Online entertainment and leisure resources

We have a range of online resources for families. These include:

  • Homework guides
  • eBooks, newspapers and magazines
  • Wellness advice

Reading for children

Jeanne Willis wrote the title: Chicken Clicking. It helps you keep children safe online.

 

You can access children’s eBooks and audiobooks as well as a range of digital comics on:

Reading for young adults

We have a range of fiction and non-fiction, young people’s issues and self-help books.

Try them out at:

Resources for family and children

The BookTrust

The BookTrust has fun activities and quizzes. It updates them daily.

Interactive books

A range of titles to read online or watch while singing. Storytime videos and a range of fun kid’s games.

National Shelf Service

Discover your next great read. The National Shelf Service features book recommendations from professional librarians. CILIP and the Youth Libraries Group launched it.

Staring Into Space

Creative activities for children. Staring into Space is a collection of six resources by Lauren Child and Josey Scullard. It's inspired by some of their favourite children's books.

World Book Day

Videos, stories and activities. Authors give writing advice. They also provide quizzes and other resources.

Storyline Online

This is a US based website with a large selection of storytime videos.

Scott’s Story Time

Join Scott Magoon for his 11 episode series. You can also download craft materials.

The Poetry Archive

Michael Rosen has a website where he reads his poems, plus more resources.

Shakespeare Week

The Shakespeare Week website has many themed activities in its Kidszone. It also has a booklet to track what children have been doing. 

Authors and Illustrators Online

A website where authors and illustrators share their work online.

Words For Life offer a  range of activities and recommended reads for:


Things to do with the family

Headstone Manor Museum

The home of Harrow's History. Discover the intriguing tales and fascinating facts of Harrow's history with free museum entry and a host of family activities and events.

Heath Robinson Museum

Based in Pinner the museum showcases the work of the world-renowned artist and illustrator William Heath Robinson.

Jurassic Island Adventure Golf

Dinosaur themed crazy golf for all ages. Suitable for the whole family this mini golf adventure takes place in a jungle where the T-rex roams and the Spinosaurus stalks, but these beasts aren't the only residents of Jurassic Island. Among the Jungle Marsh, you’ll also find the Triceratops grazing and, if you listen closely enough, you may even hear the cries of the raptors.

HarroWall Climbing Centre

Discover climbing at HarroWall, located a short walk from Harrow-on-the-Hill Station. London’s largest bouldering centre and the capital’s only BMC National Performance Centre, with lots of options for children.

Bentley Priory Museum

Located within a Grade II* listed Mansion House in Stanmore, North West London, Bentley Priory Museum tells one of the most important narratives of modern history – how the Battle of Britain was won. Check out the family activities

CBeebies Rainbow Adventure

Step inside the CBeebies Rainbow Adventure where theatre meets play, music and lots of surprises! An unmissable 55-minute immersive theatrical journey for children and grown-ups to enjoy together. Join the fun at Westfield London.

Visit London Family Activities

Whether you have the teens in tow or little ones to entertain Visit London has plenty of suggestions for things to do for families.

Virtual London Zoo

London Zoo are bringing the zoo to your home.

The British Museum 

The British Museum has many online galleries. It has a virtual tour of Prints and Drawings and Oceana. It also has school resources for children and young adults aged 3 to 18.

The Science Museum

The Science Museum has games and apps. They also have activities to do from home. Or, you can explore their collection.

Virtual Kew

The gardens at Kew are blooming. Roam the gardens from the comfort of your own home.

Day Out With The Kids

There are lots of fun things to do in Greater London, with so much around every corner, it’s the perfect location for a fantastic family day out. 

Origami

Learn how to create wildlife and flowers from paper! With origami there is something for everyone.

Culture and activities

Harrow Arts Centre

Your hub for art and culture in Harrow

Time Out

Time Out has a host of things to do, cultural activities, art, theatre. There's something for everyone.

Visit London

10 unmissable attractions chosen by Visit London.

Get Your Guide

London's 10 best cultural attractions chosen by Get Your Guide.

Virtual Museum Tours

View 12 museums around the world that offer virtual tours.

National Garden Scheme

If you need to escape and long for open spaces, spend time on some virtual garden visits. Join Alan Titchmarsh in his Hampshire garden. Visit Hever Castle. Or see the tulip displays in Dunsborough Park. Also you can get garden tips and tutorials.

Health and wellbeing

Live Well

Advice from the NHS to help you make the best choices about your health and wellbeing.

Yoga and Pilates

Many companies now offer streamed online yoga. They also offer Pilates sessions.

CorePower Yoga

US based yoga chain

Vinyasa flow yoga

Suitable for all fitness levels.

Yoga With Adriene

An easy to follow 30 day program.

10 minute morning yoga with Sara Beth Yoga. 

Stretches for neck and shoulder tension

20 minute full body stretch

Online Pilates – free sessions

Pilates for beginners – fitness studio exercise videos

Chair-based Pilates

Back pain Pilates

Arthritis Pilates

Staying Healthy

Eat Well

Advice on eating a healthy balanced diet from the NHS.

Healthy Weight

Make a start with the NHS weight loss plan.

BBC Food

Offers a wealth of advice on maintaining a healthy diet.

Staying healthy

Advice from ChildLine.

Mental health

During hard times, we all need some help. We need it to cope with stress and mental health.

Mental wellbeing audio guides. The NHS provides helpful resources. They cover low mood, sadness, and depression. They also cover anxiety control training. How to overcome sleep problems and low confidence.

Mental Health Foundation  A wide range of information and where to get help.

Breathing exercises for stress.

Reading Well For Mental Health: a wide range of resources for all ages.

Moodzone: audio podcasts from the NHS.

Beditation: is a 30-minute video for bedtime meditation from the NHS. It helps with getting a better night’s sleep.

Young People

Young Harrow Foundation  Check out the mental health club with advice and support by the Young Harrow Foundation

Young Minds: a charity for children and young people’s mental health issues. Parents' helpline 0808 802 5544 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm)

ChildLine - Your Feelings:  Feelings can be hard to make sense of. You might not even know why you feel a certain way. Lots of information and advice from ChildLine

Keeping your mind occupied

Puzzles from The Evening Standard.

Daily Crossword from The Mail Online.

Crosswords, sudoku and more from The Guardian.

Sudoku: from easy to extremely difficult games from Sudoku.com

Jigidi: online jigsaw puzzles.

Helplines and support

NHS guidelines: a list of helplines and advice websites.

Abuse: wide range of support agencies collated by London Borough of Harrow with links and helpline numbers. 

Alzheimer's Society: information on dementia. Phone: 0300 222 1122 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm and 10am to 4pm on weekends).

Anxiety UK: charity providing support with anxiety. Phone: 03444 775 774 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5.30pm).

Age UK: dedicated to helping everyone make the most of later life. Age UK Advice Line. 0800 055 6112, Free to call 8am – 7pm 365 days a year.

CALM is the Campaign Against Living Miserably, for men aged 15 to 35. Phone: 0800 58 58 58 (daily, 5pm to midnight).

ChildLine: help for anyone under the age of 19 in the UK with any issue you are going through. Call 0800 1111.

Young Minds: a charity for children and young people’s mental health issues. Parents' helpline 0808 802 5544 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm)

Citizens Advice: for any issues relating to money or debt.

Family Lives: advice on all aspects of parenting. It also includes help dealing with bullying. Phone: 0808 800 2222 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm and Saturday to Sunday, 10am to 3pm).

Mind: promotes the views of people with mental health problems. Phone: 0300 123 3393 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm).

Mind in Harrow:  service and support. Phone 020 842 0929 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm).

Relate: the UK's largest provider of relationship support.

Samaritans: confidential support for people in distress. Phone: 116 123 (free 24-hour helpline).