Fri. Dec 20th, 2024

LO Children birdwatching Heather Tait

London Wetland Centre Daily  wwt.org.uk/london 020 8409 4400

Lower Morden Garden Centre   020 8337 7781 Soft Play, under 5’s.

Daily Sutton Ecology Centre Festival Walk Carshalton 020 8770 5820 Playworld fantasy play area, 2-10yrs.

Daily Rainbow Leisure Centre East Street 01372 727277 Toddlers World, under 5’s.

Daily Kew Gardens, Kew Palace  020 8847 0946 Daily Walking Tours of seasonal highlights, FREE. Every Sat Tropical Nursery Tours, need to book. Every Tues & Thurs Orchid Nursery Tours, need to book. Every Sat Hands on Session Blowing in the wind stories of seed dispersal, FREE, no need to book.

Daily South Norwood Recreation Ground Car Green Road Croydon 020-8760 5707 Fitness Trails for adults & children of all fitness levels to get fit & keep fit. Positioned at each exercise station are signs showing the exercise to be undertaken with the suggested number of number repetitions. Ongoing Dupass Hill Outdoor Gym    Each item has clear instruction for its use over 12’s.

Recently re-opened Kidplay Cafe 282-284 Lower Addiscombe Road Croydon   Softplay & café, under 5’s.

Every Sun YMCA Wimbledon 020 8542 9055 Volleyball sessions for all levels for local residents in Wimbledon & Merton, FREE from 12.30pm, info@wimblodonvolleyballclub.com, www.gospike.net

Every Sun morn until 28 Dec Beverley Park Park View New Malden 020 8339 1594 Tennis Sessions, junior beginner coaching, 4+yrs, & adult beginner class.

Every Mon SecombeTheatre Cheam Road Sutton 020 8770 6990 Zumba fitness. Every Tues Line Dancing. Every Wed Ballroom Dance, under 8’s to adults.

Every Mon Hampton Library   020 8734 3347 Storytime session, under 5’s, FREE. 3rd Thurs of the month Chatterbooks reading group, 8-9yrs, 4pm, FREE.

Every Mon Morden Library   020 8545 4040 Scrabble Club everyone is welcome. Every Wed Welcome Mornings with stories & crafts for pre-school children. Ist Thurs of every month Coffee mornings for adults. Every Fri Storytime 4+yrs. 1st Fri of each month Wellbeing drop in sessions, a Wellbeing Coordinator will be on hand to meet you face to face, talk through any issues you may have, sign you up for any upcoming workshops, tell you more about other services available in the borough, Tel: 020 3178 2549.

Every Mon Pollards Hill Library   020 8764 5877 Musical mayhem. Every Mon Employment Club improve your CV, covering letter, interview skills & more. Every Thurs Salsa Dance classes, FREE. Every Fri storytimes.

Every Mon Wimbledon Library   020 8946 7432 Jewellery drop in workshop for adults, FREE. Every Tues Coffee morning for over 50s. Every Tues IT also Basic IT Training. Every Wed Sewing Circle for adults, FREE. Every Wed French Conservation drop in classes, beginner & intermediate levels, for adults. Every Wed Teenage French Tutorials, 8-18yrs. Every 1st Sat of month Genealogy Sessions, get help tracing your ancestry, drop in session for all ages. Every Tues & Thurs Children’s story & rhyme time session.

Every Mon Kingston Children’s Library Wheatfield Way Kingston 020 8547 6438 Rhyme & storytime sessions for babies, toddlers & under 5’s. Every Thurs Stories & crafts for under 5’s.

Every Mon Surbiton Library Ewell Road Surbiton 020 8547 6444 Storytime for under 5’s, FREE. Every Tues Rhyme & storytime for baby & toddlers, FREE. Every Thurs Knitwits knitting group all abilities, 11-12.30 p.m, FREE. Every 2nd Tues of month Chatterbooks 9-111yrs, 4-5 p.m, FREE. Every alternate Sats until 20 Dec Silver Surfers, beginners IT help, 10-12 p.m.

Every Mon Tudor Drive Library   020 8547 6456 Storytime for under 5’s, FREE. Every Tues Rhymetime for under 5’s followed by stay & play until 3.30pm, FREE.

Every Mon St John’s Church Kingston Road 020 8288 1801 Tots in Tow fun for the under 5’s, 10-11.30am.

Every Mon St James’s Church Hall Bodley Road 020 8942 2093 Tiddler’s Group for all parents and toddlers plus siblings in the holidays.

Every Mon Lloyd Park   020 8726 6000 Health walk circular through Lloyd Park & Shirley on mainly flat terrain, ideal for beginners, 2 miles last approx 1hr, meet 11am FREE & same walk on potentially hilly terrain, 3+miles ideal for advanced walkers, 2pm, FREE. Every Sat Park run, FREE weekly timed 5k run, need to register first.

Every Mon Parchmore Community Centre 53-55 Parchmore Road 020 8726 6000 x88965 Circuit for those new to exercise, returning after illness & the more mature exerciser.

Every Mon eve Sutton Grammar School    Korfball for Beginners for school years 3-12 various times & sessions, email for details info@nomadskorf.com.

Every Mon eve Corpus Christi School Chestnut Grove 07956 312920 Aerobics all abilities, 7-8pm.

Every Mon-Wed St James’s Church Hall Bodley Road New Malden 020 8942 2093. Tiddlers Group , 9.30-11.30am

Every Mon,Wed & Fri during term time Little Hamsters Play Cafe Ham 07432 354274 Relaxed environment for mums & tots 0-5yrs offering coffee, cakes, lunchs, soft play shapes, ball pool, ride on toys, table top activities & puzzles plus outdoor playground with indoor & outdoor seating, FREE parking, FREE Wi-Fi.

Every Tues Farnham Library   www.bookstart.org.uk  Baby Bounce ‘n’ Rhyme, FREE.

Every Tues Whitton Library   020 8734 3343 Storytime session, under 5’s, FREE. 2nd Thurs of month Tiny Teddies sessions baby bounce & rhyme, FREE.

Every Tues Hampton Wick Library   020 8734 3358 Storytime session, under 5’s, FREE. 2nd Tues of the month Chatterbooks reading group, 8-9yrs, FREE.

Every Tues Donald Hope Library   020 8542 1975 Storytime. Every Thurs Need Help with IT? A dedicated volunteer will be available to provide assistance with a wide range of  IT issues, for more info 020 8274 5799. Every Fri Rhymetime. Every Sat Colliers Wood Chess Club for all ages.

Every Tues Mitcham Library   020 8648 4070 Under 5’s Storytime & Craft, fun activity, FREE. Every Thurs CV & Careers Advice. Last Thurs of each month, Coffee Mornings. Every Fri Knitting Group, need to bring own needles.

Every Tues United Reformed Church Cavendish Hall 020 8949 3402 Sparkles, under 5’s, 9-11.30am.

Every Tues Malden Centre Blagdon Road New Malden 020 83361561 Stay & Play for under 5’s. Every Thurs young parents drop-in, 1-3pm. Every Fri Toy Library, under 5’s, 10.30-1.30pm.

Every Tues Coulsdon Library   020 8726 6900 Bookstart Rhymetime for babies & toddlers, Wiggle & Jiggle, 2-4yrs. Every Thurs Storytime, 2 ½+yrs. Every Sat Storytime, under 7’s, FREE.

Every Tues Ashburton Library   020 8726 6900 Bookstart Rhymetime for babies & toddlers. Every Thurs Wiggle & Jiggle for toddlers. Every Mon Chatterbooks drop in sessions, 8-11yrs. Every Sat Rock & Rhyme for babies & toddlers. Every Wed Social club for older people for a chat & a cup of tea. Every Thurs term time only storytime for under 7’s, FREE.

Every Tues Purley Library   020 8726 6900 Bookstart Rhymetime for babies & toddlers & Wiggle & Jiggle, toddlers over 18mths. Every Fri Storytime 2 ½+yrs. Every Sat Rock & Rhyme for babies & toddlers, FREE.

Every Tues Centrale Shopping Centre Croydon www.centrale.co.uk  In the Early Learning Centre playtime sessions for children, all ages with all kinds of arts & arts from making face masks, cards, painting, colouring or just play, FREE, 10-12pm, Tel: 020 8686 7535.

Every Tues Thornton Heath Library   020 8726 6900 Bookstart Rhymetime for babies & toddlers, FREE. Every Tues Careers, training & learning advice sessions, 2-4.30pm, FREE & Computer training courses for beginners to experts.

Every Tues De Staffords Leisure Centre  Caterham 01883 344355 Family Swim. E

very Tues Riddlesdown Circular Walk   020 8726 6000 x64952 Health walk, 2-3miles, meet 11am at ‘Good Companions’ pub, Hamsey Green, FREE.

Every Tues afternoon Raynes Park Library    Story times for under 5’s. Every Thurs morn Simple Yoga & Meditation Group.

Every Tues until 23 Dec Old Malden Library   020 8547 6467 Rhymetime up to 3yrs, and storytime for under 5’s, FREE. Every Sat until 28 Dec rhymetime with rhymes & singing for under 5’s, 10.30-11 a.m, FREE. 2nd Thurs of the month chatterbooks plus book related puzzles & activities, 7-11yrs, 4-5 p.m, FREE. Every fortnight on Fri until 19 Dec Knit & Natter.

Every Tues & Thurs West Barnes Library   020 8274 5789 Classes for those wishing to learn to use the internet which runs for 6 weeks. Every Tues Rendezvous Club for over 55’s. Every month Art Club for children, to put your child’s name forward to join need to speak to member of staff in library. Every Fri Toddlers Rhyme Time & musical activities, 0-5yrs.

Every Tues-Fri Dickerage Adventure Playground Dickerage Lane Kingston 020-8942 1707 Parent & Toddler Play sessions.

Every 3rd Wed of the month Richmond Library   020 8734 3303 Chatterbooks reading group, 8-9yrs, 4.30pm, FREE. 1st Thurs of month Tiny Teddies sessions baby bounce & rhyme, FREE.

Every Wed Charles Cryer Theatre 39 High Street Carshalton 020-8770 4950 Spiral Youth Theatre for 13+yrs members learn a variety of activities such as drama, dance & singing, musical theatre composition, set design & costume making culminating in two productions per year & Every Thurs Minis & Juniors 5-7yrs.

Every Wed Ham Library   020 8734 3354 Storytime session, under 5’s, FREE. 1st Fri of each month Tiny Teddies sessions baby bounce & rhyme, FREE.

Every Wed Watermans 40 High Street Brentford 020 8232 1010. morn Parents & babies screenings. Every Sat Drama Zone 5-8 & 9-14yrs. Every Sat morn Family Cinema, 1 adult goes FREE with every one paying child.

Every Wed Castlenau Library  020 8734 3350 Storytime session, under 5’s, FREE One Sat a month Tiny Teddies baby bounce & rhyme sessions, FREE.

Every Wed Hampton Hill Library   020 8734 3320 Storytime session, under 5’s, FREE. 1st Sat of every month Tiny Teddies sessions baby bounce & rhyme, FREE.

Every Wed Ursuline Prep School 18 The Downs Wimbledon 020 8947 0859 Mother & Toddler playgroup, in the nursery, play along with the toys & make use of the facilities plus a cup of tea is always available & well qualified & well trained nursery staff are on hand, FREE.

Every Wed Tolworth Library 37-39 The Broadway 020 8547 6470 Rhyme & storytime for under 5’s with simple crafts, FREE. Every Thurs until 18 Dec Get back to work group help available for filling in online application forms, looking for jobs online, CV’s & basic computer skills if required, 2.15 p.m-3.45  p.m, FREE.

Every Wed Tudor Hall  Kingston 020 8893 4250 Jungle body fitness class using boxing, dance, cardio & pilates inspired moves, 7.30-8.30 p.m

Every Wed Sanderstead Library   020 8726 6900 Bookstart rhymetime, babies & toddlers, Wiggle & Jiggle, 18mths+yrs, Storytime 2 ½ +yrs. Fortnightly Rock & Rhyme for pre-school children, FREE.

Every Wed Unitarian Church 1 The Flyover 020 8726 6000 x88965 Zumba Latin inspired dance music & rhythms, all abilities.

Every Wed morn Sutton Arena Leisure Centre Middleton Road Carshalton 020 8770 4088 Women’s Recreation Mornings with a wide range of sport & social activities available for one single fee, 9-12pm. Daily Playworld fantasy play area, 2-10yrs.

Every Wed until 18 Dec Hook & Chessington Library   020 8547 6480 Rhymetime with songs & rhymes followed by half an hour of playtime, 10.30-11 a.m, FREE. Every Tues until 16 Dec Get back to work group with help filling in online application forms, CV’s & basic computer skills, 3-4.30 p.m, FREE.

Every Wed & Sun East Sheen Library Sheen Lane London SW14 8LP 020 8734 3337 Storytime session, under 5’s, FREE. 3rd Wed of the month Chatterbooks reading group, 8-9yrs, 4.30pm, FREE. 1st & 3rd Thurs of month Tiny Teddies sessions baby bounce & rhyme, FREE.

Every Thurs Cheam Leisure Centre  Cheam 020 8770 4830 Street Dance lessons for boys & girls 10-15yrs

Every Thurs Caterham Hill Library   www.surrey.gov.uk/kidstuff  Rhymetime, 10am FREE. Every Fri Storytime, 2.15pm, FREE.

Every Thurs Twickenham Library Garfield Road 020 8734 3340 Storytime session, under 5’s, FREE. 2nd & 4th Thurs of month Tiny Teddies sessions baby bounce & rhyme, FREE.

Every Thurs Methodist Church Hall High St New Malden Parent & toddler club, 9.45-11.30am.

Every Thurs Tolworth Recreation Centre Fullers Way North Tolworth 020-8391 1882 Badminton Club for intermediate/advanced level, Tel: 020 8395 9175.

Every Thurs Bentall Centre Kingston   Air,Land or Sea, ‘Make & Take’ workshops children can create their own costume or T-shirt, FREE, www.kingstonfirst.co.uk Every Thurs Watch magic tricks & learn to do some at home held on 3rd floor.

Every Thurs Norbury Park and Norwood Grove   020 8726 6900 A circular walk through Norbury Park & Norwood Grove, 2-3 miles, meet at Norbury Train Station, 1.30pm, FREE. 21 Aug Butterfly Walk, 2 hrs around the park to learn about these insects, 07968 832508.

Every Thurs Selsdon Baptist Chuch Addington Road 020 8726 6000 x88965 Circuits Low intensity for mature exercisers.

Every Thurs Croydon Sports College Croydon High School 020 8726 6000 x88965 Circuits Low intensity for mature exercisers.

Every Thurs South Norwood Leisure Centre 164 Portland Road 020 8726 6000 x88965 Aquacise sessions.

Every Thurs in term time Sutton Christian Centre   020 8642 8117 Special Stars a baby & toddler group for children with disabilities or additional needs, from babies to pre-schoolers, siblings welcome.

Every Thurs until 18 Dec New Malden Library Kingston Road 020 8547 6438 Story time for under 5 yrs, FREE, 10.30-11 a.m. Every Thurs until 18 Dec Get back to work group with job searching & application, CV writing, an IT drop in session for PC queries in partnership with Jobcentre Plus, 9.30-11 a.m & 11-12.30 p.m, FREE. Every Fri Baby & toddler rhyme time up to 3yrs, FREE. Every Sat until 20 Dec Silver Surfers help for people wanting to gain more confidence in using the computer, alternate Saturdays, 9.30-11.30 a.m. Every Sat until 13 Dec Rhymetime for under 5’s, 10.30-11 a.m, FREE. 1st Thurs of the month Chatterbooks reading group 7-11yrs, 4-5 p.m, FREE.

1st Fri of every month Bergundy & Black Café St Martins Walk Dorking   Bumps & Babies is for mums with bumps & both parents or carers of non mobile babies, meet others for tea or coffee & get your baby socialising, www.nct.org.uk/branches/dorking/events/bumps-and-babies. 3rd Mon of every month Nappuccino a natter about nappies as an alternative to disposables.

Every Fri Sutton Library   020 8644 9696 Job Club volunteer led support group for job seeker, all ages, FREE no need to book.

Every Fri Sutton Life Centre   020 8644 9696 Running & non contact boxing, 12-18yrs, FREE.

Every Fri Caterham Valley Library   www.surrey.gov.uk/kidstuff  Rhymetime, FREE. Every Thurs Storytime, FREE.

Every Fri Dorking Library   www.surrey.gov.uk/kidstuff  Rhymetime, FREE. Every Fri Redhill Library   www.surrey.gov.uk/kidstuff  Rhymetime, FREE.

Every Fri Warlingham Library   www.surrey.gov.uk/kidstuff  Storytime, FREE.

Every Fri Teddington Library  Walgrave Road   020 8734 3304/5 Storytime session, under 5’s, FREE. Every 2nd Wed of the month Chatterbooks reading group, 8-9yrs, 4.20pm, FREE. 1st Thurs of month Tiny Teddies sessions baby bounce & rhyme, FREE.

Every Fri Kew Library    Storytime session, under 5’s, FREE. Every Fri Christ Church Coombe Road 020 8241 9423 Toddler Group for under 5’s, 9.45-11.15am.

Every Fri New Malden Baptist Church Kingston Road New Malden 8942 6912 Tadpoles parent & toddler group.

Every Fri Bradmore Green Library Old Coulsdon 020 8726 6000 X64952 Bookstart Rhymetime for babies & toddlers, Wiggle & Jiggle, 2-4yrs. Every Mon Storytime 2 ½+yrs & Chatterbooks reading group for 8-11yrs. Fortnightly Every Sat Rhymetime,FREE..

Every Fri Broad Green Library   020 8726 6900 Bookstart Rhymetime 0-5yrs. Fortnightly on Sat Rock & Rhyme for pre-school children. Every Wed Arty Crafty computers drop in sessions for under 5’s, parents & carers, FREE.

Every Fri South Norwood Library   020 8726 6900 Bookstart Rhymetime for babies & toddlers. Every Tues Wiggle & Jiggle, 2-4yrs. Alternate Sat Rock & Rhyme or Storytime, FREE.

Every Fri Shirley Library   020 8253 1023 Bookstart rhymetime for babies & toddlers, Wiggle & Jiggle for 18mths+. Every Thurs Storytime for 2 ½+yrs. Every Sat Rock & Rhyme for babies & toddlers. Monthly story & craft workshops, 5-10yrs.

Every Fri New Addington Library   020 8253 1023 Bookstart Rhymeitme for babies & toddlers & Wiggle & Jiggle, 18mths+, FREE.

Every Fri Norbury Library   020 8726 6900 Bookstart Rhymetime. Every Thurs Wiggle & Jiggle. Alternate Sat Rock & Rhyme followed by Storytime. Last Fri of each month Chatter Books reading group for 8-12yrs, FREE.

Every Fri Selsdon Library   020 8726 6900 Bookstart rhymetime for babies & toddlers, Wiggle & Jiggle, 18mths+. Every Tues Storytime for pre-school children. Every Sat Rock & Rhyme for pre-schoolers. 1st Tues of the month Arty Crafty, 4-8yrs plus parents & siblings. Every Sat afternoon teenage reading group. Last Thurs of month adult reading group.

Every Fri Waddon Ponds & Wandle Park   020 8656 5947 Circular walk through Waddon Ponds & Wandle Park, 2-3 miles, meet outside Lidl, 11am, FREE.

Every Fri Thornton Heath Leisure Centre 89-110 High Street 020 8726 6000 x88965  Aquacise pay as you go sessions.

Every Fri morn Running Club   07936 240937 A mixed group consisting mainly, but not restricted to mothers with children in school, meet at 9.50am in the Pembroke Lodge car park for a run of between 3 & 4 miles. Social group of runners with no pressure on ability, new runners more than welcome.

3rd & 4th Sat of the month Norbiton Children’s Centre Kings Oak Primary Dickerage Lane 020 8949 6065 Who Let the dads out Play session for under 5’s, 10-12.30pm.

3rd Sat of every month Maple Road Surbiton Farmers Market   www.surbitonfarmersmarket.co.uk  Offering a wide selection of fresh seasonal produce.

Every Sat Electric Theatre Onslow Street Guildford 01483 444789 Little Sparks in the Café Bar with music, games, songs, stories & puppets & Sparkles Dance drop in classes for 5-9yrs. Every Mon & Tues after school The Man in The Moon Weekly drama workshops, 6-14yrs. Every Wed All Star Choir, 8-14yrs.

Every Sat Heathfield Library   020 8734 3356 Storytime session, under 5’s, FREE. Last Tues of each month Tiny Teddies sessions baby bounce & rhyme, FREE.

Every Sat Wimbledon Park Free-standing Gazebo behind the sailing & watersport centre.    Volleyball outside sessions for all levels for local residents in Wimbledon & Merton, FREE from 10-12pm, info@wimblodonvolleyballclub.com, www.gospike.net

Every Sat The Green Dragon 58-60 High Street Croydon 020 8667 0684 Storytime for families 3-7yrs, drop in 2hr session with stories, puppets, arts activities & songs, FREE.

Every Sat morn Canbury Park Gardens Kingston   Fitness in the Gardens low impact outdoor cardio exercise for all with power walking, jogging & stretching, 10-11am, FREE, info@AHM-Go.com

Every Sat morn Canbury Gardens Lower Ham Road Kingston 020 8547 6422 Low impact outdoor cardio exercise for all with power walking, jogging & stretching, 10-11am, FREE.

First Sat of every month New Malden Children’s Centre Burlington Road New Malden 020 8336 1561 Saturdads Group with breakfast & fun activities for dads/male carers & their children up to 5yrs. Every Mon Stay & Play 0-18mths

3 Oct Littleheath Woods Selsdon 020 8726 6900 Night Time wander see if you can find a badger or find bats hunting in the night sky, meet at entrance at 7 p.m for 1 ½ hr family event, www.croydon.gov.uk 

6-7 Oct Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Millbrook Guildford 01483 440000 Eric and Little Ern. 11 Oct Just So Stories, 4+yrs. 12 Oct Sheila Hancock: Miss Carter’s War. 18 Oct Dotty the Dragon, 3-7 yrs. 31 Oct Around the World in 80 Days 7+yrs. www.yvonne-arnaud.co.uk

8 Oct-8 Feb Polka Theatre 240 The Broadway Wimbledon 020 8543 4888 Grandad, Me … and Teddy Too, 2-5yrs. Until 12 Oct We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, 3-7yrs. 16 Oct-1 Nov Flat Stanley, 5-10yrs.  www.polkatheatre.com

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11-14 Sept Warren House Kingston 020 8547 1777 Open Day with tours of the house, www.heritageopendays.org.uk

12 Oct Rural Life Centre Farnham 01252 795571 Land Rover Day, www.rural-life.org.uk

12 Oct London Wetland Centre Queen Elizabeth’s Walk Barnes 020 8409 4400 UK Fungus Day Walks. 25 Oct-2 Nov The Yuk! Show: Bizarre Bodies delve deep into skeletons &sinews, guts & gizzards, organs & oddities with fun demonstrations & plenty of audience participation, admission to the show is FREE with paid admission to the Centre. Directly after the show there will be a chance to visit the Discovery Trolley in the theatre foyer where you can get up close & personal with gory specimens & fascinating objects such as preserved creepy crawlies, snake skins & bird skulls. Half Term Daily Nature Crafts sessions make your own gory creation, create an eyeball badge or preserve your own scientific specimen. 25-26 Oct Adventures with monsters & myths. 2 Nov Winter birdwatching walk. Until 19 Oct Incredible Journeys start your own journey in the theatre & take in awe inspiring images & facts on the big screen, trace animals’ migratory routes on a maxi map & lots more, FREE with paid admission, www.wwt.org.uk/london

12 Oct Wandle Park   020 8726 6000 X 64952 Ghosts along the Wandle join Tom Smith & investigate spooky legends along the river, walking from Wandle Park to Beddington & back, bring a torch. 19 Oct Wildflowers for Wandle Park, join the Friends as they prepare the banks of the river Wandle for sowing wildflowers, this is your chance to brighten up the river banks  www.croydon.gov.uk

12 Oct Selsdon Wood Nature Reserve Old Farleigh Road Selsdon 020 8726 6900 Autumn Fungi & Fruit, enjoy the autumnal delights, meet at 10a.m by the bear, www.friendsofselsdonwood.co.uk

17 Oct Happy Valley   020 8726 6900 An easy paced hilly walk around Happy Valley to spot seeds & berries & to enjoy the changing leaf colours, meet at 10 a.m in Farthing Downs car park. 19 Oct Jungle Explorer join the warden to discover the history & wildlife of some of the hidden areas of Happy Valley, walk covers some steep, uneven & overgrown ground, 1 ½ hr walk, www.croydon.gov.uk

18 Oct Sanderstead to Whyteleafe Countryside Wood   07766 421236 Family Autumn Afternoon a wander over the fields, and look for edible fruits & nuts, mini beasts & make a leaf crown while sitting round the campfire, families, 5+yrs.

18 Oct-2 Nov Royal Botanic Gardens Kew   020 7222 1234 Deadly & Disgusting Plants & Fungi, with various activities on offer, The Peril of the Poisonous Plant follow clues throughout the gardens & solve plant riddles & puzzles. A Spoonful of Science twice weekly workshops. Magical Mushrooms, Hands on with the Volunteer Guides. Daily The Dark Side of Plants Tour.

18-19 Oct Tropical Nursery Open Days venture behind the scenes & boost your plant know how. Every Wed & Sun Hands on, sessions in the Secluded Garden Glasshouse for a closer look at the inner workings of the chocolate tree. Daily For families Treehouse Towers features climbing towers & wooden play equipment such as giant swings, zip wires, scramble nets, slides & a mountaineering ramp. Ongoing Plantastic Play area shaped like a plant, children will be able to tunnel through giant roots, clamber over a solid stem, and explore a leafy maze before reaching the flower head, where a zip wire symbolises a pollinating bee. www.kew.org/

19 Oct Painshill Park Portsmouth Road, Cobham 01932 868113 Fungi Foray.

27-31 Oct Wild Halloween Camp, 8-13yrs, www.painshill.co.uk

27 Oct Secombe Theatre Cheam Road Sutton 020 8770 6990 Sing a Song in Sutton for children 3-5yrs. 27 Oct Sutton Sounds Spooky: a workshop for children 6-10yrs, working with percussion instruments recorders & voices to create & perform a story about walking through a spooky wood with ghouls & goblins & things that go bump in the night. 28 Oct Baby Disco & Toddlers Ball, 6mths-3yrs, 2-5yrs. 28 Oct Hip Hop for beginners, workshops introducing moves & steps in hip hop, 6-10yrs. 29 Oct Spooky Tales, a story writing workshop, 8-11yrs. 29 Oct Create A Hero, hear stories of the Great War then draw, stick & colour a hero to take home, 6-9yrs, part of  The Big Draw campaign for drawing. 30 Oct Acting workshop based on Roald Dahl’s The Witches, 8-11yrs, & Acting Workshop based in & around a haunted house, 12-15yrs. 31 Oct Pumpkin Time create your own spooky Halloween crafts , 5-8 yrs & Halloween Story Time spooky stories for kids, 5-8yrs, www.suttontheatres.co.uk

29 Oct Wallington Hall   020 8770 4644 Music & Dance family fun for mums, dads, grandparents & their pre-school children. 31 Oct Halloween Story Time, spooky stories with special effects told by Grant Koper, actor & ghost whisperer, 5-8yrs, www.suttontheatres.co.uk

30 Oct Eden Walk Shopping Centre Eden Walk Kingston 020-8547 5016 Halloween face painting, a pumpkin trail & a doughnut decorating workshop, FREE, www.kingstonfirst.co.uk

30 Oct Halloween Night Market    The StockMKT will feature a unique blend of delicious street food, craft, fashion design & live music all with a spooky theme, www.kingstonfirst.co.uk

30 Oct Kingston Library Wheatfield Way Kingston 020 8547 6438 Spooky storytelling & families can hear about Kingston’s ghostly past, FREE, www.kingstonfirst.co.uk Every Mon until 29 Dec Rhymetime for babies & toddlers FREE to library members. Every Thurs until 18 Dec Storytelling session for 2-5yrs, term time only, FREE. Every 1st Sat of month Chatterbooks a reading club for children 7-9yrs with a parent or carer, need to contact library to be placed on a waiting list, FREE. Every fortnight on a Sat Chess Club, all ages & abilities, FREE, 10-12 p.m

30 Oct Kingston Museum and Heritage Centre Wheatfield Way Kingston 020 8547 5006 Fancy dress competition for little ones to have the chance to pick up a spooktastic prize, FREE, www.kingstonfirst.co.uk Every Fri Snappity the Crocodile’s activities for under 5’s with songs, stories & crafts, FREE. Ongoing Remembering Kingston at War exhibition. 2 Oct Collecting Kingston, stories of the borough told through a tour of the museum, FREE.

30 Oct Early Learning Centre The Bentalls Centre    Children will be able to meet the Sylvanian Family & have their photo taken with Freya Chocolate & take part in airfix model making & painting, FREEwww.kingstonfirst.co.uk  Every Sat A Playologist will be on hand to make children have the best fun possible with ELC products, they can have their faces painted, mess with play-doh & lots more from 10am.

30 Oct Thumbs Up it’s Thursday   020 8547 1221 Families can enjoy FREE Halloween-themed arts & crafts workshops at The Rotunda, Cass Arts, Bentalls & The Eden Walk Shopping Centre, www.kingstonfirst.co.uk

31 Oct,1,2 Nov Hampton Court Palace Hampton Court 0871 230 2200 Ghost Tours an early evening walking tour to hear stories of  ghostly goings on in the palace, 8+yrs, www.hrp.org.uk

1 Nov Haling Grove   020 8726 6900 Halloween dress up & bring your pumpkin to the park between 3-5 p.m & join the Friends of Haling Grove for an afternoon of scary fun in the park, for more info contact friends@haling-grove.org.uk

1 Nov Littleheath Woods   020 8726 6900 Autumn Fungus join the Friends & Jane McLauchlin for a stroll through the woods discovering the amazing variety of fungi – non edible ones, meet at 10 a.m by the woodland entrance, www.folw.co.uk/

2 Nov Wimbledon Common Nature Club Wildlife Watch   020 8540 6154 Trees & Leafy Headdresses, 6-14yrs

2 Nov Foxley Wood   020 8668 2008 Family Woodland Fun join the Community Partnership Officer for some forest school inspired activities around the camp fire.  Make a wreath or stick star in time for the festive season or try your hand at making the tallest twig tower ever, families 5+yrs, for more info biodiversity@croydon.gov.uk.

27,28 Oct Rose Theatre   08444 821556 Dinosaur Zoo from cute baby dinos to teeth-gnashing giants, audiences will observe & interact with extraordinary life like dinosaurs in this live puppet show, 3+yrs. Until 31 Oct Galsworthy & the Human Battles on the Home Front exhibition. Every Mon Rhyme Time bring the little ones to the Swallow Bakery for a FREE morning of rhyming, singing & laughter, www.rosetheatrekingston.org

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By Penny McCarthy

Penny McCarthy is a seasoned entrepreneur and co-founder of Parents News UK, a pioneering publication launched in 1993 to serve the needs of busy parents in Southwest London. Alongside her husband, Fergus McCarthy, Penny played a crucial role in the rapid expansion of the printed edition, which grew from a local startup to a widely circulated monthly publication with a reach of 192,000 copies across Kent, South London, and beyond. Under Penny’s leadership, Parents News quickly became a trusted resource for families, providing valuable information on education, entertainment, sports, and family-friendly events. Her vision helped the publication extend its influence with franchises in Northern Ireland and Cornwall, catering to a growing demand for accessible, family-oriented content. In 1997, recognising the importance of digital media, Penny spearheaded the launch of Parents News UK Online. The website initially mirrored the content of the printed editions and has since evolved into a comprehensive online resource for parents, achieving significant popularity with up to 700 daily hits. In 2017, the publication transitioned fully to an online platform, continuing to inform and engage families across the UK. Today, Penny remains deeply involved in the ongoing success of Parents News UK, focusing on innovative advertising opportunities and future growth plans. Her dedication to supporting families through accessible and practical content has made Parents News a cherished name in households across the country.

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