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Free and low-cost activities for families in Shrewsbury this summer

Posted 31 May 2025

Free and low-cost activities for families in Shrewsbury this summer

Name: Original Shrewsbury
Price range: $

Everyone knows the summer fun can add up, but the best bit about visiting Shrewsbury is that your holiday doesn't have to break the bank!

Free entry to Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery

Entrance to Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery is free and well worth your time! Explore over 1,000 years of local history with permanent exhibits exploring Shropshire's flora, fauna, and history, with a special focus on local archaeology, geology and fossils, decorative art and ceramics, and the social and industrial history of the region.

This summer, visitors to the Museum will find a full programme of exhibitions and activities including courses, workshops, weekly toddler groups, craft groups for grown ups, holiday activities and one-off events inspired by our temporary exhibitions programme.

Explore SMAG

Fun-filled workshops at Shrewsbury Flaxmill

Discover this globally important heritage site through an interactive exhibition, guided tours and family trails. Shrewsbury Flaxmill was the world's first skyscraper and is home to amazing stories of both the place and the people who worked in it for a century.

Entry to The Mill Exhibition is ticketed, and kids go free during school holidays.
Plus, families can spend some time tracking down Flax and Barley, the Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings cats, on their fictional mission to discover all the mill's secrets!

A trail sheet for children aged 4-7 and one for ages 8-12 are available. Ask for them when you arrive.

Discover the Flaxmill

Explore the UK's wildlife at The Cut

Just a stone's throw from Shrewsbury's town centre you can find The Cut, home to Shropshire Wildlife Trust and a haven for budding naturalists - or those who just want to splash in the mud!

Discover The Cut's Natural Play Area - a unique outdoor play area within the gardens, with lots to explore, children can get muddy and discover the joys of outdoor wild play in a completely safe environment. Make the muddiest mud pie, crawl through creepy tunnels, play in the sand pit, and go on a bug hunt.

Wildlings
Wednesdays 10:30am - 12:30pm
Organised activities with a Play Leader

Open Play Sessions
Weekdays 10:00am - 3:30pm
Sundays 9:30am - 12:30pm

The Cut Visitor Centre, Shropshire Wildlife Trust

Get Creative at The Hive

Shrewsbury's beloved community arts space The Hive offers a packed programme of creative learning opportunities for kids all year round, and is a great resource for parents looking for low-cost ways to keep kids from primary to teenaged occupied over the summer.

Whether your kids want to try their hands at music, art, writing, or just spend some time in this welcoming creative space, there's something here for everyone.

Explore the Hive

Explore the 2025 Shrewsbury Arts Trail

This summer, sculptures from world-famous artists will take up residence around Shrewsbury. Previous years have seen installations of art by Dali, Halimah Cassell, Andrew Logan and many more.

But it's not just about the big installations - there will be hundreds of works of art to discover throughout the town, in many mediums, and all will be available to view and enjoy for free.

This year's Summer Exhibitions will run from 1st July - 31st August

Explore the trail