Photo: Serenapaliria, CC BY-SA 4.0Free things to do in Surrey with kids
The best free days out in Surrey with children include the Castle Grounds in Guildford, Priory Park in Reigate, Newlands Corner near Albury and Frimley Lodge Park in Frimley Green, all free to enter. For a wet afternoon, Guildford Museum and Godalming Museum are free indoor options.
A good day out in Surrey does not have to cost anything. The Castle Grounds in Guildford, a playground-filled park in Reigate and the open downs of Newlands Corner near Albury all cost nothing to walk into. Frimley Lodge Park in Frimley Green is also free, with two playgrounds and free parking.
Free entry does not always mean free parking, so we have noted it where we can. Newlands Corner's car parks are free, while Frensham Great Pond and Virginia Water charge for parking, and a few places such as the Castle Keep and the miniature railway charge for extras.
The free museums are indoor options for wet days. Guildford Museum has a playroom for under 5s and activity trail sheets, and Godalming Museum has a garden and a coffee shop. Guildford Cathedral is free to visit every day, and donations are welcomed.
Every place here is checked against its official website; the latest check was on .
Free parks and playgrounds
Open ground with playgrounds, where the only cost is a car park you may not need to pay for.
Photo: Serenapaliria, CC BY-SA 4.0Guildford Castle and Grounds
The keep of the Norman castle stands on its mound in the middle of Guildford, surrounded by award-winning gardens that are free to wander. When the keep is open you can climb to the top of the tower for views across the town and the Surrey countryside.
Why it's here: The Castle Grounds and Castle Cliffe Gardens are free all year, and the grounds are a Green Flag park. The Norman keep is seasonal, and its entry is charged separately.
Photo: Dr Neil Clifton, CC BY-SA 2.0Priory Park, Reigate
A park of historic interest off Bell Street in Reigate, with lakes, a sunken garden and plenty of wildlife. Families come for the playground with sensory and splash areas, the skatepark and the café in the pavilion.
Why it's here: Free, with a playground that has sensory and splash areas, a skatepark and a lake with moorhens, coots and kingfishers. Dogs must be on leads in the formal areas.
Photo: Alan Hunt, CC BY-SA 2.0Frimley Lodge Park
A 24-hectare council park beside the Basingstoke Canal with open grass, woodland, meadows and picnic areas. It has held a Green Flag award for 22 years running and is home to two playgrounds, a cafe and the Frimley Lodge Miniature Railway.
Why it's here: Free entry and free parking in a 24-hectare park beside the Basingstoke Canal, with two playgrounds, one castle-themed, and a trim trail. The miniature railway charges per ride.
Photo: Alan Hunt, CC BY-SA 2.0Lightwater Country Park
A 59-hectare council country park on the edge of Lightwater village, mostly heathland with ponds, woodland and meadows. The heathland is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and the park has a playground, cafe and an 18-hole adventure golf course beside the entrance.
Why it's here: Free entry and free parking, with a playground by the café and heathland and pond walks. The adventure golf course is a paid extra.
Photo: Alan Hunt, CC BY-SA 2.0Runnymede Pleasure Grounds
A council-run riverside park on the Thames between Egham and Old Windsor, with play equipment, a chlorinated paddling pool in summer and long river frontage. It sits next to the National Trust meadows at Runnymede, so it works well as the start of a longer walk.
Why it's here: Free, with a children's play area beside the Thames and a paddling pool in spring and summer. The council car park's first 30 minutes are free.
Photo: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0Horton Country Park
A 400-acre country park on the north-west edge of Epsom, about half of it a Local Nature Reserve of fields, hedgerows, ancient coppice woodland and ponds. Paths are open to walkers, cyclists and riders, and Hobbledown, a golf centre and an equestrian centre share the site.
Why it's here: Free and open all year, with ancient coppiced woodland, ponds and waymarked paths. Dogs are welcome under close control.
Free walks and countryside
Heath, hill and woodland walks that cost nothing to join, with the parking notes where they apply.
Photo: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0Newlands Corner
A chalk viewpoint more than 170 metres up on the North Downs, looking south over the Tillingbourne valley to the Greensand Ridge. It has 415 acres of downland and woodland, a Discovery Centre, a natural play area and three waymarked trails.
Why it's here: Free, including all car parks, with a natural play area, a Discovery Centre and three waymarked trails. The café opens daily from 9am.
Photo: AndyScott, CC BY-SA 4.0Chilworth Gunpowder Mills
The remains of more than 100 buildings from a gunpowder works that once filled the Tillingbourne valley, now a peaceful woodland walk and a Scheduled Ancient Monument. Leaflets at the entrances explain the history.
Why it's here: Free woodland walk among the ruins of a gunpowder works, with a stream to paddle in and a picnic area. Bring wellies in winter.
Photo: Berit from Redhill/Surrey, UK, CC BY 2.0Virginia Water Lake
A two-mile lake at the southern edge of Windsor Great Park, created as a royal pleasure ground between the 1750s and 1790. A full loop is about 5.25 miles, while the Cascade waterfall and the Leptis Magna ruins are a shorter stroll from the car park.
Why it's here: Free to enter, with the Cascade waterfall and the Leptis Magna ruins a short stroll from the car park. Parking is charged, from £3.20 for up to an hour.
Photo: Victor Ochieng, CC BY-SA 2.0Box Hill
A chalk hill on the North Downs with wide views over the Mole Valley and the Weald, ancient box woodland and chalk grassland. It is a popular start for waymarked walks, the North Downs Way and the Zig Zag Road cycle climb used in the 2012 Olympic road race.
Why it's here: Free to walk, with a natural play trail, stepping stones across the River Mole and a summit viewpoint. Parking for non-members costs £2 for up to an hour.
Photo: Peter S, CC BY-SA 2.0Frensham Great Pond and Common
A large medieval pond with sandy beaches on Frensham Common, about 1,000 acres of heathland owned by the National Trust and mostly managed by Waverley Borough Council. The ponds were dug in the Middle Ages to supply fish to the Bishop of Winchester.
Why it's here: Free to visit, with sandy beaches on the pond and heathland walks. Parking is charged, from £1.80 for up to an hour.
Free museums and historic buildings
Free to enter, warm and central, and each takes an hour or two.
Image: Guildford Borough CouncilGuildford Museum
A free museum in a run of historic buildings beside the Castle Grounds, partly built into the walls of the castle gatehouse of 1256. It covers Guildford and the surrounding area from prehistoric times to today, with a fine textile collection and changing exhibitions.
Why it's here: Free, with a Scullery Playroom for under 5s, activity trail sheets and a fine textile collection. Opening days are not shown on the council page, so check first.
Photo: Mertbiol, CC0Godalming Museum
The town museum since 1921, behind a narrow blue entrance opposite the Pepperpot on Godalming High Street. It opens out into history and art galleries, a local studies library, a garden and a coffee shop.
Why it's here: Free, with history and art galleries and a garden. Evening talks cost £10.
Image: Guildford CathedralGuildford Cathedral
The Anglican cathedral on Stag Hill looks out over Guildford and is open to visitors every day, between daily services that include Choral Evensong. Guided tours, tower tours and a café are offered.
Why it's here: Free to visit every day, with donations welcomed and daily Choral Evensong. Visitors are asked to sit and join in during services.
Photo: Len Williams, CC BY-SA 2.0Cobham Mill
A Grade II listed early 19th-century watermill on the River Mole, restored by volunteers after decades of neglect and now the only fully working watermill in Surrey. On open days the team mills corn and shows a short film about the restoration.
Why it's here: Free, and the only fully working watermill in Surrey. It opens on the second Sunday of each month from April to October.
Free gardens and riverside walks
Gardens and towpaths that cost nothing to enjoy.
Photo: David Howard, CC BY-SA 2.0Sunbury Walled Garden
A restored two-acre 18th-century walled garden in Sunbury Park, run by Spelthorne Council and holder of Green Flag status. Knot gardens, parterres and Victorian and modern rose gardens surround the Lendy Memorial, and the gallery displays the Sunbury Millennium Embroidery.
Why it's here: Free, a restored two-acre walled garden run by Spelthorne Council, with knot gardens, parterres and rose gardens. It is open daily from 7.30am.
Photo: Irid Escent, CC BY-SA 2.0Runnymede and Ankerwycke
The Thames-side meadows where King John sealed Magna Carta in 1215, now cared for by the National Trust as open countryside with memorials and modern artworks. Across the river, Ankerwycke has priory ruins and a yew thought to be around 2,500 years old.
Why it's here: Free to visit, the Thames-side meadows where King John sealed Magna Carta in 1215, with riverside walks on the Thames Path.
Photo: Jim Osley, CC BY-SA 2.0River Wey Navigation at Pyrford Lock
A National Trust stretch of the River Wey Navigation, opened in 1653, where it passes Pyrford Lock and the Anchor pub. The Walsham length runs from here towards Send with RHS Wisley as a backdrop, and a 7-mile circular walk links the Wey with the Basingstoke Canal.
Why it's here: The towpath is free to walk.
Questions people ask
What free days out are there in Surrey with children?
The Castle Grounds in Guildford, Priory Park in Reigate, Frimley Lodge Park in Frimley Green and Newlands Corner near Albury are all free to enter. Frimley Lodge Park has free parking, and Newlands Corner's car parks are free too.
Do free places in Surrey charge for parking?
Some do. Runnymede Pleasure Grounds' council car park is free for the first 30 minutes, Frensham Great Pond charges from £1.80 for up to an hour, and Virginia Water charges from £3.20. Lightwater Country Park and Chobham Common have free parking.
Are there free museums in Surrey?
Yes. Guildford Museum has a playroom for under 5s, Godalming Museum is free with evening talks at £10, and Cobham Mill is free on its open days, with donations welcome.