My oldest daughter started school last September and I've been planning for her summer holidays for a couple of months now.
As well as my five year-old, I also have a two year-old and if we all spend too much time at home together we tend to drive each other a bit batty. So getting out of the house is good. It also helps them sleep more at night, so it's a no-brainer really.
One of the first things I did when I started thinking about the summer holidays was to start a list of all the places that I could take them in and around Croydon. Some of the places we've been to before, some are firm favourites, and some are ones I've heard of and would like to see what they're like.
The list has grown quite long and currently has around 30 different places on it so I'm going to post it in installments.
Here are the first ten places from my list of 30 places to take your kids in and around Croydon this summer:
1. Coombe Wood - we'll probably go here quite a lot as it's so nice. See my earlier post here.
2. Lloyd Park - this park is big, great for flying a kite on a windy day, has a good play area including a zip-wire. The cafe closed recently though, so you'd need to take your own refreshments. It's tight by the aptly-named Lloyd Park tram stop.
3. Littleheath Woods - not been here before but they look very pleasant.
4. Woodcote Green - this garden centre in Wallington has two cafes, one right next to a small play area with a sandpit which my two can happily spend an hour or so playing in. There is a great farm shop and lots of fish to see.
5. Kelsey Park - this is a fabulous park in Beckenham. It has a large lake with tarmac paths around it which are great for scooting on. There are lots of lovely areas to picnic and it has a huge play area, with a small cafe right next to it.
6. Wandle Park - this is in Croydon. We've not been here before but I'm keen to try it out for a change. It's on the tram route too which should make it easy to get to. I hear it has a good sandpit and also a bandstand.
7. Park Hill Recreation Ground - this is close to the centre of Croydon and has a play area and a walled garden which is fun to walk around. It has lots of flowers but is on quite a steep slope so not such a safe place for the two-year-old (who has no fear) to scoot.
8. Sanderstead Recreation Ground and duck pond - the Recreation Ground has a good play area, which is all in one enclosed rectangular area (good when you're trying to keep your eye on two kids at once). It also has an enclosed skating/scooting area which my two love scooting around. There is a path around the perimeter of the Recreation Ground which is great for riding a bike around, and Priscilla's Tea Room, which is just next to the play area, is lovely for a drink or lunch. Priscilla's often runs crafts activities for children too (good for a rainy day). The duck pond isn't in the recreation ground but is just a short walk further down Limpsfield Road. There is usually a good number of ducks to feed.
9. Morden Hall Park - this isn't in Croydon, but it's not far and is also very easy to reach by tram. It has lots of grass and woody areas, a play area, a river (good for Pooh sticks), a cafe and also a garden centre. It's a National Trust property but is completely free to visit and often has activities on during the holidays for children.
10. Addington Hills - as these wooded hills don't have toilets or a cafe, we haven't made a trip to them yet. However, they are high on my "to do" list (another of my lists..) and look like fun to explore with the girls. There is a viewing point which might be a good spot for a picnic.
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