The best free days out in the UK revealed

THE UK’S best free days out, including museums, galleries, cathedrals, and historic sites have been revealed.

The ranking comes via a recent survey conducted by Which?, the UK’s leading consumer champion.

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With over 7,000 participants sharing what they deem their favourite experiences, the list comprises the country’s best-rated destinations from over 100 different venues, none of which cost visitors a penny to enter.

Topping the charts in the ‘museums’ category is St Fagans National Museum of History in Cardiff, with a customer score of 94 per cent. 

This open-air museum takes visitors on an immersive journey through time, boasting forty reconstructed buildings, including a working forge, a school, a chapel, and a Workmen’s Institute. 

Practical exhibits such as blacksmithing, pottery, and weaving demonstrations further enhance the experience. 

Coming in closely tied with impressive customer scores of 91 per cent are the National Railway Museum in York and the Royal Air Force (RAF) Museum in Cosford. 

The National Railway Museum, the largest of its kind worldwide, houses more than a hundred locomotives, including iconic trains like the Mallard and George Stephenson’s Rocket. It also showcases the only Shinkansen bullet train found outside Japan.

Meanwhile, the Cosford RAF Museum has a huge collection of military aircraft, including the world’s oldest Spitfire and the famous V Bombers from the Cold War era. 

Visitors can also spot the restored German bomber, Dornier Do 17, which was recovered from the depths of the English Channel a decade ago.

Rory Boland, Editor of Which? Travel, said: “As the cost of living crisis continues to be a strain on household budgets, finding cheap or free days out has never been more important. 

“Fortunately, the UK has a number of fantastic museums, galleries and other attractions which offer free entry and hours of fun.

“From the world’s largest railway museum to the Houses of Parliament, Which?’s rankings of the UK’s best free days out have plenty to inspire you as the summer holidays approach.”

Which? also delved into historic attractions, asking participants to rank them based on factors like accessibility, food and drink options, and crowd levels. 

Durham Cathedral emerged as the highest-scoring free attraction, impressing visitors with its captivating presence towering above the city.

With a customer score of 86 per cent, it’s even earned praise from author Bill Bryson, who hailed it as “the best cathedral on planet earth“.

St David’s Cathedral, found in the UK’s smallest city, also earned a respectable customer score of 80 per cent.

The site has hosted religious services since the sixth century, attracting over 300,000 visitors annually.

Chichester secured the third spot on the list with a score of 77 per cent.

Perhaps surprisingly, the Houses of Parliament made the list, earning a score of 76 per cent. 

While guided tours can often be costly, at around £25 a head, visitors can gain free entry by contacting their MP or a member of the House of Lords to request a free 75-minute guided tour. 

Other notable historic attractions that received high customer scores include Bury St Edmunds Abbey (73 per cent), Somerset House (71 per cent), and Bristol Cathedral (68 per cent). 

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