West Norwood with children: parks, stories, cinema and creative classes
West Norwood gives families a choice between a hilltop park outing and a smaller indoor stop on Norwood High Street. Norwood Park has a playground, skatepark and tree-lined Country Walk, while the library brings books, under-fives songs and reading support into the same building as Picturehouse. For a regular activity, compare Perform’s age-specific drama groups, children’s swimming lessons on Devane Way and stay-and-play at Benton’s Lane. Pick one main stop and check the individual session’s age, booking and access conditions before travelling.
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Choose a hilltop park or a smaller green-space stop
Norwood Park combines playground time with a skatepark, multi-use games area and views across South London. For a quieter part of the visit, follow the tree-lined Country Walk and look for wildlife around the native hedges, meadow grassland and fenced pond. The council lists a café and toilets.
The park is open 24 hours, but individual facilities have their own hours. There is no public car park on site; buses stop on Elder Road, Gipsy Road and Salters Hill. Gipsy Hill station is approximately a 15-minute walk away.
Tivoli Park, on Knight’s Hill between West Norwood and Streatham, is a smaller alternative with trees, hedges and a games court. It normally opens at 07:30 and closes 15 minutes before sunset. Respect any fencing around the playground.
- Norwood Park
Play, skate or explore a tree-lined country walk with views across South London.
- Tivoli Park
A smaller green-space stop on Knight’s Hill, with trees, wildlife features and a games court.
Songs for under-fives and reading confidence for older children
West Norwood Library has children’s books and magazines, children’s computers, baby-changing facilities and Book Start packs. It is at 1–5 Norwood High Street, SE27 9JU. Level access is on the right via intercom; the front entrance has a wheelchair lift and power-assisted doors.
Under 5s Storytime and Wriggle and Rhyme brings songs, stories and rhymes together. Young Readers Club supports children aged 4–10 who are learning to read, struggling with reading or learning English, with personalised guidance from a retired schoolteacher. Both are listed as free; use the current activity calendar for the advertised dates.
The library also advertises a mixed-ability chess club for adults and children. Call 020 7926 8092 to check its current time. For a dated creative activity, Mary Seacole’s Medical Kit on 28 October 2026, 14:30–16:00, invites ages 5–12 to decorate a pretend medical case and think about what Mary might have packed to help people.
- West Norwood Library
Browse children’s books, sing along at under-fives storytime, or choose a reading or chess group.
- Under 5s Storytime and Wriggle and Rhyme
Join librarians for songs, stories and rhymes with your under-five.
- Young Readers Club
Build reading confidence with personalised guidance from a retired teacher.
- Mixed-ability chess at West Norwood Library
Play chess at a mixed-ability club for children and adults.
- Mary Seacole’s Medical Kit
Decorate a pretend medical case and imagine what Mary Seacole packed to help people.
A family film in the library building
West Norwood Picturehouse is a four-screen cinema with a relaxed café-bar in the restored library building. Its local programme advertises Kids’ Club, which Picturehouse describes as family classics and recent favourites for children and their parents or carers. Unaccompanied adults are not admitted.
Choose a film by its certificate and check the actual local screening and ticket options. A Kids’ Club programme listing is not a booking for a particular film. For accessibility enquiries call 020 7294 7908.
- West Norwood Picturehouse
A four-screen neighbourhood cinema with a café-bar in the West Norwood library building.
- Kids’ Club at West Norwood Picturehouse
Watch family classics and recent favourites at screenings for children and their parents or carers.
Drama, swimming lessons and early-years play
Perform runs drama, dance and singing at Chatsworth Baptist Church on Wednesdays during term time: ages 4–7 at 16:00–17:00 and ages 7–12 at 17:05–18:05. The advertised autumn term excludes 28 October for half-term. A free trial is only for eligible new children, must be booked in advance and depends on space.
Paid Perform classes normally require a block of ten consecutive term-time sessions and the relevant class T-shirt. Ask the provider for the selected payment arrangement, current total, required shirt and any delivery cost before booking. Direct-debit renewals are automatic, with a 14-day cancellation window after notification. A free trial is not the ordinary ongoing price.
West Norwood Health and Leisure Centre has a six-lane 25-metre swimming pool and advertises lessons for children and adults. Contact the centre on 020 8761 1159 to select the appropriate lesson and confirm age, level, supervision and payment arrangements. General centre hours are not a swimming-session timetable.
Benton’s Lane Children’s Centre at 18 Benton’s Lane, SE27 9UD, offers stay-and-play and other Better Start activities for babies, toddlers and young children with parents or carers. Register and arrange the chosen group with the centre; call 020 4542 3520. Some activities have particular age or access conditions.
- Perform drama, dance and singing: ages 4–7
Build confidence through drama, dance and singing at Chatsworth Baptist Church.
- Perform drama, dance and singing: ages 7–12
Build confidence through drama, dance and singing at Chatsworth Baptist Church.
- West Norwood Health and Leisure Centre
A six-lane 25-metre swimming pool and children’s swimming lessons at the Devane Way leisure centre.
- Children’s swimming lessons at West Norwood
Build water confidence with qualified swimming instructors at West Norwood’s leisure centre.
- Benton’s Lane Children’s Centre
A Better Start centre for babies, toddlers and young children with their parents or carers.
- Stay and play at Benton’s Lane
Play alongside your baby, toddler or preschooler at a local Better Start centre.
A quiet heritage walk at the cemetery
For a different outdoor outing, West Norwood Cemetery has 40 green acres, restored Victorian memorials and a visitor centre with exhibitions. This is a peaceful heritage walk rather than a playground visit.
Seasonal closing times matter. April–October hours are 08:00–18:00 on weekdays and 10:00–18:00 at weekends and bank holidays. November–March hours are 08:00–16:00 on weekdays and 10:00–16:00 at weekends and bank holidays, with shorter Christmas Day hours. Last entry is 15 minutes before closing. Check the current visitor information before travelling.
- West Norwood Cemetery
A quiet heritage walk through 40 green acres, with restored memorials and a visitor centre.
Choose one main stop
Pick Norwood Park for a longer outdoor outing, the library for books or a listed activity, or Picturehouse for a film. Regular classes need their own booking arrangements, while early-years groups at Benton’s Lane should be arranged with the centre before attending.
Useful sources
- Lambeth Council visitor and activity information
- Lambeth Council visitor and activity information
- Lambeth Council visitor and activity information
- Lambeth Council visitor and activity information
- Picturehouse visitor and activity information
- Picturehouse visitor and activity information
- Lambeth Council visitor and activity information
- West Norwood Cemetery visitor and activity information
- West Norwood Cemetery visitor and activity information
- Lambeth Council visitor and activity information
- Active Lambeth visitor and activity information
- Lambeth Council visitor and activity information
- Perform visitor and activity information
- Perform visitor and activity information
- Lambeth Council visitor and activity information
