12 Free Apps to Spark Curiosity
- Jun 3
- 2 min read
You do not need to travel far or spend money to discover something new.
These free apps can help you explore nature, music, history, art and the world around you from your garden, local park or favourite armchair.
Sometimes all it takes is noticing something you had not noticed before.
Merlin Bird ID
Listen to birdsong and Merlin tells you which birds it can hear in real time.
Try this: Sit outside for 10 minutes and see how many different birds visit your garden.
Seek
Point your camera at flowers, trees, insects or fungi and discover what they are.
Try this: Find five different wildflowers on a walk.
SkyView
Identify stars, planets and constellations simply by pointing your phone at the sky.
Try this: Find Venus, often visible shortly after sunset.
Shazam
Hear a song you recognise but can't quite place? Shazam identifies it instantly.
Try this: Create a playlist of songs from your 'reminiscence bump' (between your teens and twenties)
DailyArt
One famous artwork each day with a short, fascinating story.
Try this: Share your favourite artwork with someone else and discuss what you notice.
Libby
Borrow audiobooks, magazines and eBooks free through your local library.
Try this: Listen to a book while gardening, knitting or walking.
BBC Sounds
Thousands of radio programmes, dramas, documentaries and music stations.
Try this: Search for a programme about somewhere you've always wanted to visit.
Google Earth
Visit almost anywhere in the world without leaving home.
Try this: Look up where you were born, where you honeymooned or where your grandparents lived.
Go Jauntly
Discover local walking routes, many designed to be short and accessible.
Try this: Explore a route you've never noticed before.
Jigsaw Puzzle Collection HD
Free digital jigsaw puzzles with adjustable difficulty levels.
Try this: Choose a puzzle featuring a place you've visited.
Google Lens
Point your camera at almost anything and learn more about it.
Try this: Identify a plant, landmark, old photograph or interesting object around your home.
WindowSwap
A wonderfully simple website that lets you look out of someone else's window somewhere in the world.
Try this: Spend five minutes looking out of a window in Japan, Canada or Argentina and imagine the story of the person who lives there.
Good Company Summer Curiosity Challenge
Why not challenge yourself to discover:
✅ One new bird
✅ One new flower
✅ One new piece of music
✅ One new place in the world
✅ One new fact
✅ One new conversation
You don't need to travel miles or spend money. Curiosity is one of the simplest ways to keep our minds active and connected to the world around us.
As one member told us:
"I've realised I don't need excitement. I just need something interesting to notice each day."
That's a lovely definition of ageing well.