7 free events this summer!

Worried your empty wallet means a boring summer? Fear not! Here are seven events you could go to that won't cost a bean.

Believe it or not, my family and I contemplated going to a festival this year. Yep, my husband, our two very small children and I, plus some good friends with their kids, read all about a fantastic, family-friendly festival and were all set to book our tickets.

That is until we saw the price - a three-day pass including camping would have cost us £300. Eek! Well that went a bit beyond the realms of a 'bit of fun that we could always leave early from if the kids weren't enjoying it'. So that's on hold - at least until the kids are bigger.

But that doesn't mean we won't be doing anything this summer. There's a whole host of fabulous festivals, performances, films and theatre productions on this summer that we can all enjoy. And best of all, they're free! You just need to know where and when.

Let me enlighten you...

1. BP Summer screens

First up - if you've ever wanted to see an opera but feared some shocking ticket prices, I have some good news for you - the BP Summer Big Screens programme is back - and it's still free!

Grab your friends, pack a picnic, and head over to a location near you. BP will show live performances from The Royal Opera House in Covent Garden on massive screens, and you can watch it all for free.

This year you can see the Royal Opera perform the fantastic 'La Traviata' at 7pm on 30 June or 'The Barber of Seville' at 7.30pm on 15 July. And with locations from Aberdeen to Plymouth, there's bound to be one near you.

2. Free Theatre

If you're under 26 and would love to go to the theatre but fear the cost, here's a great offer for you.

The Arts Council, in association with Metro, is running a fantastic scheme that's offering thousands of tickets to plays, shows, comedies, musical theatre, dance and much more, all for absolutely nothing. And there are locations all over the country to choose from.

So, for example, you could enjoy watching 'The History Boys', or 'We Will Rock You', and you won't have to spend a penny. Check out A Night Less Ordinary to find out more. (Just remember you need to be under 26 to qualify.)

3. See the Ashes for free

If, like my husband, you failed to snap up any tickets for the biggest event in the cricketing diary - yep, the Ashes (or feared how much they'd cost anyway), here's some great news.

nPower's Cricket in the Park will let you watch all the action, live, on huge screens at a number of locations including Southampton, Liverpool and London - and it will cost you the princely sum of absolutely nothing.

And there's more going on besides - you could compare how your cricketing skills measure up to the England team's, and if you make it a family affair the children will be entertained in a dedicated kids zone.

Let's just hope Flintoff's ankle holds out! So grab some mates, pack some food and drink and get ready to watch us whoop the Aussies!

4. Free Festivals

If, like me, you love the idea of festivals but cringe at the cost, you'll be pleased to know there are loads on, all over the UK that you can see for free (or very cheaply). Read 15 cheap summer festivals for tips on where to go.

If you're in London on the 12/13 September, check out the Mayor's Thames Festival with loads of free entertainment for all the family.

And if you're in London this weekend (25-28 June) head over to the Greenwich and Dockland's festival for all manner of water-themed activities.

5. The Scoop

And while we're talking about London, check out The Scoop on the south bank of the Thames. This outdoor sunken amphitheatre can seat 800 and during the summer will host the 'More London Free Festival' with loads to see for free.

Head over on a Wednesday/Thursday/Friday in July and you can enjoy free music performances. There's also free theatre in August.

And from 16 September to 1 October you'll be able to see free films including 'Slumdog Millionaire' and 'Mama Mia'.

6. Free film festival for kids

A fantastic film festival that's aimed at entertaining the kids during the summer holidays takes place in Manchester between 7 and 16 August.

The Family Friendly Film Festival offers children the chance to watch films, dance productions or take part in a whole range of activities and all for free (or for £5 at most).

There will be an 'Alice in Wonderland day', 'Harry Potter day' (where you can check out Hogwarts, a.k.a. John Rylands Library), or you could dress up for the themed 'Bollywood' experience.

Plus there will be screenings of classic kids' films such as 'E.T', 'The Wizard of Oz', and 'The Dark Crystal', as well as the popular 'High School Musical'. What's more, you can even bring your own picnics.

Take a look at the programme of events and pick the ones you fancy.

Tickets are free, but due to space restrictions they need to be booked in advance - so be prepared for Friday 26 June as that's when they go on sale!

7. Free local events

Finally, if you've read through this list and despaired as everything's just a bit too far away, worry not.

Check out free events - this comprehensive website lists all the festivals, carnivals, parades, shows and firework shows that are on all over the UK. What's more, they're listed chronologically, so if you're free next weekend you could see what's on then.

Events listed for this weekend include the Leigh Folk Festival (featuring folk music and dance events) and Bracknell Big Day Out (a festival of outdoor music and performing arts).

There's bound to be something on near you!

So there you have it - a number of ways to see films, theatre productions, music and opera performances and festivals and all for little or no money. Who said nothing in life is free?

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