Small OutingsLocal updates

Hersham with kids: playgrounds, library sessions and dance

Four young ballet dancers in purple leotards standing in a bright hall, in a photograph from Joanne Ward Dance Academy
Joanne Ward Dance Academy

Hersham is good for a local day built around playgrounds, books and a class rather than a long journey. The play areas at Hersham Recreation Ground, Coronation Recreation Ground and Vaux Crescent give children different outdoor stops, while the library on Molesey Road offers rhymes, stories and LEGO. Preschool families can join the Baptist church’s stay-and-play mornings; older children have ballet, tap and contemporary dance at the village church halls. Check the library’s booking arrangements and class term dates when choosing what fits your day.

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Choose a playground for your kind of afternoon

Hersham Recreation Ground on Pratts Lane combines a play area with a teen swing, play wall and multi-use games area for basketball, five-a-side football, netball and tennis. The splash pad is a summer feature: its advertised 2026 season ended on 2 September, so an autumn visit should be planned around the playground instead.

Coronation Recreation Ground on Molesey Road offers a play area, a one-mile route and a choice of sports facilities. The ground and car park are open for access 24 hours a day. Football, cricket and tennis have separate booking arrangements, so a plan to use a pitch or court needs more preparation than ordinary playground time.

For another local play stop, Vaux Crescent Open Space on Burwood Road has new toddler and junior multi-play units, confirmed in the council’s August 2026 update. Pedestrian access is available 24 hours a day. Pick the playground closest to the rest of your plans rather than trying to fit all three into one trip.

Rhymes, stories and building at Hersham Library

The library is on Molesey Road, just off the large roundabout between Walton and Esher. Pebble Rhymetime is aimed at under-fives and their adults, with nursery rhymes and action songs. Tuesday sessions start at 10:30 and need a place booked at the library desk. The branch also advertises fortnightly Saturday rhymetime at 10:30 without booking; check its current date list.

Storytime is listed on Tuesdays at 16:00 during term time, with no booking needed. For children aged four and over, LEGO Club is listed on alternate Saturdays, 14:30–15:30. It costs £1 per child, has limited spaces and must be booked at the help desk. An adult must accompany each child throughout.

Opening hours are Monday 14:00–17:00; Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 10:00–13:00 and 14:00–17:00; Saturday 10:00–16:00. The library is closed Wednesday, Sunday and bank holidays. Automatic doors, a hearing loop and adjacent disabled parking are listed, and a virtual tour helps families get familiar with the layout before visiting.

A free stay-and-play morning for younger children

Hersham Baptist Church’s Baby and Toddler Group welcomes local families with children aged 0–3 at its building on Arch Road, off Molesey Road. Toys are set out in the hall, there is a separate area for non-moving babies and the group uses its outside space when weather allows.

The group usually meets on two Fridays per month during term time, 10:00–11:30. It is free and families can turn up, but check the church calendar or social pages for the actual Fridays. Adults are offered tea, coffee and cake; children get a biscuit, and families should bring children’s drinks. The morning ends with a Bible story and songs.

Find a dance style and group that fits

Joanne Ward Dance Academy teaches at St Peter’s Church Hall on Burwood Road and All Saints Church Hall on Queens Road, both in Hersham. Preschool Ballet is for ages 3–4, Friday 14:00–14:45 at St Peter’s, without an accompanying adult in the class. It uses music and imaginative movement to introduce ballet.

Children’s ballet follows the RAD syllabus from Reception age. Ask the teacher to confirm the right level and venue rather than choosing a graded class only by its time. Mini Tap is a beginner class for ages 5–9, listed Saturday 12:15–12:45 at All Saints. Contemporary 1 is for ages seven and over, Wednesday 17:15–18:00 at All Saints, with floor work and creative improvisation.

The first trial is free. The published 12-week term fees are £108 for a 45-minute class or £84 for a 30-minute tap class; higher ballet grades have different class lengths and fees. Regular classes are invoiced termly, payment is due by the second week, and written notice of at least half a term before the term ends is required to stop. Exams and extra examination coaching cost separately. Confirm current availability and any multiple-class discount with the school.

The school advertises autumn 2026 from 9 September to 5 December, with half-term in the week beginning 26 October. Arrange a trial or place before attending; a regular weekday timetable is not a holiday-session promise.

Build one manageable local plan

For a younger child, choose a booked rhyme session or a confirmed toddler-group morning and leave time for a playground afterwards. For school-age children, LEGO or a dance trial can be the main activity. Keep a check on term dates and the library’s current notices before setting out.

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