making yiewsley and west drayton the best place in london to live and work

In our area there are two great libraries with children's sections, a swimming pool with a gym, two parks, family-friendly eateries, places of worship and the canal, as well as organised baby and toddler groups (see dedicated page).

Swimming
Drop in classes are held for 3-5 year olds everyday at 12 and 12.30 at Yiewsley Pool (behind Tesco on Fairfield Road). After-school classes are available for older children. Yiewsley Pool also has a reasonably-priced gym.

Parks and Open Spaces
There are two main parks in our area: Yiewsley Rec (behind Tesco in Yiewsley) and The Closes in West Drayton (off Church Road). Both have great modern fenced-off play facilities and lovely wide open spaces.

The Canal
There are lovely walks to be had along the canal in our area. A good place to join the towpath is where Horton Road meets the High Street. If you walk towards Cowley you will come across the lock, marina, cafés and pubs.

Worship
There are at least six churches in Yiewsley and West Drayton. Most have regular family services. For details of local churches go to ww.stmatthews-yiewsley.org.uk/yiewsley/church.htm. There is a mosque in Yiewsley and West Drayton. Please let us know if you have details of this mosque or of other places of worship in our area.

Cafés
Poppins on Fairfield Road has lots of room, highchairs and a children's menu: and an all-important toilet!
Panini's is a few doors down from Morrisons and Figaro's is opposite Whitley's Estate Agent on Station Road in West Drayton. Both serve lovely food (but don't have toilets, so be warned if you are taking toddlers!).

Eating out
here are several very nice curry houses and two Chinese restaurants in West Drayton. All are child-friendly. They include the Water Palace, the Golden Lion, Golden Curry, Palace Tandoori, and Sipson Tandoori.

Libraries
Yiewsley and West Drayton Libraries often have craft activities for primary-age children during school holidays. Check the libraries pages on www.hillingdon.gov.uk for details.

Also look out for:
Triple P Parenting Course at Cornerstone Sure Start Children's Centre – for self esteem for mums;
Healthy Eating Cooking classes; and
Special needs groups.

Other Hillingdon activities for babies and toddlers
Bumps n Babes – NCT group for pregnant mums and babies up to one year. Meets every Monday afternoon from1 - 3 pm at St Andrew's Church Hall, Hillingdon Road, Uxbridge (almost opposite Superdrug).

Within about a half an hour drive you can get to Black Park, Ruislip Lido and Ricksmanworth Aquadrome: all are fantastic places for a family walk with refreshments, ducks to feed and parking.

Toddler classes nearby: –
Tumbletots – runs in Hillingdon and Iver
Gymboree – runs in Uxbridge
Monkey Music – runs in Uxbridge (the Greenway)
Sing and Sign - runs in Uxbridge (the Greenway)
Plus many many more: see netmums.com/hillingdon for listings