Latest news with #DavidHockney
Vogue
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Vogue
Harry Styles Embraces the Britpop Bucket Hat
A few things we can expect from a Harry Styles outfit: his beloved blue chore coat from The Row, reminiscent of one Paddington Bear; a pair of thick, sepia lensed Jacques Marie Mage aviators, well-worn cream lace-up Vans, and his ride-or-die wired headphones (blasting HS4, we hope? Harry? Harry???). All of those elements were present in Styles's latest outfit, worn for a stroll around London's Hampstead Heath. The rest of the look included a white graphic tee that read 'Anxiety Has Many Faces But There Is Only One Xanax,' a pair of faded blue straight-legged jeans cinched with a slim black belt, and a banana yellow David Hockney tote from the artist's exhibit 'Drawing From Life,' which included a portrait of Styles.
Yahoo
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
It's Yorkshire Day, but what do Yellowbellies think?
Ee bah gum it's Yorkshire Day - an annual celebration of England's largest county, and the birthplace of such notable figures as the Bronte sisters, singer Louis Tomlinson and artist David Hockney. The day was first celebrated on 1 August 1975 in an effort to restore pride in the whole region. This year, Ilkley will co-host the official civic celebration, the centrepiece of Yorkshire Day, alongside Bradford, the UK City of Culture 2025. We asked people in neighbouring Lincolnshire - so called Yellowbellies - what they thought of "God's Own County" and visa versa. Both county's boast a number of North Sea holiday resorts, including Skegness in Lincolnshire and Whitby in North Yorkshire. Speaking in Gainsborough, which incidentally was once the Viking capital of England before York got in on the act, Sarah Patrick, 57, said: "I absolutely love Whitby - I've been to Whitby quite a few times. "It's just that nice quaint little seaside town without too much of the Skegness thing in it, if you know what I mean?" Others remarked about the "beautiful weather", possibly tongue in cheek, the friendliness of Yorkshire folk, and the variety of things to see and do. However, when asked they conceded they were originally from Yorkshire. Peter Bradley, 91, from Torksey, near Gainsborough, worked as an engineer in Wakefield for 10 years, for E Green and Son. But, flying the flag for Yellowbellies, he said the best thing about Yorkshire was its proximity to Lincolnshire. He also joked that Nottinghamshire was his second favourite. Stamford and Sutton on Sea in Lincolnshire were both named in the Sunday Times best places to live guide in 2024 and Steep Hill in Lincoln's historic quarter was previously awarded the title of Britain's Best Place by the Academy of Urbanism. Meanwhile, in Driffield, East Yorkshire, punters and traders at the market had their say on Lincolnshire, which hosts its own annual celebration day on 1 October. Chutney seller Martin Helbrow said he often ventured over the border to attend farmers' markets, and quite liked it, but added that he was proud to call East Yorkshire his home. Debbie Cole said she was unable to comment as she had never been to Lincolnshire. When told that she was missing out on some of the best beaches anywhere in the land, she said: "I very much doubt it - Bridlington is very nice." Another woman said all she knew was the county was well-known for its vegetables. Shopkeeper Mark Edwards summed up the Yorkshire mood, saying: "I used to live in Lincolnshire, but came back to Yorkshire because it is much better." However, cheese seller Anita Jepson offered a more diplomatic approach. "Anywhere in Britain is beautiful, beautiful countryside, beautiful people," she said. "We do have a nice Lincolnshire cheese on the stall - so we do like to promote everybody," she added. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices More on this topic Green light for white rose flags in town display Top spots for spring bird migration Two Lincolnshire towns named in best places guide
BBC News
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
It's Yorkshire Day but what do Lincolnshire folk think?
Ee bah gum it's Yorkshire Day - an annual celebration of England's largest county, and the birthplace of such notable figures as the Bronte sisters, singer Louis Tomlinson and artist David day was first celebrated on 1 August 1975 in an effort to restore pride in the whole year, Ilkley will co-host the official civic celebration, the centrepiece of Yorkshire Day, alongside Bradford, the UK City of Culture asked people in neighbouring Lincolnshire - so called Yellowbellies - what they thought of "God's Own County" and visa versa. Both county's boast a number of North Sea holiday resorts, including Skegness in Lincolnshire and Whitby in North in Gainsborough, which incidentally was once the Viking capital of England before York got in on the act, Sarah Patrick, 57, said: "I absolutely love Whitby - I've been to Whitby quite a few times."It's just that nice quaint little seaside town without too much of the Skegness thing in it, if you know what I mean?"Others remarked about the "beautiful weather", possibly tongue in cheek, the friendliness of Yorkshire folk, and the variety of things to see and when asked they conceded they were originally from Bradley, 91, from Torksey, near Gainsborough, worked as an engineer in Wakefield for 10 years, for E Green and flying the flag for Yellowbellies, he said the best thing about Yorkshire was its proximity to also joked that Nottinghamshire was his second and Sutton on Sea in Lincolnshire were both named in the Sunday Times best places to live guide in 2024 and Steep Hill in Lincoln's historic quarter was previously awarded the title of Britain's Best Place by the Academy of Urbanism. Meanwhile, in Driffield, East Yorkshire, punters and traders at the market had their say on Lincolnshire, which hosts its own annual celebration day on 1 seller Martin Helbrow said he often ventured over the border to attend farmers' markets, and quite liked it, but added that he was proud to call East Yorkshire his Cole said she was unable to comment as she had never been to told that she was missing out on some of the best beaches anywhere in the land, she said: "I very much doubt it - Bridlington is very nice."Another woman said all she knew was the county was well-known for its Mark Edwards summed up the Yorkshire mood, saying: "I used to live in Lincolnshire, but came back to Yorkshire because it is much better."However, cheese seller Anita Jepson offered a more diplomatic approach."Anywhere in Britain is beautiful, beautiful countryside, beautiful people," she said."We do have a nice Lincolnshire cheese on the stall - so we do like to promote everybody," she added. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices
New York Times
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Peter Phillips, Who Was at the British Pop Art Frontier, Dies at 86
Peter Phillips, a vanguard figure in the British Pop Art movement of the 1960s who drew from his working-class background in industrial Birmingham to incorporate images of gleaming automotive parts, pinups and film sirens in paintings that captured postwar culture's swirl of sex and consumerism, died on June 23 on the Sunshine Coast of Australia. He was 86. His death was announced by his family. The announcement did not cite a cause. Mr. Phillips had been living in Australia since 2015. Mr. Phillips was part of a new generation of art mavericks who shook up the staid culture of prewar Britain — and the doldrums of the post-World War II recovery years — just as the 1960s were starting to swing. As a student at the Royal College of Art in London in 1961, he found inspiration in the work of American artists like Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg, who appropriated everyday objects like American flags and beer cans into their work, blurring the line between high culture and low. He made his mark as one of the future stars featured in the seismic 'Young Contemporaries' exhibition at the Whitechapel Gallery in London's East End, alongside his current and former classmates David Hockney, Allen Jones, R.B. Kitaj and Derek Boshier. 'When I was young, the only way to make a living as an English artist was to either teach or to secure the patronage of a wealthy aristocrat,' Mr. Phillips once said in an interview with Orlebar Brown, a men's wear line with which he collaborated on swimsuits. 'But,' he added, 'London in the late '50s was changing, and a small group of us started to use popular images for our pictures, which was frowned upon at the time. We never called it 'Pop Art'; we were just trying to express who we were.' While slight and boyish in his early years, Mr. Phillips was sometimes called the tough guy of the London Pop Art scene because of his muscular artistic approach. His 1961 canvas 'For Men Only — Starring MM and BB' combined images of Marilyn Monroe and Brigitte Bardot with those of lingerie models and a snippet of newsprint from the music newspaper Melody Maker that mentions Elvis Presley. Mr. Phillips further announced his arrival with an appearance, along with Mr. Boshier and their fellow artists Pauline Boty and Peter Blake, in 'Pop Goes the Easel,' a 1962 BBC documentary directed by Ken Russell. The film shows Mr. Phillips coolly patrolling his home studio in West London, wearing a dark turtleneck, as a woman plays a pinball machine near his 1961 painting 'The Entertainment Machine,' which features mass-market detritus like piano keys, bullets and targets. Fittingly, his work eventually transitioned from the thin air of high art back to the popular culture from which it emerged. His 1972 painting 'Art-O-Matic Loop Di Loop' — a teenage boy's fantasy come to life, with its Plymouth Duster muscle car, scantily clad temptress and automotive parts, all floating as if in a dream — became the cover image for 'Heartbeat City,' the multiplatinum-selling 1984 album by the Cars. The Strokes used a portion of his 1961 painting 'War/Game,' with its pistols and playing cards, for their 2003 album, 'Room on Fire.' 'I believe in living in the times you are born into,' Mr. Phillips said in a 1963 interview with The Birmingham Post. 'I don't think a painter should isolate himself from the world he is living in — I can't, anyway.' 'Ours is a consumer society,' he added. 'That interests me.' Mr. Phillips was born on May 21, 1939, in Bournville, a village in southwest Birmingham. His father, Reginald, was a carpenter; his mother, Marjorie, worked in a Cadbury's chocolate factory. 'I was born during the war as the bombs were dropping on Birmingham, which they did occasionally, blowing up houses where people lived,' Mr. Phillips once recalled in an interview with the journal Art + Australia. 'So many other people went through it, too,' he added, 'so that as so-called Pop artists, we were on to a lighter subject.' He attended the Birmingham College of Art before enrolling in the Royal College of Art in London in 1959. After the Young Contemporaries show, Mr. Phillips's emergence continued when he was featured at the Paris Biennale in 1963 and, the next year, at the influential 'Nieuwe Realisten' exhibition at the Gemeentemuseum in The Hague. In 1964, he moved to New York, where he showed with the likes of Andy Warhol and James Rosenquist, as well as Roy Lichtenstein, who provided more than just moral support. 'When I first moved to New York, I tried to buy art materials,' he recalled in a 2018 interview with the website Artnet, 'but the store wouldn't take my credit. Roy, who was with me, simply put it on his bill.' Over the years, he lived in Switzerland, the Seychelles, Spain and Costa Rica as he pursued his peripatetic life with his wife, Marion-Claude Phillips-Xylander, a model and fashion designer, whom he married in 1970. Mr. Phillips's approach evolved over the years: He turned to a sleek, airbrushed style that further blurred the line between high art and commercial art, and at times veered into photorealism, as with his sensuous 'Mosaikbild' paintings from the mid-1970s. In the '80s, his work became more conceptual, featuring fantastical shapes and figures. Mr. Phillips's survivors include his daughter Zoe Phillips-Price; a daughter, Tiffany Anderton, from a previous marriage, to Dinah Donald; and five grandchildren. Ms. Phillips died of cancer in 2003. In more recent years, he largely disavowed the approach that made him famous more than a half-century ago for one that was more abstract. 'I definitely don't favor the early work,' he said in a 2019 interview with The Sydney Morning Herald. 'I am excited about some of the newest pieces, possibly because it is what interests me most at the moment.' As for Pop Art, Mr. Phillips found it a rather meaningless term. As he told Orlebar Brown, 'For me, there are really only two forms of art — good and bad.' Alain Delaquérière contributed research.
Scottish Sun
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
100 FREE days out in the UK this summer – from pop-up beaches and kids' workshops to city farms and theatre shows
All recommendations within this article are informed by expert editorial opinion. If you click on a link in this story we may earn affiliate revenue. This definitive list of cost-free days out for kids of all ages has fantastic seaside visits, circus training and free food. NO KIDDING 100 FREE days out in the UK this summer – from pop-up beaches and kids' workshops to city farms and theatre shows THE summer holidays are here, which means millions of parents are bracing themselves for shelling out a fortune on activities to keep cries of 'I'm bored' at bay. A family of four spends £992 on average for 11 days out over the school summer break - but with our guide, days out with the kids can be frugal AND fun. Advertisement 16 Beach days in Blackpool can be cheap and cheerful with free events and a sandy beach to make sandcastles and play on. Credit: Alamy 16 You can get a peek inside the Souter Lighthouse in Sunderland for free this summer Credit: Getty 16 The Royal Docks lido in Liverpool has a schedule of fun activities and events over the summer Credit: Royal Docks We've found 100 completely free attractions and events around the UK to keep your bank balance happy, from cinema trips to rockpooling sessions. None cost a penny to participate in, but you may need to book a place in advance or cover the cost of parking. Advertisement DAYS OUT NATIONWIDE 1. National Playday returns on August 6 with a theme of Spaces for Play. Look out for events at museums, parks and galleries in all four nations, which are free to enjoy. 2. Grab a Billy bookcase or a cuppa in peace while your kids enjoy a free 60-minute session with arts, crafts and games in the Småland IKEA creche. Available at most IKEA stores, excluding Manchester, Birmingham and Croydon. 3. Step inside Britain's stud farms, racing yards and retraining centres during National Racehorse Week, from August 23-29. Events include watching fitness training, horse schooling and vet demos. 4. Get free tickets to see Savages, a French animated film telling the story of courageous forest dweller Keria, at screenings around the UK on July 21 and 22. Part of the BFI Escapes initiative, book at DAYS OUT IN YORKSHIRE 5. Prepare for battle at the Royal Armories Museum in Leeds, which has a vast collection of weapons from across the ages and a new Gladiators exhibition. Don't miss the daily historical sword fight re-enactments. Advertisement 6. Bradford City of Culture 2025 has a jam-packed itinerary of events across the city, including the DRAW! Tour workshops inspired by David Hockney. All materials are provided and local artists are on hand to help. The North Coast 500: Scotland's Must-Visit Road Trip Beats the Grand Canyon 7. Step aboard a bullet train at York's National Railway Museum, which is celebrating its 50th birthday throughout 2025. There's also the option to pay extra for the interactive Wonderlab area. 8. Spot the dancing bear and turtle among the unique rock formations at Brimham Rocks near Harrogate, North Yorkshire. You can try geocaching and orienteering for free, and there's a Summer of Play programme. Parking charges apply. 9. The historic house of Cannon Hall Museum Park & Gardens in Cawhorne, South Yorkshire, lets you experience the upper classes through the ages and has an impressive art collection, plus stunning walled gardens. 10. The heritage of Britain's most inland port town is brought to life at Goole Museum, which has a gallery of work by renowned Pierhead painter Reuben Chappell and sea-themed activities for under-fives. Advertisement 11. Run the once-fearsome ramparts of Pontefract Castle in West Yorkshire, which dates back to 1070. There are activities like Knight School over the summer and a brilliant playground to enjoy. 12. Robin Hood's Bay in North Yorkshire offers top rock pooling action and digging for fossils. The village also has a quaint free museum packed with artefacts detailing the bay's smuggling and shipwreck history. 16 Jousters from the Royal Armouries in Leeds 13. Travel through 200 years of transport history at Hull's Streetlife Museum, where you can stroll down a 1940s high street, ride the vintage tram and see steam-powered cars. 14. Junction 32 shopping outlet in Castleford, South Yorkshire, has built a beach for visitors to enjoy, complete with deck chairs, buckets and spades. Open daily from 10am during the summer holidays. Advertisement DAYS OUT IN THE NORTH EAST 15. See Turbinia, once the world's fastest steamship, and learn about Tyneside's rich scientific, maritime and technological history at Discovery Museum in Newcastle. There are paper plane and Knex free events over summer. 16. Get ready to spray and shine at Dalton Park retail park in Durham, which has free street art workshops for kids on six days from July 23, using chalk-based paints. Designs will be incorporated into a mural at the park too. Book at 17. Explore The Lady of the North, the centrepiece landform sculpture at Northumberlandia in Cramlington, Northumberland. This 19-hectare park also has a new bug-themed trail created with Aardman and free summer activities. 16 There is art to suit every taste at Tate Liverpool + RIBA North Credit: Alamy 16 Come face-to-face with a polar bear and see a penguin at the Natural History Museum in Tring, Hertfordshire Credit: Alamy Advertisement 18. The Great North Museum: Hancock in Newcastle is dedicated to natural history, archaeology and world cultures, with a packed programme of summer family fun and Mouse House play area for under-fives. 19. Travel back to the Roman Empire at Arbeia in South Shields - a former Roman fort which is hosting guided tours, living history reenactments of the second century Tungrians and more this summer. 20. The distinctive red and white Souter Lighthouse in Sunderland has been a sight on The Leas since 1871. You need to pay to enter but it's free to explore the cliff walks, teeming with birdlife, as well join summer sports activities. 21. Bring literature to life at Seven Stories, the National Centre for Children's Books in Newcastle. There are exhibitions about Mog and The Tiger Who Came To Tea, plus special events and storytimes. There's also a pop-up space in Durham. 22. Contemporary artists take centre stage at MIMA, Middlesborough Institute of Modern Art, which has the Family Art Trolley daily throughout summer and a Saturday club for 13-16 year olds. Advertisement DAYS OUT IN THE NORTH WEST 23. Brockholes, near Preston, Lancashire, is a former sand quarry, now a 250-acre nature reserve with floating visitor centre and adventure playground. You may spot the elusive white-letter hairstreak butterfly in July and August too. 24. Whether you're a fan of Andy Warhol or Monet, there is art to suit every taste at Tate Liverpool + RIBA North. There's also an art trail around Albert Docks and Making Waves workshops, all free to join. 25. Pick up a free map to complete the Kendal's Cumbrian Adventure Trail 2025, which has themed tasks and free samples to enjoy, including a stop at the town's free Quaker Tapestry Museum. Until August 31. 26. Explore the big ideas of the last 250 years at the Science + Industry Museum in Manchester, which has accessible exhibitions about the textile industry, the Solar System and more. 27. See submarines, Viking artefacts and the bones of the oldest Northerner at the Dock Museum in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. There's also an adventure playground and free parking. Advertisement 28. Grizedale in the Lake District will give you a double whammy of a beautiful forest walk with 21 contemporary sculptures. There's also a Gruffalo meet-and-greet on August 7 and another with Stickman on August 15. 29. No outfit is complete without headwear, and you can learn about the history of millinery at Hat Works Museum in Stockport. Housed in a Grade II-listed mill, there's a vast collection of designs and the machines used to make them. 30. Kids will adore attacking the 11 miles of sand and seeing the trams, piers and donkeys in Blackpool, the UK's ultimate seaside town. The Wildlife Trust also has a free Rockpool Ramble on August 5. 16 You can ride The Big One at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, but there is a summer programme of free activities. Credit: Alamy 16 Cool off at the Royal docks summer splash, which is free to apply for. Credit: Royal docks/Instagram Advertisement 31. The Ribble Valley Sculpture Trail is a 1.5-mile circular stroll on the outskirts of Clitheroe, Lancashire, featuring 22 artworks inspired by local wildlife and history. There are wonderful views of the Forest of Bowland and a trim trail too. 32. See aircraft jetting off and get close to retired planes including Concorde and Nimrod at The Runway Visitor Park by Manchester Airport. There is live commentary of operations on weekends, plus a play park. DAYS OUT IN THE MIDLANDS 33. Climb the 32-metre high tower at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-Upon-Avon for panoramic views of the Warwickshire countryside. Open 12-4pm except on matinee days. There's a free events programme on 6 August too. 34. There are 300 years of works at Wolverhampton Art Gallery, including local artist Gainsborough. The current exhibition, Come As You Are, celebrates the work of local hobbyists, conceived by Hetain Patel. 35. See the skies come alive at the Oswestry Balloon Carnival in Shropshire on August 16-17. The event at Cae Glas Park will also feature the Raptor Cheerleaders, Border Counties Gymnastics, alpacas and more. Advertisement 36. Get hands-on with the exhibitions at Abbey Pumping Station in Leicester, which explores the science of the railways. A ride on the Narrow Gauge Steam Railway is just 50p. 37. Shimmy up trees in the climbing forest at Combe Abbey Park in Coventry. There's also an adventure playground and if you can shell out for a treat, the 1950s-themed Sundae Club is open on weekends. 38. Set in a former silk mill, the Museum of Making in Derby has a treasure trove of artefacts, including the world's smallest engine, run using a human hair. Check out the summer activity programme too. 39. Stonebridge City Farm in Nottingham has a huge range of residents to befriend, including meerkats, two ponies, pigs and a tortoise. They also have gardens and a play area. 40. Dress in boater costumes and create traditional decorations at The Canal Museum in Stoke Bruene, Northamptonshire. You can also walk the Grand Union Canal and visit the nature reserve to do some pond dipping. Advertisement 41. The National Memorial Arboretum in Lichfield, Staffordshire, has 150 acres of woodland and more than 400 memorials, as well as CANOPY, a sound installation in the trees and free activities on Wondrous Wednesdays. 42. Birmingham's Symphony Hall has a programme of free lunchtime and evening concerts across the summer holidays, including jazz, poetry jams and classical. No booking required. DAYS OUT IN THE EAST OF ENGLAND 43. Black Shuck Festival in Bungay, Suffolk, brings together theatre, music and art with an East Anglian legend of a wild black dog. Takes place August 1-3, with a parade on the Saturday. 44. See specimens from the entire animal kingdom, from molluscs to elephants, at the Museum of Zoology in Cambridge. The collection includes a 21m fin whale and Captain Cook's conch. 45. Explore a 1.2km play trail with giant seesaw, climbing forest, tyre swings and sandpits, as well as cycle or spot birds, at Great Notley Country Park in Braintree, Essex. Advertisement 46. Redwings Horse Sanctuary has two visitor centres in Aylsham and Caldecott, Norfolk, where you can meet the rescue animals, including Shetland ponies, donkeys and mules. There are special events too. 16 Marsden Bay near South Shields has a sandy beach and is very popular for families who want an affordable day out during the summer break. Credit: Getty 16 The Abbey Pumping Station in Leicester, which explores the science of the railways. and entry is free. Credit: Supplied 47. Come face-to-face with a polar bear and see a penguin at the Natural History Museum in Tring, Hertfordshire. There are Lego workshops and ocean themed events on selected summer dates too. 48. Ferry Meadows in Nene Park, Peterborough, has 500-acres of lakes, meadows, woodlands and riverside to explore with energetic little people. There's also a Holiday Trail and events like pond dipping. Advertisement 49. Learn about the Iron Age to present day at Harlow Museum and Walled Gardens, in Essex, which also has three historic gardens perfect for picnics. Open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. DAYS OUT IN THE SOUTH WEST 50. Discover the toys of yesteryear at House of Marbles in Bovey Tracy, Devon. There are board games dating back to the 1600s, the largest permanent marble run in the UK, glass blowing demos and a play area. 51. The Bill Douglas Cinema Museum in Exeter is home to one of the largest collections of materials about moving images in Britain, with artefacts dating back to the 17th century. 52. The beaches of Studland in Dorset boast one of the best climates in Britain, with views to the Isle of Wight. Check out the National Trust's programme of free Monday activities, including volleyball, badminton and sensory play. 53. Explore 850 acres of woodland and grassland in Aston Court Estate, Bristol, a Grade I listed country park where hot air balloons take to the skies and deer roam free. The mansion has an open weekend on August 2-3 too. Advertisement 54. Bath City Farm in Wiltshire has wonderful views over the picturesque city and lots of livestock for children to meet and learn about. There's also a play area. 55. There will be drop-in creative sessions including puppets and circus performers at The Box in Plymouth, Cornwall, during Tuesday to Thursday afternoons this summer. Also check out Surreal Estates, with artwork by 260 local kids. 56. Meet the cows, goats and turkeys at Roskilly's Organic Farm in Helston, Cornwall. Visitors can also enjoy the meadow walks and if you have cash to spare, head to the ice cream parlour. 57. Laugh and dance at Summer Jam 2025 at The Brewery Quarter in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire on July 25-27. There's a free programme of music, comedy and family fun, including Vince Freeman from The Voice. 58. The Beach Volleyball Grand Slam hits the sand in Weymouth, Dorset, for its 42nd edition, with players from across the world. There's a centre court grandstand near Weymouth Pavilion, with all matches free to watch on July 25-27. Advertisement 59. Visit the residents of The Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth, Devon, and take the nature trail. There are sister sanctuaries in Belfast and Buxton, Derbyshire, open on selected days too. DAYS OUT IN THE SOUTH EAST 60. The Novium in Chichester, West Sussex, is celebrating the story of local potted paste brand Shippam's, with an interactive exhibition of jingles, adverts and packaging, as well as workshops to make your own designs. 61. Set within a 19th-century defensive fort overlooking the Solent, Fareham's Fort Nelson in Hampshire has a collection of artillery spanning 600 years. Entry is in two-hour time slots, which must be pre-booked at 16 Craigtoun Country Park, near St Andrews, Fife has a choice of activities for families and many of them are free of charge Credit: Craigtoun Country Park 16 Craigtoun Country Park has a huge adventure playground that is free to use. Credit: Craigtoun Country Park Advertisement 62. Pet alpacas, ponies and emus at Aspens near Tunbridge Wells in Kent, which has a woodland and playground area too. The charity supports people with learning disabilities and has a fundraising café. 63. The Ashmolean in Oxford has an interactive gallery guide with games and quizzes, as well as special events like coin handling sessions on Saturday and a Festival of Archaeology on July 19. 64. There's a sandy escape at Norden Farm Centre for the Arts in Berkshire, which hosts Maidenhead Beach from July 25. There's free storytelling every lunchtime until August 12, plus free crafts and gigs on Saturdays. 65. Children's favourites Bagpuss and the Clangers are among the eclectic exhibitions at The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge in Canterbury, Kent. It also has insects and artefacts from world explorers. 66. There are themed open mornings on Tuesdays to Thursdays at Howe Park Wood near Milton Keynes, a Site of Special Scientific Interest that is home to 200 species. It's great for walks and also has a play area. Advertisement 67. Rye Harbour Nature Reserve in East Sussex has a visitor centre, unspoilt sands and birds to spot. There's a programme of summer activities too, including Microscope and Mark Making Monday on August 11, 10am-12pm. DAYS OUT IN LONDON 68. The quirky Horniman Museum in Forest Hill, Lewisham, has extensive collections of taxidermy and musical instruments, plus an animal walk and beautiful gardens. 69. Get some of the best views of the capital from the Sky Garden in the City of London. Travel up 155m high to explore the three landscaped stories and look across to the Shard. Booking is essential at 70. Mudchute Farm in the Isle of Dogs, Tower Hamlets, is one of London's largest farms, teeming with all manner of animals, as well as picnic areas and views of Canary Wharf. 71. I See You Like This at the Unicorn Theatre in London Bridge, Southwark, sees the camera turned round and children invited to direct, style and visually reinvent their grown-up, with an exhibition by local children. Until August 28. Advertisement 72. The Young V&A in Bethnal Green, East London, is an interactive journey through childhood and also has free play days on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through the summer holiday. 16 Young Victoria and Albert Museum situated in Bethnal Green is educational with lots of immersive displays and workshops - all free Credit: Getty 16 Botanic Gardens in Belfast is moments from the historic food market, so you can grab a cheap eat and have a picnic on the grass Credit: Alamy 73. Explore rock pools, a treehouse, rope bridges and sand pits at Tumbling Bay Playground at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, East London. UK Black Pride is free to enjoy at the park on 10 August too. 74. Teach your kids about the sacrifices of generations before them and see everything from Spitfires to trench art at Imperial War Museum London in Lambeth. There are daily family activities, including storytelling and codebreaking. Advertisement 75. The Royal Docks Summer Splash in transforms Victoria Docks, East London, into a free lido from July 25 to August 17, with lifeguards, sandy play areas and deckchairs. It's part of At The Docks 2025. 76. Get a taste of food production from ancient times to the first Quorn burger at the new Future of Food exhibition at the Science Museum in Kensington, West London. Open from July 24, admission is free but you need to book. 77. There are discovery days themed on meadows, Peter Pan and water at Hyde Park Learning Centre in Kensington. They take place on Tuesdays to Thursdays in August, reserve a place online at DAYS OUT IN WALES 78. Louby Lou's Storytelling is running a series of wildlife-inspired shows in locations across the Vale of Glamorgan, including Barry, from July 19 to August 30. Book free tickets for Creature Chronicles: Tales from the Vale at 79. The National Roman Legion in Caerleon, South East Wales, marks its 175th anniversary on August 2 with a free day featuring Roman soldiers, gladiator training, crafts, a dig pit and tours. Advertisement 80. Travel through the Wales of times past at St Fagan's National Museum of History in Cardiff, with its park full of painstakingly rebuilt buildings from around the nation. There's also an exhibition telling the story of Welsh women's football. 81. The traditional seaside town of Llandudno, North Wales, has a Victorian pier and an Alice in Wonderland trail with 34 points of interest about the real girl who inspired the character. 82. Descend 300ft underground at Big Pit National Coal Museum in Pontypool, South East Wales, a former working pit turned attraction. You can tour the coal face and explore the history of the mining industry. 83. Abersoch Regatta in Gwynedd, North Wales, has a week of events from August 4-9, including a raft race, sandcastle building, paddleboarding and crab catching, with the main sailing and social on the Saturday. 84. Splash in the sunshine at Blackpill Lido in Swansea, which has a paddling pool and water features, as well as a children's play area, climbing rock and picnic facilities. Advertisement 16 The Blackpill Lido in Swansea is a top spot to cool off and free for families to enjoy. Credit: Supplied 16 The Hot Air Balloon Festival in Bristol is a family favourite event with lots of free things to do over the weekend. Credit: Getty 85. The National Museum Cardiff takes you from the very beginnings of time to the present day, exploring evolution and animals, as well as an impressive collection of art by Monet, Van Gogh and Turner. 86. There will be live music and entertainment at the Milford Waterfront Weekend in Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, on August 8-10. There are also picnic areas and outdoor games with marina views. DAYS OUT IN SCOTLAND 87. The award-winning Riverside Museum in Glasgow tells the story of transport, big and small, with exhibits including skateboards through to a tall ship on the River Clyde outside. Advertisement 88. Whizz along the 30ft zip wire, explore the Fairy Glen and jump on trampolines at Craigtoun Country Park in St Andrews, Fife. It also has an adventure playground, all-inclusive play area, sand pit and trim trail. 89. Standing on the city's waterfront, V&A Dundee is Scotland's first dedicated design museum and home to Charles Rennie Mackintosh's restored Oak Room. 90. The Potter Trail offers magical free walking tours for fans of Harry and his Hogwarts pals, around the streets of Edinburgh. Each one last 75-90 minutes. Places are free to book but you may wish to donate to your guide. 91. Regular hands-on sessions for budding artists are available alongside galleries with modern masters like David Hockney at the Glasgow Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA). 92. At The Helix, home of the Kelpies in Falkirk, you can admire 30ft sculptures of horses and walk through the lush landscapes. There's also a splash park and adventure playground. Advertisement 93. Aberdeen's Festival of the Sea is July 12-27, with a programme of free and paid-for events, including storytelling, music, and walks, plus a Coastal Discovery Day on July 21 and an ongoing Tall Ships exhibition. 94. Wander through Scottish rural life from the 1700s to the 1950s at the Highland Folk Museum in Newtonmore. There are more than 35 historical buildings including a school, plus a play area. 95. Meet Dolly the Sheep, see a T-Rex skeleton and explore phones from across the ages at the National Museum of Scotland, which is packed with child-friendly, interactive exhibits. DAYS OUT IN NORTHERN IRELAND 96. Murlough National Nature Reserve in Dundrum, County Down, has 6,000-year-old sand dunes, a beach, natural play area, walking trails and 720 species of butterfly to spot. 97. Set within Belfast's Botanic Gardens, Ulster Museum has diverse exhibits on The Troubles to Japanese war art. There's a packed programme of family fun, including The Big Butterfly Blend-In and Blue Sky Birds. Advertisement 98. There's free music every Sunday at Open House Festival's Picnic in the Park in Ward Park, Bangor, County Down. The series culminate with the traditional Bluegrass Picnic on August 31. 99. Armagh County Museum sits at the end of a tree-lined mall and has artefacts from pre-history to present day, covering art, natural history, domestic life and transport. 100. Meet the Minions, try your hand at mini golf and experience the carnival at Wellington Court in Ballymena, County Antrim, which has a programme of free events through July and August.
