Keeping kids entertained at weekends and holidays can be exhausting – and takes a hefty toll on the bank balance. Luckily, there is a great range of cheap family activities here in Worthing, for kids of all ages. To help you out when you need it most, we’ve put together a list of activities to do with your family all year round. Most of these are free activities, or only cost around £5 per person, ensuring the whole family can enjoy some fun days out in Worthing.
Outdoor activities in Worthing
DIY craft activities on Worthing Beach
Getting crafty doesn’t have to break the bank and Worthing’s pebble beaches are perfect for being creative! Use driftwood, pebbles and seaweed to create beach art, or bring chalks to the beach and decorate interesting stones. If you don’t have your own chalks at home, the naturally chalky Sussex geology means there’s always chalk pebbles lying around to use. And if crafts aren’t your style, you can just enjoy a day at the beach! Build wobbly pebble castles, dig holes, beach comb for shells and sea glass, or just splash about in the water.
Ages: 2+
Cost: FREE!
Scenic Walks and local history at Highdown Gardens
Highdown Gardens started as a horticultural experiment to see what plants could grow and thrive in the area’s chalky soil. Now, over a century later it’s a beautiful park for visitors to explore. With plenty of space to play, and some accessible paths for buggies and mobility aids, everyone can enjoy the leafy gardens in any season. The Highdown team also provides free seasonal ‘discovery’ trail maps for children to learn and explore whilst having fun running around.
Ages: All
Cost: FREE!
WTM’s wonderful independent cinema doesn’t just screen the latest releases at affordable prices, but also cult classics and family favourites alike. Every Saturday morning at 10:15am you can catch Saturday Morning Pictures (SMP), which are screenings with cheaper tickets and a more relaxed environment, aimed at families. Here, films will play with subtitles where available. Meanwhile, in many of our regular screenings the Connaught gives you a rare chance to take your kids to see your favourite childhood film on the big screen! With SMP tickets starting at £3.50 the Connaught is a cheap (and weatherproof) activity for all the family.
Ages: See film ratings
Cost: from £3.50 (SMP), £5.50 general
Visit Worthing Museum & Art Gallery
One of Tripadvisor’s top 3 things to do in Worthing, Worthing Museum is renowned for its incredible historical costume collection and local archaeology. It also boasts a wonderful collection of toys from the 18th and 19th century. Kids can learn about historical toys through engaging displays and explore the rest of the museum at their own pace. The museum hosts occasional children’s workshops at weekends, school holidays and in half term – but tickets sell out fast so be sure to join the WTM mailing list to be the first to find out.
Ages: All
Cost: FREE (workshop prices vary)
Activities for Babies and Toddlers in Worthing
Get imaginative at Toybox cafe
The Toybox Cafe is a play cafe where children can play, explore and learn independently – but in full view of their grownups. The adults can sit and have a nice hot drink, a well priced bite to eat, and a natter, knowing their smalls are safe and happy. Toybox holds community at its heart, hosting seasonal events and birthday parties throughout the year, and is well loved by local families.
Ages: 0-6
Cost: Babies under 5m: FREE to play | Crawlers/6-11m: £3 | Walkers/1-6yo: £5
Sensory fun at Worthing Pier & Neptune’s Arcade
LadBaby, aka Mark and Roxanne Hoyle’s game-changing book ‘Parenting for £1’ has brilliant cost saving tips for new parents. One idea for a day out is taking small kids and toddlers to arcades, like Neptune’s Arcade on Worthing Pier. The sensory experience of the bright lights, buttons, levers, wheels and sounds will keep little ones occupied for ages without you needing to spend any money on the games if you don’t want to – although any older children may disagree!
Ages: 0-6
Cost: FREE! (if you want it to be)
Day trips from Worthing
See the planes at Brighton City Airport
It’s well known that as soon as children can see well enough they are fascinated with ‘things that go’. Brighton City Airport (still lovingly referred to by locals as Shoreham Airport) is a great way to see a variety of planes and helicopters take off and land, as well as all the other vehicles needed on the tarmac. There are places to view outside for free, or you can enjoy some delicious food at the Hummingbird Restaurant, which overlooks the runway. If you want a bit more from your experience, tours of the airport and a visit to the museum can be booked online for a reasonable price.
Ages: all
Cost: FREE / £3 child & £5 adult for tours and museum visits
Dogs welcome
Pop over to Ferring Country Centre
Not just any Garden Centre, Ferring Country Centre provides an amazing and affordable day out for the whole family. This local, independent charity provides training and work experience for people with learning disabilities in their garden centre, cafe, and at Dales Farm. With space to run around and both indoor and outdoor play areas, children can meet ponies, goats, pigs, chickens and all kinds of other farm animals. There is also a soft play for younger children, and a lovely garden centre for green-fingered family members of any age.
Ages: all
Dales Farm: £5 per person. Under 2s go free,
Soft play: £1.50 per child
Dogs on leads welcome
There is so much for families to do in Worthing without breaking the bank! We hope you’ll enjoy getting out and about all year round. And if you fancy something different you can always check out what’s on at WTM now.