Think again. These free, under-the-radar locations tell a different story.

It’s free to visit the Victorian canal system in the Castlefield area of Manchester (Image: Getty)

Quiet, scenic and often overlooked, they’re all completely free to visit – and some even include free parking.

1. Aberdulais, Wales

Tucked away in a wooded gorge, Aberdulais Tin Works and Waterfall feels like a secret slice of wild Wales. The powerful waterfall crashes beside a historic water wheel, once vital to industry. It’s rarely crowded, especially midweek, and there’s the added bonus of free parking nearby.

2. Castlefield Viaduct, Manchester

A surprising escape above the city streets, like Manchester’s own high line, Castlefield Viaduct is still relatively unknown compared to New York’s skyline gardens. This elevated green space blends urban views with wild planting, making it a peaceful retreat many visitors overlook.

Manchester’s industrial past against the modern city at Castlefield Viaduct. (Image: Getty)

3. Chirk Castle Estate, Wales

While the castle draws crowds, the wider grounds of Chirk Castle remain a hidden gem. Wander through ancient woodland, spot rare bats and follow quiet stretches of Offa’s Dyke – all without paying entry. Even better, parking here is free.

4. Divis and the Black Mountain, Northern Ireland

Often missed by tourists heading elsewhere, Divis and the Black Mountain offers some of the best views over Belfast. Wide open spaces and peaceful trails mean you can walk for miles without the crowds – plus there’s free parking.

5. Downs Banks, Staffordshire

This “little wilderness” at Downs Banks is one of the Trust’s best-kept secrets. Expect rolling heath, woodland and far-reaching views, with far fewer visitors than better-known beauty spots. Free parking is available, though limited.

6. Kinver Edge, Staffordshire

Despite its dramatic scenery, Kinver Edge often flies under the radar. Walk along sandstone ridges, discover historic rock houses and enjoy sweeping views – all without paying a penny. Free lay-by parking makes it even easier to visit.

From secret waterfalls to quiet estates, these little-known National Trust places are free to explore (Image: Getty)

7. Morden Hall Park, London

Even in London, hidden gems exist. Morden Hall Park is a peaceful riverside escape that many visitors miss in favour of bigger parks. With wetlands, gardens and quiet walking routes, it feels worlds away from the city – and offers limited free parking.

8. Penrose Estate, Cornwall

While Cornwall’s beaches steal the spotlight, Penrose Estate remains a quieter alternative. Encircling Loe Pool, it offers miles of scenic trails through woodland and farmland, plus a free public car park nearby.

9. Pin Mill, Suffolk

A tranquil riverside spot, Pin Mill is often overlooked by those heading to busier coastal towns. With its literary links and peaceful walks, it’s a true hidden gem – and easy to explore with nearby parking.

Recommended reading:

10. Rayleigh Mount, Essex

Right in the centre of town, Rayleigh Mount is a surprising secret. Once home to a medieval castle, it’s now a quiet green space filled with wildlife and views.

Most people pass by without realising its history – or that it’s completely free.

If you’re looking to dodge crowds and save money, these lesser-known National Trust spots prove the best days out are often the ones nobody else knows about.

Hamerton Zoo is not only home to wonderful animals but also play areas and a miniature train ride

A day trip to the zoo is enough to keep any child happy. But if you pair it with a miniature train ride and hours spent running around an exciting playground, you might be able to enjoy the perfect day with your whole family.

Hamerton Zoo could be an ideal place to go for the day, especially if you and your family love animals. The zoo is home to a range of wild animals such as big cats like the Bengal tiger and cheetahs as well as bears, otters and zebras.

You can also spot some domestic animals around the zoo from alpacas and camels to donkeys and sheep. For those who like more exotic animals, there is a whole section for lizards, snakes, and even Australian lungfish.

If you want to get up close to some of the animals rather than watching them from afar, you could book one of the animal encounter experiences. You can choose from a few different animals to meet like the lemurs and meerkats and get some extras including a personalised certificate and cuddly toy to remember the day by.

During the animal encounter experiences, you will be able to feed the animals and go inside their enclosures to help groom them. For experiences involving tigers, bears and cheetahs, you will be able to feed them from behind their fenced-in enclosure.

Hamerton Zoo not only has plenty of animals to see but lots of other activities to get involved in. The tree tops play area features a range of things for children to explore from a zip rope, swings, and slides to climbing cubes with plenty of outdoor seating for parents to watch from.

For younger children, there is a separate play zone with smaller swings, a miniature slide, and a climbing frame that is ideal for those under five years old. On weekends and throughout the school holidays, the K-T Express Railroad Train runs throughout the day.

The miniature train ride will take children around the picnic area and through the dinosaur exhibit. It is described as being a “fun and relaxing way to see part of the park”.

While you are free to bring your own food to the zoo, you might want to treat yourself to something from the onsite coffee shop. The coffee shop offers a range of hot and cold drinks as well as light snacks and food to help fuel you for the day.

Tickets for the zoo cost £19.99 for adults and £15.99 for children between the ages of three and 15. Children under three can get into the zoo for free.

Hamerton Zoo can be found along Hamerton Road and is around a 42-minute drive away from Cambridge via the A14. There is a free car park onsite for visitors to use.

If you can say the name of a wine without stuttering, don’t order it.  

Sure, we can all pronounce Sauvignon Blanc, Sancerre, Chablis, Côtes du Rhône and Malbec, but be warned, the ones that roll off the tongue come with the addition of a ‘pronunciation tax’.

And because it’s even easier to say ‘second wine down, please’, those come with an ‘idiot tax’ slapped on, that 80% of diners don’t know they’re paying.

If you want to drink like an insider, there’s one hack to follow, the experts say, that works every time and will ensure you’re sipping the highest quality wine for the least amount of money.

The trick is simply to order the drink you can’t pronounce.

Why it’s a good idea to go for a wine you can’t pronounce

Not many people know this, but there are certain wines on the menu that the sommelier or restaurant owner personally likes.

They squirrel them away, in nooks around the wine list. These are the bottles the staff would actually drink themselves.

These will be wines made from grapes with names that are extremely tricky to pronounce, like Agiorgitiko, Nerello Mascalese or Xinomavro.

See? They’re hard to get your mouth around.

And the best bit? The margins on the unpronounceable wines are significantly lower and provide incredible value for money. They aggressively mark them down in price to keep the stock moving.

You could say, they’re passion project wines, made from more unusual grapes, which sommeliers or restaurant owners put on their list because they make them tick. Many are under-the-radar wines, which they’ve found on a buying trip or a tasting that they simply had to put on the list, despite being a far harder sell.

Maxim Kassir, Head of Wine at The Aubrey at Mandarin Oriental Hotel in London, confirms that the less familiar wines on the list are the better value choice.

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He tells Metro: ‘Naturally, the demand for famous names is higher. Most guests prefer to stay on the beaten path. And as demand increases, so does the price – simple economics.

‘Wines off the beaten path can offer great value for money. They are often the underdogs, but that’s exactly where the opportunity is. 

‘If guests can describe their preferences and are open to trying something different, sommeliers will always have a few cards up their sleeve.’

He continues: ‘Personally, I look for wines made from indigenous grape varieties rather than international ones. Who needs another Chardonnay from Abruzzo? I’d rather go for Pecorino.’

The wines to avoid

The wines that keep the restaurant’s lights on are the likes of Sauvignon Blanc, Prosecco, Merlot, Pinot Grigio, you get the picture.

For example, at the Ivy Brasserie, a bottle of Touriga Nacional from Portugal is £47.85 a bottle, while the Argentinian Malbec starts at £57. Both bottles retail for similar prices in stores.

That’s because the popular wines work on a standard gross profit margin of 75% GP, minimum. Often 85% at swanky London restaurants. This means that a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, that cost the restaurant £8 a bottle, can be found on a wine list for £55.

Equally, to encourage people to taste Mencia from Spain or Austrian Zweigelt, restaurants often drop their margins to 50-60%. So, you may end up paying £30 for a bottle that costs the restaurant £15, which doubles the quality in your glass for basically half the price.

Meanwhile, the second ‘cheapest’ on the list is a trap, as it’s often the most profitable wine for the restaurant. It’s no secret that these are prime fodder for people who don’t want to opt for the house wine for fear of appearing tightfisted.  

What to do if you can’t afford the wine you can’t pronounce?

Go for another wine you can’t pronounce, that’s cheaper.

There’s always one that’s cheaper.

And if you don’t want to wade through pages of a wine list, call over the sommelier or waiter and point to the sort of price you’re able to pay and say: ‘Do you have anything really unusual for that price? I like a Pinot Noir in style.’

With that in mind, if you want to dodge the ‘pronunciation tax’ this year, look for these grapes, which are the ones being championed by UK sommeliers and restaurant owners.

And just remember, if you have to point at the wine list because you’re afraid of mangling the name, you’ve made the right choice.

Unique wines to look out for on restaurant menus

Assrytiko (ass-ear-tea-koh)

If you like Chablis (but not the strain on your wallet) and other uber-dry, clean and zesty whites, this is for you. It’s grown in mainland Greece and Santorini, and has a touch of salinity thanks to the volcanic soil.

Grüner Veltliner (groo-na-velt-leena)

For anyone who’s developed Sauvignon Blanc-fatigue and wants to try something similar, but different. Often called Gru-Vee, this is Austria’s flagship white, and gives a naughty lick of white pepper on the finish.

Godello (go-day-yo)

Albariño’s neighbour in northern Spain, but nowhere near as well-known. It’s the sommelier’s secret weapon, zesty in its youth and leaning more towards a richer White Burgundy with a bit of age, and a fraction of the price tag.

Xinomavro (Zeen-oh-mav-roh)

Greece’s signature red grape produces wines not dissimilar in style to Barolo, minus the money drain. It translates as ‘sour and black’, and it’s grown extensively in Macedonia.

Touriga Nacional (tour-eeger-nass-eeon-al)

Portugal’s flagship red grape and the backbone grape of Port. In its non-Port form, the wines are slightly Cabernet-like, with a bergamot note, like it’s been dunked with an Earl Grey teabag. I mean that in a good way.

Frappato (Fra-pat-oh)

Like a bit of Beaujolais? Give Frappato from Sicily a chance. Similar softness, fruitiness and lack of mouth-drying tannins. It’s chillable too, so be sure to show it the fridge for 20 minutes before quaffing.

And Maxim also has a few thoughts on wine to keep an eye out for on the menu.

He adds: ‘People should make a beeline for Slovenian Rebula (complex, savoury, mineral-driven), Feteasca Alba from Moldova (light and fresh with ripe stone fruit flavours), and Saperavi from Georgia (structured, full-bodied wines with lots of black fruit).’

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Adam Kindon, 24, of Sunnyview Terrace, Leeds, pleaded guilty to dangerous riding of a motorbike and cannabis riding on the A1(M) and A64 near Tadcaster and was found guilty of wilfully interrupting court proceedings for shouting insults in court while being sentenced.  He was jailed for 12 months, banned from driving for 66 months and ordered to take an extended driving test before driving alone again.

Daniel Wilson, 33, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to stealing beer, crisps and a pretzel roll worth £24.15 from Sainsbury’s in Piccadilly, York, and assaulting a police officer.  He was given a nine-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months on condition he does six months’ alcohol treatment and 20 days’ rehabilitative activities. He must pay £100 compensation to the police officer and £24.15 compensation to Sainsbury’s.

Robbie Maynard, 18, of Malton Road, Rillington, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving on the A64 at Rillington. He was given a 12-month community order with 80 hours’ unpaid work. He was banned from driving for 12 months and ordered to take an extended driving test before driving unsupervised again. He must pay £85 prosecution costs.

Those near Bury Old Road in Ainsworth have been warned they may experience low water pressure or no supply while engineers investigate a reported issue in the area.

United Utilities said it is currently looking into the problem.

In a message to residents, the company said: “We’re investigating a problem in your area that may be causing no water or low pressure.

“We’re really sorry for any disruption, we hope to have your taps flowing again soon.

“We’ll be back in touch once we have an update. Thanks for your patience.”

It is not yet clear what has caused the issue or how many properties have been affected.

Engineers are understood to be working to identify and resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

United Utilities has not confirmed whether the problem is due to a burst pipe, leak or another fault.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman might do something this weekend he’s never done in his storied NFL career: draft a player who will take a pay cut by entering the league.

It won’t be the last time, either.

The minimum salary for an NFL draft pick in 2026 is slotted at $915,120. But with college revenue sharing going into effect before the 2025 season — top programs are now spending up to $20.5 million on student-athletes, with the majority earmarked for the most talented football players — there are undoubtably players who will be drafted Saturday who topped the million-dollar mark last season and will earn less in the pros.

At least in Year 1.

Most of the players making more than $1 million in college football are quarterbacks. Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and Alabama’s Ty Simpson were first-round draft picks, with Mendoza going No. 1 to the Las Vegas Raiders and Simpson surprisingly landing with the Los Angeles Rams at No. 13.

Mendoza’s NFL rookie deal is slotted to top $57 million, including nearly $10.5 million in 2026. Simpson’s contract will be roughly half that — $25.4 million total, including $4.6 million in the first year.

LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier and Miami’s Carson Beck are projected to be the next quarterbacks selected, with both potentially coming off the board in the second or third round Friday night — and both likely earning less as NFL rookies than they made as established college starters.

Same goes for fellow QBs Drew Allar (Penn State), Taylen Green (Arkansas), Cole Payton (North Dakota State), Sawyer Robertson (Baylor), Cade Klubnik (Clemson), Joey Aguilar (Tennessee) and others.

Although revenue share payments are typically undisclosed, name, image and likeness valuations are much more public. Nearly half of the top 50 NIL valuations in 2025 belonged to QBs, according to On3, with two dozen of those over $1.5 million.

“They come in almost like pros now,” Raiders general manager John Spytek said. “I actually think it’s made it easier because you know what the guys are going to do when they have money.

“You know the ones that love the game and are about the right things, and just because they’ve got more money than we all had when we were in college, they still prepare the right way, they play the right way, they love the game, they’re there for their teammates. I think it’s kind of been a little bit illuminating to the character of who they are.”

The financial component has less of an impact on NFL decision-makers as the age issue.

Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said this is the third consecutive year in which 18% of the team’s draft board is comprised of players at least 24 years old. That number used to be 4%, he added.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused the initial age surge. But soaring NIL payments and rev share could be the deciding force for years to come.

“That’s something that we don’t really understand fully and what that means,” DeCosta said. “I don’t think it’s a good thing, certainly. But historically we’ve tried to draft younger players when we can. That’s been something that we feel strongly (about), but now we’ve got 18% of the draft board that’s over 24 years old. So that’s going to change the way that maybe we target players.”

And some of them will be millionaires before they even sign an NFL contract.

“That’s interesting. I don’t know that it’s rooted in financial thoughts as much as you talk about age quite a bit and whether or not tread on the tires is something of note,” Jacksonville Jaguars general manager James Gladstone said. “I think most of the times the guys have a little bit more financial awareness, and that can be a really helpful tool.

“The fact that they’re not just being dumped a good chunk of cash for the first time when they enter the NFL. They now have some version of experience navigating that, and that can be a really helpful piece for sure.”

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

RACHAEL Maskell is right to campaign for the Bootham Park Hospital (BPH) site to be bought and used for the ‘the public good.’ (The Press, April 23 – ‘Why this York building should be for all of us’).

However I disagree with her over allocating some of the land to ‘affordable housing’.

For many families even that is out of reach. Better to follow the example of the Attlee 1945-51 government and build council houses – a public good which will remain (unless we get another Thatcher) with the public.

Rachael says her ‘priority for the legacy of BPH has always been the mental health of York residents’.

There is nothing like having one’s own front door, somewhere to raise a family and go to school from, to provide the security on which mental health is founded.

Harold Mozley,

Blakeney Place,

York

Read more:

….RACHAEL Maskell once again raised the issue of Bootham Park Hospital in Prime Ministers Questions.

The Prime Minister replied that he was aware of the concerns of Yorks citizens and understood the site was under offer.

It was reported that the prospective buyers wish to start work before the current planning permission ends on May 17.

So what is the situation? Is it sold or is it not?

In 2023 plans were put before City of York Council by the then prospective purchasers, Early Retirement Living and were passed although the vote was not unanimous.

This company then decided not to proceed. Now a company Timeless Holdings Ltd and Stonehouse Projects Ltd have applied to have four conditions of the planning permission discharged so they can begin work before May 17.

So my question is, are these companies in a position to begin work on the site if the purchase is not completed?

Secondly what is City of York Council’s position on this confusing situation?

While some members may feel it is a pragmatic decision to allow another piece of York’s history to be destroyed, with the greatest of respect I would remind them of their responsibilities to conserve and defend York’s heritage and to represent its citizens.

This cannot be achieved by adopting a supine position. Sad to say my comments appear to apply to the great and good of York whose purpose is surely to be active in the protection of our heritage.

I write on behalf of a group of people who have campaigned to save BPH since its precipitate closure in 2015.

We are certainly not experts in planning law so clarification on the points raised would be most gratefully received.

Ann Weerakoon,

Fulford Park House,

York

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Thank Donald Trump for holiday mayhem

“LET’S bomb Iran quick and get out quicker” has not only raised the cost of living globally but has also raised the cost of global travel.

Jet fuel has already doubled in price. Holidays will be hit either by flights being cancelled or by an increase in ticket prices.

Long haul flights, to Australia for example, are already suffering by having to avoid Iranian airspace, making it necessary to refuel in Singapore.

Added to this is the very real possibility that some airlines may have to lay off cabin crew, pilots, caterers, baggage handlers, cleaners, air traffic controllers and probably airport shop staff.

Imagine the knock-on effect of all that. So, when you’re looking forward to two weeks in Benidorm and things start to go pear shaped, thank Donald Trump and his massive ego.

Nigel Cummings,

Charlton Street,

York

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Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) has announced ambitions to “kick on” by increasing its powers and funding. Combined Authority Mayor Paul Bristow has written to central government asking for CPCA to be designated as an Established Mayoral Strategic Authority.

The move has the unanimous backing of the Combined Authority Board, made up of local council leaders. If granted, it would see a significant increase in the powers and funding made available to deliver greater growth and prosperity across the region.

“Cambridgeshire and Peterborough is ready to kick on,” Mayor Bristow said. “Established status would give us the tools to deliver better transport, more jobs, improve skills, and speed up the regeneration and housing our communities need.

“It’s about backing regions that are ready to lead and making sure we get our fair share of Government funding.”

In his letter to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Mayor Bristow, outlined how the Combined Authority meets all eligibility criteria for Established status. This includes operating with a directly elected Mayor since 2017, maintaining strong governance and financial oversight, and demonstrating a proven delivery record on complex, large-scale programmes.

“We’ve proven we can deliver,” he said. “ARU Peterborough fixed a decades-long gap in higher education; we’re the first predominantly rural Combined Authority progressing bus franchising, and we’re leading the UK’s largest Levelling Up project at Peterborough Station Quarter.”

Mayor Bristow believes gaining Established status will help CPCA deliver its showpiece Local Growth Plan, an ambitious blueprint to grow the regional economy to £97 billion by 2050.

“My ambition in our Local Growth Plan is clear: let’s triple the economy and make this region healthier, wealthier and happier. To do that, we need the deeper devolution, greater flexibility, and long-term funding certainty that Established status brings,” he said.

“It’s time to back Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and I’m looking forward to working with the Secretary of State to take this next step.”

Over 250 guests attended the red-carpet premiere

A red-carpet premiere in North Belfast has put the spotlight on how young people are using film to challenge attitudes around violence against women and girls.

More than 250 invited guests gathered at Movie House Cinemas in Cityside on 23 April for a Cinemagic showcase marking the work of 120 participants involved in a series of film programmes backed by the Department of Education and The Executive Office. The event, hosted by Pete Snodden, featured six short films tackling themes at the heart of the Northern Ireland Executive’s Ending Violence Against Women and Girls strategy.

Among the highlights were Before/After and Not That Bad, developed by pupils from Blessed Trinity College in Belfast and St Joseph’s Boys’ High School in Newry. Working alongside writer-director Aidan Largey and local film crews, the young participants took the projects from script to screen, following workshops in script development and filmmaking and culminating in intensive two-day shoots.

The films do not shy away from difficult subject matter. Alongside the two latest productions, Closed Doors, Message Sent, Impact, and Likes explore issues including consent, coercive control, mental health and harmful attitudes towards women and girls. Some have already gained recognition beyond Northern Ireland, with Impact picking up Best Film and Best Actress for Eimear Bailie at the Round Reel International Film Festival in New Jersey and screening at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

The initiative is designed not only to build technical skills but to give young people a platform to shape conversations around social change. By placing those voices at the centre, organisers hope the films can contribute to a wider cultural shift.

First Minister Michelle O’Neill said: “Ending violence against women and girls is a priority for the Executive. We recently launched our Second Delivery Plan to build on the work we have done to date, and this initiative with Cinemagic is an important part of that work. Working together across the creative and education sectors, it will support young people to challenge harmful attitudes and engage in important conversations about consent, equality and respect.

“Crucially, it will help embed the key values of Ending Violence Against Women and Girls into the heart of communities, while empowering the next generation to play an active role in driving change.”

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly added: “These thought-provoking short films demonstrate the importance of meaningful engagement with young people around the issues of violence and coercive control by encouraging empathy, understanding, and responsibility.

“We recently launched our second Delivery Plan for the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Strategic Framework and prevention is at the heart of it. This collaboration with Cinemagic is a brilliant example of using a creative approach to encourage young people to think about their actions and play their part in bringing about lasting change. Thank you to everyone involved in this initiative for helping us to highlight this important issue in such an impactful way.”

Education Minister Paul Givan, who attended the premiere, praised the young people for their work.

“It was a pleasure to attend this event and recognise the creativity, partnership and most importantly, the young people whose voices and vision are at the heart of this project,” he said.

“The films created by the young people in Newry and North Belfast shine a light not only on the issues that matter to them, but also on their determination to be part of the solutions. I commend Cinemagic for their long-standing commitment to nurturing young talent, and to the schools and partners who supported this inspiring piece of work.”

Cinemagic’s chief executive, Joan Burney Keatings MBE, thanked the Department of Education and The Executive Office for their support on the project.

“With thanks to the Department of Education and The Executive Office for supporting the productions in Belfast and Newry, and supporting the showcase, we have been able to present an incredible body of work produced in collaboration with many partners who share Cinemagic’s passion and ethos,” she said.

“Film is a brilliant way to connect with all members of society and to illustrate the impact of violence against women and girls, and the need to change attitudes and behaviours.

“Cinemagic has been so impressed with the enthusiasm and dedication of the teenagers and young adults involved in all six of the productions premiered, and we have been able to highlight what is possible when the creative industries, government, education and community unite to achieve a common goal. We are proud of the work we have produced and look forward to reaching more audiences as the films are screened and promoted throughout Northern Ireland and further afield.”

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