Summer is here! Yay! Part of me loves the summer holidays – the more predictable weather, 6 weeks of less traffic, 6 whole weeks of no school uniforms! But the summer holidays are loooooooonnnnng, and therefore they can be expensive. Here’s my guide to the best free and cheap things to do with the kids and family days out during the summer holidays in Buckinghamshire. Don’t forget that over the summer I’ll be updating all of my latest reviews on the WhatsApp channel. You can follow that by clicking the button below
There’s so much going on I’ve split the counties into separate blogs otherwise this post would be really long. If you want to know what’s on in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Oxfordshire just click the links. Keep checking the website or subscribe to get the updates right to your inbox. And if you find this page useful please consider supporting the future of the blog by buying me a coffee. Thank you.
This is just a guide to the summer holidyay events in Buckinghamshire. You can find all of my reviews of family days out and activities in Buckinghamshire here. The dates are still TBC but in late July / August the sunflower fields The Patch MK will open. Unfortunately Farmer Paul’s in Aylesbury have announced they won’t be opening this year.
If you think I’m missing somewhere either leave a comment below or get in touch via contact@freetimewiththekids.com
What’s on in Buckinghamshire during the summer holidays
First up it’s Buckinghamshire Culture Open Weekend on the 27th & 28th July. There are loads of free and cheap events across the county. You can search them all here.
Black Park Country Park and Langley Park Country Park host lots of events during the summer holidays including child friendly film walks, outdoor theatre, outdoor showings of Harry Potter (where it was filmed!), Dino camp, forest school and a dragonfly walk. On the 20th – 23rd August there’s a summer pirate trail. £2.73 online or £3 on the day. You can find all of the events here.
The Roald Dahl Museum and story centre are holding tons of craft activities and events throughout the holidays. There’s regular story-telling sessions and lots of James & the Giant Peach themed craft activities (some are free, some have a small charge). There’s also guided walks through the village.
Throughout the summer Chinnor Railway have various steam days (mostly Thursdays & Sundays + 26th & 31st August). They also have Kids for a Quid days on selected dates throughout the holidays.
There’s a woodlands explorers woodland safari trail (skip to pg 31) at Burnham Beeches from the 24th July – 3rd September. Suggested donation £2. There’s also family friendly guided walks, including a night walk that might be quite cool! (21st Aug, £3)
Cliveden near Taplow have announced their summer of play from the 24th July – 1st September. There’s various game stations all over the grounds, free with admission.
Odds Farm Park have their summer sizzler from the 24th July – 3rd September. There’s a daily foam party, summer crafts and rare breads activity trail. They also offer a summer pass for £34.95 each.
What’s on in and Near Aylesbury
Discover Bucks museum in Aylesbury is running their May the toys be with you exhibition throughout the summer. Plus there’s crafts each week; Make-a-Toy Monday, Out-of-this-World Wednesday and Fantastic Fridays (charges apply). There are two ticket options – either with or without admission to the Roald Dahl Children’s Gallery.
Astonbury Festival is on the 10th August. It’s completely FREE and held in Aston Clinton Park but they’re asking for £5pp donations. As well as the bands there will be children’s activities, food and drink. All the details are here.
Aylesbury Waterside Theater have two family friendly shows this summer. There’s the 13 Storey Treehouse on the 25th – 28th July, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on the 3rd August and Ministry of Science on the 25th August. Check availability and book here.
There’s also Parklife Weekend 24th & 25th August and it’s totally FREE. This is such a good weekend with tons of free music, we’ve had such a great time when we’ve been before. Saturday is all about music, bands, and family fun and then Sunday evening it’s Proms in the Park.
Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire have got a lot of different events taking place throughout the summer holidays. It’s the summer of play from the 24th July – 26th August and kids go free through. On the 26th July there will be an 18ft man doing theatre performances and Buzz will be there on the 27th July. From the 2nd – 4th Aug there’s Urban Canvas Street Art. From the 9th – 11th there’s the actual reality arcade. Archery, a climbing wall and axe throwing will be available from the 16th – 18th Aug. On the 23rd – 26th Aug Berkshire Birds of Prey will be there. All events included with admission.
Buckinghamshire Railway Centre has a couple of events during the summer holidays, on top of their normal steaming days. On the 21st July it’s the Moving the Mail event. Children bringing a food donation get in for free. Their Emergency Services Day is on the 11th August, it’s £7 per person (or free for all emergency services personnel). On the 26th August it’s their Auto Fest. They are also doing children go for £1 on any of their steaming days that aren’t a special event. Check out those dates here.
Hogshaw Farm are offering a summer pass – Just £29.95 per person for unlimited visits from the 24th July – 1st September. Point Blank adventures are running a summer camp at the same time. Throughout the summer there’s their splash pool, sand & water play area, seasonal farm trail and all the other shows that are normally included with admission. You can meet the Gruffalo on the 26th August, included with admission.
Chiltern Open Air Museum in South Buckinghamshire have several special events planned. They’re open every day from the 22nd July – 9th September. There’s a summer of sports trail and some sport themed events. Each weekend there’s a themed weekend including heritage crafts, Britain at war and a Viking raid (plus more). Every Tuesday has a different themed Teriffic Tuesday full of crafts and activities. AND they have other ad hoc events during the holidays as well!
MK Play Association are holding free play sessions in Hawkslade on the 2nd & 20th August, suitable for ages up to 12. The sessions in Weston Turville are on the 5th & 29th August, suitable for ages up to 14. Winslow is holding events on the 7th & 24th August, ages up to 12. There is a teen session in Aston Clinton on the 23rd August and Stoke Mandeville on the 12th for 11 – 14 year olds. Princes Risborough have their session on the 21st August, suitable for up to 14 years.
What’s On in High Wycombe
High Wycombe Museum has numerous family events during July and into the summer holidays celebrating the Chilterns Chair Festival. There’s the free Here, Chair & Everywhere Trail which is self-guided and on throughout July. (There’s also a pub tour but obvs that’s not aimed at the kids!) There are craft sessions each Tuesday & Wednesday and the family fun day on the 28th July.
Hughenden Manor has a Summer of Play event running from the 24th July – 1st September 2024 with lots of games around the grounds. There’s plenty of other family friendly events taking place over the summer as well. Between the 12 July – 4 August there’s the free Big Butterfly Count, meet the beekeepers on the 20th July – 17th August and family crafts on the 26th – 29th July & 5th – 26th Aug. Some events have a small charge. Their free Mythical Creatures woodland trail is running throughout the summer as well.
What’s on in Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes Play Association – They’re really pushing the boat out this year with their play sessions. There are free sessions across the Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire area during the summer holidays. Check out their website page for all the details. Most locations have multiple dates and some are just for teens.
IF Milton Keynes Festival is taking it’s bi-annual break this year. It will be back in 2025
There’s a 1940’s weekend at Milton Keynes Museum (read the review here) on the 7th & 8th September. There will be music, you can learn how to cook your ratios and see some stunning 1940’s vehicles. They haven’t announced any other specific summer events yet.
Great Linford Manor Park in Buckinghamshire don’t seem to be hosting any summer events this year, although they do have a free alphabet trail. Instead the Parks Trust are running lots of family friendly events during the summer holidays at another of their sites; Howe Park Wood have a couple of events this summer. There’s nature crafts on the 30th, 31st July, 1st Aug. Plus pond dipping on the 6th – 8th Aug. There’s Bug hunting on the 27th – 29th Aug. There’s a Roman Day on the 17th August at North Loughton Valley Park.
Bletchley Park have lots of family friendly activities included with admission this summer holidays. There’s a series of summer concerts at weekends during August, flypasts and craft activities, also included with admission. There’s also outdoor theatre events.
Thrift Farm is having a sensory summer from the 20th July – 1st September. They have lots of things for you to do; a flower meadow, sensory play, messy play, barefoot walk, sensory walk, happy hoppers and sand & water play. Everything is included with admission.
What’s on in Buckingham
Buckingham Play Days are at Chandos Park on the 25th July, 1st, 15th Aug from 10.30. Free.
There are free drop-in basketball sessions at Chandos Park & Bourton Parks on the 29th July, 5th, 12th, 19th Aug, 26th Aug (ages 8-12 & 13+), At the Lace Hill Sports Hall there are free street dance classes on the 30th July, 6th, 13th Aug, 20th Aug, 27th Aug (ages 8-12 & 13+). On the 17th Aug there’s a skate park event, including a skating contest, at the skate park. Details of all the events are here.
There are two summer holiday trails at Stowe this year! There’s a free augmented reality trail in collaboration with Stowe School and a Little People, BIG DREAs trail. From the 24th Jul – 28th Aug there’s a young rangers programme for children aged 13 – 18.
Stowe House has a free lost treasures of Stowe trail (admission applies but kids go free). Teddy Bear’s picnic on the 29th July (ages 3-6, free, admission applies)
It’s Buckingham Fringe Week from the 20th – 28th July. There’s loads of activities happening during the week, including a FREE fun day on the 21st.
Lillingstone Pick Your Own have their strawberry fields open until the crop runs out. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for the latest availability.
I hope you’ve got lots of ideas of things to do in the summer holidays across Buckinghamshire. If there’s anywhere else you’d suggest just get in touch.
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Hi, I’m Vicky. My husband and I live in Aylesbury with our three children; a 14 year old son, an 12 year old son and a 6 year old daughter. I (mostly) love spending time together as a family. We visit all kinds of places and we’re quite happy to drive a fair distance for a decent day out. A few years ago I decided to set up Free Time with the Kids as a way to share our experiences of these family days out.
You’ll find the essential information you need to know before your visit that can be surprisingly hard to find out. Where do I park? How much will it cost me to get in? Are there any discounts available? Are there loos? Can I take a picnic or get food? My aim is to be your go-to guide for all your free and cheap family days out across Bucks, Beds, Oxon, Herts & slightly beyond. I really hope you find the reviews helpful. If there’s anywhere that you’d recommend please get in touch contact@freetimewiththekids.com or get in touch via Facebook