Pick Your Own Fruit

One of our favourite things to do in the summer is to go fruit picking. Although we don't have any PYO farms in the Romford area, there are some that aren't so far away - perfect for a day out!

Lathcoats Farm - Great Baddow, Chelmsford. CM2 8LX (approximately 30 - 35 minutes from Romford)
Lathcoats have a great selection of fruit to pick at various times. You'll find strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, cherries, tummelberries, currants and more. Visit the website for daily updates on ripe fruit available for picking (it's best to check later in the day when the staff have assessed what will be available for the following day). Booking essential.

Cammas Hall Farm - Hatfield Broad Oak. CM22 7JT (approximately 45 - 50 minutes from Romford)
Cammas Hall is a very popular destination and they are operating a voucher system which is only available for pre booking. There are daily updates on their Facebook page with information about fruit availability. Booking slots are released a day or two in advance and must be booked on the website. You can check what produce is available here. During the week the Tea Barn will be open for breakfast butties, light lunches, homemade cake and sausage rolls, cream teas and refreshments. At the weekend there will be a BBQ, pizza oven, beer tent and cocktail bar. There is plenty of covered outdoor seating area to shelter you from the sun and plenty of ice cream and cold drinks to help you keep cool. Farm shop, play area, sandpits and nature trail are also open daily. Booking essential.

Parkside Farm - Enfield EN2 8LA (approximately 50 minutes from Romford)
Parkside has a great range of berries and some vegetables available at various times. You can check availability on their website.  There is a farm shop on site selling local produce - honey, fruit and ice creams. Open Tuesday - Sunday, closed on Monday. Booking essential.

McLauchlins of Boxted - CO4 5RB (approximately 1 hour from Romford)
The is a selection of fruit available to pick - strawberries, raspberries, redcurrants, blackcurrants, dessert gooseberries, broad beans & gooseberries. Check the 'Pickometre' on the website for information on what's available. There is a shop on site selling produce. There is no need to pre book.

Bloomfield Farm - Chipping Ongar, CM5 0NB (approximately 35 - 40 minutes from Romford)
Planning to open mid July with Czar Plums to PYO - check Facebook page for up to date info.

Updated July 2022

Mums guide to Romford turns 5!

On 17th July 2017 the Mum's guide to Romford website launched. In the five years that have passed the website has grown so much and I am so proud to be supporting local families in Romford and the surrounds. We have achieved so much.

• In the first year of running, the website had a total of just 8,000 visitors and in the last 12 months we have had over 162,000 visitors!
• We now have almost 10,000 followers across our social media platforms
• We have supported hundreds of local businesses, sharing what they offer and helping them to advertise their products and services
• We have been featured in the Havering & Brentwood Resident magazine
• Been on Time107.5FM
• Had numerous mentions in the Romford Recorder
• Launched our very own Mum's guide to Romford Awards
• Supported families through lockdown with information, suggestions and ideas
• Built THE most comprehensive database of businesses, venues, facilities and services for families in Havering

Personally I have loved getting to know local business owners, meeting local parents and finding out as much as I can about the area that I call home. I have visited hundreds of local venues and places of interest, both for research purposes but also because I am a parent of an active little boy and we love to explore and find out what's going on! 

None of this would have been possible without you, our loyal and trusty followers. I am truly grateful for the support you show me regularly online, via the website and the social media pages. Without you, Mum's guide to Romford wouldn't have anything to celebrate!

Huge thanks goes to our audience (that's you!), to the businesses who advertise with us, to the family and friends who support me personally in my quest to find out everything I can about the area I live in and to the lovely ladies at Mum's guide to Harpenden, who had an amazing idea and who are always on hand to support me. 

Here's to the next 5 years!

Jane x

Kid's Week is Back!

We all know that visits to the theatre in London's West End can be a pricey affair but every year we have a great opportunity to see some amazing shows throughout August where the kids can come along for FREE!  Yes, I said it, my favourite word when planning a family day out. 

Tickets are on sale now and you can check out the full list of shows and times along with the booking links here.

If you haven't been to a London theatre with your children before, don't worry, we have put together some great tips to help take the stress out of the event, and to help you plan accordingly. Read our Top Tips For Your First West End Theatre Visit with Children here.

Over 40 shows included in this great offer are listed below. 

My Fair Lady
& Juliet
101 Dalmatians
Anything Goes
Attenborough And His Animals
Back To The Future 
Disney's Beauty and the Beast 
Blippi The Musical
Come From Away
Dear Evan Hansen
The Drifters Girl
Disney's Frozen
Get Up Stand Up! The Bob Marley Musical
Grease The Musical
The Great Gatsby 
Heathers The Musical
Horrible Histories - Terrible Tutors
Jersey Boys
Kinky Boots In Concert
Life of Pi
Disney's The Lion King 
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
Mamma Mia!
Mary Poppins
Matilda The Musical 
Only Fools And Horses
The Phantom Of The Opera
The Pirate, The Princess And The Platypus
The Play That Goes Wrong
Room On The Broom
Sarah & Duck's Big Top Birthday
Sister Act
Six 
South Pacific
Tiddler And Other Terrific Tales
The Tiger Who Came To Tea
Tina - The Tina Turner Musical
Tom Dick & Harry
Treason In Concert
Twirlywoos Live!
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show
Wicked
Witness For The Prosecution 
The Woman In Black

Updated 15/06/22

70 Free Things to do in London with Kids

We live so close to our capital city and I am guessing most of us don't make the most of what's on offer - I know I don't!

I've been doing some research to find family friendly places to go in London that are either FREE or don't cost the earth. 

You won't find any of what I call the 'big ticket' days out here. This is more about making the most of the city and exploring the hidden gems!

We have found

• Tips on public transport and how to make the most of it
• Interesting places that you might not know about
• Places to visit to see amazing views of the city
• Play parks - what's a day out without a chance to let off steam in a playground?!
• City Farms
• Museums & galleries with family friendly events and areas to explore
• Fountains and splash areas to cool off on a hot day

And so much more.

Click here and start planning your next day out!