Looking for free activities in Cleethorpes and Grimsby? Then look no further, I’ve done all the legwork so you don’t have to. Below is a huge list of fun-filled, FREE things to do for families in the local area this summer holiday!
Also, if you’re open to paying for a few bits and bobs, here’s the full what’s on guide for the summer holidays. Click on the week to be taken to all events during that week.
Table of Contents
19 FREE Summer Activities in Cleethorpes & Grimsby 2023
I’ve put the events with set dates and times at the top so they can’t be missed, and more flexible suggestions are near the bottom of the list.
If I’ve missed anything, just let me know and I’ll add it on.
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1. Life in Plastic, It’s Fantastic
29th July, 11am-3pm
Head on down to Freshney place to attend their FREE family event. It’s all a bit Barbie themed to honour the film, so expect lots of pink and heaps of fun. There’ll be crafts, chance for a selfie in a 1950’s pink Cadillac and life size doll boxes, face painting, a pink trail, and character appearances too.
2. Picnic in the Park
30th July, 1pm-4pm, People’s Park
A free live music event put on by The Culture House. Bring a picnic blanket or a fold up chair and enjoy the show!
Artists include: MAK, Revivalry Band and Billy Beech Music
3. Nunnys Farm x Waltham Windmill
9th August, 2pm-4pm
Head down to Waltham Windmill to meet your favourite animals. Farm staff will be on-hand to chat about them and help you learn all kinds of fun facts. The event is FREE, but there are shops and tea room in case you want to pack some pocket money!
4. Cleethorpes Urban Art Festival
19th & 20th August, Outside Cleethorpes Leisure Centre + Fringe Event on North Promenade, 10am-5pm
Support the urban art scene by showing up to this year’s Urban Art Festival. Expect to see live graffiti art, music, breakdancing and so much more, all for FREE!
5. Climb Ross Castle
If you’re local (and even if you’re not), it’s practically illegal to go to Cleethorpes beach and not get a photo of your kids at Ross castle. My mum has a load of photos of me and my siblings up Ross castle, and the same go for my husband’s (but of her kids of course, why would she want a photo of our lot?)
Once you’re at the top, take in the view of the beach and the Pier. Be prepared for the smallest in your tribe to run all the way down and always be that little bit in front of you so you never catch up.
6. Travel to The Centre of the Earth!
Okay, so I may have made this sound much more dramatic and exciting than it really is, I’m obviously talking about going to the meridian. The meridian is the centre line of longitude on the planet and runs right through Cleethorpes.
It sits between the boating lake and the Fitties and is very clearly marked for any of you (like me) who love a photo opportunity.
7. Head to Cleethorpes Boating Lake
I don’t need to tell you that Cleethorpes Boating Lake is awesome. Yes you have to pay for ice cream, or to hire a boat, but there’s plenty of free activities too. Home to the paddling pool, the sandpit and lots of lovely nature, it’s well worth a visit with kids.
If feeding the ducks isn’t on your agenda, you can try to find the famous black swan. He/she is a handsome looking bird.
If you want to keep this trip free, then pack a lunch and enjoy it on one of the many benches dotted about. Beware the geese though, they’re always hungry and they’re stronger than they look (a bit like a toddler).
8. Build a Sandcastle (or 10)
Sandcastle building is kind of an obvious pastime in a beach town, but I still think it’s worthwhile mentioning. Make sure your sand is went and your base is smooth to make the most impressive sandcastle on the beach.
9. Head to Cleethorpes Paddling Pool
Free entertainment is the best entertainment in my opinion – especially during the summer. It seems like all you have to do is open your eye in the morning and money is whizzing out your bank account.
Cleethorpes paddling pool is free to enter and lots of fun. It’s a cold paddling pool, so you have to weigh up getting there early when it’s not busy but it’s freezing, with attending after a few hours of sun when everyone else is there but temperatures are bearable.
10. Play the Prom Games
Head down to the prom and keep your eyes on the ground. There are fun, free games painted onto the pavement that anyone can enjoy!
11. Fancy a Dinosaur Hunt or a Space Walk? Go Exploring!
Have you got the Love Exploring app? Go get it! It’s a free app for the local area and has loads of augmented reality fun.
12. Take Your Kite to the Beach
If it’s a windy day and all kinds of wrong weather for sunbathing, take your kite to the beach! Cleethorpes beach always seems to be windy, so if it’s windy wherever you are, it’ll be much more gusty up the beach.
13. Check Out Weelsby Woods
Weelsby woods is an ace place to entertain the kids for free for a few hours. They have the outdoor play area near the car park, a big bit of grass for football etc, and then the woods themselves are a perfect mix of beautiful and spooky. My advice would be to wear proper shoes, my toddler wants to wear her jellies everywhere but the woods is more of a trainers/wellies vibe.
14. Take a Trip to the Park
Did you know our local area has loads of great parks? People’s Park is a nice and central one in Grimsby, and it’s had a bit of a face lift in the past few years, but there’s also Sussex Rec., Haverstoe Park, Sidney Park and a load more. There’s a list here.
15. Check Out the Pier Gardens & Maze
I love talking a walk around the Pier Gardens. They are really well kept, with beautiful flowers, a fun hedge maze and lots more. Don’t get lost in the maze, it’s much easier to get lost than you think!
16. Go On a Bike Ride at the Beachside Cycle Tracks
Zoom along the sea wall, or continue past the Leisure centre, right up to the Fitties. These cycle tracks are next to a pedestrian path instead of a road, which makes them the perfect route for young families too.
17. Do a Nature Walk at the Beach
Look for seagulls, go crab spotting, and expect your child to hand you even shell they come across, even if they’re broken. You might fancy a paddle too, but I’d be tempted to avoid it since it sometimes contains sewage (give it a Google though, because there’s a lot of effort being put into trying to keep the beach pollution-free).
18. Scoot or Skate Down the Prom
Get skates on (or grab your scooter) and take advantage of the long smooth path the prom has to offer. It’s a great place to take kids on whatever wheels they prefer, and you might want to bring your own mode of transport too because those little ones can be FAST.
19. Visit Immingham Tin Town Heritage Centre
Open Saturdays & some Sundays
Visit the Tin Bunglalow and see how the labourers who built Immingham Docks once lived. In 1906 hundreds of labourers decended upon Immingham to take on the big job of building the docks. All these many years later, one bungalow still remains. Entry is FREE but donations are very welcome.
Click here for more info on booking.