Best August Bank Holiday days out in the UK
Make the most of the late August Bank Holiday with our pick of some of the best days out and summer activities across the UK.
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Whether you fancy outdoor movie screenings, fruit picking or wildlife walks, here is our pick of some of the best days out across the UK this August Bank Holiday weekend.
Best family and outdoor activities to enjoy this Bank Holiday
Enjoy a bumper year of local festivities
When major events such as music festivals are cancelled, local ones have the chance to really flourish. This year, see what’s springing up on your doorstep – whether it’s a scarecrow trail, a street festival or outdoor cinema screening.
At the RSPB Arne reserve, experts from the Ancient Technology Centre will be keeping kids and adults busy with ancient crafts, including natural paint-making and roundhouse daubing as part of their Iron Age Weekend. Check the RSPB events page for things in your area.
Since lockdown in 2019, outdoor cinema has grown exponentially around the country, offering a safe, socially distanced evening out. It looks like the trend is here to stay, with more beautiful rural venues cropping up than ever, from stately homes to tranquil meadows. See Summer Screens for a good selection across the UK.
Pack a picnic for a late summer walk
From long coastal walks and mountain climbs to riverside rambles and wildflower strolls, there are hundreds of beautiful summer walks to enjoy in the countryside and coast. Pack a picnic and choose a spot with a view to enjoy halfway and celebrate the end of summer.
Cook dinner on the campfire
Food from the campfire always seems to taste better! Whether it’s campfire bread on a stick or halloumi and veg kebabs, campfires are a great way to encourage children to learn a bit of bushcraft. See our recipe section for inspiration.
Explore Britain’s coastline or waterways by kayak, canoe or paddleboard
Head down to the sea or a river and try your hand at canoeing, kayaking or paddleboarding. It’s a great way to exercise and can help you reconnect with nature. You can do it on any stretch of water, but you can’t beat paddling along your local coastline. It’s easy to license your boat, kayak or canoe – make sure you do this first.
Summer foraging and fruit picking
The late summer is a perfect time to forage for berries such as blackberries and wild strawberries. Alternatively, the UK has a number of ‘pick your own’ soft fruits which children will love.
Go for a bike ride
Pump up your tyres and peddle through the countryside. Cycling is a great way to reconnect with nature and get off the beaten track. Take a ride on a local cycle path, or if you’re a bit more ambitious, why not take a family bikepacking trip somewhere local.
- A guide to bikepacking: how to get started, essential gear and best routes for off-road cycling
- Cycling in Britain: the best places to ride, how to ride safely and where to ride this autumn
Enjoy a wild swim
On a warm summer’s day, it doesn’t get much better than taking a dip in the sea, lake or river. If you live in a big city, don’t be put off as there are many wild swimming spots near London.
- Wild swimming in Britain: the best places to swim, water safety and how to get started
- Britain’s top 10 wild swimming spots
Sleep under the stars
Pitch a tent and spend an evening beneath a starry night-sky. Wild camping allows you to escape the constant buzz of modern life and get back to basics. While not legal in some parts of the country, there are a number of smaller campsites in secluded locations, where you simply pitch up and savour the tranquility. Alternatively, kids will love sleeping in the back garden for a mini adventure.
- A beginner’s guide to wild camping
- 10 great places to wild camp in Britain
- Five of the best tiny campsites in Britain
Authors
Carys is the Group Digital Editor of countryfile.com and discoverwildlife.com. Carys can often be found trail running, bike-packing, wild swimming or hiking in the British countryside.
Tanya Jackson is the acting group digital editor of countryfile.com and discoverwildlife.com. Her parents had a pet shop when she was growing up, so she learnt very young how intelligent rats are and why you don’t stick your hands near the beak of a cockatoo. She loves camping, hiking and watching the red kites soar over the Wiltshire hills.
