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Half Term is already on the horizon and we have some exciting events running that week to keep everyone busy!

Each day from Monday 22 October to Saturday 27 October, drop in between 1 and 4pm for a visit to our Spooky Basement and outside there'll be a Ghost Hunt in the trees, with a prize for all completed ghost hunts! Entry to these Halloween Half Term activities is £5 per child.

We will be running a Forest School Morning on Thursday 25 October. This is ideal for children who enjoy the outdoors and to get a taste of our longer holiday Forest School sessions. Expect a range of activities such as mini beast hunts, pond dipping, shelter building,  green wood working and games. Suitable for ages 6-9 years, places are limited so early booking is recommended!

At the end of the half term week on Sunday 28 October, our popular Halloween Spooktacular returns with a spine-tingling spooky basement tour, creepy garden ghost hunt, fiendish face-painting, ghoulish games, cunning crafts, terrifying tattoos and more!

In addition to these events, you can always visit us to enjoy the gardens, playground and cafe. The gardens are open from 07:00 to 17:30 until 27 October and will then close at 16:00.

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This year marks 100 years since the bequest of the House and Gardens by Henry Stephens for the enjoyment of the people. We are marking this exciting Centenary by fundraising to keep Stephens House & Gardens a special place for future generations to continue to enjoy. Unlike other public parks, we do not receive ongoing financial support from the local authority and as a result we are responsible for raising our own funds to cover costs of the upkeep, maintenance and improvements needed for the House and Gardens.

There are lots of ways you can get involved to help us achieve our fundraising goal. You can Name a Brick, make a donation, run your own fundraiser, become a Business Patron and also by simply letting people know about us! We have a dedicated section of the website where you can find out more, find some fundraising inspiration and make your online order for your own named brick. 

Let us know if you have any additional ideas of how you can help us. Together we can secure the future of our beautiful historic venue for all to enjoy in the years to come!

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Start Easter celebrations early with Eggtastic on Sunday 25 March. Children can enjoy an egg hunt and egg decorating.

Once we get into the Easter holidays, we have a great selection of fun activities going on, making the most of the outdoor space and experiences available in the gardens.

Pond Dipping sessions run morning and afternoon on Thursday 5 April and give the chance to discover more about the underwater life of our pond. Booking essential, morning session here and afternoon here.

There is a FREE Frog Frenzy workshop on Friday 6 April, an opportunity to learn the life cycle of a frog and make a life cycle spinner to take home. Join us in our Visitor Centre for this activity, with a morning and afternoon session on offer. See our events page for more details.

If you need a break from cooking Sunday Lunch, book to have it at Stephens House & Gardens on Sunday 8 April and combine it with a walk around the gardens where signs of spring are cropping up all around. Call to book Sunday Lunch on: 020 8346 7812, option 1, or pop in to the house.

Another chance to try Pond Dipping will be available on Thursday 12 April. Book your slot via the links on our events page.

Finally there's always our beautiful gardens to explore, our big playground and we will be opening our Kiosk for snacks and drinks during the Easter holidays, Friday 30 March - Sunday 15 April, 1-5pm. 

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We have lots to keep the children busy next week on half term. Bring them for a run around in all our beautiful open space and of course there is the fantastic playground to enjoy.

We have a Victorian Valentine Card making workshop on Sunday 11 December where you can make a lovely card for your friends, family or special someone! There is a FREE Secret Agent activity on Thursday 15 February, which involves making your own invisible ink and then following clues around the grounds to crack a secret code! Please check our events page for times and location of these two events.

When they need a drink or snack, our cafe has plenty of child-friendly options and a good cup of coffee for you too!

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We are collecting your memories and photos of Stephens House & Gardens! 2018 marks the 100th anniversary of Henry Inky Stephens bequest of the house and gardens and we would like to commemorate it using your memories of special events, celebrations, happy times and any kind of memory you might have of Stephens House & Gardens. 

Please send us your photos and/or written memories via email to: vlo@stephenshouseandgardens.com or come and see us in the Visitor Centre or House. We look forward to hearing from you!

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We have an exciting programme of events to kick off 2018! From a 3-week yoga course to a new monthly Gin Club, as well as regular popular fixtures such as Lunch in the House and Quiz night, there is something for everyone. For children and families, we have a Victorian Valentine card making workshop, a Secret Agent drop-in activity during half term and seasonal events to look forward to such as Mother's Day Lunch and an Easter egg hunt and craft session. To encourage play and exploration in the outdoors, we have Pond Dipping, Spring Seedlings Forest Fun and Forest School taster sessions, making the most of our easy access to nature here in the gardens.

Keep an eye on our Events Page where you can find booking links to those events which require advance booking. Ensure you don't miss out on any future events at Stephens House & Gardens by signing up to our monthly events newsletter here.

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Our cafe, Inky's Stables is open 7 days a week and is a lovely spot to get a drink, snack or meal. The menu changes seasonally, we have regular special deals available and a selection of childrens' meals and snacks. Combine a visit with a walk around the gardens, bringing the children to the playground or if you are very local, just pop in to get something to take away. Whether it's your morning coffee and breakfast, tea and cake in the afternoon, a healthy salad or soup for lunch or family brunch on the weekends, there is plenty of choice! 

Winter opening times: 09:00 until 16:00 Monday to Friday, 10:00 until 16:00 Saturday & Sunday.

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