London has a remarkable variety of outside places to explore and learn and play in. There are 3000 parks, 8.3 million trees, and 850kms of rivers, streams, and canals. Below are just a few suggestions for outdoor play in the capital.
Kew Gardens
Kew Gardens run a range of activites from Early Years through to Key Stage 4.
Engaging, interactive and hands-on, are a few ways to explain the activities designed to encourage children to embark on a journey in inquiry-based learning in the perfect outdoor classroom.
Magnificent glasshouses, exceptional plant collections, glorious grounds and vital scientific research are all part of what Kew has to offer. Kew's settings are designed to meet curriculum
targets across a wide range of subjects including Science, Maths, English, Geography, Art and Design, Technology and more.
Read more here.
London Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust
Grab your wellies, for an unforgettable learning experience outdoors designed to support your teaching and learning in school.
Since 1946, over 2 million pupils have visited WWT, the UK’s leading provider of learning outside the classroom. Just a short walk from Barnes station in South West London, learners are immersed in a unique environment, coming face to face with the unexpected and exploring wetland habitats hands-on. On this page you will discover their learning sessions for school groups https://learningzone.wwt.org.uk/learning-sessions/ and here you will find their inspired resources for fun at home or at school: https://www.wwt.org.uk/discover-wetlands/home-learning-and-family-fun
Vauxhall City Farm
5 reasons to take your class to Vauxhall City Farm:
- It’s the perfect place to introduce young people to the sights, sounds and smells of the countryside without leaving central London.
- They offer high quality, curriculum-linked learning experiences tailored to your class.
- Friendly staff are always on hand to make your visit fun, safe and memorable.
- Newly refurbished ecology garden provides a peaceful green space in which to learn about nature.
- Where else could you meet sheep, goats, alpacas, horses, ducks, chickens, geese, rabbits, ferrets, rats and guinea pigs in Zone 1
Roots and Shoots
This award-winning wildlife garden is a quiet and secluded haven within central London.
Roots and Shoots is keen to involve children in environmental education by hosting school visits to the wildlife garden, including...
- Bee hive visits
- Children's art workshops in the new Study Centre
- National Apple Day
- British Science Week
- National Moth Night
- National Insect Week
http://www.rootsandshoots.org.uk/environment/schools
Oasis Nature Garden
Oasis Children’s Nature Garden in Stockwell is one of the only wildlife gardens just for children. The garden was a derelict site until 1982 when the local community began working on its transformation into the now mature state.
We are pleased to have partnered with Oasis Nature Garden to deliver network meetings to those who have attended the Natural Thinkers training.
Read more here.
Walthamstow Wetlands
This is Europe's biggest wetlands, and it takes only 20 minutes and a short walk by tube from Victoria station. There is free admission for all, as well as the possibility to book school visits
and take part in free activities for children such as pond dipping. https://walthamstowwetlands.com/
Devonshire Road Nature Reserve
At this nature reserve in Lewisham, there are Muddy Boots children's nature sessions on Monday and Friday 10-11.30 each week during term time. Find them 10 minutes from Honour Oak or Forest Hill
stations!
https://www.devonshireroadnaturereserve.org/#home
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