Pocket Friendly Summer Fun
Watching the pennies this summer holidays? You'll love these days out as much as the kids
Choose to hop on and off the bus with the brood (and the dog) exploring gardens and market towns along the way or spend the day on a farm with walking trails, pond dipping and trying the farm’s own ice cream.
Take a nostalgic bus ride
1. The Daffodil Line
Rural bus travel can make a fun day out for kids as well as being hugely nostalgic for adults. The prettily named Daffodil Line (No 232) is perfect for a hop on and off day trip as it’s a ‘request stop’ service running between the pretty market towns of Ross-on-Wye and Ledbury.
Over the summer kids travel free, and even the family dog can board for a quid. Starting in Ross-on-Wye explore the free Museum Without Walls, a free family friendly augmented reality trail what brings the town’s lost history back to life through your smartphone. Wander down the River Wye walk before hoping on the bus for Ledbury.
If it’s a Wednesday or Sunday, you can jump off at Much Marcle for Hellens Manor and wander down the perry pear tree lined drive to reach the beautiful manor house and gardens with free entrance.
The bus comes on the hour, and the final leg onto Ledbury takes around 15 minutes. Stroll Ledbury’s historic cobbled streets and tiny alleys to find cafes and first-class independent shopping including a chocolate shop, bookstore and several toy shops as well as charity shops galore for thrifting. Plus, the Tudor Butcher’s Row Museum is free to enter too and offers a small but well curated collection of artefacts connected to the town’s history.
Explore castles, stately homes &, gardens for less!
2. The Great Summer Savings Scheme
There are lots of Herefordshire attractions passing on the full benefit of the government’s temporary summer VAT reduction, which cuts VAT on eligible attractions from 20% to 5% between 25 June and 1 September 2026 called the Great British Summer Savings Scheme. Here are a few taking part:
Hampton Gardens, near Leominster, is a brilliant family day out, with magical gardens, a giant hedge maze, woodland trails and a castle themed adventure play area. It must be the only garden where you can travel underground via a secret tunnel to a sunken garden area with waterfalls, stepping stones, lush green planting and hidden gems that the kids will love.
Eastnor Castle and Grounds, near Ledbury, combines fairy-tale castle views with acres of family fun, including a Knight’s Maze, adventure playground, woodland walks, rope swings, lakeside trails and daily summer activities.
National Trust, Herefordshire Wildlife Trust and English Heritage Sites – free activities during the summer
Pack a picnic and head to one of the county’s National Trust properties for discounted entry during the summer. Make the most of free summer holiday happenings which include pirate storytelling, boating on the lake and pond dipping at Berrington Hall.
At Croft Castle get ready for a Medieval Fair themed Summer of Play with a programme of performances, active play, and hands on creative activities, alongside games, activity stations and “have-a-go” sessions of medieval cookery, archery and more.
Over at Brockhampton there are sessions of rush weaving and catapult making.
For a no cost alternative visit nearby Birches Farm Nature Reserve, run by Herefordshire Wildlife Trust where there are trails to explore and the chance to see kites overhead, hares and lots of butterflies. For a low-cost tasty lunch nearby head to Route 44 Diner where good burgers cost a fiver and dogs get a free sausage!
For those who can make their own fun it’s completely free to explore our English Heritage sites such as Arthur’s Stone and Longtown Castle.
Wild adventure, art, trails & bushcraft
3. Queenswood Country Park & Arboretum
This160-acre woodland that provides free range fun with no entrance fee and affordable parking charges of between £2 and £6. Located near Leominster, the woodland features peaceful walking trails and a Gruffalo Trail for younger ones as well as woodland playground, visitor centre and café.
What’s more spend more than £25 at the woodland café and the parking is free all day. Check out the events section of their website for details of affordable themed sessions for kids such as Nature Tots sessions for 0-5 years old, Art classes (open to all) and Wild Adventure days for 8–12-year-olds through the summer holidays.
More Hamnet-inspired Herefordshire
Meet the animals
4. Small Breeds Farm Park
This gem of a day out, near Kington, is the place to meet weird and wonderful species without the big zoo entrance fee. Meet and feed the pygmy goats, miniature horses, alpacas, donkeys, red squirrels, rabbits, chinchillas and over 30 breeds of owl! There’s a café on site or take advantage of the picnic area to bring a spread and save some pennies for an ice cream.
Ice cream, woodland trail & play parks galore
4. Rowlestone Farm
Home to one of Herefordshire’s best known ice creams, Rowlestone Farm is also a brilliant and affordable attraction and small campsite. Free for kids or just £2 per person if you are over 12 you can bring the family for the day and stroll through the woodlands and meadows, passing ponds in the wild garden whilst taking in the views of the Black Mountains.
Visit the cows which provide the milk and cream for the farm’s award-winning ice cream, made by hand with over 50 flavours. Then go for lunch in the cafe saving room for a scoop or two of ice cream for dessert. They have food pop ups throughout the summer too.
Free art trails, medieval maps, museums & FREE burgers for kids
6. Summer in the City of Hereford
Hereford is a small riverside city that is walkable, packed full of history and affordable for a small family. Free things to do include following the public art trail which takes around an hour, and older kids especially will enjoy seeking out cool street art with the downloadable map.
The Cathedral is open to all and perfect for letting off steam on the lawns, before admiring the stained glass and ancient shrines inside. There’s a small charge to see one of the world’s most ancient maps, the Mappa Mundi as well as the impressive Chained Library.
Once the city has been explored head to its most famous eatery, The Beefy Boys, for incredible Hereford beef burgers where kids eat for FREE. Alternatively take a picnic and stroll down the River Wye and visit The Waterworks Museum, a brilliant interactive heritage museum with steam engines. There's even a water park is where kids can operate pumps and learn about the story of water from early times to the present day.
Discover over 60 trails, hikes and cycle routes for free
7. Download Our New App
For even more budget-friendly ways to explore, download the free Visit Herefordshire app, developed in partnership with Outdooractive, and discover family-friendly walking trails, cycling routes, hidden beauty spots and attractions across the county. The app includes reliable offline maps, route inspiration, insider tips and local stories, making it easy to enjoy a low-cost day out without getting lost. From riverside strolls and woodland adventures to market towns and ice cream stops, the app helps families uncover Herefordshire’s hidden gems while making the most of every pound spent.
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