FOR many parents across the country the school holidays pose major financial strains.
In fact, a recent survey revealed one in five families feel stressed during these periods.
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But new research has picked out the best free activities across the UK – and a Scottish tourist spot has come out on top.
Experts from Go Outdoors gathered information from hundreds of free and budget-friendly things for families to do.
They gave each destination a rating, taking into account things like the most visited venues to the most Googled locations.
And Edinburgh’s Royal Botanic Garden came out as number one in the best free outdoor activity in Great Britain scoring a whopping 9.908 out of 10.
Describing itself as ‘one of the world’s leading scientific botanical gardens,’ it is home to one of the country’s richest and largest plant collections globally.
They’ve created a list of the most popular options, enabling you to enjoy UK outings with your family without overspending.
A Go Outdoors spokesman said: “Describing itself as ‘one of the world’s leading scientific botanical gardens,’ it is home to one of the country’s richest and largest plant collections globally.
“From the Alpine Houses to the Woodland Garden and the Scottish Native Plants Collection, the Royal Botanic Garden has a lot to offer visitors – and all for free.”
Meanwhile, the experts also looked at cost-effective tourist spots.
And the little-known Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre, in Glasgow, was one of the op rated locations.
The venue has entertained audiences of all ages for several decades and entry starts at £4 per adult with children going free.
The museum features mechanical figures which perform shows and is located on the city‘s Trongate.
Another in the top five in Scotland is Dunnottar Castle, in Stonehaven. Surrounded by dramatic cliff tops, the castle is a ruined medieval fortress and one of Scotland’s most striking attractions.
Perfectly positioned on a hill overlooking the North Sea, you can be sure of breathtaking views and fantastic scenery. For a family of two adults and two kids, it costs £27 to explore this stunning landmark.
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