The very best of British days out... and they’re all free!
ONE of Glasgow’s most iconic buildings and the National Galleries of Scotland in Edinburgh are among the country’s best free days out, a survey has found.
Research has placed Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, the National Galleries and the National Museum of Scotland among the top-rated attractions in the UK.
Britain’s top-rated free attraction is Cardiff’s St Fagans National Museum of History, which achieved a customer score of 94 per cent in a survey of almost 7,000 people by consumer group Which? The open-air museum offers a ‘fascinating glimpse into history’ and features 40 reconstructed buildings including a working forge, a school, chapel and Workmen’s Institute, while practical exhibits involve demonstrations of blacksmithing and weaving.
The National Railway Museum in York, which displays more than 100 locomotives, tied with the Royal Air Force Museum in Cosford, Shropshire, on 91 per cent.
Other highly rated free museums and galleries are the National Museum of Scotland (90 per cent), Kelvingrove (87 per cent), the Royal Air Force Museum, London (87 per cent) and the National Galleries of Scotland (86 per cent).
The watchdog also asked almost 3,000 people to rank their favourite historic attractions, rating them on nine criteria including accessibility, the quality of food and drink available and lack of crowds.
Durham Cathedral, once described by author Bill Bryson as ‘the best cathedral on planet Earth’, topped the ranking with 86 per cent.
St Davids Cathedral also rated highly on 80 per cent.
The Houses of Parliament followed on 76 per cent, with any UK resident able to avoid paying around £25 a head by contacting their MP, or a member of the House of Lords, to request a free guided tour.
Which? travel editor Rory Boland said: ‘As the cost of living crisis continues to be a strain on household budgets, finding cheap or free days out has never been more important.
‘Fortunately the UK has a number of fantastic museums, galleries and other attractions which offer free entry and hours of fun.’