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 Romford, there are some that aren't so far away - perfect for a day out! 

Don't forget...

• Check websites and social media pages before you travel to see what is available to pick - all are linked below
• Book tickets in advance and remember there may be a time restriction on how long you can stay
• Some farms release extra tickets the night before so keep checking!

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. The The Bee Shed Coffee House is open for dining in with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating available, open Monday to Saturday 9-4. You can also book an alpaca trek with All Things Alpaca at Lathcoats!

Cammas Hall Farm - Hatfield Broad Oak. CM22 7JT (approximately 45 - 50 minutes from Romford)
Cammas Hall is a very popular destination and you must prebook to visit the PYO fields. 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. The Tea Barn will be open for breakfast butties, light lunches, homemade cake and sausage rolls, cream teas and refreshments. On selected dates there will be a BBQ, pizza oven, beer tent and cocktail bar. (Check website for more info) 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, maize maze, footgolf and nature trail are also open daily (closed on Monday). 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.

McLauchlans of Boxted - Boxted Berries - 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)
Known for their Czar plums! For opening times check Facebook page for up to date info.

Updated June 2025

WIN WIN WIN!

We have collaborated with our friends at local charity Havering Mind to bring you this great competition. You could WIN a family ticket, for 2 adults and 2 children, to Summer Family Festival THIS SUNDAY 13th JULY! 

We have TWO Family Tickets to win!

What to expect

The Kids Tent at the Havering Mind Summer Family Festival for a full day of fun, shows, and interactive entertainment for all ages!

Inside the Kids Tent you’ll find:
• Party Monsters – high-energy party games, dancing and fun!
• Science Dude (AKA Party Dude Parties) – hands-on science and silly experiments
• Party with Jelly Jade – music, movement and singalongs & games!
• Plus story time, soft play, bubbles and more throughout the day!

Elsewhere across the festival:
• Tribute acts to Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, Dua Lipa, Ariana Grande, Avril Lavigne and more
• Live Dinomania show, Foam Party, Punch & Judy, Princess Signalong and Wrestling
• Petting zoo, reptiles, birds of prey, circus skills
• Superhero & princess meet and greets
• Wellbeing Zone with free activities and chill-out space

Where is it?

Harrow Lodge Park, Hornchurch (RM11 1JU) 
Sunday 13th July, 10am - 5:30pm

What do you need to do to be in with a chance of winning?

Send your name, email address and phone number to [email protected]

Competition closes at midnight on Wednesday 9th July 2025. The winners will be chosen by random name picker on Thursday 10th July 2025.

Full Ts&Cs are available here

Summer Reading Challenge 2025 - Story Garden

The 2025 Summer Reading Challenge, called Story Garden, launches on Saturday 5th July at your local library.   It's a great way to keep children reading during the long summer break. This year's topic is designed to inspire their imagination by delving into a world of adventure in the great outdoors.

We have 7 libraries around the borough and there will be five weeks of free craft activities during the Summer Reading Challenge session times. There will be large floor puzzles, nature boxes with magnifiers, stickers, medals, certificates and prize draws. You can sign up at any time. 

You can find details of all 7 Havering Libraries here.

Children can pop into any of the local libraries from Saturday 5th July to join or they can join online here.  

The Summer Reading Challenge website has lots of information about characters involved, games, quizzes and activities. There is lots to inspire even a reluctant reader so take a look.

The challenge comes to an end on 30th September.

Kids Week is Back!

Kids Week is an amazing initiative which runs every summer welcoming families into the West End to see shows at discounted prices.

During Kids Week, which this year actually runs 6 whole weeks, a child can go to selected performances of any participating show for free when they’re accompanied by a paying adult. 

How does it work?

• A child aged 17 and under goes free when accompanied by an adult paying full price. Parents can also purchase two additional children's tickets for half price. 
• This year, Kids Week performances will run from Monday 21st July -  Sunday 31st August 2025!

This is the list of the 57 amazing shows included in this years offer:

101 Dalmatians
The Three Musketeers
Afternoon Tea
Alice in Wonderland
Back to The Future
The Baddies
The Boy with Wings
Cabaret
The Choir of Man
Clueless The Musical
Come Alive - The Greatest Showman Circus Spectacular
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Daughter of Time
The Devil Wears Prada
The Dinosaur That Pooped a Rock How.
The Lion King
The Elves And The Shoemaker
Roald Dhal's The Enormous Crocodile The Musical
Evita
Fawlty Towers
Fireman Sam Live - The Great Camping Adventure
The Great Gatsby
Hades Town
Harry Potter & The Cursed Child
Hold on to Your Butts
Horrible Histories Barmy Britain
Just for One Day - The Live Aid Musical
The Lion The Witch & The Wardrobe
Mamma Mia
Matilda The Musical
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Ministry of Science Live!
Les Miserables
MJ The Musical
Monopoly Lifesized
Moulin Rouge
The Mousetrap
RSC's My Neighbour Totoro
Natural History Museum: Dinosaurs Live!
Oliver!
Phantom of The Opera
The Play The Goes Wrong
Rough Magic
Showstopper! The Improvised Musical
Sing Street
The Smeds & The Smoos
Spot's Birthday Party
Starlight Express
Stranger Things
The Tiger Who Came To Tea
Tina - The Tina Turner Musical
Tom Gates Epic Stage Show
War Horse
Wicked
Witness For The Prosecution

All tickets must be booked via the main website here.