Weekends, long summer days and school holidays are all about spending time with the family and entertaining the little ones on adventures of discovery and play. At a time when many of us need to tighten the purse strings, you can still plan a great day out without spending much. So here are our Top 5 ideas of things to see and do in and around Harrogate that are free or can be done on a budget.

Explore green open spaces and gardens

Harrogate is surrounded by the magnificent Stray, a large expanse of green open space, which is the perfect place to play ball games, walk your four-legged friend or picnic on warmer days.

The Valley Gardens, located in the centre of Harrogate are perfect for families too, with a great play area and skate-park to enjoy for free. In the summer months, have fun splashing about in the paddling pool or taking your little ones to play in the park. If you do have some spending money, you can try your hand at the 18-hole crazy golf course, the 9-hole pitch and putt, tennis, disc golf and table tennis at the gardens. Prices vary depending on the activity, £2.50 for children and £3.20 for adults.

Be active

Enjoy great days out on two feet, two wheels and even one boat.  Walk along the riverside in Knaresborough beneath the magnificent viaduct before hiring a rowing boat and having an hour of fun floating along the River Nidd. Open daily (weather dependent) March – October, tickets are £10 for adults and £5 for children, with family tickets £25.

Learn something new

On a visit to Knaresborough Castle and Courthouse Museum you can learn about the history of this once Royal Castle. See the original Tudor courtroom and the dungeons in the Castle where prisoners were kept before trial. A family ticket for two adults and three children is £11.10. The grounds are open all year round with games open from March until November, try your hand at putting or bowling from just £2.30! Admission into the castle starts at £2.20.

The Mercer Art Gallery always has exciting exhibitions throughout the year from ‘Great Art in Great Places’ to ‘Moonlight to burning headlights’. You can find out more about the different exhibitions taking place here. Free admission.

Try something different

Studfold Adventure Trail in Nidderdale offers lots of fun and adventure. Discover the hidden codes to unlock the gateways and reveal the magical wood and hidden treasure boxes. Between May and August see if you can spot the little fairy houses too. There are lots of other activities for children including go-karts, ride-on tractors and den-building. A family ticket is £25 for two adults and two children.

With so many exciting places to discover you are sure to find the perfect day out on a budget for all the family to enjoy. Go to our explore pages and start planning your visit.

We love seeing your adventures so don’t forget to tag your photos with #MyHarrogate