Things to do with the kids in Stratford

Rosetta Arts is a visual arts centre based in West Ham that provides a colourful selection of creative courses, workshops and experiences for people in East London. 

This Easter they’re offering the opportunity for young people in East London to get creative and get inspired by their free taster sessions with a ‘creativity and nature’ theme.

From Monday 11^th to Friday 15^th April, youngsters will have the chance to try a range of courses, from movie-making and painting to dance, movement and photography.

Depending on the class, the arts centre recommends a range of ages from 10 – 19, and welcomes young people of all abilities and backgrounds, in the spirit of collaboration and connectivity. Take a look at the April schedule to find out more.

Let their imaginations run wild at Britain’s first centre dedicated to storytelling. Nurture a love of reading with interactive storytelling sessions, workshops and more. The Discover Centre also plays host to a range of engaging authors and illustrators. Find out who’s visiting on their what’s on page.

Spend the day indulging their curiosity and enjoy a bite to eat in the Discover Cafe. Enjoy a range of hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, salads, snacks, ice creams and freshly baked cakes.

Planning a birthday party for your little one? Find what’s available in the Party Room packages.

Prices start from £6.50 per adult or children over two years old. Family tickets are available from £22 for a family of four.

A good one for getting the little ones outdoors and – best of all – it’s free! Climb the treehouse, cross the wobbly bridge, splash in the rock pools or dig in the sandpit - there’s plenty to discover at the Tumbling Bay Playground. Located at the north of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, there’s loads of outdoor space to run, explore and play. Perfect for burning off some energy!

What’s more, the Timber Lodge Cafe sits alongside the playground, providing the ideal place to enjoy refreshments. Relax, unwind and tuck into fresh, home-cooked treats after an afternoon of play. An excellent choice if you’re searching for adventurous things to do for kids in Stratford.

Don’t miss your chance to get up close and personal with the farmyard animals of Hackney Farm. Situated on the site of a former brewery, Hackney City Farm have transformed the space to bring a taste of the rural countryside to the city.

Children can look forward to meeting goats, sheep, chickens and donkeys as well as some small animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs. The farm is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 4pm and is completely free to enter. Workshops and classes are held weekly throughout summer – check their schedule.

For a day out that’s a little more unusual, head to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to visit the iconic Arcelormittal Orbit Slide. A staple of the 2012 Olympics, this red tower of twisted metal is the world’s tallest and longest slide. Not sure if you want to commit to the drop? Enjoy beautiful views of East London from the viewing platform by taking the lift to the top.

If your little ones aren’t so little any more, Stratford East Theatre have the perfect opportunity to keep them engaged and entertained throughout the summer with various classes. The Junior Youth Theatre (aimed at age 11-14 years) is held every Monday between 6pm – 7.15pm, where participants can create, devise and perform their own plays. Find out more about how young people can get involved.

We may already have mentioned the exceptionally fun Tumbling Bay Playground, but did you know there’s a host of events running in the park, all year round?

Coming up this summer, a couple that we’re especially looking forward to include London Wing Fest and The Great Get Together 2022. 

London Wing Fest is a celebration of all things chicken! That’s right – chicken wings. Some of the nation’s most loved wing aficionados come together and put their recipes to the test whilst the public taste as many as possible and vote on their favourites. 

It’s a great family day out with activities, live music and a fabulous atmosphere. The event runs on Saturday 16^th and Sunday 17^th July, with kids going free on the Sunday! 

The Great Get Together 2022 takes place one week later, on the 23^rd of July. From 12pm – 9pm, East London’s best and brightest charities, makers, movers and shakers, organisations and groups will all come together to put on a fun-filled day of kids’ activities and entertainment – all taking place within Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park! 

Keep your eyes peeled on the QEOP website what’s on page for all the latest details. 

We couldn’t list all the wonderful things to do for kids in Stratford without mentioning our neighbour, Westfield. With a VUE Cinema, Home Run House, All Star Lanes and Bat and Ball, there are plenty of activities to tire those little ones out! Giving you an evening’s peace when you get home! 

Is there anything more daunting as an adult than bouncing about on trampolines for hours? Perhaps not. But, as a child, there are few afternoons as fun! 

As well as rooms filled with trampolines across three storeys, there are arranged events, games and socials for kids to enjoy. Enjoy an hour’s freestyle jump or take your toddler to a toddler class where they can grow in confidence and meet other kids. Little Zapper sessions take place every day of the week, especially for children aged 1 – 4, and allow parents to sit in the café and chat whilst their little one enjoys some supervised, freestyle bouncing time!

With all the colours, sounds and business of a place like ZAPspace, they’ve also created ZenSen, an afterschool freestyle session for children who can sometimes experience sensory overload. In these sessions the whole park is restricted to only ZenSen participants, the music is turned down, there’s no strobe lighting and they create a deliberately calm and peaceful setting.