Parks and Things to Do with Kids in Bexleyheath: Danson Park, Playgrounds and Red House

Bexley Council says there are more than 100 parks in the borough. Here is what its own pages and the venues' pages say about the ones around Bexleyheath, Barnehurst and Bexley village. Opening times and prices change, so check the linked page before you go.

What is Danson Park?

Danson Park, in Bexleyheath, is the borough's best-known park. The council's page on Danson House and Park says the park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with free entry, and describes a 12-acre setting for Grade I listed Danson House. It says the park is about a 20-minute walk from Bexleyheath or Welling stations. The council lists the park's playground at Danson Road, DA6 8HL, and describes formal gardens, a large lake, water sports, a boathouse cafe, play areas and sports facilities. The council also lists a Danson splash park on its parks and playgrounds pages; check those pages for the current season and hours before you go.

What can children do on the lake?

According to the council's Danson Park Adventures page, rowing boats and pedalos are available on Saturdays from April to October, 12pm to 4pm (extended in good weather), with some days in school holidays. No booking is needed. Rowing boats take up to five people and pedalos up to four, and life jackets are mandatory for children under eight, with buoyancy aids available on request. Hire prices are not on the page. For ages 8 to 16 there are holiday programmes, paddlesports sessions and RYA sailing courses, bookable through the Danson watersports booking system. The centre's contact is watersports@bexley.gov.uk or 020 8303 2828.

Can I visit Danson House?

The council's page says the principal floor is free to enter and guided heritage tours run on Sundays from April to August, 10am to 12pm, at £8 a person by card only. Check the page for the current position, as house opening arrangements can change.

Which parks and playgrounds are near me?

The council's parks list names these in our areas:

- Bexleyheath: Biggs Hill Woods (Watling Street), Bursted Woods (Swanbridge Road), Long Lane Open Space, Palmar Gardens, The Green, The Warren (Midhurst Hill), Town Park (Broadway), West Heath Recreation Ground, and playgrounds at Martens Grove and Old Manor Way.
- Barnehurst: Barnehurst Open Space (Mayplace Road East) and Barnehurst Avenue Open Space.
- Bexley village: Bexley Woods (Elmwood Drive), Finsbury Way Open Space, Golden Acre, Hall Place (Bourne Road), Hurst Recreation Ground, Parkhurst Gardens, St Mary's Recreation Ground and the Riverside Walk.

The council's playgrounds page lists playgrounds in Bexleyheath at Russell Park (Long Lane), West Heath Recreation Ground, Old Manor Way and Martens Grove, and in Bexley at Parkhill Road Open Space (Golden Acre), Riverside Walk and Thistlefield. It lists none specifically for Barnehurst or Upton. The council has no park listed under Upton.

Is Red House worth a visit with children?

Red House, Red House Lane, Bexleyheath, DA6 8JF, is the home designed for William Morris, and is run by the National Trust. Its page says it is open May to October, Thursday to Saturday, 11am to 3pm, by pre-booked guided tour only, with new tickets released every Thursday up to two weeks in advance. It publishes adult (18+) tickets at £14, child (5 to 17) at £7 and a family ticket at £35. It describes ramped entry to the ground floor and says there is no step-free access to the upper floor, and that the driveway is gravel with uneven brick paths. Contact details are on the National Trust page.

Where can I find more to do?

Our events and markets guide explains how to find what's on, and the council's leisure centres, including Crook Log Leisure Centre, also run classes listed on its events calendar.