7 Lord Street, Watford, Herts WD17 2LL T 01923 248010 F 01923 248748 E [email protected] W www.home-startwatford.org.uk Home-Start Places to go in the Watford & Three Rivers Summer Holidays At Home-Start, we understand how difficult it can be to entertain children for the 6 week holiday. We have therefore pulled together information from various sources to provide a guide to activities for families over the summer holidays. Firstly, check out the timetables for your local Children’s Centres. The Children’s Centres or Home-Start Office can give you hard copies of these, or alternatively use the links below to find activities in your local area:- Leavesden, Three Villages, Abbots Langley, Berrygrove, Beechfield, Bushey Mill and the Reddings Children’s Centres http://www.hertsmere-children.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Programme- Summer2015-Bushey-Watford-Hemel-Leavesden.pdf Littlebury and Westfield Children’s Centres (Central and West Watford) www.hertschildrenscentres.org.uk/westfield/whats_on/index.html Chorleywood & Loudwater, Rickmansworth and Croxley Green Children’s Centres http://www.trwcc.org/docs/Summer_Activities_Three_Rivers_West.pdf Ebury, South Oxhey and Sunshine Children’s Centres (Oxhey) http://www.hertschildrenscentres.org.uk/ebury/documents/summer_timetable_o xhey_group.pdf You can also find information on the District Councils websites: Three Rivers District Council Summer Holiday activities - hard copies of this guide are available in the Home- Start office http://www.threerivers.gov.uk/egcl-page/children-and-young-people Explore the local area http://www.threerivers.gov.uk/egcl-page/play-areas RegisteredRegister. in England and Wales no. 5385393 Registered charity no. 1108847 Watford District Council This is a day by day guide to activities being run locally. www.watford.gov.uk/ccm/content/calendar/#day.php?day=2015-08-04 http://www.watfordbigevents.co.uk/diary-dates http://www.watfordlibdems.org/school_s_out_for_summer We’ve also put together Home-Start’s top tips for places to go:- 1. Parks Cassiobury Park, Watford – make the most of the splash area, mini train and adventure playgrounds. http://www.watfordlibdems.org/school_s_out_for_summer King George Recreation Ground, Bushey – enjoy the paddling pool, sandpit and zip wire https://www.hertsmere.gov.uk/Parks--Leisure/Parks--Open- Spaces/Park-Facilities/Bushey/King-George-Recreation-Ground.aspx Rickmansworth Aquadrome – enjoy a stroll around the lakes, let off steam on the adventure playground or try out some water sports. There are also events taking place throughout the summer. http://www.threerivers.gov.uk/egcl-page/rickmansworth-aquadrome 2. Leisure Centres Watford Leisure Centre Woodside Leisure Centre Bushey Grove Leisure Centre Sir James Altham Swimming Pool, Carpenders Park William Penn Leisure Centre, Rickmansworth The Centre, South Oxhey. Most local centres offer free swimming for under 18’s during the summer holidays – please check with your local centre. They also have fun inflatable swimming sessions and other activities for children, including playschemes. 3. Farms Willows Farm, London Colney - use the Home-Start annual passes for a free day out! Langleybury Farm, Hunton Bridge – Get up close to your favourite farmyard animals. http://www.langleyburyfarm.co.uk Aldenham Country Park - Enjoy a walk around the reservoir, visit Winnie the Pooh in 100 acer wood and explore the adventure playground. At additional cost, you can also do pony rides, tree climbing and visit the animals on the farm. http://aldenhamcountrypark.co.uk/ Farmyard Funworld, Bushey – Ideal for children who like to feed, stroke and handle animals. Explore the adventure playground too. http://www.farmyardfunworld.co.uk/farmyard 4. Soft Play Centres In wet weather, allow the kids to let of steam at one of the play centres:- Gambados, Watford - www.gambado.com/centres/indoor-play- centre-watford Parents Paradise, Bushey - www.parentsparadise.eu Funworld, Bushey - www.farmyardfunworld.co.uk/funworld.html 5. Whippendell Woods Have a Teddy Bears picnic, build a den or marvel at the wildlife! http://cassioburypark.info/whippendell-wood/ 6. Cheslyn House and Gardens Come and explore this ‘secret’ garden! www.watford.gov.uk/ccm/content/leisure-and-community/cheslyn-house- and-gardens.en 7. Treasure Hunts Geocaching Great fun for older children – go on a treasure hunt using sat nav and find items that have been hidden away from the public! https://www.geocaching.com/play Treasure trails Suitable for younger and older children. Explore the local areas by completing a treasure trail, download from this site (small charge applies) http://www.treasuretrails.co.uk/ 8. Pretend you’re at the seaside…! Ruislip Lido http://www.hillingdon.gov.uk/ruisliplido 9. Further Afield….. For a bigger adventure, head into London. Children are free on the trains, buses and tubes. Examples of free activities in London are:- National Portrait Gallery, British Museum V&A Museum Science Museum Natural History Museum A walk through Harrods Tate Britain Tate Modern Street performers on Southbank Photo with the Queen's Guard on horseback at Horse Guard's Parade West End Live Camden Market Imperial War Museum 10. For fun, local activities that cost a bit more… Hollywood Bowl – family games of bowling from £19.99 www.hollywoodbowl.co.uk/our_centres/watford Topgolf – play a unique game of golf, or try your hand at adventure golf. Kids games from £4.50, check out the website for offers http://topgolf.com/uk/watford/ Laser Planet – let of steam and be of a team mission! Family games around £38 www.laser-planet.co.uk/index.php Vue Cinema – if the weather isn’t great, curl up with some popcorn and watch a great film – and during the summer holidays kids can go between 9am – 11am for £1.99 www.myvue.com/offers-competitions/kids-am Palace Theatre or Watersmeet Theatre – for live theatre, or to watch a film, head to one of our two theatres www.watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk http://www.watersmeet.co.uk/ Chiltern Open Air Museum – for fun events and activities http://www.coam.org.uk/whats-on/events/ ENJOY THE HOLIDAYS! .