Summer fun 2025
The school holidays are here and that means that many families will be looking at places to visit before the kids go back to school in September. At Sycamore Trust, we know how challenging this six week period can be, so we've out together a list of places you may like to consider visiting over the next six weeks.
Some of these activities are free, and some are not. We've not been to all of these places and we're not recommending any of them, they are merely suggestions. We've added a website link next to every venue, so please check out their websites before you visit to find out everything you need to know about ticketing, SEN facilities, parking, public transport, food & drink and so on.
At the bottom of the page, there is a buitton you can click to download the toolkit, but lots of the places are listed here!
Sunshine not guaranteed!!
Southend sea life centre - https://sealifeadventure.co.uk/
Southend Adventure Island - https://adventureisland.co.uk/
Barking Splash park (Barking Park) - https://splashparkbarking.com/
All things Alpaca- Lathcoats Farm, Chelmsford - https://www.allthingsalpacauk.co.uk/
Cudmore Grove country park & Mersea Island beach-Mersea Colchester - https://www.explore-essex.com/places-to-go/find-whats-near-me/cudmore-grove-country-park
The London Transport Museum in Covent Garden is a great day out
Stubbers adventure centre-Upminster - https://www.stubbers.co.uk/
Grays beach River side Park-Grays Thurrock - https://www.thurrock.gov.uk/grays-beach-riverside-park/overview
Thames chase including adapted bike hire facility-Upminster - https://www.thameschase.org.uk/
Daymes Hall Aerodrome-Hornchurch - https://www.damynshall.co.uk/
Colchester castle-Colchester - https://colchester.cimuseums.org.uk/visit/colchester-castle/
Colchester Zoo - https://www.colchesterzoologicalsociety.com/
Babylon Park-Camden London - https://babylonpark.com/london/
Discovery children’s story centre-Stratford - https://discover.org.uk/
Hainault Forest country park-Redbridge - https://hainaultforest.org/
Thorndon Country park-Brentwood - https://www.thameschase.org.uk/visitor-centres/brentwood/thorndon-country-park-north
Langtons Gardens-Hornchurch - https://www.langtons-house.co.uk/house-gardens/langtons-gardens/
Queens Theatre-Hornchurch - https://queens-theatre.co.uk/
Cottons Park-Romford - https://www.havering.gov.uk/parks-1/cottons-park
Lawns Park-Romford - https://www.havering.gov.uk/parks-1/lawns-park
Kidspace-Romford - https://kidspaceadventures.com/romford/
Oxygen trampoline park-Romford - https://oxygenactiveplay.co.uk/activity-parks/romford/
Rainham Marshes-Rainham - https://www.rspb.org.uk/days-out/reserves/rainham-marshes
Partyman world-Lakeside - https://partymanworld.co.uk/location/lakeside/
Raphaels Park-Romford - https://www.havering.gov.uk/parks-1/raphael-park
Namco bowling-Romford - https://www.namcofunscape.com/locations/romford
Golf Kingdom-Dagenham - https://golfkingdom.net/
Fairlop waters-Redbridge - https://visionrcl.org.uk/centre/fairlop-waters-country-park/
Weald country park-Brentwood - https://www.explore-essex.com/places-to-go/find-whats-near-me/weald-country-park
Great Notley Country park-Braintree - https://www.explore-essex.com/places-to-go/find-whats-near-me/great-notley-country-park
Belhus woods-Aveley - https://www.explore-essex.com/places-to-go/find-whats-near-me/belhus-woods-country-park
Hopefield sanctuary-Brentwood - https://hopefield.org.uk/
Grange waters outdoor activity centre-South Okendon - https://www.thurrock.gov.uk/grangewaters-outdoor-education-centre/grangewaters
Barnards miniature railway-Brentwood - https://barnardsminiaturerailway.eu/
Epping Ongar railway-Ongar - https://www.eorailway.co.uk/
Audley End-Saffron Walden - https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/audley-end-house-and-gardens/
Marsh Farm-Chelmsford - https://www.marshfarm.co.uk/
Kelvedon Hatch nuclear secret bunker-Brentwood - https://secretnuclearbunker.com/
Cutty Sark clipper-London - https://www.rmg.co.uk/cutty-sark
Tower of London-London - https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/
HMS Belfast-London - https://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/hms-belfast
Leisure world-Colchester - https://colchesterleisureworld.co.uk/
Barley lands Farm-Billericay - https://www.barleylands.co.uk/
Maldon splash park-Maldon - https://www.visitmaldon.co.uk/sitecontact3/
V&A Museum of childhood (now Young V&A) - London - https://www.vam.ac.uk/young?srsltid=AfmBOopKYEPmW8UBRBd0sdU8HPZ4555XucOqteYYcBvIuxni4lb7ZjYj
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park-Stratford - https://www.queenelizabetholympicpark.co.uk/
Hornchurch country Park-Hornchurch - https://www.havering.gov.uk/parks-1/hornchurch-country-park
Old Macdonalds farm-Brentwood - https://www.omdfarm.co.uk/
Wellgate farm-Romford - https://wellgatefarm.org/
Valence House-Dagenham - https://valencehousecollections.co.uk/?doing_wp_cron=1753087564.4440429210662841796875
Parsloes Park-Dagenham - https://www.lbbd.gov.uk/find-your-nearest/parsloes-park
Harold wood park-Harold wood - https://www.havering.gov.uk/parks-1/harold-wood-park
Mayesbrook park-Dagenham - https://www.lbbd.gov.uk/find-your-nearest/mayesbrook-park
Bedfords park-Romford - https://www.havering.gov.uk/parks-1/bedfords-park
King George’s park-Brentwood - https://www.brentwood.gov.uk/parks-and-playing-fields
Clacton beach and pier-Clacton - https://www.clactonpier.co.uk/
Hylands house/park-Chelmsford - https://hylandsestate.co.uk/
Transport museum-London - https://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/
Sunshine & Smiles