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Updated December 2023

Finding things to do for teenagers is notoriously difficult. After some research we have come up with some suggestions that might help you when you hear the 'I'm bored' comment or when you are trying to encourage them to have a bit of time away from their devices.

We have included everything we could find so some of these options will be cheap and cheerful while others may blow the budget - hopefully there is something for everyone!

This is the A-Z of things to do for tweens and teens in Romford, Havering, Essex and the surrounding areas. Use the links to find out more about each activity including booking information.

A

• Assault course - Nuclear Races Wild Forest, Brentwood
• Archery - Stubbers Adventure Centre, Upminster
• The ArcelorMittal Slide - Queen Elizabeth II Park, Stratford

B

• Bowling - Namco, Romford; Hollywood Bowl, Dagenham & Basildon; RollerBowl, City Pavillion, Collier Row
• Boating - The Boathouse, Barking Park, Barking; Hainault Boating Lake, Hainault Country Park;  Stubbers Adventure Centre, Upminster. (Seasonal activity)
• BMX track - Rom Skate Park, Romford; King George's Playing Field, Romford

C

• Climbing Wall -  VertiGo, Harlow; Rock Up, Lakeside; Rock & Boulder, Romford; Stubbers Adventure Centre, Upminster; GraVity Rocks, Bluewater; Oxygen Romford
• Cineworld 3D cinema - Basildon
• The Clink Prison Museum - London
• The Prince Charles Cinema - Leicester Square

D

• Driving range - Top Golf, Chigwell; Crowlands Heath Golf Club, Romford; Golf Kingdom, Romford; Hainault Golf Driving Range, Hainault
• Disc golf - Lee Valley, Waltham Abbey
• Deck Shuffle - Bunkers, Romford

E

• Escape rooms - Room Lockdown, Romford & Hornchurch; Escape Hunt, Lakeside 
• Electro Darts - Bunkers, Romford

F

• Footgolf - Golf Kingdom, Romford

G

• Gaming - Elite Gamer, Westcliff on Sea; Laser Quest, Romford; Belong Gaming, Lakeside; Immersive Gamebox, Lakeside; Funland VR, Harold Hill
• Geocaching - anywhere!

H

• High ropes - Sky Run, Fairlop Waters; Nuclear High Ropes, Brentwood; Sky Ropes, Great Notley Braintree; High Adventure, Harlow
• Horse riding - there are lots of riding schools in the area, check Google for your nearest

I

• Ice skating - Sapphire Ice & Leisure, Romford
• Inflatable Water Park - Aqua Park, Lakeside; Aqua Action, Fairlop Waters; Curve Water Sports, St Oysth

J

• Jogging - Harrow Lodge Park Run, Hornchurch

K

• Karting - Brentwood Karting; Lakeside Karting
• Kitesurfing - Essex Kitesurfing, Southend
• Kata Kanu - Stubbers Adventure Centre, Upminster

L

• Laser Tag - Laser Quest, Romford; Laser Mayhem Games, Abridge
• London Dungeons - London

M

• Mini golf - Golf Kingdom, Romford; Bunkers Romford, Rascal Bay, Brentwood; Puttshack, Lakeside;  Mr Mulligans, Basildon
• Mountain biking - various locations in Havering
• Movie locations tour - self led walking tour, London
• My Place - youth club, recording studio etc
• Markets - visit some of the more interesting markets in London - Camden, Portabello Road, Spitalfields etc

N

• Ninja Warrior UK - Chelmsford; Chatham, Kent; Milton Keynes

 O 

• Off roading - Stubbers Adventure Centre, Upminster

P

• Paintballing - Mayhem Paintballing, Abridge; Delta Force, Upminster
• Paddleboarding - Stubbers Adventure Centre, Upminster;  Lee Valley White Water Centre, Waltham Abbey
• Photography - get out there and take some amazing pictures in your area
• Ping Pong - Bunkers, Romford,  Bounce Ping Pong, Old Street & Faringdon, London. These bars are family friendly and welcome young people to play ping pong supervised by adults

Q

• Quirky Museums - The Clink Prison Museum, London; Sherlock Holmes Museum, Baker Street London; Jack The Ripper Museum, London; God's Own Junkyard, Walthamstow
• Quad Biking - Essex Outdoors, Danbury;  Go Ballistic - West Malling, Sittingbourne and various locations in Kent

R

• Roller skating - Rollacity, Rochford; Wheelie Roller Disco, Roding High School Sports Centre, Loughton
• Romford Raiders Ice Hockey - home games at Sapphire Ice & Leisure, Romford
• Remote Control Car Track - Fairlop Car Club, Fairlop Waters

S

• Skateboarding - Rom Skatepark, Romford; Cottons Park, Romford; Central Park, Harold Hill; King George's Skate Park, Romford; Harold Wood Park, Harold Wood
• Segway - Belhus Woods, South Ockenden
• Shuffleboard - Bunkers, Romford
• Swimming - Sapphire Ice & Leisure, Romford; Harrow Lodge Leisure Centre, Hornchurch; Central Park, Harold Hill; 
• Ski slope - Brentwood Ski Centre, Brentwood
• Snowboarding - Brentwood Ski Centre, Brentwood
• Skydive Aerodrome - Hangloose, Bluewater

T

• Trampolining - Oxygen ActivePlay, Harold Hill;  Flip Out, Lakeside; Jump Giants, Lakeside; GraVity, Bluewater
• Tubing - Brentwood Ski Centre, Brentwood; Curve Water Sports, St Oysth
• Tennis - various Havering Parks

U

• Upside Down House - Lakeside. Great for those Insta worthy photos!
• Up! At The O2 - The O2, London

V

• VR activity - Laser Quest, Romford; Bunkers Romford,  VR Escape, Hockley; Immersive Gamebox, Lakeside and Funland VR, Harold Hill

W

• Water based activities  - various activities at the following venues. Stubbers Adventure Centre, Upminster; Lee Valley White Water Centre, Waltham Abbey, Curve Water Sports, St Osyth; Aqua Action, Fairlop Waters; Essex Outdoors - various locations

X

• XBox challenge at home or at a Gaming venue

Y

• Young Driver - Lakeside

Z

• Zip lining - Hangloose,  Bluewater; Nuclear High Ropes, Brentwood

If you are planning a trip to London you'll find lots of ideas in out article 70 Free Things To Do in London with Kids

We always love to get a little help from YOU, our readers. If you have a suggestion that isn't on our list please contact us and we may be able to add it!