7 cheap or free things to do in July

It’s high summer, so let’s get started with all these ideas for cheap and free things to do in July. And don’t forget your hat, bottle of water and plenty of sunscreen.

Let’s start with something huge that started yesterday, and is either one for the sports fans, or a handy excuse to drink Pimm’s and eat strawberries and cream, depending upon your individual preferences…

Watch Wimbledon for free

It’s the international tennis event of the year, taking place 30th June to 13th July 2025 , and Wimbledon Championships tickets are always in fierce demand (and pricey). If you’re on a moderate budget there are cheaper Grounds Passes priced £25-£30 to queue for each day, where you can soak up the atmosphere and watch the big matches screened on ‘Murray Mound/Henman Hill.’

However, you might not fancy the horrendous queues and high prices. That’s where all the free public Wimbledon live screenings come in – and there are so many of them! For outdoor screenings in London, have a look at Time Out London and Londonist, which mostly feature free events. Around the UK, check local listings and Eventbrite, and nearby pubs and bars.

Take part in Plastic Free July

This annual global challenge was started in Australia by the Plastic Free Foundation, and has over 100 million participants. Help to keep the oceans free from harmful plastic waste, cut the use of single use plastics, and generally make a positive difference to the state of the planet.

If you want to join in, sign up here for their weekly emails full of ideas, prompts and activities. There are various options you can choose, from home to workplace challenges, or out and about with takeaway food and drink.

Party at the biggest UK Pride marches

Most UK Pride Month events take place during June, but some of the biggest parades and celebrations happen in July. Thousands of LGBTQIA+ folks and their many friends and supporters will be there to join in.

Get your glad rags on and head out to London Pride (Sat 5th July), Leeds Pride (Sat 19th & Sun 20th July) or Northern Pride on Tyneside (Sat 19th & Sun 20th). Multiple events take place each day, from marches to stages with live performances.

Go charity shopping on steroids

We love a bit of charity shopping here at Golightly Gardens, especially when you can enjoy the offerings of multiple charity shops at the same location. Charity Super.Mkt has five regular UK stores but also moves around the country and is about to arrive in Greenwich for a 7-week pop-up – great both for the environment and your pocket (the next location will be Sheffield.)

Find them at the NOW Gallery, Greenwich Peninsula from Thursday 10th of July. It starts with a FREE ‘Rummage Party’ 5pm – 8pm, just head to their Instagram for your entry ticket and bring a quality item of clothing to donate. The launch party includes DJs and a range of drop-in creative workshops.

See The Tall Ships Races 2025

The Tall Ships Races will be in Aberdeen, Scotland’s third largest city, between 19th July and 22nd July 2025. It’s their first time docking there since 1997. The oldest ship was built in 1896, and the whole thing’s run by charity Sail Training International which teaches young people to sail.

While some events are ticketed, there will also be a street food market, bars, free live music, STEM educational events, and tours of some of the more historical vessels. Most of this is happening at the quayside, or at venues two or three streets away in the city centre. Have a look at Tall Ships Aberdeen for full listings of things to do.

Recipe of the month: No-cook tomato & chickpea salad with rose harissa

It’s tomato season without a doubt, and this salad recipe by Meera Sodha makes the most of them while the cooker never gets switched on, which sounds like a dream. It also includes seasonal cucumbers and herbs, and is vegan.

Find it at Great British Chefs and also The Guardian, or treat yourself to Dinner, her new bestselling cookbook that features this and many other delicious recipes.

For other seasonal ingredients have a look at my guide to the best British seasonal food in July.

Cocktail of the month: Fresh Peach Bellini

July is a great month for fresh peaches. I found this recipe over at Delicious Magazine, and it’s a lot nicer than a basic bellini that uses bland pre-bought puree. The fresh lemon and a tiny bit of basil give it an extra lift.

You could also make an excellent non-alcoholic version using Nozeco or other prosecco substitute. Just hook it to my veins and have done with, July.

Penny’s Personal Projects

And now, a couple of little extras. Just some projects I hope to get done this month. Sorry, plan to get done this month.

For July I really want to prettify the patio. It’s a very busy space in our home, and while I did a decent job re-grouting it last year (*flexes her DIY muscles*) it’s in need of a bit more of a glow up. It’s a bit too, er, functional-looking at the moment.

In short, it needs to go from fine to fabulous. I’ll be tidying and decluttering the patio and side return, scrubbing up a few of the flagstones in the shadiest spot, and generally making it look prettier with a few accessories. Think citronella candles, solar string lights, pot plants, that sort of thing.

I’ll keep you posted on progress.

The other, less pretty project will be to organise the cupboard under the stairs. It needs another go-over to get rid of old stuff we no longer use, and to make the storage space run more smoothly.

Not quite as much fun, maybe, but it’ll make everyday life easier in the long run. And who wouldn’t want that? Plus it’s an excuse to nosey around Dunelm and buy some of their best storage goodies. Not that ya gal here needs an excuse, but hey, just humour me.

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I hope you enjoyed these ideas for cheap and free things to do in July.

What are you going to get up to this month? Has anything here caught your eye?