Hello everyone, There's plenty of time to go Pumpkin Picking this month, here are a few of the farms closest to London, where you can pick your own. This year, booking ahead is essential, with timed entry slots at many farms and no tickets on the door, but there is plenty of availability at the moment, and extra activities on for October half term: Crockbridge Farm in Surrey, They are still having their annual pumpkin festival and halloween dress up. The ice cream parlour is open (hooray!) and the tea shack will be serving up hot chocolate and toffee apples! Secrett's Farm in Surrey, will also be running tractor rides and serving pumpkin soup and pumpkin cake. Willow's Farm in Hertfordshire also has an indoor soft play, adventure playground and animal feeding. Cammas Hall Farm in Hertfordshire has a maize maze, halloween crafts, and a well stocked farm shop. for weekends and half term, they'll be firing up the BBQ and Pizza Oven and serving pumpkin spiced lattes and mulled apple juice. Priory Farm in Surrey, this year there are tractor rides to the pumpkin field and a Halloween trail (help the Priory Farm Police solve the mystery of the missing pumpkins!) Bockett's Farm, Surrey, it doesn't have a pumpkin patch, strictly speaking, but you can still purchase homegrown pumpkins from them and there is tons of Halloween activities for half term, including science and slime shows, tractor and trailer rides and the indoor and outdoor play areas. Foxes Farm, Essex.  You can pick your own or choose from ready-cut pumpkins, climb on a straw bale sofa and enjoy wheelbarrow rides.
Half Term
Sharkey & George October Half Term Holiday Camp at Fulham Palace. Ages 5 - 11. Fun activities for your kids all day, from 9am-4pm.
Horniman Museum Where's Wally? Spooky Museum search! Taking part in the national Where’s Wally? The Big Museum Hunt, organised by Kids in Museums and Walker Books, to celebrate the release of the new 'Where’s Wally?' book.
Kew Gardens Gruffalo Adventures for half term! Pick up your trail pack and get set for an adventure. Follow footprints, marks and feathers and figure out clues on the family-friendly trail. Meet your favourite Gruffalo characters on the way, and keep your eyes peeled to spot the Gruffalo himself!
Chelsea Physic Garden. Join them for various half term activities, from making your own broomstick, to the spooky family tour.
National Maritime Museum. There's arts and crafts available at these free, but ticketed days. Yo can create your own embroidery, make a collage or create a sensory craft from dough.
Cutty Sark. Lots of family fun to be had this half term. Explore the ship, meet the captain, and discover the history of this famous ship.
Half Term at London Zoo. Download a free trail pack to guide your visit and discover the incredible patterns and creative ‘costumes’ of the animal kingdom. Find out why penguins wear ‘tuxedos’ or why an okapi has stripey legs. What’s more, since it doubles up as a colouring activity. There's also pop up halloween themed talks throughout the day.
Art's Depot: The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show (Ages 1+). The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by author/illustrator Eric Carle has delighted generations of readers since it was first published in 1969 selling more than 43 million copies worldwide.The timeless classic has made its way off the page and onto the stage.
The Puppet Barge. (Cinema Season).  The Puppet Barge is reopening with an exciting 45-minute programme of award-winning animation from across Europe thanks to the London International Animation Festival.  For age 3+.
St Paul's Cathedral. Kid's go free this half term! Bring your children to St Paul’s Cathedral and discover the treasures and hidden stories under our Dome. Enjoy the Cathedral without the crowds, bring learning to life, and marvel at the views of our city from the Stone Gallery. All under 18s are free from 17th - 31st October.  Use the promo code KGF2020 when you are viewing your basket to apply the child ticket discount
London Transport Museum.  During October half term, they are tracking down Billy Brown of London Town at both the Museum in Covent Garden and the Museum Depot in Acton. Let Billy Brown guide you on a trail around the heritage vehicles and enjoy fun craft activities inspired by Billy's famous rhyming couplets.
Garden Museum Houseplant Festival. Not aimed at children, but I thought it sounded really nice, and an opportunity for us urbanites to add some greenery to our homes!
Playgrounds
I've put the postcodes in, so they are easier to find, as many don't have websites or exact addresses.
St Jame's Park Playground SW1A 2BJ
Page Street SW1P 4EN (Great for under 4's due to the soft rubber ground surface)
Horseferry SW1P 3GE
Causton Street SW1P 4HX
Grosvenor SW1P 4HB
Tachbrook Street SW1V 2LZ
Abbots Manor SW1V 4JW
Hyde Park Playground W2 2AR
Diana Memorial Playground W2 4RU
St Luke's SW3 6NH
Battersea Park Playground SW11 4NJ
Archbishop's Park SE1 7JF
Jubilee Gardens SE1 7JA
Playground Buddy is a great app available on iphone and android for finding a playground near you, wherever you are.
Outdoor Venues and Activities
Chiswick House and Gardens - The house is closed, but the gardens are open to enjoy along with the cafe and toilet facilities.
Go Ape, Battersea - High rope adventure. Suitable for age 4+, strict minimum height requirement is 1m (3ft 3").
Indoor Venues
Gambado Soft Play Centre Chelsea
London Transport Museum (great for toddlers!)
Swimming Lessons
Paid classes and activities
Monkey Music - Music classes in Pimlico, Chelsea, Knightsbridge and Belgravia, for 3 months - 5 years
Hartbeeps - Interactive music and sensory classes from Birth - 5 years
Bach to Baby - Live music concerts for babies and toddlers. online streaming also available.
Regal Ballet - Ballet classes, from ages 18 months - 13 years
Dakoda's Dance Academy - Ballet, hip hop and performing arts for ages 2- 17 years.
Little Kickers - Football classes for age 18 months - 7 years
Little Foxes - Football classes, for ages from 18 months to 14 years
Teddy Tennis - Tennis lessons for ages 2 -5 years.
Playball Kids - Outdoor sports and movement classes for ages 1 - 7 years.
Kids En Cuisine - Children's cooking classes, also now home baking kits available through your door. for ages 20 months - 10 years.
Petit Pierrot - Children's French classes, available in person and online, ages 3-8 years. Â
Online
Mini Mozart - Live, online music classes as well as in-person classes, from birth - 4 years
Mama Codes - Coding for 3 -11 year olds
Circle of Security, Hosted by Bessborough Family Hub - Helping parents understand and respond to their child’s emotional needs. Please contact Shofa Miah for this 0207 641 3010 smiah@westminster.gov.uk
Westminster is at the heart of London and contains a wide variety of green spaces for you and the little ones to enjoy.  http://myparks.westminster.gov.uk/
Please look after yourselves and stay safe.Â
 Jen xx
Jen SolomonÂ
SW1 Mum
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