On a budget? Looking for free things to do? Here are our highlights of the best free and cheap things to do in the locations we love. From blockbuster exhibitions in some of the UK’s finest galleries to self-guided walks and tours, and from fabulous new-build museums to historic buildings, parks and gardens, there’s much you can do without causing fatal harm to your wallet. Enjoy.

Thinking of taking a short break in the UK? We may be biased but there’s an awful lot going on up North. From art festivals such as Manchester International Festival to Bank Holiday-only music events scattered across the cities and locations we love, and from world-beating architecture along Liverpool’s waterfront to the glorious landscape of the Lake District, here are our picks of the events, festivals, insider guides and venues that can make your short break memorable (for all the right reasons).

Looking for things to do with kids? Grinding your teeth at the thought of yet another school-flaming-holiday where your offspring routinely climb the walls, fight and tell you they’re boooooored? You’ve come to the right place. Here are our picks of the best things to do with kids, from family days out to workshops in museums and galleries, from steam train rides to one-off children’s festivals and performances. There is no face-painting and plastic tat here. Well, not much. Not. Much. At. All.