Things to Do With Kids in Basildon: Family Days Out

What are the best free days out with kids in Basildon?

For a free day out, Wat Tyler Country Park in Pitsea is the obvious start. Its own website gives the address as Pitsea Hall Lane, Pitsea, SS16 4UH, describes 125 acres with country walks, wildlife spotting and adventure play, and says parking is free. The main gates open at 9am and close at 7pm, with the play area closing half an hour earlier, and the visitor centre is open daily from 10am to 4.30pm apart from Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. There is a cafe, gift shop and village green, and the park runs pond dipping and woodland adventure parties. We cover it in more detail in our Wat Tyler Country Park guide, and you can check the latest on the park's website.

Is there a miniature railway at Wat Tyler?

Yes. The Basildon Miniature Railway runs from Grand Central Station, behind the Green Centre car park. The railway page says it is open daily over the school holidays from 11am to 4pm with a flat rate ticket of five pounds at the time of writing. Outside the school holidays the site does not give running days, so check before you set off if your visit falls on a term time weekend.

Where can I take children to see farm animals near Basildon?

Barleylands Farm Park sits just outside Billericay on Barleylands Road, CM11 2UD. Its visit page says the farm park is open 10am to 5pm from March to October and 10am to 4pm from November to February, with a large free car park. The farm has animals, birds of prey, nocturnal creatures and exotic animals, and around 85 per cent of the site is accessible on level paths. Only guide dogs are allowed in the farm park. The neighbouring craft village is open Tuesday to Sunday. Admission is priced by season, and the prices page lists a weekday off-peak family of four ticket at 54 pounds online at the time of writing, with children aged one to two charged less and babies under six months free. Prices change, so check before you book.

Where is the best soft play in Basildon?

360 Play is inside Festival Leisure Park on Festival Way, SS14 3WB. Its Basildon page says it is open daily from 10am to 6pm, with a 9.30am start in the school holidays, and is designed for children aged one to twelve, with under ones free. It has an indoor play frame, dodgems, a carousel, a role play street, messy and water play and outdoor sandpits and trikes. Peak and off peak pricing applies and there is no time limit on your stay. You can reach the venue on 01268 533107. Prices are listed on the operator's page rather than repeated here, because they change.

What else is at Festival Leisure Park?

The Festival Leisure Park directory lists a Cineworld cinema and Hollywood Bowl, along with restaurants including Nando's, Five Guys, Pizza Express and Wagamama. That makes it an easy wet weather option, especially if you combine bowling or a film with lunch. Check each operator for opening times and prices before you go.

Can children swim at Basildon Sporting Village?

Basildon Sporting Village on Cranes Farm Road, SS14 3GR, is run by Everyone Active. Its centre page describes a 50 metre pool that can be split into two 25 metre pools, a climbing wall, an eight court sports hall and an athletics track, and says it offers swimming lessons for children of all abilities, birthday parties and holiday activities. The centre opens 6am to 10pm on weekdays and 6am to 8pm at weekends. Call 01268 722450 or check the timetable for family swim sessions, because the site tells you to look at the timetables for details.

Is there a park for scooters and playgrounds in Basildon town?

Basildon Council describes Gloucester Park as Basildon's largest park, with a fishing lake, a skate park and areas of paths, trees and a pond important to wildlife. It sits next to the sporting village, so you can pair a swim with a walk. The council also lists country parks and nature reserves on its country parks page, which is worth browsing for more green space to explore.

Quick answers

Free days out are Wat Tyler Country Park and Gloucester Park. Farm animals are at Barleylands near Billericay. Indoor play is at 360 Play in Festival Leisure Park, and swimming is at Basildon Sporting Village. Check the school holiday dates in our Essex term dates guide so you can plan around the miniature railway's holiday timetable, and see what's on in Basildon for seasonal events.