The UK boasts some of the very finest ‘free things to do’ to be found anywhere in the world. Most of the country’s museums, galleries and collections are free to enter; you can find a wealth of historic sites and properties that are admission-free; there are free festivals, celebrations and events across the country throughout the year; and the UK is a country blessed with beautiful landscapes and natural wonders, which can all be explored for free. This post brings together 101 of the best free things to do in UK – places, activities and events that can be enjoyed completely free of charge.

Museums and Galleries

1. Baltic, Gateshead – The Baltic is a landmark art gallery housed in an imposing industrial building on the south bank of the River Tyne in Gateshead. The rolling programme of exhibitions has a strong focus on international contemporary art, new works and artist interaction with local communities. The gallery has no permanent collection, so instead has a constantly evolving calendar of exhibitions and events providing something fresh and free on every visit.
2. Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery – Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, known locally as BMag, opened in 1885 in a prominent building in the city centre, housing over 40 galleries and one of the UK’s most important art collections. Birmingham was a centre of manufacturing in the 19th Century, and many leaders of industry shared their wealth by donating to the museum. As a result, BMag is home to many important pieces of Victorian art, the world’s largest public collection of Pre-Raphaelite paintings, along with art and objects from seven centuries of world history.
3. British Museum, London – The British Museum in central London holds a staggering eight million items from every continent – effectively telling the story of human history from the earliest times to the present day. There is so much to take in that visitors can always find new discoveries. Along with the enormous permanent collection there is also a programme of changing exhibitions and displays, many of which can also be accessed for free.
4. Coventry Transport Museum – Coventry was the birthplace of the UK’s cycle and motor industry, and today is home to the Transport Museum. The museum boasts the world’s largest collection of British road transport with more than 240 cars, buses and commercial vehicles, 200 bicycles, 94 motorcycles, 25,000 models and 1 million archive items covering 150 years of transportation and invention.
5. Discovery Museum, Newcastle-upon-Tyne – The Discovery Museum reveals the history of Newcastle, Tyneside and North East England. The museum’s interactive displays cover all aspects of life in the region including science and technology, maritime and military history through to fashion and popular culture. Alongside the regularly updated displays, visitors can also enjoy many complimentary learning activities.
6. Great North Museum, Newcastle-upon-Tyne – Also in Newcastle, the Great North Museum has wide-ranging displays including a life-size tyrannosaurus rex skeleton, a large-scale interactive reconstruction of Hadrian’s Wall, items from Ancient Greece and mummies from Ancient Egypt. The museum also has major exhibits from the plant and animal kingdoms including models and live displays, tanks and aquaria.
7. International Slavery Museum, Liverpool – The International Slavery Museum is a unique establishment exploring the history of slavery, its impact on UK and the world societies, and contemporary human rights issues. Liverpool has an unhappy history with slavery and was a centre for the transatlantic slave trade so it is fitting that today it is home to this museum, which since opening in 2007 has become an internationally important hub for human rights resources and education. Admission to all of the museum’s displays, temporary exhibitions, events and activities is free of charge.
8. Imperial War Museum, London – London’s Imperial War Museum details the history of conflicts, particularly focusing on those of the 20th Century involving Britain and commonwealth countries and the impact on those who lived in died in these wars. There’s a fascinating collection of weapons and vehicles with large exhibits including a real Spitfire from the Battle of Britain. The museum free activities and galleries shed light on the experiences of normal people in warfare, with highlights including a walk-through recreation of the trenches of the First World War’s Western Front and a blitzed out London street in 1940.
9. Imperial War Museum North, Manchester – Imperial War Museum North also explores the impact of war on real people and society with a particular focus on the north of England’s experience and involvement in conflict. Opened in 2002, the museum building itself is an award-winning piece of architecture designed by Daniel Libeskind with views over Manchester Ship Canal and Salford Quays. The area was a centre for the UK’s industry during world ward two, and was badly damaged during the Manchester Blitz in 1940, a history that is revealed in the museum’s galleries and displays.
10. Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow – Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow is home to one of the greatest civic collections in Scotland, and indeed Europe. The museum’s grand Victorian building is a brilliant example of the Spanish Baroque style rendered in Dumfriesshire red sandstone and houses arms and armour, natural history exhibits and a vast collection of European art. The museum’s refurbishment was completed in 2006 and it has since become Scotland’s most popular free-to-enter visitor attraction.
11. Modern Art Oxford – Modern Art Oxford is one of the UK’s leading modern and contemporary visual art galleries. Entry is free of charge to the gallery’s evolving calendar of solo and group exhibitions from important international practioners, along with a rolling programme of family activities and live events.
12. Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester – Manchester was at the heart of the UK’s industrial revolution, and remains a leader in science and technology – a history and legacy that is revealed at the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI). The permanent galleries are spread across five listed buildings and include collections and interactive displays from early textile machinery to X-ray equipment and digital technology, all accessible free of charge.
13. National Coal Mining Museum, West Yorkshire – Based at the site of Caphouse Colliery in Overton, near Wakefield, the National Coal Mining Museum provides free guided tours of the underground mine so visitors can experience the working life of Yorkshire’s miners. Caphouse Colliery was a working mine from the late-18th Century until 1985, reopening as a museum in 1988. The exhibitions in the over-ground visitor centre explain the work and life of miners and the social and industrial history of coal mining.
14. National Gallery, London – The National Gallery is home to Britain’s national collection of Western European art. The gallery has rooms dedicated to various periods and countries, with over 2,300 paintings ranging from the mid-13th century to 1900, including some hugely important masterpieces. The gallery aims to care for and archive the nation’s paintings and provide the widest possible access to the public with no charge to view the permanent collection and many visiting exhibitions.
15. National Maritime Museum Maritime Galleries, London – Set in the beautiful surroundings of the historic World Heritage Site at Greenwich, the National Maritime Museum Maritime Galleries explain the story of Britain’s maritime achievements and adventures. While some parts of the museum do charge an admission fee, the Maritime Galleries can be accessed for free and reveal a fascinating history.
16. National Museum Cardiff – The National Museum Cardiff is one of Wales’ most popular admission-free attractions, revealing the art, archaeology, natural history and geology of the country. Located in the heart of the city’s civic centre, the museum hosts a programme of touring exhibitions, temporary exhibitions and educational and family activities alongside its extensive permanent collection.
17. National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh – The new National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh offers the chance to explore Scottish and world cultures, the nation’s history, wildlife, science and technology, art and design, with an enormously diverse collection of objects and archives. Admission is free to all the galleries and displays and the museum offers a programme of complimentary talks, events and activities.
18. National Portrait Gallery, London – Adjoining the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery holds a collection of images of famous and historically important people from British history. When it opened in 1856 it was the first gallery of it’s kind in the world, selecting paintings on the importance of the sitter, not the artist. Today, visitors can enter free of charge and see an entertaining and informative reflection of the people, history and culture of Britain.
19. National Railway Museum, York – York’s National Rail Museum tells the story of trains and railways, a transport revolution that transformed the UK and the world. The museum’s collection features over 100 locomotives, 200 other items of rolling stock, interactive displays, rail-related art and posters and a variety of ephemera.
20. National Slate Museum, Llanberis – The National Slate Museum is housed in the Victorian slate workshops at Dinorwig Quarry, which ceased operations in 1969. The slate industry was an important part of life in Wales for many years, as shown by the museum’s displays, talks and demonstrations, which are all free of charge. The museum’s buildings are set in the beautiful surroundings of the shores of Llyn Padarn and the flanks of Snowdon.
21. National Wool Museum, Dre-fach Felindre – Another important industry in Wales has been wool, from the rearing of sheep to shearing and wool fabrication at mills. The National Wool Museum is housed in the former Camrian Mills in Carmarthenshire, set in the picturesque Teifi valley, which was at the heart of Wale’s woollen industry. The museum’s Textile Gallery holds the National Flat Textile Collection, while the Woolly Tale museum trail allows families to create their own woolly cloth, and the friendly staff provide complimentary demonstrations and answer questions.
22. Natural History Museum, London – Holding one of the world’s most important collections of life and earth science specimens with over 70 million items, the Natural History Museum in London is one of the UK’s most popular admission-free attractions. The museum is particularly famous for it’s dinosaur exhibits, including a diplodocus skeleton and moving tyrannosaurus rex model, the model of a blue whale and the building’s imposing cathedral-like architecture. The museum also offers a wide-ranging programme of family activities and educational resources.
23. Royal Armouries Museum, Fort Nelson – Fort Nelson is a formerVictorian military base with strategic views the Meon Valley and Portsmouth Harbour. The fort has been restored to how it would have been in the 1890s and features the Royal Armouries national collection of artillery with over 350 big guns on display.
24. Science Museum, London – The Science Museum in Kensington, London, holds an extensive collection with over 200,000 objects relating the UK’s and the world’s scientific heritage. The admission-free galleries cover all aspects of science and technology from agriculture, geography, oceanography and medicine to time measurement, psychology and space travel.
25. St Fagans National History Museum of Wales, Cardiff – St Fagans is situated in the glorious grounds of St Fagans Castle forming a unique open-air living museum experience. The museum has over 40 buildings transported from various parts of Wales and rebuilt to recreate the lifestyle, culture, history and architecture of the Welsh people. St Fagans is one of the most popular heritage attractions in the UK and one of the finest open-air museums anywhere in Europe.
26. Tate Britain and Modern, London – The Tate galleries in London, Liverpool and St Ives encompass one of the world’s most significant art collections, with works from every medium and period of art history. Tate Britain on the banks of the Thames in London covers British art from 1500 to the present day, while Tate Modern sits further downriver at Bankside, displaying significant international modern and contemporary art including a programme of specially commissioned installations in the cavernous Turbine Hall.
27. Tate Liverpool – Tate Liverpool at the city’s Albert Dock also displays modern and contemporary works from the Tate collection alongside a calendar of exhibitions and events.
28. Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Wakefield – Yorkshire Sculpture park offers an open-air display of modern and contemporary art, exhibitions from leading international artists with four enchanting galleries and a dynamic series of events and activities, all free of charge.
29. The Victoria and Albert Museum, London – The Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum in Kensington, London is the world’s largest and arguably finest museum of decorative arts and design with a vast collection of over 4.5 million objects. The museum covers all areas of design with ceramics, costumes, drawings, furniture, glass, ironwork, jewellery, paintings, prints, textiles, silver, sculpture and much more. The V&A also boasts a large number of medieval objects and the world’s largest collection of post-classical sculpture.
30. Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool – The Walker Art gallery in Liverpool hold’s one of the UK’s largest art collections outside London, covering paintings, sculpture and decorative art from the 13th Century to the present day.
31. World Museum, Liverpool – The World Museum in Liverpool has a large collection of items covering the fields of archaeology, ethnology and the natural and physical sciences. It is free to enter, as are the special exhibits in the museum’s Natural History Centre and Planetarium.

Outdoors Nature and Wildlife

32. Allen Banks and Staward Gorge, Hexham – The stunning gorge and river cutting through the North Pennines is surrounded by one of the UK’s largest area of ancient woodland with extensive walking tracks, a medieval peel tower and a recreated Victorian summerhouse. Wildlife to look out for includes red squirrels, dormice and woodland plants and birds.
33. Coed-y-Brenin, Snowdonia National Park – Coed-y-Brenin, which is Welsh for King’s Wood, is an expansive forest in Snowdonia, famous for its mountain biking and hiking trails. The biking trails are graded for different abilities and total a huge length in miles. There are all-ability walking paths, running tracks, a children’s play area, bike hire and café, all based around the Visitor Centre at Dolgefeilliau.
34. Urban Parks – The UK’s towns and cities are remarkably green with a wealth of parks, gardens and open spaces that can be enjoyed for free. London has many large green areas including Hampstead Heath, Richmond Park and Hyde Park; Manchester has the huge family-friendly Heaton Park; Belfast has Victoria Park with its playing fields and lake; while Edinburgh’s Princes Street Gardens sit in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle. Wherever you are in the UK you are not far from gloriously green open spaces.
35. Coast – British beaches are amongst the finest in the world, with thousands of miles of coast and endless opportunities for walking, swimming, wildlife spotting, surfing and many other sports. From the rugged beauty Cornwall’s Atlantic coast, the sandy bays of the Gower Peninsula, the gentle sand dunes on North Norfolk’s seaboard, the seaside holiday charm of Blackpool and Brighton to the cliffs and crags of Scotland’s west coast, the choices are infinite for free days out.
36. Cycle Routes – The UK has an enormous National Cycle Network with 10,000 miles of traffic-free routes that can be used for free whether for leisure cycling, commuting or touring. There are also a huge number of cycling routes in sites managed by the National Trust, English Heritage, Forestry Commission and National Parks where you can enjoy cycling in diverse and beautiful surroundings.
37. The Donkey Sanctuary, Sidmouth – The Donkey Sanctuary welcomes visitors to its main headquarters and intake centre at Slade House Farm in Devon. The farm has pretty rolling hills and fields that are home to the donkeys taken in and cared for, and the animals appreciate the fuss and attention they receive from visitors.
38. Hiking – The length and breadth of the UK is crisscrossed with some of the world’s finest hiking trails, with routes suitable for all ages and abilities. From gentle paths for afternoon strolls to hard and steep upland trekking, you can find simply superb walking opportunities across the country, and all available for free.
39. Constable Country – John Constable was one of Britain’s most important painters and lends his name to the landscape that he made his subject in Constable Country on the Essex and Suffolk border. By walking, cycling and touring around the area you can find some of the places he painted, still remarkably pretty and well preserved, The region has a number of individually charming villages including East Bergholt, Capel St. Mary, Stratford St. Mary, Bentley, Dedham, Langham, Lawford and Flatford.
40. Beachy Head – Just to the town of Eastbourne in East Sussex, Beachy Head is a breathtaking chalk headland with stunning views of the South Coast and English Channel. At 162 metres (530 feet) above sea level, Beachy Head is the highest chalk sea cliff in Britain, dropping dramatically to the sea where a lighthouse sits. To the west the cliffs continue with the Seven Sisters, an undulating series of hills offering some really good walking and scenery.
41. Dolphin spotting in Dorset – The UK offers a huge variety of wildlife that can be enjoyed for free. Amongst the most intriguing are the dolphins that can be spotted off the coast of Devon. Durlston Marine Project is a community-based marine nature reserve that extends 25 kilometres on the Purlbeck coast between St Aldelm’s Head and South Haven, with plenty of chances to see pods of dolphins along with much other bird and animal life. The project organises walks, talks, displays, leaflets and voluntary events
42. Giant’s Causeway, County Antrim – Located on the coast near the town of Bushmills in County Antrim, the Giant’s Causeway is an amazing area with roughly 40,000 interlocking basalt columns rising out of the sea, the result of volcanic eruptions far in the distant past. The name of the site derives from the legend of a giant Irish warrior who built the causeway to cross the sea and fight his enemy in Scotland. Today the Giant’s Causeway is owned by the National Trust, is widely recognised as one of the UK’s greatest natural wonders, has World Heritage Site status and is the most popular tourist attraction in Northern Ireland.
43. Hawkshead and Claife, near Hawkshead – Hawkshead is a picturesque Lake District village and was home to Beatrix Potter. There is stunning countryside around the village including the shores of Lake Windermere, a 15th Century courthouse, the ruins of Furness Abbey and the grounds of Wry Castle, which can all be explored for free.
44. Mudchute Park and Farm, London – Mudchute Park and Farm offers a slice of country life in the heart of East London. Mudchute is the capital’s largest city farm with 32 acres of land in the shadow of Canary Wharf on the Isle of Dogs, a variety of furry and feathered animals, community projects and events.
45. The New Forest – The New Forest National Park is huge tract of forest, heathland and pastureland in Hampshire. There are a massive number of free things to do in the forest including walking and cycling routes, wildlife spotting and many rivers and villages to explore.
46. Knole Deer Park, Sevenoaks – Knole House is a sprawling Tudor mansion in Kent. To enter the house itself you need to pay an admission fee, but the extensive parkland that surrounds the property is free of charge to enter. The 1,000-acre estate is quite a rarity, one of only a few deer parks in the English countryside to have survived for 500 years. The leafy medieval landscape features hawthorn, oak, yew, hornbeam, silver birch, bird maple and ash trees and a 600-strong herd of fallow deer roaming free.
47. Land’s End, Cornwall – Land’s End is the most southwesterly point on mainland Britain and a place of outstanding natural beauty. The South West Coast Path winds its way around the cliff tops, providing some astonishing views of the coast, lighthouses and sheltered coves and, on a clear day, the Isles of Scilly out in the Atlantic. After a bracing walk on the cliffs you can warm-up in the free-to-enter visitor centre.
48. Runnymede, Berkshire – Runnymede is a beautiful water meadow on the banks of the Thames in Berkshire, both naturally and historically important. In 1215, Runnymede was the site of King John sealing the Magna Carta. Set in the landscape are various memorials by Maufe, Jellicoe and Lutyens commemorating key moments in world history.
49. Scottish Wild Camping – In most parts of England and Wales camping outside of official campsites is discouraged or even illegal, but in Scotland you are free to pitch a tent on all open access land. Providing you do it safely and respectfully, wild camping is an excellent way to explore the Scottish landscape.
50. Sherwood Forest Country Park, Nottinghamshire – Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve is home to some of Europe’s oldest trees, many of which are over 500 years old. The aptly named Major Oak is still producing acorns at an astonishing age of 800-years. There park features a Visitor Information Office, various walking trails and a herd of Longhorn Cattle.
51. Wiltshire’s Prehistoric Landscape – The town of Marlborough in Wiltshire is at the centre a cluster of ancient sites including a massive stone circle at Avesbury, the mysterious prehistoric earthworks mound of Silbury Hill and the burial chambers at West Kennet. Each of these sites offers a truly fascinating and free glimpse into Britain’s prehistoric past.
52. The Woodland Trust’s woods and forests – The Woodland Trust cares for and provides access to more than 1,100 woods across the UK, including important ancient woodland and sites of scientific interest. The Trust aims to create and maintain a country rich in native woods and trees with free access to all.
53. The White Cliffs of Dover – The White Cliffs of Dover are one of the most iconic sights in the UK, the dramatic white chalk and rolling grassy hills providing a striking symbol of Britain. There are spectacular cliff-top walks that take in views of the English Channel, the distant French coast and one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. The area also offers the chance to discover the military history of Dover and the region’s unique wildlife.
54. Whipsnade Tree Cathedral, Bedfordshire – The Tree Cathedral at Whipsnade in Bedfordshire was established at the end of the first world war to motivate a spirit of ‘faith, hope and reconciliation’. The garden encompasses nine-and-a-half acres of grassy avenues with various species of trees planted in the shape of a cathedral, the trees marking out the walls of a nave, chancel, transepts, chapels and cloisters. Visitors are free to stroll through the cathedral with well-behaved dogs under close control.
55. The Winter Garden, Sheffield – The Winter Garden is a large temperate glasshouse in the centre of Sheffield – at 70 metres long and 22 metres high it is one of the biggest glasshouses in the UK. The Garden features a diverse range of species with over 2,500 plants.

Places of Historical Interest

56. Arbeia Roman Fort and Museum, South Shields – Arbeia Roman Fort and Museum are situated at a strategic position at the mouth of the River Tyne. The excavated remains of the Roman structure along with reconstructions of the fort’s buildings offer a taste of how life at this outpost of Roman Britain.
57. Baconsthorpe Castle, Norfolk – The evocative ruins of Baconsthorpe Castle are a testament to the rise, wealth and decline of an important family in Norfolk. The castle was originally built as a manor house with fortifications and a moat in the 15th Century. The family developed the property over the centuries, including adding a textile factory, and then their fortunes changed, the castle fell into ruin and was finally abandoned in 1920. Visitors can enter for free to wander through the remains and surrounding estate.
58. Bosworth Battlefield Country Park – The Battle of Bosworth took place in 1485 and was one of the most pivotal moments in British history as Henry Tudor defeated and killed King Richard III, starting the Tudor dynastic rule. Today, visitors can access Bosworth Battlefield Country Park for free and walk the 1.75-mile Battlefield Trail and explore the site.
59. Bury St. Edmunds Abbey -Bury St. Edmunds takes its name from Edmund, the last Saxon king of East Anglia, who was killed by marauding Danes in 869. A Benedictine monastery was established in the town to hold his remains, which up until its dissolution in 1539 was the richest and most important religious house in England. Today, the abbey’s ruins lie in a pretty flower-filled park, accessed for free through a 14th century Great Gate and Norman Tower, and adjacent to the remaining cathedral.
60. Canals and Waterways – The UK has over 2,200 miles of canals and rivers, all of which can be accessed for free and enjoyed for walking, cycling and boating. The canals were central to Britain’s industrial revolution, but fell into disrepair in the 20th Century. A massive program of renovation has created a superb network of waterways that are now mainly used for leisure and canal boat living.
61. Castlerigg Stone Circle, Keswick – There are 50 ancient stone circles in Cumbria including the monumental Castlerigg Stone Circle at Keswick. The circle contains 38 stones in a 30-metre diameter arrangement and was probably built around 5,000 years ago. The backdrop is equally impressive as the mysterious stones, with expansive views across to Skiddaw, Blencathra and Lonscale Fell.
62. Cerne Abbas Giant, Dorset – Carved into a hillside above the village of Cerne Abbas in Dorset, the National Trust describe this attraction as ‘a naked, sexually aroused, club-wielding giant.’ It is unclear whether the giant was created in the distant past of Celtic Britain or in the 17th Century, when there was the first known reference to the site – either way it is a striking representation of British identity.
63. Chester Castle: Agricola Tower and Castle Walls – The Agricola Tower is the original gateway to Chester Castle, a 12th Century structure containing a chapel with recently rediscovered wall paintings. The tower features a staircase that leads to the castle’s wall walk, all of which can be accessed for free.
64. Chester Roman Amphitheatre – Chester’s Roman Amphitheatre is thought to have been the largest amphitheatre in Roman Britain, providing seating for an audience of 8,000 to 10,000 spectators for entertainment and military training. The Roman military settlement at the site was called Deva Victrix, which eventually evolved into modern-day Chester, and many traces of the original Roman city can be visited for free.
65. Churches and Churchyards – The UK has an enormous amount of churches and churchyards, with at least one in most hamlets, villages, towns and cities in the land. Many of these have a fascinating history and architecture which can be visited and explored completely free of charge.
66. Durham Cathedral – Durham Cathedral is one of the finest examples of Norman architecture in Europe, set on an island on the banks of the River Wear. The 12th Century cathedral is often cited as Britain favourite building and houses.
67. Eyam the Plague Village and the Riley Graves, Derbyshire – The village of Eyam in the Peak District gained the name of ‘The Plague Village’ after losing almost half of its population to the plague in the late 17th Century. The disease probably arrived from London in a bundle of cloth brought by the village tailor in 1665. The villagers, guided by the church rector, quarantined themselves to prevent the plague spreading to others. Today, there are a number of plague sites around the village that can visited for free including the Riley Graves, the smallest National Trust site in the UK.
68. Guided city walking tours – Many towns and cities around the UK offer free guided walks to visit historic and interesting sites. Local tourist information offices also provide guides and maps so you can organise your own tours.
69. Hadrian’s Wall – Hadrian’s Wall was a Roman fortification built to defend the empire from the Scots, the largest of its kind at the time, and today a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the North of England. An 84-mile hiking trail follows the route of the wall, starting at Tyneside, travelling upland to the Whin Sill escarpment and then gradually descending to the fertile pastures of Cumbria and the Solway Estuary.
70. Houghton House, Bedfordshire – Houghton House is a ruined 17th Century mansion with spectacular views of the local countryside. The house was constructed around 1615 for Mary Sidney Herbert, Dowager Countess of Pembroke. Over the centuries the house passed to different families and eventually fell into decay by the 19th Century. Visitors can explore the remaining shell and grounds for free during daylight hours.
71. Houses of Parliament – UK residents can visit the Houses of Parliament, tour the buildings and watch debates for free. To arrange a visit you can contact your local MP or a member of the House of Lords.
72. Kinver Edge and the Rock Houses – Located on the border of Staffordshire and Worcestershire, Kinver Edge is a sandstone ridge created when the area was a desert 200 million years ago. The area features the remains of an Iron Age hill fort and caves and rock houses that were the homes of Britain’s last cave dwellers up until the 1950s.
73. Laycock Village, Wiltshire – Laycock is an enchanting village in rural Wiltshire, seemingly untouched by the modern world. The village was established in the 13th Century and today is a picturesque place with limewashed half-timbered and stone houses. The village is almost entirely owned by the National Trust and has recently starred in several TV and film productions due to its timeless appearance.
74. Letocetum Roman Baths and Museum, near Lichfield – This open-air site reveals the remains of a Roman staging post and settlement. The ruins include a Roman inn and a bathhouse.
75. Loughwood Meeting House, Dalwood – This intriguing building is a 17th Century Baptist meeting house, constructed from stone with a thatched roof. The structure is partly dug into a hillside with views of the beautiful East Devon countryside.
76. Maiden Castle, Dorset – Maiden Castle is one of the largest Iron Age hill forts in Europe, a huge multiple-rampart structure that was once home to several hundred people. Today visitors can access the site for free and follow paths to explore the 4000-year-old earthworks.
77. Morwellham Quay, Tavistock – Morwellham Quay is a stunning World Heritage Site with a historic port, Victorian copper mine, railway, heavy horses and museums, all set amongst beautiful cliffs, and farmland bordering the River Tamar in Devon.
78. The Old House, Hereford – The Old House is an extraordinarily well-preserved 17th Century timber-frame building in the centre of Hereford. Since being built in 1621, the house has been home to many different people starting out as a butcher’s home, changing to other types of businesses and finishing its commercial role in the 1920s as a branch of Lloyds Bank. Today the Old House is a museum that offers a glimpse into life in Jacobean times with English oak furniture, wall paintings, replica clothing and a range of free family activities.
79. Prior’s Hall Barn, Essex – Prior’s Hall Barn in Essex is one of East Anglia’s finest preserved medieval barns with an aisled interior and huge roof constructed from 400 oak trees.
80. Ravenglass Roman Bath House, Cumbria – Dating back to 130 AD, the bathhouse of the Roman fort at Ravenglass is one of the highest standing Roman structures surviving in the North of Britain.
81. Uffington White Horse, Oxfordshire – The Uffington Horse is a huge stylised horse carved out of a hillside in the beautiful Oxfordshire countryside. The ancient design is thought to be about 3,000 years old, and the surrounding landscape has many other fascinating places to visit for free including Dragon Hill, Uffington Castle and the mysterious Pillow Mound.

Entertainment, Festivals and Arts Events

82. Allendale Tar Barrel Parade – The village of Allendale in Northumbria marks the New Year with a unique pagan celebration including a team of 50 men in traditional dress carrying flaming whiskey barrels through the streets to the central square where a ceremonial bonfire is burnt.
83. ArtsFest Birmingham – ArtsFest is an annual festival every September in Birmingham. It’s one of the UK’s largest free urban festivals with a wide-ranging programme covering cutting-edge performances, workshops, exhibitions, installations, talks and screenings, across the performing, visual and digital arts.
84. The Big Draw – Every October museums, galleries and heritage sites, local libraries, schools and community centres across the UK take part in The Big Draw, an open invitation to everyone to get involved and discover how much fun and community connection can be generated through drawing.
85. Burning The Clocks, Brighton – Brighton’s Burning the Clocks festival is organised as an antidote to the consumer excesses of Christmas with a large lantern parade and burning on the beach, a family fire show and fireworks.
86. Chinese New Year – Every spring, towns and cities across the UK celebrate the arrival of the Chinese New Year, reflecting the long relationship and cultural exchange between the two nations. Some of the biggest free parades and celebrations take place in Birmingham, Cardiff, Chatham, Edinburgh, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Nottingham and Southampton.
87. Christmas Eve Carols at Kings College Chapel Cambridge – The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at Kings College Chapel is one of the most famous Christmas carol service in the world. As well as being broadcast live on BBC radio, the service is free to attend. It’s extremely popular so you need to arrive early to get a seat.
88. Concerts and Performances – Many places across the UK offer free concerts and performances, particularly short lunchtime recitals, including events at London Southbank Centre, Wales Millennium Centre, Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama, University of Manchester, Leeds International Concert Season and at hundreds of other local venues.
89. Devizes Christmas Festival, Wiltshire – The town of Devizes in Wiltshire celebrates the start of the festive season with a lantern parade, carols and marching bands at the end of November.
90. Evensong at Canterbury and Other Cathedrals – Although most of the most famous cathedrals in the UK charge an admission fee, you are often able to attend evensong and other worship services free of charge.
91. Fashion Shows – Many retail outlets such as department stores, clothing shops and shopping malls offer free fashion shows to reveal the season’s latest outfits. Some places to check for free fashion shows include Selfridges in London and Birmingham, Harrods, Bicester Village and Bluewater in Kent.
92. Free Edinburgh Fringe Festival – The Free Festival features a variety of admission-free shows across many venues at the annual Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland. Many of the shows are stand up comedy and sketch comedy, but the festival also encompasses theatre, cabaret, music, storytelling and children’s shows.
93. Guy Fawkes Night – Guy Fawkes Night marks the gunpowder plot of 1605 with bonfires and firework displays in all parts of the UK, many of which can be attended for free. Some of the biggest events take place in York, which was Fawkes’ birthplace and at Lewes in East Sussex, which hosts a raucous street parade with burning barrels.
94. Halloween in Derry -The Banks of the Foyle Hallowe’en Carnival in Derry is one of the UK’s biggest Halloween parties with a massive programme of family events, a carnival parade and firework display.
95. Markets – Although Britain’s outdoor and covered markets are obviously designed for shopping they can equably be enjoyed for free with the simple pleasure of browsing and people watching. Almost every town in the UK has a weekly market of some sort, with some of the biggest and best to found at Birmingham Bullring, Portobello Road and Borough markets in London, Kirkgate Market in Leeds, York’s traditional fruit and vegetable market and the covered market in Oxford.
96. Mathew Street Music Festival – Liverpool’s Mathew Street Music Festival is the biggest annual free music festival in Europe. The event attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world for two days of music and fun with five stages in the city centre.
97. New Years’ Eve in London – New Years’ Eve celebrations take place all over the UK. Probably the biggest event happens in the centre of London where every year thousands of people teem on the banks of the Thames to experience the countdown to midnight and an enormous 10-minute firework display.
98. Notting Hill Carnival – Every August Bank Holiday, Notting Hill in London hosts Europe’s biggest carnival, which is attended by approximately 1 million people each year. The weekend involves a steel band competition on Saturday, Kid’s Day on Sunday and the main parade on Bank Holiday Monday. Revellers can experience 20 miles of costumes and floats, over 40 stationary sound systems and hundreds of Caribbean food stalls.
99. London’s South Bank – Stretching all the way along the south bank of the Thames between Westminster Bridge and London Bridge there is a huge variety of arts and entertainment venues including the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth hall and Purcell Rooms, Hayward Gallery, National Film Theatre, OXO Tower, Bankside Galley, Tate Modern and much more. Throughout the year these venues offer free events and the walkway above the River Thames is bursting with live events and street performers.
100. Liverpool Biennial – Liverpool Biennial takes place in the autumn of each even-numbered year and is one of the UK’s largest and most exciting contemporary visual arts events. The festival is spread across numerous venues and includes the International Exhibition, the John Moores Painting Prize, the Bloomberg New Contemporaries Exhibition and the Independents Biennial.
101. Rottingdean Smugglers Night, Sussex – Rottingdean Smugglers Night celebrates Rottingdean’s historical past with a special evening event bringing together local bonfire celebrations, services of remembrance and Christmas festivities. The village’s high street is the setting of a smugglers parade and a carol service takes place on the historic village green.

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Once upon a time, the American dream was a concept that meant freedom, passion, and that anything was possible. Today, certain events have taken place on American soil that have corrupted our society, endangered our economy, and completely changed the rules of the housing market. So before you make your way to the land of the free, be prepared to contend with reality and the current state of things.

Live where the Green Grass Grows

According to a recently launched infographic from Taylor Homes, an Indianapolis home builder, people are moving inland where housing is less expensive and life is more sustainable. Some of the fastest growth is being seen in places like: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.

Building a Home

Turns out, building a home may end up being the best value in the long run. In this case you can choose where you want to live, and build where the housing market may not be as affected by the current economy. The house will also be up to date with the latest building standards, and your appliances will be new and energy efficient. Since the home is new and of your own design, you are less likely to have a lot of repairs and you get what you want rather than settling for what may already be there.

Buying an Existing Home

It’s not the worst thing in the world, but there are some cons to buying a home over building your own. Just like in the UK, it can be hard to get both the house and the location you want, and since you had no hand in building the house you may find that it is not up to safety codes. You may also run into maintenance issues that you would not have had to deal with if you built your own house. The good news is that when you buy, usually the area is already developed, and the vegetation is established, leaving one less thing for you to worry about.

Renting a Home

Financially, when you rent you do not have to worry about property tax or maintenance cost. However, the money you pay in rent, which is usually higher than it should be, is gone forever – you will gain no equity. While not having to worry about maintenance is great, it also means that you have no control over when or if conditions can be taken care of in the event that appliances are not energy efficient, or the home has an infestation or violates safety codes. This is where knowing your rights as a tenant is very important. So few put these rights into effect and landlords know that. There is also the possibility that your rent will increase, and there does not necessarily have to be a reason for it.

Reasons why US Citizens Move

People change their location and career now more than ever in the states. Currently, the number one reason people relocate is due to housing. It can be very difficult to find what you want for a respectable price. The second reason was family, and third place employment.

The American dream is not hopeless, and people are becoming more aware of the pros and cons. Eventually, those who are involved in property will catch on to the fact that people know what they want and how they should be treated. So whether you are crossing oceans to live the American dream or simply borders, be smart and know the housing market inside and out before making any decisions.

This is a guest post from an Indianapolis home builder called Taylor Homes.

Image: bixentro

A quick examination of your retirement fund may indicate that you’re not acting on what financial planners have been saying for the past number of years. It is likely that your retirement fund is underfunded and out of balance, which means you’re in for quite a shock when it comes time to consider living on that money. You need to fix it, now!

If you have ever had a financial planner help you come up with your “magic number”, they probably added in your expenses, but also extra money for activities you enjoy. Maybe you want to spend your years travelling, which would be an extra €5,000 or more per year, or maybe you want to purchase a property in the sun where you can live in the winter. These are elective expenses and in order to preserve those, you have to look at the two key areas of retirement funding.

Health

In a recent survey 13% of middle aged people said they believe their health may decline in retirement, but 39% of actual retirees report a decline in health. Retirement planning has to include a larger amount of money for healthcare expenses since you and your spouse have a 40% chance of having more expenses in that area.

One way to improve your chances? Drop the extra weight and get active now. Obesity is a growing problem that means your body has less capacity to deal with the extra strain, particularly as you age. Although health is an area of our lives where we don’t have complete control, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, and gout are all diseases closely associated with weight.

Getting fit doesn’t even mean you have to create a new row in your budget for gym membership. You don’t need a celebrity style personal trainer either. Just get active! Ditch the car and walk instead. Go swimming. Go for a run in the morning. Cycle to work. These small lifestyle changes will, over time, get you fitter and slimmer.

When it comes to food, here’s a very simple rule of thumb to live by: bin anything that’s biege. Chips, crisps, fried foods, breakfast cereals and biscuits might taste nice, but they are all full of saturated fats, processed sugar and salt. Try to stick as much as you can to whole foods like oats, pulses, vegetables, fruit and white meat as much as possible. And don’t get put off if you haven’t shed tens of pounds the next time you weigh yourself. Start thinking long term and bring your expectations in line for the best long lasting results.

Finances

Maybe the biggest problem we have is that we’re still living on information given to us a generation ago. We still believe that if we go to work every day and contribute to our retirement, we’ll one day reach retirement age and all the money we need will be sitting in an account for us.

This may have been true twenty years ago, but it’s not true now. Your company sponsored plan is no longer enough. Along with your company sponsored plan, consider opening an account of your own and contributing money to it just as you do your company sponsored plan. The recent stock market crisis and economic doom and gloom has brought misery to many recent retirees whose retirement funds have been decimated and any savings left are earning very low rates of interest.

Start to think ahead now. Look for long term investments that will earn revenue when you’ve retired. Rental property is one way to do it. Investments in small companies, although risky, can provide huge long term return on investments. There are also many other alternative investment vehicles from wine to sports paraphernalia, all of which are not so dependent on the stock market. Think outside the box, but more importantly, start doing something about your future as soon as you can.

In Conclusion

The issue is very simple: you need more money for retirement and if you think you have enough, at least have a brokerage account with a large portion of it being in long term investments that you can call on if your retirement funds come up short later on in life. The problem with retirement planning is that we don’t know what kind of world we will live in 20 or more years in to the future. But with interest and a growing population, you can safely bet it’ll be more expensive to do or buy anything.

Remember that for most, retirement isn’t the day when you’re no longer able to work. It’s the day when you don’t want to work anymore. You have to save more money now than in the past in order to reach that goal.

Image: RLHyde

Today’s post is rather contentious, not least because the rising cost of a university education is forcing the hand of parents around the country. Please leave your thoughts in the comments.

A lot of the expenses in our everyday lives are important, while even more are not. We won’t concern ourselves with those many expenses that are not important (that’s for another article), but it goes without saying that the first rule of money management is to save more and ask yourself the difficult question, “Do I need this or not?”

Take this example scenario. You’re a twenty or thirty something parent who may or not be married and you know that 10 to 15 years in to the future your son or daughter may go to university. Aware that the cost of a university education has increased dramatically in the UK, you’re putting money away to help get your child through third level education without having them drowning in debt.

There’s also your own personal financial situation to take into careful consideration. You won’t have the ability to earn a living your entire life, so, at some point, you would like to retire and live out your years not having to worry about where the money comes from. You don’t have the money to fund both a retirement fund and a university fund, so what do you do? It’s a very tricky situation to find yourself in, but one that’s becoming more common.

The answer may not sound like the most selfless or parental, but you should fund your retirement before you take care of your child’s education fund. Don’t like that answer? Here’s the reasoning behind such a selfish act.

Need vs. Want

This isn’t going to make you feel any better about this, but compared to retirement, university is somewhat of a luxury. Retirement funds are used for food, shelter, health care, and paying any other bills that come along. Of course some of that money will be used for the occasional luxury (a holiday, perhaps), but most of the money is used for something that isn’t voluntary.

University is a luxury. Your child doesn’t necessarily need a university degree. And there is a growing number of young adults eschewing tertiary education because, as everyone else has a degree, their value and exclusivity has decreased as their costs have increased. Without university, your child will survive. It may even force them to get work experience, which many businesses regard as more valuable anyway. And there is always next year, a cheaper school…

Choices Available

You and your child can pay for university in a variety of ways. There are loans, grants and scholarships available, but retirement funding doesn’t come with anywhere near as many options. Any loan would eventually have to be paid back, which would require further income at a time when you hope to not work or even worse, are unable to. And considering how the value of many privately help pensions have fallen off the edge of a cliff over the past few years, you’ve got to plan well ahead for a time when you may simply not have very much money to live off.

They Can Help

Maybe you can’t afford to fund all of their time at university, but what if your son or daughter were to save money that you would match? Asking your child to fund half of your retirement would be incredibly selfish, but asking them to fund a portion of their university education makes the experience more valuable to them. It also means that they are, in effect, investing in their own future and should therefore be less likely to drop out.

Don’t Steal

Taking money out of your retirement to pay for your child’s education is not a good idea either. Not only is it likely that there will be penalties involved, but you will need that money later. Resist the urge to help your child by stealing from yourself. There are other options available.

The Cold, Hard Truth

It might sound a little cold hearted, but this is one of those cases where you should take care of yourself before you take care of your child. University will always be there and the options for paying are plentiful. That’s not the case for your retirement.

This article was contributed by Edugree.com, a careers advice blog and online degree comparison website.

Image: Will Hale

Everybody knows about the sad state of the property market in the UK. In September Societe Generale downgraded the UK’s beleaguered property sector to underweight, confirming what most people already knew: unless you live in London where property is still in demand, selling can be problematic at best and nigh on impossible in the worst case scenario. Some say that this market is a buyer’s market, but in an economy where credit doesn’t flow anywhere near as readily as it once did, many have simply given up trying to purchase.

That’s not to say that you can pin all your problems on the stagnated market. According to many estate agents, many homeowners have failed to consider the difficult market as they prepare their home for sale.

The Problem

As a homeowner you face number of obstacles. You don’t have to go far to find another for sale sign and one of those may be in your neighbour’s lawn. An oversupply of homes with an absence of buyers makes for a difficult selling environment. Add to that the amount of cheap repossessed properties and what a seller faces is an environment where their home has to be in perfect condition to be in with a chance. In the UK market it has always been about location, location, location, but in these challenging times, that may not even be enough to seal a deal.

It’s Not Yours

Change your thinking. You’re not selling your home to a buyer. You want the buyer to see it as their home. Put all of the family pictures away and remove your child’s school test results from the fridge door. After that, go through your home and hide anything that makes the home uniquely yours. Tone down the decor so that it doesn’t immediately put people off. Watch any property TV show and you’ll hear this preached every single time. If you want to sell, think neutral.

Make it Available

Regardless of when the estate agent calls, say yes. If they’re coming in 10 minutes, make it work. Any prospective buyer that you can get in to your home for a showing is a victory in itself. Will it be difficult to always keep your home reading for a showing? Yes, but that’s the market now. So keep it in the back of your mind that a potential viewing may happen at any time, and prepare your home accordingly.

Fix What You Can

Now isn’t the time for wallowing in self pity about how much value your home has lost. Everybody is in the same boat so get out your credit card and do some DIY. Don’t put in a new kitchen, but if a door is in bad shape, replace it. If a fixture is straight from the 70’s, replace it. If a tile is cracked or the windows need cleaned, do it. You’re probably not going to get that money back, but the culmination of your work will improve your home’s kerb appeal and may increase the chances of someone deciding to make an offer. It all comes down to how badly you want to sell, and how much effort you are willing to put in.

You’re Probably Not Going to Make Much Money

Hold out for a price that pays off your mortgage at the very least, but don’t hold out for a hue profit. Those days, for now at least, are gone. If you’re not in a rush to sell and really think your home can sell for a price that can turn a profit, it’s worth a try. If you have to sell fast, then be prepared to just break even and be ready for it to be on the market for possibly 6 months or more.

It’s still a good idea to price it high enough that when an offer comes in, you have room to move down without losing money. Everybody likes to think they got a deal.

Remember…

We’re in a market where getting out of an investment without much loss is considered a success. Make sure your home is spotless on the inside and out, make it available whenever the call comes in, and be reasonable about the price.

Image: Ian Muttoo

Keep reading and somebody at your work will come to the forefront of your mind. This is the person who is always trying to get noticed. They’re always in the boss’ office, always showing up early, staying later but only when the boss does. They are the person who tries to run the meeting, tell you want to do, and is just “that person” that nobody likes.

This is also the person who wants the promotion and will do anything to get it. You don’t want to say anything to this person because you know that spreading negativity in the office will get you not promoted as much as your coworker’s attitude will get them promoted.

So what should you do to neutralize this overly excited, overly competitive coworker? Here are four ideas.

Take What is Yours

In their quest to get noticed, that annoyingly agreeable coworker may try to take more work than they should. On one hand, if they want to do your job for you, tell them to go for it, right? Make you sure take an equal amount of work and promote your involvement as much as they promote theirs. Don’t let that person promote themselves by diminishing your contribution.

Protect Your Ideas

You would hope that nobody would do it but sometimes the quest to get ahead is all consuming and for that reason, it’s not overly paranoid to think that they may take your ideas and call them their own. Keep your files password protected, communicate via e-mail to prove that you were developing the plan long before it became public, and when the situation warrants, in a professional way, confront the person.

Partner Up

Everything and everybody can be leveraged. If you’re having a problem with an overly excited coworker, harness their energy in a way that will make you look good as well. Let them take the lead without being the boss and find their healthy strengths and use them to your advantage. If they start acting like “that person” again, remind them that you two are a team and if you look bad, they will as well.

Don’t Change Them

Have you ever tried to change somebody? Very few people developed a personality that they believe is wrong, abnormal, harmful, or counterproductive. Most people believe themselves to be on the good side. If you’re like most, you haven’t done any better in this area. You have as many personality quirks as the next person and you’re most likely not quick to take suggestions about yourself either.

Instead of trying to change a person or react to parts of their personality that is different than yours, try to work with it. Ignore what needs to be ignored and if a situation arises that must be talked about, stick with the issue instead of personal conversations.

Bottom Line

Working with difficult coworkers is difficult and it’s a reality for anybody who works with other people. The best career minded people learn to deal with other people and harness their strengths without making themselves look bad.

Image: Lara604

There are numerous time management strategies and articles that are easily found online, but an overwhelming amount of statistics show that the majority of workers don’t address the value of their time and because of that, they’re losing value revenue every day. Make every minute a money making minute by implementing effective strategies for time management.

Have you ever tried to change somebody? Very few people developed a personality that they believe is wrong, abnormal, harmful, or counterproductive. Most people believe themselves to be on the good side. If you’re like most, you haven’t done any better in this area. You have as many personality quirks as the problem employee and you’re most likely not quick to take suggestions about yourself either.

Instead of trying to change a person or react to parts of their personality that is different than yours, try to work with it. Ignore what needs to be ignored and if a situation arises that must be talked about, stick with the issue instead of personal conversations.

Human nature tells us to solve problems by looking outside of ourselves, but often the problem is within – and this one problem may be the sole reason that you aren’t making as much money as you would like. Before we decide that the problem is with our product, other employees, suppliers, or customers, first examine your own working practice. What does your normal work day look like and how much time are you throwing away in small increments?

The old cliché, “time is money” is true especially for business owners and when time is optimised, money is made. In our work lives, every minute of our day is either making money for us or it isn’t and the most successful people learn how to optimise their work day using these strategies for time management.

Track Your Day

Every minute counts, so where are each of your minutes going? Are you making low-priority tasks a priority by spending more time than necessary on them? Do you find yourself constantly interrupted and distracted? Do you procrastinate and wait until the last minute to complete a project forcing you to submit a product that doesn’t make you proud?

Track your day to find the areas where time is wasted making your new strategies for time management essential. You could use a spreadsheet, your phone, or an old fashioned pencil and paper to keep a log. Make sure you mark the time and the duration of each event and give them a rank of importance using whatever scale works for you. You may find that there are numerous places in your day where you’re losing valuable time to unproductive tasks.

Categorise Tasks

Not all tasks are important and not all tasks are going to make you money. Phone calls and emails are sometimes important but often, they’re not. Meetings with coworkers may seem important but are they? Every task has a degree of importance and deadline. Some tasks are important but not time sensitive, while others are not important but have a deadline.

Others are important and due today while others are not important and not time sensitive. Email is often not important or time sensitive, yet can be a serious time waster because email often generates more email. Categorising your tasks provides a more objective way of making your priority list.

Be a Monotasker

Being a multitasker may be impressive to some, but it wastes time according to time management experts. For example, reopening emails and drawing out phone calls for as little as 15 minutes each day adds up to 97 hours each year of wasted productivity. To maximise your productivity and revenue, consider implementing a new strategy for emails. Mark the subject line with the degree of importance and have your coworkers and contacts do the same. This way, you know if it is mandatory that you address it now or whether it can wait until more important tasks are completed.

Make a To-do List

One common strategy for time management used by business executives is the six point list. Before you leave work today, make a list of six items that you will complete tomorrow before your work day is done. All of these tasks should be of high importance that have a direct path to revenue. “Respond to 10 emails” probably won’t lead directly to revenue but “Complete 5 open orders” will. Once you complete the items on your six point list, take on the tasks that important that will lead to revenue down the road.

Bottom Line

As they say, time is money and every minute you waste is one that you will later wish you could get back both financially speaking and in your personal life. As for your finances and buisness life, think of each day but instead of each hour and minute. Successful people know that time management is just as important as their other management tasks.

If oil prices weren’t already high enough, more people than ever are calling on the government to both decrease the fuel duty. Storage capacity plays its part in this equation though, as any catastrophic oil disruption could cause a surge in oil prices.

Luckily, though, barring any large-scale world event, oil prices should stay within the current range for the near term. Although many would say that fuel is much too expensive at current levels, as we all know, they could be much higher. Here’s why they aren’t.

The Slow Economy

Although many want to blame oil traders for artificially moving the price of oil, basic economics will always play a major role in setting prices. While it can’t be denied that some price movements are artificial, when the demand for oil goes down, so does the price, at least temporarily.

In a slowing economy, people don’t go out as much. They cut expenses and one of the first things people cut back on is fuel. If we were in a healthy, growing economy the average price of gas would be rising because demand would be higher. If there is anything good about a slow economy, this may be it.

The Arab Spring and Libyan Conflict

When oil producing companies are fighting within their own country or with other countries, there is no guarantee that oil will make it to the market. When the Arab Spring spread to Libya and civil war broke out, oil production stopped and although supply wasn’t largely reduced, it had an effect on prices. More importantly, oil prices are lower when markets are stable. With Libya coming back online, not only is there more oil on the market, there is a sense of calm in the oil markets. Less fighting means lower prices and at least for now, it appears that oil producing countries are stabilising.

New Oilfield Discoveries

North Dakota in the United States and Saskatchewan in Canada aren’t generally thought of as oil producing areas, but a new find is said to have 24 billion barrels of oil that could represent a major infusion of supply for North America, reducing its dependence on overseas supplies. This has the potential, over time, to bring costs down or at least offset increases from foreign sources.

While European countries are under very significant economic pressure, Norway is doing just fine because of its large oil industry. And things just got better on that side because of a new discovery in the Barents Sea could raise Norway’s oil output significantly, yielding up to 500 million barrels of oil equivalent valued at USD $18 – 30 billion.

And let’s not forget about good old blighty! You may or may not have heard that more oil has been discovered, rather promisingly, off the Falklands. However, this find is already drawing the ire of Argentina, who still claim sovereignty over the island chain. And any further finds could stoke what is already a tense diplomatic situation.

Although supply will always be adjusted to keep the world supply in balance, these relatively new and productive sources of supply will give world markets more flexibility should one major producer suffer an output disruption.

Overall

Nobody knows where prices are going and with so many unknowns in the world’s economies as well as political tensions all over the world, there are variables, both known and unknown that could change the average price of fuel in ways that nobody can forecast. However, if all remains as like it is now, prices at the pump may just remain at these levels at least for the short term.

Image: jo-h

The world’s economies are now completely connected and while this presents exciting opportunities, when one area of the world suffers economic crisis, it affects every economy. You’ve all heard the saying: “When America catches the cold, the rest of the world sneezes. But right now, it’s the Eurozone that’s coming down with a flu. And as they attempt to make sense of recent events and make long term changes that will bring about a resolution to the problems of countries like Greece and Italy, the world’s citizens are feeling the effect of an economy in flux.

A large-scale economic slowdown affects all of us, so we have little choice but to batten down the hatches and make changes to how we live our lives. Here are four actionable tips you can use to get through today’s global economic crisis.

Be Frugal

Cheap healthy meals must be the new normal. Instead of going out to your favourite (and probably overpriced) restaurant, eat at home. Even if you and your spouse went to a community cooking class, you would save more money over time compared to eating out.

The frugal principle should apply to more than just what you eat though. When you go shopping, why buy branded when the generic alternative does just as good a job? Start asking yourself if you even need to buy what you were going to buy. And avoid shopping on impulse as much as you can because you’ll often spend more than you can afford, leaving you in debt.

Be Skeptical

We live in a world where the media affects us in ways that we don’t even realise – a few days of negative news reports and you’d think the sky is falling and the world is about draw to a rather nasty end. But the truth is that any business has to make money to survive, so they have to think of themselves first before thinking of your best interests. The media is in the business of selling ads, without which they won’t survive long.

They make their money by scaring you, angering you, and moving you in some way. The reality is that life has its ups and downs and a large part of it is mundane, but big media can’t tell you that because you wouldn’t pay attention. Be critical of what you read and remember that rarely is anything as bad or as good as they tell you.

Don’t Try to Make Money

If you’re an investor, there are times to preserve money and there are times to make money. Sometimes you play for the offence and sometimes you play for the defence. When economies are slow, hurting, and seem to be a little angry, play for the defence. Safe investments like dividend paying stocks and corporate bonds will still make money – just don’t expect big returns. There will be time for that later. For now, it’s more important to avoid losing money as opposed to losing it.

Why You?

Slow economies cause fear in some and greed in others, but, interestingly, each of these groups catch the attention of people who want to get their hands on the money of the greedy and fearful. During times like these a whole host of alleged money making schemes come on to the market in the hopes of getting your money. While many of these are not actually fraudulent, they aren’t putting your interests and your money first.

Many of these are marketed as an opportunity that only a select few can take advantage of and it is these that are the most dangerous to you. When an offer like this is presented to you, ask yourself what makes you so special? Are you a high net worth individual? Do you hold a lot of political or financial clout? If not, it’s probably not worth your time. Great investment opportunities don’t come to you. You go to them.

The Bottom Line

Times are challenging and they will continue to be challenging for some time to come, with some economic analysts suggesting it will take several years for this whole situation to be resolved. That doesn’t mean that you have to be a victim. If you live like others live, you will see the benefits or the consequences of the masses. Save more, spend less, and make conservative financial decisions. If you do that, the economy may someday be a buying opportunity for you.

Image: the real Kam75

Airline points are perhaps the most popular type of credit card reward in many parts of the world, but when are they worth paying for? And when would you be better off with a basic no fee card instead? Here are five points to consider when you are making your decision.

1. How Much Do You Spend per Year?

First and foremost, this is the most important question to ask yourself. Why? Because most airline cards charge an annual fee. When you think about it, that means the rewards you earn on the first few thousand pounds spent each year basically just offset the annual fee. So in order to come out ahead, these cards are usually most appropriate for those spending at least £15,000 or more per year. If you spend less than that, the value of the rewards might not outweigh the annual fee.

With that said there, the Virgin Atlantic American Express White card charges no annual fee whatsoever, so it’s perfect if you are a light spender!

2. Do You Usually Fly the Same Airline?

Because a given airline card is typically associated with one carrier, they only make sense if you fly that particular airline on a regular basis. However sometimes you can spend your miles on partner airlines, too. For example, in my review of the Chase British Airways card offer (U.S. version) I discuss how the BA Miles can be spent on American Airlines and several other partner carriers. The U.K. version works the same way and actually gives you even better rewards (1.5 miles versus 1.25 on the American version). So something like the British Airways credit card might still make sense, even if you don’t travel on British Airways much.

3. Will You be Transferring a Balance?

If you’re looking for a new credit card and also want to take advantage of a long 0% offer on balance transfers, you might be better off going with a non-airline card instead. Why? Because most of the UK’s airline credit cards aren’t offering very good deals on balance transfers, if at all. You would be much better off going with something like the Halifax balance transfer card or Virgin Money card instead, both of which have lengthy balance transfer offers.

4. Are You Interested in Extra Travel Benefits?

When you pay a fee for these cards, you’re not just paying for the ability to earn frequent flyer miles. You also get a number of other useful benefits that can be invaluable during your travels.

For example with the Virgin Atlantic AmEx Black you get free global travel assistance; a free 24-hour hotline that is available to help you with legal referrals, finding medical care, replacing a lost passport, and other issues that you might encounter while travelling. The British Airways credit card (premium version) offers a travel accident benefit of up to £250,000. Benefits such as these and many others are usually included on the airline cards which have annual fees.

5. Do You Always Pay Your Bill in Full?

The purchase APR on an airline travel card is usually above average. For example, the £150 British Airways card has a 19.9% APR at the time of writing. That’s over 3% higher than the Virgin Money credit card, which touts a 16.8% APR. Other cards currently available have a 0% introductory offer on purchases, often for as long as 12 months. So even though you would be earning miles for your spending, if a rolling balance is carried, the extra money spent on interest alone would probably make the thing an exercise in futility. If you are the type of person who tends to not pay their bill in full each month, then rewards shouldn’t be your top priority when choosing a new credit card.

This post was contributed by Michael, the founder of CreditCardForum, a site he founded in 2008 for US consumers. You can catch him blogging there daily, his most recent posting being a list of the top 10 credit cards to have for 2011-2012 (just to clarify that’s for the top 10 US credit cards, not UK).

Image: Mark Winterbourne