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Battle of Britain Bunker, Uxbridge

Companionship careHillingdon

Days out in Hillingdon for an older parent

Seven places in Hillingdon that make a good day out for an older parent, from Battle of Britain Bunker to Ruislip Woods National Nature Reserve. 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 September 2026

Battle of Britain Bunker. Photo: Neil Owen, CC BY-SA 2.0

Seven days out across five towns

The best places to take an older parent in Hillingdon

Six of them are free to visit or to walk around. The access information for one confirms an accessible toilet. Where a place does not publish its access, we say so.

Battle of Britain Bunker, Uxbridge

Photo: Neil Owen, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · Uxbridge

Battle of Britain Bunker

The Battle of Britain Bunker in Uxbridge is the underground operations room of No. 11 Group Fighter Command, from where the RAF's fighters were directed in 1940, kept as it was with its plotting table and wall displays. A modern visitor centre above ground has an exhibition and a free car park for museum visitors.

The visitor centre and exhibition are fully accessible with lifts, there are accessible toilets on every floor and four disabled parking spaces, and anyone who cannot manage the 77 steps down can watch a recorded tour of the bunker instead.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Paid entry, free parking

What their access information confirms

  • Partly step-free
  • Accessible toilet
  • Blue Badge parking

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Uxbridge

Ruislip Lido, Ruislip

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

Park · Ruislip

Ruislip Lido

Ruislip Lido is a large reservoir surrounded by ancient woodland, with a sandy beach, cafés, bird feeding platforms and woodland walks. The Ruislip Lido Railway, a long 12 inch gauge miniature railway, runs from the car park through the woods to the beach.

The miniature railway lets a parent see the lake and woods from a seat, and there are cafés and grassy areas near the car park for a rest.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Free, parking charged

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 Ruislip

Manor Farm, Ruislip, Ruislip

Photo: Mark Percy, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Day out · Ruislip

Manor Farm, Ruislip

Manor Farm is a 22 acre heritage site at the top of Ruislip High Street with a Tudor farmhouse, a medieval great barn, the remains of a motte and bailey and a duck pond. An audio guided tour covers more than 1,000 years of history, and duck pond markets are held twice a month.

The site is right at the top of the High Street with its cafés, so a carer can plan a short look round the farmhouse and barn with an easy way back to a sit-down.

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 Ruislip

Eastcote House Gardens, Eastcote

Photo: Harrison49, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Garden · Eastcote

Eastcote House Gardens

Eastcote House Gardens is a small historic park with a walled garden, a herb garden, old orchards, a 17th-century timber-framed stable block and a dovecote. The Gardens Café sits beside the walled garden.

It is a compact, mostly grassy site with a café on hand, which suits a short visit and a rest among the flower beds.

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 Eastcote

Cranford Country Park, Cranford

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

Park · Cranford

Cranford Country Park

Cranford Country Park covers 144 acres of the former Cranford House estate, with ancient woodland, meadows, wetlands and the River Crane running through. Historic features include a walled garden, a ha-ha, a restored 18th-century stable block and the medieval St Dunstan's Church.

The toilets and information centre are temporarily closed while the café building is restored, so a carer should plan a shorter visit and bring what is needed.

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 Cranford

Lake Farm Country Park, Hayes

Photo: Ian S, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Park · Hayes

Lake Farm Country Park

Lake Farm Country Park in the south of Hayes is a wide stretch of meadow fringed by trees and bordered by the Grand Union Canal, known for its skylark monument. It is a good place to hear skylarks in spring and summer.

The open meadow and canal edge make for an easy outing close to Hayes, and a carer can keep to the paths nearest the entrance.

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 Hayes

Ruislip Woods National Nature Reserve, Ruislip

Photo: James Emmans, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nature reserve · Ruislip

Ruislip Woods National Nature Reserve

Ruislip Woods is the largest block of ancient semi-natural woodland in Greater London and a National Nature Reserve, with one of the most extensive oak and hornbeam coppice woods in south-east England. It wraps around Ruislip Lido, with paths through Park Wood, Copse Wood and Mad Bess Wood.

The woods join the Lido, so a carer can combine a short woodland stroll with the café and railway there.

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 Ruislip

Regular groups and events in Hillingdon

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

  • Gardening · RuislipRuislip Central Horticultural SocietyA long running local society with talks, plant sales and shows for gardeners of all levels of experience. A carer can handle the travel and carry plants or entries, so someone can keep going to meetings and still show a few blooms.Details
  • GardeningHillingdon Amateur GardenersA borough gardening club running regular meetings with speakers, outings and seed and plant schemes. A carer can help with lifts to evening meetings and with the heavier jobs at home between them, such as potting up or watering.Details
  • Music · HayesOld Vinyl Factory FestivalA free outdoor festival on Record Walk and Material Walk in Hayes, marking the site's history as the EMI record works, with live music and a vinyl record fair. A carer can go along for a couple of hours, find a seat near a stage and help browse the record stalls.Details
  • Dancing · RuislipCouncil tea dances for over-65sRegular afternoon dances for over-65s run by the council, with live or recorded music and refreshments, held at venues including the hall at Manor Farm in Ruislip. A carer can book the place, come along as a partner or table companion, and manage the trip home.Details
  • PhotographyHillingdon u3a photography groupA monthly group for older members who share pictures, set themes and go on photo outings around the borough. A carer can drive to meetings and outings and carry the kit, so the day is about taking pictures rather than logistics.Details
  • PaintingHillingdon ArtistsA borough art group whose members meet, paint together and hold regular exhibitions of their work. A carer can carry materials, help set up at a session and go along to the exhibitions to see the work hung.Details

Hobbies and carers who share them in Hillingdon

At a glance

The seven 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
Battle of Britain BunkerUxbridgean hour or twoPaid entryPartlyYesAsk
Ruislip LidoRuisliphalf a dayFreeAskAskAsk
Manor Farm, RuislipRuislipan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
Eastcote House GardensEastcotean hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
Cranford Country ParkCranfordan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
Lake Farm Country ParkHayesan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
Ruislip Woods National Nature ReserveRuislipan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk

Where the places are in Hillingdon

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

Burroughs, TheNorthwoodYeadingEast BedfontUxbridgeEastcoteHarefieldHarlington1234567
  1. 1Battle of Britain Bunker, Uxbridge
  2. 2Ruislip Lido, Ruislip
  3. 3Manor Farm, Ruislip, Ruislip
  4. 4Eastcote House Gardens, Eastcote
  5. 5Cranford Country Park, Cranford
  6. 6Lake Farm Country Park, Hayes
  7. 7Ruislip Woods National Nature Reserve, Ruislip

What it costs

What a day out with a carer costs in Hillingdon

Carers in Hillingdon charge £19 to £22 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 Hillingdon has the full figures.

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

Questions

Questions families ask about days out in Hillingdon

Battle of Britain Bunker in Uxbridge, Ruislip Lido in Ruislip, Manor Farm, Ruislip in Ruislip, Eastcote House Gardens in Eastcote, Cranford Country Park in Cranford, Lake Farm Country Park in Hayes and Ruislip Woods National Nature Reserve in Ruislip. Each has its own section on this page with what its access information confirms, the cost and how long to allow.

Battle of Britain Bunker has an accessible toilet. Access changes, so ring ahead about anything your parent depends on.

Ruislip Lido, Manor Farm, Ruislip, Eastcote House Gardens, Cranford Country Park, Lake Farm Country Park and Ruislip Woods National Nature Reserve. 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. 29 of the carers with a rate near Hillingdon drive. Visits are booked by the hour, typically £20 an hour here with our fee included. Companionship care in Hillingdon 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 Hillingdon

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

Companionship care in the counties around Hillingdon

Days out in the areas around Hillingdon

Companionship care by town in Hillingdon

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 Hillingdon

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

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