This summer, if you’re looking for fun and accessible days out that are low-cost, then we have you covered. Not only is spending time in nature great for your wellbeing, it can also be great for your bank balance. Here are our suggestions for our favourite affordable days out in the East Midlands!
The school holidays are here, and the East Midlands has some special places to explore - many of them free or very nearly so. Whether you're after a coastal walk, ancient woodland, or a magical trail through the forest, there's something for every family this summer. Here are five of our favourite affordable days out in nature across the East Midlands.
Lincolnshire Coronation Coast National Nature Reserve
Stretching for almost 30 kilometres along the Greater Lincolnshire coast, the Lincolnshire Coronation Coast National Nature Reserve (NNR), the first in the King’s Series of NNRs, is free to visit. The reserve brings together sand dunes, saltmarsh, mudflats and freshwater marshes of international importance, and is home to natterjack toads, grey seals, and a spectacular array of birds.
The reserve also forms part of the King Charles III England Coast Path (KCIIIECP), so you can combine a walk along one of England's great national trails with a chance to experience some truly special wildlife habitat. Cleethorpes and Mablethorpe neighbour the reserve, making it easily accessible and with plenty of options to grab some fish and chips before you head home!
Getting there: The reserve is accessible from several points along the Lincolnshire coast. Cleethorpes has a train station with regular services from Lincoln and Doncaster. Mablethorpe is accessible by bus from Lincoln.
Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire (National Trust)
Nestled in the ancient forest of Sherwood, Clumber Park is a picturesque 3,800-acre expanse of parkland, heath, woodland and lake that was once the country estate of the Dukes of Newcastle. This summer, it's easier than ever to get there without a car, and cheaper too.
A new daily bus service links Worksop Train Station, Worksop Bus Station and Clumber Park, running every day from 25 July to 6 September 2026. Return tickets cost just £3 per person and include free admission to the park.
National Trust members, under-fives, and visitors arriving at Worksop by train with a valid rail ticket all travel free and enter the park at no charge. Under 16s are free from 1 to 31 August.
Once you're there, the National Trust’s Summer of Play programme offers six interactive play zones, free ukulele workshops, storytelling sessions and much more, all included with entry. This year also sees Clumber take part in a nationwide National Trust partnership with Pokémon, meaning there’s enough entertainment for children of all ages.
Getting there: Bus service operates from Worksop Train Station (served by trains from Nottingham and Sheffield). Return bus ticket (£3) includes park entry. Service runs daily 25 July – 6 September 2026.
Bradgate Park and Swithland Wood National Nature Reserve, Leicestershire
Just a short journey from Leicester city centre, Bradgate Park is one of the region's most loved wild spaces. Spanning 438 hectares of rugged, ancient landscape, the park features ancient oak trees, roaming deer and some of the very oldest and rarest rocks on earth. The lower part of the park is accessible via a tarmac carriageway suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs, and the visitor centre tells the story of the estate's fascinating natural and human history. Both the park and the visitor centre are free to enter.
This summer, families can also take part in the Moths and Butterflies Trail, running until 23 August 2026. Follow the path from Newtown Linford to the visitor centre, spot painted examples of the moths and butterflies found at Bradgate and Swithland Wood, collect hidden letters and solve the mystery moth, then claim your sticker prize at the visitor centre. It's a lovely free activity for children of all ages.
Getting there: Newtown Linford is served by bus from Leicester city centre (Arriva service 120 from St Margaret's Bus Station). The park entrance at Newtown Linford is a short walk from the bus stop. Bradgate Park also has three car parks, charges apply.
Forestry England Sherwood Pines, Nottinghamshire
Take a stroll into the deep dark wood for a day of adventure at Sherwood Pines. The forest is free to enter, with something for everyone: three waymarked walking trails, cycling trails for all abilities, and play areas throughout the woodland.
Families with young children will love the Gruffalo sculptures dotted through the trees and the Room on the Broom interactive trail, where children can help Witch find her lost hat, bow and wand while exploring the forest. Room on the Broom trail packs are available from the visitor centre for £4.
Getting there: Sherwood Pines is near Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire. The nearest train station is Mansfield (Robin Hood Line from Nottingham), with onward bus connections via the number 14 or 15 bus from Mansfield bus station (next to the train station). If driving, car park charges apply to non-members.
The Pennine Bridleway, Derbyshire
For an accessible taste of Peak District scenery, head to Middleton Top, the southernmost start point of the Pennine Bridleway. This family-friendly, mostly flat trail follows the route of the old Cromford and High Peak Railway, and is suitable for walking, cycling or wheeling, making it a great option for families with pushchairs or wheelchair users. There's a visitor centre, café and toilets on site, plus a picnic area at the adjacent Redhill Quarry Nature Reserve. The historic Engine House is open some weekends (fees apply).
Alternatively, further along the route, the picturesque village of Hayfield offers access to a short, one-mile stretch of the Sett Valley Trail, also following a former railway line through wildlife-rich woodland. The trail runs alongside the village bus station, with a handful of cafes, pubs and shops, plus a picnic area and toilets nearby.
If you'd rather see more of the Peak District without the walk, the Stagecoach Peak Sightseer open-top bus is worth considering. Running daily until 19 September, it offers hop-on, hop-off travel between destinations including Chatsworth, Bakewell, Castleton and Hathersage, so you can enjoy the views and dip into a village or two without lacing up your walking boots. It isn't a free option (a family day ticket costs £38), but it's a flexible way to see a lot of the National Park in a single day.
Getting there: Middleton Top is on local bus routes, with connections from Cromford, Matlock and Matlock Bath train stations. Hayfield's Sett Valley Trail runs alongside Hayfield bus station. The Peak Sightseer can be joined at various stops including Chatsworth and Bakewell. There are also morning journeys from Chesterfield train station and South Sheffield to Chatsworth with return journeys late afternoon.
A few more favourites
Of course, this is not an exhaustive list and there are so many more great places to get out in nature on our doorstep that we couldn’t possibly name them all. Here are a few more though which are family friendly and free to enter:
- Whisby Nature Park near Lincoln (Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust)
- Attenborough Nature Reserve near Nottingham (Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust)
- Frampton Marsh near the Wash (RSPB)
- Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve in Nottinghamshire (RSPB)
- Sandilands Nature Reserve near Sutton on Sea (National Trust)
- Watermead Country Park near Leicester
- Allestree Park in Derby
Or for some options even closer to home Local Nature Reserves are places valued for their wildlife or geology, designated by local councils for people to enjoy and learn from. Find your nearest one: Local Nature Reserves (England) | Natural England Open Data Geoportal
With the recent dry, hot weather, wildfire risk is high across the countryside. Please pack a picnic instead of a barbecue, take your rubbish home with you, and if you spot an unattended fire, get to a safe place and call 999.
Remember to always follow the Countryside Code when you’re out and about in nature!
The Countryside Code is a simple guide to helping everyone enjoy the outdoors responsibly while protecting the natural environment. It encourages visitors to respect other people, protect plants, animals and habitats, and leave gates, paths and property as they find them. By following the Countryside Code, we can all play our part in keeping nature accessible, safe and enjoyable for everyone, while helping to conserve the landscapes and wildlife that make our countryside so special.
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