Things to Do

Leisure Centres

There are a number of leisure centres in Ealing offering various activities such as swimming, yoga, football, and more. 

If you have a disability and are aged 16+, or if you are in receipt of certain benefits, you may be eligible for a concession fee, which means you can get a discounted rate. Leisure centres will ask for proof of eligibility which can vary depending on the centre. 

Visit your nearest Leisure Centre to find out more:

• Twyford Leisure Centre
• Acton Leisure Centre
• Dormers Wells Leisure Centre
• Northolt Leisure Centre
• Southall Sports Centre

Disabilities Sports Coach- Run community sports clubs inclusive to all regardless of disability or need.   

DSActive- DSActive provide sporting opportunities for people with Downs syndrome. Currently , DSActive run tennis sessions every Friday in Acton for everyone aged 5+ to take part.

Brentford Penguins FC- Working in partnership with DS Active and Brentford Community Sports Trust, Brentford Penguins offers a unique football club for any child aged 8+ who has Downs Syndrome.

Heathrow Special Needs Centre- No matter what a persons’ ability there is always an activity that can be participated in and enjoyed at the Heathrow Special needs Centre ; such as horse riding, horticulture, and animal welfare. There is also a sensory garden and nature area to enjoy. Suitable for visitors aged 5 +.

Playgym @ Heathrow Gymnastics Club -Offers a soft-play area with a seperate unique sensory room for toddlers and children up to 7 years old. 

View our directory of Sports activities 

Discount at the cinema

You can apply for a CEA Card if you have a disability. The card entitles you to one free ticket for someone to accompany you to the cinema to provide the assistance you may need during your visit. Around 90% of cinemas accept the card, you can apply for the card and find out more on the CEA website.

Visit: www.ceacard.co.uk

Accessible cinema screenings

Accessible Screenings UK is a website that allows you to search for cinemas near you offering different types of screenings, including:

• Autism Friendly screenings - subtly-adapted screenings which create an environment that is welcoming for people with a range of conditions such as autism, learning disabilities and cognitive disorders.
• Audio described- provide a pre-recorded voice commentary that describes features such as action, body language expressions and movement 
• Subtitled/captioned screenings- provide a transcription of the audio from a film, displayed at the bottom of the cinema screen.  

Visit: http://accessiblescreeningsuk.co.uk/ 

Autism-friendly performances

The National Autistic Society regularly update their Autism -friendly days out page (external link), find out about Autism-friendly performances at the theatre which are a great way for children and young people with Autism to enjoy a live show. 

Lion King Relaxed Performances: Relaxed Performances are specially adapted to be accessible to a wide range of audiences such as those with autism, those with a learning disability or anyone with a sensory predisposition, with extra trained staff on hand and dedicated quiet areas inside the theatre should anyone need to leave their seat. Visit The Lion King | Get Tickets for The Lion King from the Official Disney Website

There are a number of museums in London catering to different interests such as arts, science and history.

Most museums are free to access but may charge for certain exhibitions or events, so it’s best to contact the museum directly for details on fees. You can also find out what’s running at a museum by visiting their website.

Some museums offer exhibitions specifically for children, youg people and adults with additional needs:

• The National History Museum offer a  Dawnasaurs Exhibition for children on the autism spectrum, opening early so that children can enjoy the museum at a quieter time.  
• The Science Museum offer an Early Bird session for those who benefit from visiting the museum at a less busier time (for example, children, young people and adults with autism or sensory processing differences).
• Accessible Sessions at Museum of London- The Museum of London offer morning explorer events specifically designed for families with children who have autism. Visit  Accessibility | Museum of London to find out about how to book as well as other accessibility information. 
• Family SEND explorer events and the London Transport Museum- Explore All Aboard family spaces in peace, have a go some holiday activities, get hands-on with genuine parts of transport history, or make use of our sensory bags to support exploring the collection. Book online Family SEND Explorer Events | London Transport Museum (ltmuseum.co.uk)

Before visiting a museum, you may wish to find out about their accessibility to ensure you get the most out of your day out. Accessable and Euans Guide are both websites that can provide details around accessibility for venues throughout the UK, including musuems.

You can also contact museums directly to find out more about their accessibility, some museums even have officers that can provide assistance to you on our visit.

When accessing museums ,or any activity, especially if they are not close to where you live, it may be useful to plan your day, for example - plan how you will get to and from the museum and what areas or exhibitions you would like to visit.   Read our 'Planning your Days Out' section below for more information.

Sensory sessions at London Zoo- London Zoo offer separate sensory sessions available for babies 0-8 months and children with autism and other neurodiversities. Visit Sensory Stories at the Zoo | Zoological Society of London (ZSL)

Children's Centres 

Ealing have 27 children centres within the borough offering various activities for children aged 0-5 such as stay and play, song and rhyme, cooking classes and more. Activities can vary depending on the centre, please view the centres latest timetable to find out what’s running.

Find my nearest Children's Centre

Youth Centres and Clubs

There are various Youth Centres in Ealing offering a space for young people to meet others, engage in activities involving music, gaming cooking and more. Some youth centres also run various projects.

Westside Disability Project

Westside's Disability Project is held the Westside Young People's Centre and is  specifically for young people with additional needs from the ages of 13- 25 yrs old. The project runs various activities  such as monthly discos, cooking, sports, fun filled workshops, trips and opportunities for young people to have a wider social life.  Parents, carers, guardians and young people can make a self-referral to the inclusive sessions. 

Tel: 079 7063 7432

Find out more about the project

Ealing Mencap Youth Club

Ealing Mencap are a learning disability charity in Ealing that  run various social clubs and activities including a Youth Club and Saturday Club. Young people aged 14-25 with special educational needs can attend the sessions. get in touch with Ealing Mencap on the details below if you would like to join the clubs.

Tel: 020 8566 9575

Find out more about Ealing Mencap 

A list of all Youth Clubs in Ealing can be found on Young Ealing 

View a list of activities for young people on our directory 

Ealing have a large number of parks and open spaces all over the borough providing a play space for children or a place to exercise.  

Different parks offer different facilities e.g. some have playgrounds and some even have an adult fitness area.  You can read about parks and their accessibility in your local area by clicking on the links below. 

• Acton parks
• Ealing parks
• Greenford parks
• Hanwell parks
• Northolt parks
• Perivale parks
• Southall parks 

Stay and Plays provide children with the opportunity to have access to a variety of toys and activities , as well as socialise around other children similar to their age. Sessions also provide parents and carers with the opportunity to socialise with other families and play with their child in a relaxed, fun environment.

Stay and Plays in Ealing Children Centres

Ealing has 27 children centres, located all around the borough to ensure everyone can easily access the centres. Every children's centre offers stay and play sessions during the week, some even offer weekend sessions. Why not visit your nearest centre, or access their timetable online to discover stay and play sessions, as well as a variety of other activities that you and your child can enjoy. Stay and Play sessions are free, however some centres may ask for a small donation. 

Find my nearest children centre

You can contact the Ealing Family Information Service if you would like some support in finding a centre near you. 

Tel: 020 8825 5588 

Start2gether

The Log Cabin Charity run Start2gether- stay and play sessions for children with disabilities and additional needs and their siblings aged 0-11. Running every Saturday during term time, start2gether sessions specialise in sensory-based and stimulating activities for a variety of needs. Sessions are free for 0-5's, or a £2 contribution is required for children aged 6-11yrs.

Tel:  020 8840 3400 - Option 1

P.E.S.T.S Stay and Play

P.E.S.T.S (Parents of Ealing Self-Help Training Scheme) provide weekly play & support sessions at Windmill Children's Centre for children aged 0-5 with special educational needs and/or disability. Sessions are carefully structured to provide activities according to each child's need/stage of development, allowing them to flourish in a stimulating and nurturing environment, supervised by experienced staff and volunteers. A specific diagnosis is not necessary, if there is an acknowledged developmental concern.  You will need to get in touch with P.E.S.T.S in the first instance as a referral is required, however sessions are free to attend.

Tel: 020 8571 9954

We list a variety of stay and play sessions and activities on our Ealing Families Directory.

Holiday Playschemes provide families with childcare during the summer holidays, easter holidays and half term breaks. As well as offering childcare , playschemes provide the opportunity for children to play, mix with others their age, try new outdoor activities or go on exciting day trips.  

Log Cabin Charity

The Log Cabin Charity offers holiday playschemes for children aged 5-15 and can provide around 65 places , including some children who require 1:1 care.  Children can participate in a wide range of activities, including day trips to local playgrounds, museums, parks swimming etc. 

Transport to and from the playground can be provided where neccesary for children with additional needs and disabilities whose parents or carers are unable to ring them. 

Funding may also be available for parents and carers of children and young people with additional needs and/or disability. Please contact your social worker or, Ealing Children's Integrated Response Service (ECIRS), to find out if you are eligible for short breaks.

Tel:  020 8840 3400 - Option 1

Every term, we update our Holiday Playscheme List, which also details playschemes with SEND experience. Visit our latest Holiday Playschemes List (internal link) to find out more. 

We also advertise a list of all holiday playschemes in Ealing on our Ealing Families Directory. 

View our directory of Holiday Playschemes

Wherever you are going it is always a good idea to plan your trip to ensure you know where you are going and that you are taking the most convenient route to you.

You can plan your journey on the TFL website, which will allow you to check what public transport you may need and how long it will take. You can also download a step free guide which will show you which stations you can access without using stairs.

• TFL step free access- find out about ramps, level surfaces and lifts on your journey so you don't have to use stairs or escalators. 
• TFL Plan an accessible journey- Find out how to use accessibility services and tools to plan your journey
• TFL please offer me a seat- A free badge making it easier for other passengers to know that you need a seat. 

Other useful apps/sites 

CityMapper- an online site also available as a mobile app. Find out about step free access routes and transport options to help you plan your journey. 

Max Card

Families of children with additional needs can apply for a max card to get free or discounted admissions at various venues across the UK. In Ealing, the Ealing Parent & Carer Forum (EPCF) are the provider for the Max Card. If you wish to obtain a max card, please contact the EPCF directly on info@epcf.org.uk 

CEA Card

You can apply for a CEA card which can provide one free ticket for someone to accompany you on your trip to the cinema to provide the assistance you may need.

www.ceacard.co.uk

Scope- Days Out Guide Scope, the disability charity, have put together tips to get the most out of your days out.

National Autistic Society- Autism Friendly Days out- Find out about autism friendly events including cinemas, theatres and tips for your holidays.

Ealing Mencap- Saturday clubs and youth clubs for young people aged 14-25 with SEND.

CEA Card-  Apply for a card that enables a disabled cinema guest to receive a complimentary ticket for someone to go with them when they visit a participating cinema.