Primary Times - the definitive what’s on and where to go family guide of activities and events for children of primary school age. Things to do with your kids during the school holidays including arts and craft activities, music and theatre for children, parties, competitions, days out, and family attractions along with term time drama schools, dance classes, after school clubs and sports activities. Things to do at a place near you!
Fun activities around Easter in the Lee Valley
Bottle feed baby lambs, find hidden Easter eggs, or take a white knuckle ride down the white water rapids - there are a host of fun activities coming up in the Lee Valley this spring.
Easter Fun at Lee Valley Park Farms
Bottle feeding newborn orphan lambs and finding hidden eggs in an Easter Egg Hunt are just some of the fun activities planned for visitors to Lee Valley Park Farms over the Easter weekend.
The Waltham Abbey farm, which is celebrating its 40th birthday this year, is also expecting its usual ‘Baby Boom’ of newborn animals over the Easter holidays. New arrivals are expected at the farm between Sunday 2 April and Monday 17 April.
Children, as well as being able to feed milk to some of the new born lambs, can say ‘hello’ to many of the 300 animals at the Waltham Abbey farm, including Meerkats, chinchillas, guinea pigs, rabbits, tortoises and some exotic species such as Bearded Dragons.
They can take a ride on Tex the Tractor to the working dairy farm and try delicious homemade cakes and freshly prepared food in The Bumblebee Café.
Lee Valley Park Farms: open daily until 29 October 2017.
Time: 10:00-17:00
Price: Standard entry for all: £9 including Adult (18+), Child (2 - 17), Concession (senior citizen or registered disabled); Under 2s go FREE.
Address: Stubbins Hall Lane, Waltham Abbey, Essex, EN9 2EF
To book or to find out more: To book or to find out more: www.lvfarms.co.uk or 01992 892 781.
Twitter: @LeeValleyFarms Facebook: /LeeValleyParkFarms Instagram: /LeeValleyParkFarms/
Kick start spring with white water thrills and spills
Kick start spring with a white water adventure, taking a thrilling white knucle ride down the rapids at Lee Valley White Water Centre. The venue’s new season is from March and rafting is available right throughout the spring to winter. As a special opening offer, there is white water rafting throughout March, riding the waves of the Olympic course for just £38 instead of the usual price of £50.
Other fun activities planned at the centre include Family Rafting, available to children aged 10 and over, starting in early April, and ‘tubing’, planned for summer weekends - an exhilarating ride down the rapids in a ring-shaped dinghy!
Further exciting white water activities coming up at the venue include Hydrospeeding, which is similar to bodyboarding, but on fast flowing white water and Hot Dog sessions, two person inflatables providing a heart pumping introduction to kayaking on the rapids. Plus, additionally, from Easter, there will be Go Sup – stand up paddle boarding on the lake, which children as young as eight can try.
Families can also test the 140 tonnes of golden sands with their bucket and spade at the venue’s beach area, open for visitors to have FREE fun.
As part of an action packed day, visitors can also enjoy relaxing with a drink or snack in The Terrace
Lee Valley White Water Centre, Station Road, Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, EN9 1AB. www.gowhitewater.co.uk or call 03000 030 610.
FootGolf
Try FootGolf at Lee Valley for all the family. Test your skills on the 18 hole course using a football. The object of the game is to get the ball into the hole using only your feet in the fewest number of shots possible. Combine power and precision to get the ball in that hole!
Price from April: Adult £12; Junior: (Under 16) and Concessions £6
Time: weekends and school holidays - 12:00 -13:45
Book online or call 20 8803 36110 to book your session.
Lee Valley Golf Course, Meridian Way, Edmonton N9 0AR.
A Walk in the Park - Spring in your Step!
Continuing the 50th Anniversary of Lee Valley Regional Park's 'A Walk in the Park' programme, celebrate spring with a leisurely paced walk across the beautiful River Lee Country Park. River Lee Country Park stretches between Waltham Abbey in Essex and Broxbourne in Hertfordshire. This 1,000 acre park has a huge variety of activities to enjoy! Perfect for kids and families, to walkers, cyclists and wildlife watchers.
Venue: River Lee Country Park - Pindar Car Park
Address: Windmill Lane, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, EN8 9AJ.
Date: Sunday, 2 April 2017
Time: 10:30 - 12:30
Price: FREE
No need to book, simply turn up and enjoy.
For more information about Lee Valley’s 50th Anniversary walks, head to visitleevalley.org.uk/whatson or call 03000 030 610.
SUP and Canoeing
Spend time off during this holiday on the water at Lee Valley White Water Centre. Grab a Stand Up Paddle board or canoe with friends and family! Available, one hour active sessions for children and adults.
Date: Monday 3 April 2017 to Friday 14 April
Time: 10:00 - 15:00
Price: £5
Booking is required for these one hour sessions. Please visit www.gowhitewater.co.uk or call 03000 030 610.
Lee Valley White Water Centre, Station Road, Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, EN9 1AB.
Wild Wednesdays - Easter 'Eggspert' Family Orienteering Competition
Celebrate the Lee Valley Park's 50th Anniversary with 'Wild Wednesday' family events in the school holidays. Bring your family and take part in an orienteering competition with a difference. Be a part of the winning team and gain points by navigating your way around part of the Lee Valley Regional Park whilst collecting egg stickers and answering riddles to earn bonus points! Find out which team will become the reigning “Eggspert” Champion. All participants receive a certificate with the winning team receiving certificates and prizes!
Waltham Abbey Gardens; Address: Abbey View, Waltham Abbey, Essex, EN9 1XQ
Date: Wednesday 5 April
Time: 13:00 - 15:00
Price: £4.50 advanced booking, £5 on day
https://www.visitleevalley.org.uk; tel: 03000 030 610
Booking
Pre-booking is recommended for Wild Wednesdays activities as there are limited spaces for each event. By booking online you will receive a 10% discount! There will be a limited number of spaces available on the day.
Gardeners’ Coffee Morning - Pests, Weeds & Diseases
Join gardeners for a seasonal tour of Myddelton House Gardens, complete with a hot drink and a slice of cake. Find out how they take control of weeds in the garden and keep the pests at bay.
Date: Wednesday 5 April 2017
Time: 10:00 - 11:30
Price: £10
Myddelton House Gardens; Bulls Cross, Enfield, Middlesex, EN2 9HG. www.visitleevalley.org.uk/myddelton or call 03000 030 610.
A Walk in the Park - Gunpowder Park and Sewardstone Explorer
This week's hand -picked walk, as part of Lee Valley Regional Park's 50th Anniversary, explores the transformed, exciting country park where people, wildlife and the arts coexist in a rather more peaceful environment. Walkers love this area due to the network of all-weather paths, and a permissive bridle way, which welcomes horse riders through the summer months. The park is also home to a state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly field station. This amazing building with its grass roof reflects the Park’s industrial heritage.
Gunpowder Park ; Sewardstone Road, Waltham Abbey, Essex, EN9 3GP
Date: Sunday 9 April 2017
Time: 10:30 - 12:30
Price: FREE
No need to book simply turn up.
To find out more: www.visitleevalley.org.uk or call 03000 030 610.
Easter Woodcrafts
Learn practical skills on this creative course hosted by the Lee Valley Ranger Team. Learn about different trees and their properties and about plaque cutting with bow saws. Grown ups and children will love making Easter themed keepsakes that they can take home.
Easter Woodcrafts
Date: Tuesday 11 April 2017
Time: 10:00 - 13:00
Price: £14.50 for one Adult and one Child
Venue: Gunpowder Park, Sewardstone Road, Waltham Abbey, Essex, EN9 3GP
Booking required: for more information, go to: https://www.visitleevalley.org.uk; tel: 03000 030 610.
Wild Wednesdays - Spring has Sprung Activity Afternoon
Celebrate Lee Valley Park's 50th Anniversary with 'Wild Wednesday' family events taking place every Wednesday during the school holidays! Discover the magic of seasonal change through a fun filled afternoon of spring related activities, including arts and crafts, seed planting and spring games!
Waltham Abbey Gardens, Abbey View, Waltham Abbey, Essex, EN9 1XQ
Date: Wednesday, 12 April
Time: 13:00 - 15:00
Price: £4.50 advanced booking, £5 on day
https://www.visitleevalley.org.uk; tel: 03000 030 610
Booking : Pre-booking is recommended for Wild Wednesdays activities as there are limited spaces for each event. By booking online you will receive a 10% discount! There will be a limited number of spaces available on the day.
British Selection
If you want to see Britain's best canoeing stars battle it out, then come down to Lee Valley White Water Centre for this weekend of water action! Watch them fight for a place to represent team GB in the European and World championships. In addition, there will be activities for beginners and practised white water paddlers on during the course of the weekend.
Date: Saturday 15 April to Monday 17 April.
Time: from 10:00
Price: FREE to spectate.
Lee Valley White Water Centre, Station Road, Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, EN9 1AB; www.gowhitewater.co.uk or call 03000 030 610.
Easter Egg Hunt
Join in celebrations for Easter with live music and an Easter egg hunt for the kids! Who can find the most eggs? Bring along family and friends and make a day of it this Easter. Throughout the weekend there will be flat water paddling and legacy activities available for everyone who wants to get involved. There will also be the chance to watch Britain's best canoeists battle it out for a place to represent team GB in the European and World championships!
Date: Sunday, 16 April
Time: from 14:00
Price: FREE
Lee Valley White Water Centre, Station Road, Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, EN9 1AB; www.gowhitewater.co.uk or call 03000 030 610.
Plant Sale
Take a little piece of Myddelton House Gardens home with you for the summer! Come and find a selection of herbaceous and woody plants grown within the gardens and selected local and specialist nurseries.
Date: Saturday 22 April
Time: 11:00 - 15:00
Price: FREE; car parking charges apply.
No need to book, simply turn up and enjoy the array of beautiful plants.
Myddelton House Gardens, Bulls Cross, Enfield, Middlesex, EN2 9HG.
www.visitleevalley.org.uk/gardens
Meridian Lantern Procession
Come along with a lantern to enjoy a sunset walk, followed by a night time lantern procession at Waltham Abbey Gardens. Starting in front of the Abbey Farm House and finishing at the Meridian Gate in the Rose Garden, this walk will really make you see the gardens in a different light. Bring your own lantern. Use the “How to make” sheets for paper and jar lanterns. (see website: www.visitleevalley.org.uk)
Children under 8 are not permitted to carry a flame based lantern (glow sticks are fine) and all children MUST be supervised by an adult.
Date: Sunday, 30 April 2017
Time: 21:00 - 22:00
Price: FREE
Booking is not required, just simply turn up on the night
Waltham Abbey Gardens, Abbey View, Waltham Abbey, Essex, EN9 1XQ
To book or to find out more: www.visitleevalley.co.uk or call 03000 030 610.
A Walk in the Park - Old Mill and Meadows, Silvermeade and Rusheymead
Listed in the Domesday Book of 1086, Broxbourne Old Mill is one very historic site and a great location for the last of April's 'A Walk in the Park' series. After The Old Mill, the walk will head over to visit Silvermeade which is a stronghold for the highly endangered water vole and is one of the best places in the region for viewing this charismatic species. The walk will then move along to Rusheymead and see the patchwork of scrub woodland with pockets of open grassland and more mature woodland.
Date: Sunday 30 April
Time: 10:30 - 12:30
Price:FREE
No need to book, simply turn up.
Meeting point: The Old Mill car park. Charges may apply.
River Lee Country Park - Old Mill and Meadows, Mill Lane, Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, EN10 6QT.
For more information go to: visitleevalley.org.uk/whatson or call 03000 030 610.
Other activities
Experience cycling at Lee Valley VeloPark
Book a cycling experience at Lee Valley VeloPark in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Choose from cycling the track in the iconic velodrome, race on the road circuit, tackle the mountain bike trails or jump and bump on the berms of the BMX track. This is a perfect time to get fit and start training for a summer sportive in the VeloStudio, a suite of state-of-the-art static bikes. Ride the course of the Tour de France with the Sufferfest videos or train with a virtual instructor to music and pulsating lights. Look out for the Ride in Movie night on the first Wednesday of the month. Follow Twitter @LeeValleyVP for a chance to vote for your movie choice. For little ones, give them the best start on two wheels with VeloBalance and Pedal Up! sessions that take place in the centre of the track.
For further information, go to: visitleevalley.org.uk/velopark or call 03000 030 610.
BMX Thrills and MTB Skills at the Lee Valley VeloPark
This ultimate BMX and Mountain bike session allows children between the ages of 7 - 11 to improve their skills, learn new techniques and gain confidence in two different cycling disciplines.
Taking place on the remodelled Olympic BMX tack and MTB trail at Lee Valley VeloPark, this course teaches riders essential skills to improve their performance on a dynamic course.
Price: £27pp
Dates: Tuesday 4 April , 10:00; Thursday 6 April , 10:00; Thursday 13 April, 10:00.
Address: Lee Valley VeloPark, Abercrombie Road, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London, E20 3AB
To book your place, please visit www.visitleevalley.org.uk/velopark
Pedal Up Pump!
Get the kids tackling the indoor pump track at Lee Valley VeloPark before they try BMX or mountain biking! These sessions will help young riders stand confidently on the pedals and learn how to negotiate the pump track safely, along with key bike handling techniques.
Price: £7
Age 7 - 12 years.
Dates: Sunday 2 April, 11:00; Tuesday 4 April 13:45; Friday 7 April 13:45; Saturday 8 April, 09:00; Tuesday 11 April, 13.45.
Address: Lee Valley VeloPark, Abercrombie Road, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London, E20 3AB. To book your place, please visit www.visitleevalley.org.uk/velopark
Sculpture Trail
A six mile long sculpture trail, launched by Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, is one of the latest highlights of a visit to leafy River Lee Country Park, filled with lakes and green spaces. The 15 handcrafted artworks along the six-mile trail include a Giant Chair, Bird Transition - a stone carving depicting local birds in the River Lee, The Shrine and a Viking Ship. www.visitleevalley.org.uk/sculptures
In the country
For other ideas or a chance to get away from it all, there are plenty of walks or cycle routes in the Lee Valley, with over 30 walking routes and more than 20 cycle routes to find the perfect day out for the family. Bring the family and enjoy discovering the many and varied walks in the award winning open spaces. Go to www.visitleevalley.org.uk and download a range of recommended cycle and walking routes. Find out more: www.visitleevalley.co.uk or call 03000 030 610.
Stay the weekend
When visiting the Lee Valley and its attractions, including Lee Valley White Water Centre and the open spaces including River Lee Country Park, people can make a weekend of it by staying at one of three camping and caravan parks, including Lee Valley Caravan Park, Dobbs Weir, which offers a range of accommodation including Wigwams®, which are stylish timber cabins.
For more information, go to: www.visitleevalley.org.uk/camping
To check on all holiday activities and for more information, go to : www.visitleevalley.org.uk