We know that exploring a destination and entertaining your kids throughout the summer holidays can hurt the pocket, but sometimes the best things in life ARE free. Give your debit/credit card a break and check out our list of free things to see and do when you visit Calderdale.

Parks, Places & Museums

1. Bankfield Museum & 2.Duke of Wellington’s Regimental Museum

A beautiful building located in parkland with exhibitions on toys, costume, military history, jewellery and textiles plus a rotating series of  art exhibitions with free parking and free admission. Open Tuesday to Saturday.

3. Calder Holmes Park

With a great children’s playground, outdoor gym, skatepark and large green open space to relax or play in, Park Life café open at weekends and the adjacent Rochdale Canal towpath to stroll along and watch narrowboats slip by.

4. Centre Vale Park & 5. The Lucky Dog of Todmorden

Little ‘uns can enjoy zooming on tier scooters around the Under 12’s roadway and there’s an extensive pay area, skate park. Bring your own paddles n’ ball to play outdoor table tennis and don’t forget to find the Lucky Dog and give hm a friendly pat to bring you good luck!

6. Cycle the Cragg Vale Incline

Not for the faint-hearted the longest continua ascent in England presents a challenge for all cyclists.

7. Cromwell Bottom Local Nature Reserve

One of Calderdale’s most important wildlife sites, with many accessible footpaths through the wetlands and meadows that are home to butterflies, dragonflies, many birds, mammals and amphibians. There’s also a free Open Day on Saturday 2^nd August 10am – 4pm.

8. Dean Clough

With free parking on weekends, you can visit the ginormous Lego Dean Clough, follow self-guided Art and Heritage trails, enjoy art and exhibitions in the galleries and monthly Artisan Markets

9. Everybody Arts Galleries

Enjoy exhibitions in the accessible Everybody Gallery from Wednesday to Saturdays.

10. The Folklore Centre

Visit the UK’s only Community Folklore Centre to enjoy the free exhibitions and displays and sit in enjoying reading from the Centre’s extensive library of children’s books and wealth of local folk history.

11. Halifax Minster

Enjoy the beautiful interior of this historic building, with beautiful stained glass, painted wooden ceiling panels and mice carved into the Thompson chairs in the Wellington Chapel! The Minster is open between 12 noon and 4 pm throughout the year although can be busy with baptisms, weddings and funerals – access to the building may be restricted at certain times as a result.

12. Hardcastle Crags

With over 400 acres of unspoilt woodland you can exercise and help the kids burn off some energy with waymarked walking routes suitable for all abilities. Cross the river on stepping stones and spot birds, insects, amphibians and if you’re lucky; deer!

13. Jerusalem Farm & Wade Wood Local Nature Reserve

In this 13-hectare nature reserve you can explore woodland paths and perfect spots for picnics and paddling. On summer evenings don’t forget your midge repellent!

14. Manor Heath Park and Walled Garden

This Green Flag 19 acre award-winning park is a great family day out, with a superb children’s play area, woodland walk outdoor gym, adjacent walled garden (open daily 10am-3pm.) Please note that due to the hosepipe ban currently in force, the water play feature has been turned off. (psst! Okay, it’s not free, but access to the Jungle Experience only costs £1 per person, cash only please).

15. North Dean Woods

This extensive woodland offers you a network of footpaths, including part of the Calderdale Way. You can also discover a wide variety of plant, birdlife and fungi.

16. Ogden Water

The ideal place to explore woodlands, grasslands, streams and ponds with waterside and woodland walks. Whilst enjoying a picnic you may see swallows, house martins and swifts perform dazzling aerobatics over the reservoir surface as they chase after their own food. (Please note that cycling is not permitted on site)

17. The Open Gallery

From Wednesdays to Saturdays you can enjoy contemporary art in the heart of Halifax. (NB Closed 27^th July- 5^th August and 10^th – 19^th August)

18. The Piece Hall

At this Grade I listed Georgian masterpiece, the oldest remaining Georgian cloth hall in the world – you can discover stories of Georgian Halifax as told in the specially created exhibition spaces or sit and enjoy the atmosphere of its huge, open air courtyard.

19. Ruins of Church of St Thomas a Beckett

Feel like you’ve walked onto a Lord of the Rings movie set at the carefully- maintained Grade II* ruins of the Church of St Thomas a’ Becket.

20. Shibden Park

32 hectares of award-winning park and woodland. Explore the beautifully-restored historic grounds which offer cascades, pools, tunnels, terraced and fruit gardens and a great children’s play area.

21. Smith Art Gallery

Enjoy two art galleries covering a wide variety of themes from local artists to touring exhibitions, including photography, mixed media and sculpture – there is always something new and different to enjoy. (NB Closed on Sundays and Wednesdays)

Free Summer Events

22. Brighouse Dino Family Fun Trail 1^st to 31^st August

23. Brighouse Dinosaur Dinosaur Experience & Family Market 18^th August

24. Norland Scarecrow Festival 5^th to 7^th September

25. The Rushbearing Festival 6^th & 7^th September

Walking

26. Bridestones Moor

An important heritage site, notable for its many weird-shaped stones standing on an escarpment overlooking the Calder Valley.

27. The Calderdale Way

A 50 mile (80 km) walk exploring the hills, moors and valleys of Calderdale and offering spectacular panoramic views. The route can be broken down into smaller, more manageable sections too.

28. Little Legs Child-Friendly Walks

Walking and outdoor adventures with young children in the upper Calder Valley around Todmorden, Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd.

29. Mixenden History Hike

A waymarked trail ideal for kids and their grown-ups!

30. Mixenden Wild Walks

A 1km waymarked circular woodland walk ideal for kids.

31. Pennine Bridleway & Mary Towneley Loop

The Pennine Bridleway runs for 205 miles (330km) from Derbyshire to Cumbria and passing through Calderdale, running roughly parallel with the Pennine Way and offering access for Horse Riders, Cyclists and Walkers. Shorter walks can be planned along the 47 mile Mary Towneley Loop past Blackshaw Head, Heptonstall, Hebden Bridge , Todmorden and Walsden.

32. Rochdale Canal

The Rochdale Canal runs through the Upper Calder Valley from Sowerby bridge, passing Luddendenfoot, Mytholmroyd, Hebden Bridge, Todmorden and Walsden. Its towpath offers good sections of walking.

33. Stoodley Pike

This stone monument, that dominates the skyline the Upper Calder Valley, is accessible by the Pennine way, well-defined Right of Way footpaths and by mountain bike. There are many walking routes to the Pike from Todmorden, Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd.

You can search for other free events and festivals in Calderdale on our What’s On page. Under the ‘All Event Types’ field, select ‘Free Entry’ from the drop down list and then click on the green ‘Submit’ button.

Have visiting Calderdale and please support our wonderful local businesses as best you can.