So I've now created this post consolidating all thirty ideas into a single post. I hope it's helpful!
Here you go:
1. Coombe Wood - we'll probably go here quite a lot as it really is so so nice. For more details 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 right by the aptly-named Lloyd Park tram stop.
3. Littleheath Woods - not been here before but they look very pleasant and fun to explore.
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.
11. Croham Hurst Woods - a bit of a challenge but I think that the promise of a picnic at the top should be enough to lure my two up this hill, which has stunning views to the south from the top.
12. Beddington Park - this is a great park for scooting and riding bikes in. It's a mixture of trees and open grassy spaces, with a river flowing through it. It also has a lovely big play area and a cafe too.
13. Wimbledon Park - this isn't in Croydon but it's not too far by car or by tram and tube. And it might be worth the trip one hot day for its paddling pool. It also has a lake with swans and ducks, a cafe, two play areas, a crazy golf course and beach volleyball courts. Probably best avoided during the Wimbledon Tennis Championships though, as it's usually full of campers then.
14. Emmett's Gardens - these National Trust gardens are a little over half an hour drive or so from Croydon but well worth it. They have a glorious meadow for picnicking in, a play area, a cafe and lots of gardens to explore.
15. Chartwell - another National Trust property, again about half an hour from Croydon. The woods are great to explore and boast some enormous tree swings which are wonderful for swinging (and singing) in.
16. Tandridge Leisure Centre - this leisure centre in Oxted has a great swimming pool for kids, with a wave machine, water features, slide and flume.
17. Library - Croydon has lots of libraries, many of which have events on for children over the school holidays, as well as regular weekly rhyme times and story times for younger children. Plus of course the summer reading challenge. Even when there's nothing on though, they're worth a visit to borrow some new books and maybe do a spot of colouring.
18. Priory Farm - this is also about half an hour from Croydon. There is a cafe, two play areas, a "Discovery Walk" nature trail , a garden centre and a farm shop - plenty to keep everyone occupied.
19. WW1 exhibition at Whitgift School - this "Rembering 1916" exhibition is on until the end of August and looks quite interesting. I think my five year-old would especially like the Edwardian house scenes and, of course, the Edwardian cafe.
20. Horniman Museum - this museum in Forest Hill is brilliant for young children with lots of interesting natural history exhibits, an aquarium, a lovely cafe and lots of outside space to explore. It also has lots of special events on over the holidays.
21. Crystal Palace Park - I've mentioned lots of parks in this list, but this one is the only one with dinosaurs! It also has a maze, a lake, a play area and a cafe, so it makes a great day out.
22. Mayfield Lavender - I love Mayfield Lavender (the background photo for this blog is from there) and I can't wait to go back again this summer. Located near Banstead, it's a short drive from Croydon. It is utterly beautiful and so much fun to wander around. Last summer they offered tractor rides around the field and the cafe, with lots of lavender-flavoured treats (ice cream, cakes, biscuits..) was lovely. Kids are invited to take a jar from the cafe to collect the beetles which are harmful to the lavender (but harmless to kids!).
23. High Elms Country Park - I've not been here yet but have driven past a few times and it's one of those places that I've always said we should go to to see what it's like. It is a nature reserve with a cafe (yay!) and visitor centre. It's in Farnborough, near Bromley (not the other, larger, Farnborough).
24. Oaks Park - this is just next to Mayfield Lavender (see above) and has a great mixture of gardens, trees and open grassland to explore. It also has a cafe!
25. Heathfield - no cafe here, but the walled garden is a lovely calm spot for a picnic, with great views. Perhaps due to the lack of a cafe, I've always found Heathfield to be pretty quiet (a good thing!). It has some great gardens to explore and small streams to cross over via stepping stones. This is in Croydon.
26. Kenley Aerodrome - a great open space for scooting or riding bikes.
27. Reigate Priory Park - a bit further afield but worth it as it's so attractive. It has a super play area with a large sandpit and water play area. There is a cafe and the rest of the park is made up of gardens, a lake and woodland.
28. Richmond Park - a bit of a drive away, especially in traffic, but this is a great option for a more "wild" park, with its deer. Although it does still have a cafe! It's also a great park to cycle round and bikes can be hired here too if you don't have your own.
29. Deen City Farm - this free City Farm makes a lovely visit with heaps of animals to see including sheep, cows, pigs, horses, rabbits, ducks, chickens, owls... There are often opportunities for kids to touch the animals.
30. Pottery cafe in Purley or Wallington - OK so this is really two places, but it's the same idea and so you'd probably only want to visit one. Purley pottery cafe is called Get Fired! and Wallington's is Glazed all over.
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