
Hitchin Parent Hub is a community coffee morning for all local parents, whether you're expecting, a new parent, or working parent. You're all welcome. We meet every Wednesday 9.30-11 at Granello Lounge (mainly term time). We are a small group of local parenting experts that are committed to supporting you through every stage of parenthood, and helping parents build and maintain your village. Each week one of our team will host the coffee morning to be on hand with advice, support or just a chat. Keep an eye on our Instagram and Facebook pages to see who's hosting and what special events we are putting on.
More details



Lego Club at Hitchin Library
LOW COST - £4.40 PER CHILD
Every Tuesday in August, plus Saturday 234rd August 2025
Exciting news! LEGO Club will be returning in August. 🌟🧱
We will be running a session every Tuesday at 4pm and on Saturday 23rd August at 10:30am. Each session costs £4.40 per child and can be booked at the enquiry desk.
If you're looking for something to keep your little brick builders entertained this summer, why not sign up for a session?
More details




Next Page Books - Wednesdays - Free Story and Sing
FREE
Wednesdays, including the Holidays
Our Wednesday FREE story and sing sessions are every week at 10:30am. Families will need to book FREE tickets for the Wednesday morning storytimes. Please see our website for how to book [email protected] or our social media @nextpagebooksuk. Bookings will close at 9.30am on Wednesday, an hour before storytime starts. You are welcome to come along if you haven't booked, however you'll be asked to wait until all booked families have arrived, and entry will be subject to having enough space (15 families max).
More details




Kids Film Club at Hitchin Town Hall
LOW COST - £6.50 per person
Tue 29th July 2025 - Tue 5th August 2025 - Doors open at 3.15pm
Kids Film Club returns to kick off the summer holidays!
Tuesday 29 July- Wicked sing-along (PG)
Tuesday 5 August- Inside Out 2 (PG)
Doors open at 3.15pm, the film will begin at 3.30pm
Tickets- £6.50 per person (accompanying adults must purchase a ticket)
We will be serving ice-cream, snacks and drinks! Only food and drink purchased on site can be consumed while watching the film.
All movies are rated PG for Parental Guidance. PG stands for Parental Guidance. This means a film is suitable for general viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children. A PG film should not unsettle a child aged around eight or older. Parents should consider whether the content may upset younger, or more sensitive children.
This event may be unsuitable for under 2's. All children must be supervised by an adult at all times.
More details

The Search for Carmella- storyline and art workshop with Chloe Savage at Make Space, West Alley
FREE, DONATIONS TO STAND BY ME CHARITY
Fri 8th August 2025 11am
Join award winning author / illustrator Chloe Savage as she reads her new book the Search for Carmella and enjoy a deep sea creature drawing workshop afterwards. This event is part of Make Space's month long Kids Open exhibition, during which we are fund raising for Stand-by-Me bereavement support. Please message Kim at Make Space to out your name down, or come on the day. Donations to Stand-by-Me are welcomed.
More details

Buzzworks Days at Buzzworks Discovery Centre, Hitchin

• Sat 10th August 9am-5pm - Buzzworks Open Day - FREE

All events





Family Fun Day at Iris Court Care Home
FREE ENTRY
Sat 30th August 2025 11:00-15:00
Join us at Iris Court for our Las Vegas Family Fun Day.
On the day enjoy live music, refreshments, an American style BBQ. Whilst enjoying Casino games and games for all the family.
feel free to view our home on the day, and meet our team. If you wish to register your interest in this event please RSVP to [email protected]
More details

FREE
King George V Recreation Ground, Hitchin
Mum’s guide to Hitchin Recommendation
We love this park (check out the Reel on my Instagram- it's the first one I ever did and I still love it)- with parking, large playing fields, a skate park (currently closed for renovations), multi sports areas, exercise zone and a great playground, it was our best lockdown find!
More details

FREE
Bancroft Park and Splash Park
Bancroft Park has lots to offer local kids. The park area has been expanded with great new features, such as a Hamster wheel, swings that accommodate both adult and child to enjoy together, a scooting track and much more! There's also a splash area, interactive dance arch, plenty of space to picnic, public toilets, a café, plus you're a short stroll in to town so can easily pass a few hours here.
More details




FREE
Parks
Aside from the two above, you can find a full lists of local parks here.



FREE
Oughton Head Nature Reserve, Hitchin
Mum’s guide to Hitchin Recommendation
We’re so lucky to have this just outside our village – there’s so much to explore! The main paths are buggy friendly (the others are too when it’s dry), plus the woodland is great to explore and it’s ideal to take the dog too. Home to rare chalk pools, it’s a beautiful place to visit and has a lovely Tea Room – The Garden Gate which usually reopens around April/May - check out my review here.
More details

FREE
Purwell Ninesprings, Hitchin
Mum’s guide to Hitchin Recommendation
A great Lockdown find, this lovely nature reserve with recreation ground, play area, sports courts, fitness area and small stream to play in is well worth a visit.
More details




Pic credit: Carly Bedwell Photography
FREE
Hitch Wood, nr Whitwell
Mum’s guide to Hitchin Recommendation
Great woods for family walks, just outside Hitchin. Perfect for bluebells in the spring. There are a number of dens for kids to play in, and pathways to follow. You might even spot some deer! And keep a lookout for the large hollow tree trunk, just off the main walkway around halfway round- great fun to play in!
More details

FREE
Wymondley Wood
Created as an educational resource for managed groups, Wymondley Wood features a special nature conservation and field study area adjacent to existing and newly planted forest environments.
More details

FREE
Wain Wood
Wain Wood is an ancient woodland extending to 19.2 hectares near Preston in North Hertfordshire. The site is a Site of Special Scientific Interest which was notified in 1986 under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It's also an excellent place to see beautiful bluebells in Spring.
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Letchworth, Stotfold and wider Hitchin villages - Events and Things To Do

 

LOW COST - £1.75 per person
Summer Kids Club at Broadway Cinema
Throughout the holidays
Kids Club screenings at Broadway Cinema are a great way to keep families entertained. Tickets are just £1.75 per person!
More details

Kids Summer of Fun in Letchworth
Throughout the Summer Holidays
A jam-packed, fun-filled summer of activities for the whole family.

• Thurs 24th and Weds 30th July, Fri 8th and Weds 13th Aug 2025 - Free Art Workshops
• Tues 29th July, Rues 5th, Tues 12th and Thurs 21st Aug 2025 - Free Facepainting
• Thurs 14th August - Free Ultimate Circus Workshop

More details

Butterfly Crafts at Letchworth Library
Sat 2nd August 2025 11am - 1pm
Join us for a fun and creative morning making beautiful butterfly crafts! This event is part of "Another 30 Days Wild in Letchworth", a collaborative project by the LGC Heritage Foundation and Letchworth Festival and inspired by the Wildlife Trust's annual campaign to help you connect with nature. Perfect for families and nature lovers of all ages-no booking required!
More details

Pirate summer fete at The Cloisters
FREE ENTRY
Sat 2nd August 2025 11am - 3pm
Get ready to find your eyepatches, parrots and pieces of eight! Come and join us on Saturday 2nd August. There will be lots to do:
Treasure Hunt
Food stall
Various stalls selling a selection of items to Treasure
Children's Disco
Soft Play Area
Tea, coffee and the famous Cloisters Cakes. Fully stocked bar with alcoholic, low and alcohol free and soft drinks
More details

FREE
Norton Common, Letchworth
Mum’s guide to Hitchin Recommendation
There’s lots to explore here- from trails, to streams, a great path for scooting and cycling, plus a little park and skate park. It’s well worth a wander round on a nice day.
More details


FREE
Radwell Meadows
Radwell Meadows is an ideal place to set-up for the day and enjoy the countryside, featuring a children's play area, flower meadows, picnic tables and car parking.
More details

FREE
Stotfold Mill Nature Reserve
Stotfold Watermill is a great day out for all the family and is open to the public on various dates throughout the year. The Nature Reserve which adjoins the Mill is open all year round. Stop at Randall's tea room for refreshments.
More details

 

Nearby (within 40 mins’ drive)

LOW COST - £4 per child
World Games Trail at Jordan's Mill, Broom
Sat 19th July 2025 - Tues 2nd September 2025 9:30am - 3:30pm
🏆 Get active, get competitive and most of all, have fun this summer! 🌎 Take on our exciting World Games Children's Trail packed with sporty challenges and giggles all the way ⛳ From sprinting and limbo to rugby, golf, and horse racing, children will complete 10 fun-filled challenges around the trail. Score your progress on the trail sheet, then head to the Mill Shop to collect your well-earned prize!🏇 
🏅 Are you up for the challenge?! 🏅
📅 Saturday 19th July - Tuesday 2nd September
📍 7 days a week
⏰ 9:30am - 3:30pm
💷 £4 per child (includes trail sheet and a prize)
More details

Summerfields Miniature Railway - Running Day, Haynes
LOW COST - £3 RETURN TICKET
Sun 20th and Weds 30th July, Weds 6th, Weds 13th, Sun 24th, Mon 25th, Sun 31st August 2025
Lovely miniature railway run by The Bedford Model Engineering Society. The Society’s base is at the Summerfields’ Miniature Railways system, which is located approximately half-way between Hitchin and Bedford. The railways (there are three track systems at the Summerfields’ site) are a popular visitor destination for children and parents alike. 
More details




LOW COST - from £5 per child
Craft Sessions at Hobbycraft A1 Retail Park, Biggleswade, Luton or Stevenage
There are lots of Summer craft sessions going on during the summer holidays.
See all the sessions here.

Summer Events at Stockwood Discovery Centre, Luton

• Sat July 19th - Tues July 29th - Stockwood Discovery Golf - £5 PER PERSON
• Sat August 2nd - Mrs Armitage on Wheels - £6 PER PERSON
• Mon Aug 4th - Wed Aug 6th - Stockwood Garden Party - FREE
• Sun Aug 24th - Breadcrumbs - £5 PER PERSON + BOOKING FEE

All Stockwood discovery Centre events

FREE
Baulk Wood, Henlow
Mum’s guide to Hitchin Recommendation
Buggy-friendly woodland walk with animal-inspired wooden carvings and things for children to play on, such as logs, stepping stones and balance beams, plus den-building is encouraged, so hunt out some hidden gems! Tried and Tested review in the link below.
More details

Barton Hills National Nature Reserve
Barton Hills National Nature Reserve is a fine example of downland and woodland in the north Chilterns. It is a popular destination for walkers, families and wildlife enthusiasts. The habitat consists of lowland chalk grassland and beech woodland, with colourful wild flowers covering the chalk grassland in summer The woodland contains an important population of large leaved lime trees and is also home to the scarce plant herb paris. Also, look out for mammals including stoats, weasels and hares.
More details




FREE
Fairlands Valley Park, Stevenage
Saunter round the large lake, where there are plenty of ducks to spot or feed, then go for a play in their extensive playground area, before grabbing a drink in the lake-side café. 
More details

FREE
Stockwood Discovery Centre, Luton
Beautiful gardens, award-winning display of carriages, ever-changing exhibitions, children's playground, Café and lots of space to run around! Plus lots of events going on over the summer.
More details




FREE (but parking charges apply)
Stanborough Park
Covering 126 acres there's something for all ages and tastes. Take a gentle stroll, picnic or just laze away an afternoon relaxing in our award winning parklands. Watersports Centre, Childrens Play Area, Walks, Orienteering, Nature trail, The Lakes, Rowing Boats & Pedalos (Open during weekends and the School holidays - April to October).
More details



FREE
Moggerhangar Park
Moggerhanger Park is a Grade 1 listed Georgian Historic House set in 33 acres of parkland and woodland. It is recognised as the most complete surviving example of Sir John Soane's architecture and is set in stylish grounds and woodlands sculpted by Humphry Repton. Visit the Moggerhanger Park Orchard Tearooms for coffee, cake and light lunches. Opening hours 10am - 4pm. Our children’s woodland playground is situated close to the Tearooms. 
More details

FREE 
Great Park, Ampthill
Approximately 160 acres of parkland and woodland, including a Children's Play Area, plus Park Hub with Café and Toilets. Ideal if you have a dog too!
More details

FREE (but parking charges apply)
Dunstable Downs
Enjoy kite flying and stroll across rare chalk grassland to look out for all the natural delights that exist here including butterflies, orchids, skylarks and glow worms. Browse through the brilliant selection of kites and other goods in the shop and sample the visitor centre's excellent café, whilst admiring the breath-taking views over the Vale of Aylesbury and the Chiltern Ridge.
More details

Further Afield

Ocean Exploration at Natural History Museum at Tring
Various dates
FREE ENTRY PLUS SEND SESSION
Get up close to fascinating specimens as you discover the wonderful variety of sea life, from corals and seahorses to whales and sharks. Find out how plastics affect them and how together we can help look after these incredible creatures. Plus, create and take home an ocean animal craft to remember your day. Recommended for ages 4+. Half-terms and school holidays are particularly busy times for us. Book your free entry ticket in advance so you don't miss out.
More details

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Check out the full What's On Calendar
You can find the full list of events in the calendar on the What's On section of the website.

Keep up to date on social media
I regularly update my social pages and Instagram stories, so make sure you're following me for even more content:
Facebook
Instagram



Don't forget, you can also find lots more things to do in various parts of the website:


Things To Do

• At home
• Parks
• Out & About
• Sports & Leisure
• Farm, Zoos & Wildlife Parks
• Indoor Soft Play
• Museums & Places of Interest
• Cinemas, Theatres & Arts
• Art, Craft & Hands-On
• Transport & Space
• Theme Parks
• Beaches

Tried and Tested - Check out the places I've reviewed with the boys.




Food and Drink

• Takeaway & Food Delivery
• Food Shops & Markets
• Cafes
• Restaurants & Pubs
• Private Dining & Catering

And finally...have a great Summer Holidays!

If you've found this guide useful, then please do share with friends and family, it would mean a lot.

If you have an event coming up and would it like it to be featured, then add it to the website using this form.