PrimeCarers
Museum of the Home, Shoreditch

Companionship careHackney

Days out in Hackney for an older parent

Nine places in Hackney that make a good day out for an older parent, from Museum of the Home to Hackney Empire. For each one: what its own access information confirms, what it costs, how long to allow, and the carers nearby who drive and could take them.

Researched by PrimeCarers from each place’s own website and access information  ·  Updated October 2026

Museum of the Home. Photo: David Hawgood, CC BY-SA 2.0

Nine days out across six towns

The best places to take an older parent in Hackney

Seven of them are free to visit or to walk around. The access information for two describes a step-free route, and two confirm an accessible toilet. Where a place does not publish its access, we say so.

Museum of the Home, Shoreditch

Photo: David Hawgood, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · Shoreditch

Museum of the Home

The Museum of the Home is set in 18th century almshouses on Kingsland Road, with a series of rooms showing how people have lived at home over 400 years, from a 1630s hall to a 1990s loft. Behind the museum are the Gardens Through Time, and the front lawns are open to the public.

Entry is free, there is step-free access to all galleries by ramp and lifts, manual wheelchairs can be borrowed on arrival and folding stools are available to carry round.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Free entry

What their access information confirms

  • Step-free route
  • Accessible toilet
  • Wheelchairs to borrow

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Shoreditch

Sutton House, Homerton

Photo: Ethan Doyle White, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Historic house · Homerton

Sutton House

Sutton House is a Tudor house in Homerton built in 1535 for Ralph Sadleir, a courtier of Henry VIII, and is one of the oldest homes in east London. Rooms show its changing life from Tudor panelling to a 1980s squat, and Breaker's Yard next door is a small garden.

The house is small and can be seen in an hour, so a carer can plan a short visit and check with the National Trust in advance which rooms are on the ground floor.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Paid entry, free for National Trust members

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Homerton

Hackney Museum, Hackney Central

Photo: Matt Brown, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · Hackney Central

Hackney Museum

Hackney Museum is the borough's free local history museum, next to the Town Hall in Hackney Central, telling the stories of the people who have lived in Hackney from Anglo-Saxon times to today. Displays include a reconstructed Saxon boat and objects from families who settled in the borough.

It is a single, compact museum in the town centre, so it suits a short visit combined with lunch nearby.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free entry

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Hackney Central

Woodberry Wetlands, Stoke Newington

Photo: Jim Osley, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nature reserve · Stoke Newington

Woodberry Wetlands

Woodberry Wetlands is a London Wildlife Trust reserve around a working reservoir, with 11 hectares of reed-fringed ponds where herons, reed warblers and wildfowl can be seen. The Coal House café sits by the water.

Entry is free, access into the reserve is level, the main path to the Coal House has no steep slopes and seating is provided along the way.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free entry

What their access information confirms

  • Step-free route
  • Blue Badge parking

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Stoke Newington

Clissold Park, Stoke Newington

Photo: Dudley Miles, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Park · Stoke Newington

Clissold Park

Clissold Park is a Victorian park in Stoke Newington with lakes, a small herd of fallow deer and Clissold House, an 18th century villa with a café. The New River runs along one side of the park.

The café in Clissold House looks out over the park, so a carer can plan a short walk to see the deer with a sit-down at either end.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Stoke Newington

Springfield Park, Upper Clapton

Photo: Marathon, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Park · Upper Clapton

Springfield Park

Springfield Park slopes down from Upper Clapton to the River Lea, with views across the Walthamstow Marshes, a walled garden and Springfield House, which has a café open seven days a week. Boats moor along the river at the bottom of the park.

The café and toilets are at Springfield House near the top of the park, so a carer can keep to the upper level and avoid the slope down to the river.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Upper Clapton

Abney Park, Stoke Newington

Photo: London Less Travelled, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nature reserve · Stoke Newington

Abney Park

Abney Park is one of London's great Victorian garden cemeteries, now a woodland nature reserve with overgrown monuments, a ruined chapel and paths under the trees. It was the main burial ground for nonconformists and holds the grave of William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army.

The trust says both entrances are accessible, so a carer can plan a short walk along the main path from the High Street gate, bearing in mind that side paths are narrower.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Stoke Newington

Hackney City Farm, Haggerston

Photo: Marathon, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Animals · Haggerston

Hackney City Farm

Hackney City Farm is a small community farm near Columbia Road with farm animals and a vegetable garden. It is free to visit and the farmyard is open Tuesday to Sunday.

The farmyard is compact and flat, so an older visitor can see the animals in a short visit, and Broadway Market and Columbia Road are close by for lunch.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free entry

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Haggerston

Hackney Empire, Hackney Central

Photo: Fin Fahey from London, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Day out · Hackney Central

Hackney Empire

Hackney Empire is a grand Edwardian variety theatre on Mare Street, designed by Frank Matcham in 1901, now staging comedy, drama, music and its well known annual pantomime. Matinee performances make it a good afternoon out.

There is step-free access to the front Stalls, wheelchair spaces at the back of the Stalls, a lift to every level and at least one accessible toilet on each floor.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Paid entry

What their access information confirms

  • Partly step-free
  • Accessible toilet

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Hackney Central

Regular groups and events in Hackney

Something to go back to every week or every year, from our research into what older people enjoy doing in Hackney.

  • Reading · Stoke NewingtonAnnual literary festival in Stoke NewingtonA long running community festival of author talks and readings held across Stoke Newington venues, known for an unpretentious and varied programme. A carer can book one or two afternoon talks rather than a full day and arrange a taxi home afterwards.Details
  • SportsWalking football for over 50sArsenal in the Community runs walking football sessions several days a week across Islington, Camden and Hackney, open to men and women aged 50 and over. A carer can ring ahead to confirm the nearest Hackney session, sort the kit and stay for the tea afterwards.Details
  • VolunteeringBorough volunteer matching and befriendingVolunteer Centre Hackney matches residents to local volunteer roles based on their skills and interests and runs befriending, wellbeing groups and arts and crafts sessions. A carer can help with the registration form and the first visit, and keep to roles that fit an hour or two a week.Details
  • Knitting · Hackney CentralKnit and Natter drop-in at the central libraryA friendly weekly knitting session run by Hackney Libraries at Hackney Central Library, open to all levels from beginners upwards, with no need to book. A carer can bring the wool and needles, sort the journey and sit in on the first session until the group feels familiar.Details
  • Knitting · ShoreditchWednesday knitting hour at Shoreditch LibraryA free group for all ages and abilities that meets every Wednesday from 11am to 12pm, with yarn and needles provided. A carer can make it a fixed weekly date and use the short session length to keep the outing manageable.Details

Hobbies and carers who share them in Hackney

At a glance

The nine places side by side

What each place’s own access information confirms. “Ask” means it does not say, not that it is missing.

PlaceTimeCostStep-freeToiletCafé
Museum of the HomeShoreditchhalf a dayFreeYesYesAsk
Sutton HouseHomertonan hour or twoPaid entryAskAskAsk
Hackney MuseumHackney Centralan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
Woodberry WetlandsStoke Newingtonan hour or twoFreeYesAskAsk
Clissold ParkStoke Newingtonan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
Springfield ParkUpper Claptonan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
Abney ParkStoke Newingtonan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
Hackney City FarmHaggerstonan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
Hackney EmpireHackney Centralhalf a dayPaid entryPartlyYesAsk

Where the places are in Hackney

The county’s boundary, numbered as on this page, with the main towns for reference.

Cambridge HeathStamford HillHackney MarshesHoxtonLower ClaptonDalstonVictoria ParkHomertonShoreditch123456789
  1. 1Museum of the Home, Shoreditch
  2. 2Sutton House, Homerton
  3. 3Hackney Museum, Hackney Central
  4. 4Woodberry Wetlands, Stoke Newington
  5. 5Clissold Park, Stoke Newington
  6. 6Springfield Park, Upper Clapton
  7. 7Abney Park, Stoke Newington
  8. 8Hackney City Farm, Haggerston
  9. 9Hackney Empire, Hackney Central

What it costs

What a day out with a carer costs in Hackney

Carers in Hackney charge £19 to £20 an hour through PrimeCarers, typically £20, with our fee included. A four-hour outing is about £80 for the carer’s time. Entry, food and parking are extra, and travel costs are only payable if you agree them with the carer in advance, in writing. The cost of home care in Hackney has the full figures.

Photographs on this page are from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each one.

Questions

Questions families ask about days out in Hackney

Museum of the Home in Shoreditch, Sutton House in Homerton, Hackney Museum in Hackney Central, Woodberry Wetlands in Stoke Newington, Clissold Park in Stoke Newington, Springfield Park in Upper Clapton, Abney Park in Stoke Newington, Hackney City Farm in Haggerston and Hackney Empire in Hackney Central. Each has its own section on this page with what its access information confirms, the cost and how long to allow.

The access information for Museum of the Home and Woodberry Wetlands describes a step-free route. Museum of the Home and Hackney Empire have an accessible toilet. Museum of the Home lends wheelchairs. Access changes, so ring ahead about anything your parent depends on.

Museum of the Home, Hackney Museum, Woodberry Wetlands, Clissold Park, Springfield Park, Abney Park and Hackney City Farm. Parking is often charged even where entry is free.

Yes. A companion carer can drive your parent there, walk at their pace, help with the toilet and meals, and bring them home. 12 of the carers with a rate near Hackney drive. Visits are booked by the hour, typically £20 an hour here with our fee included. Companionship care in Hackney shows who is available.

Often. Many attractions let a carer or companion in free, or at a reduced price, with a disabled visitor, and some ask for proof such as a letter or a benefit award. It varies, so check each place’s access or prices page before you go.

Where the nearest carers live

From the profiles of the carers based within about 45 minutes of Hackney

Where the nearest carers live. A carer close to home can manage a longer day out.

Companionship care in the counties around Hackney

Days out in the areas around Hackney

Companionship care by town in Hackney

Each town page shows the carers who list it as home, with their rates and reviews.

Find a carer who could take them out in Hackney

See carers near Hackney who drive, with their photos, interests, rates and reviews. Talking to them is free and nothing is booked until you say so.

Search carers in HackneyCall 0203 369 3624
Free to searchNo obligationVetted & insuredYou choose the carer