January is a month where we need to cheer ourselves up and keep doing things that make us happy! That’s my opinion anyway. With that I’ve rounded up 36 things you can do around Slough and Windsor in Berkshire this January.
I’ve tried to find low cost activities, but some of the treat ones cost a bit more such as the theatre. Starting off with FREE ones, as I know money is tight this month.
Free Museums
- Visit Reading Museum – FREE entry – open Tuesdays to Saturdays. See the collections and learn about the history of Reading. On Wednesdays they do Rhymetime at 10.30am. On Saturdays there is a breakout space for neurodiverse visitors. https://www.readingmuseum.org.uk
Reading Museum, Blagrave Street, Reading RG1 1QH
2. Explore Eton Colleges Museums – FREE entry – Winter-inspired kids workshops every Sunday in Jan 2.30-5pm at at the Natural History Museum. https://collections.etoncollege.com/museum-and-gallery-openings/
Free Classes
3. FREE Yoga Classes (adults only) in Slough and Maidenhead. Do something for yourself while the kids are at school.
• Mondays in Slough 1.30pm-2.30pm – Kingsway United Reformed Church, 11 Church St, Slough SL1 1SZ
• Thursdays in Maidenhead 1-2pm – United Reformed Church, West St, Maidenhead, SL6 1RL (behind M&S)
4. FREE Mum and Baby Sport in Mind Exercise sessions:
• Mondays in Slough 10-11am – Mum & baby gentle pilates (booking required – email info@sportinmind.org or call 0118 947 9762) – Romsey Close Children’s Centre, Slough SL3 8PE
• Tuesdays in Maidenhead 11am-12pm – Mum & baby gentle exercise – Maidenhead URC Church, West St, Maidenhead SL6 1RL
• Thursdays in Reading 1.30pm – 2.30pm – Mum & baby yoga – Museum of English Rural Life, 6 Redlands Road, RG1 5EX (meet in reception)
• Fridays in Bracknell 10-11am – Mum & baby movement and exercise – The Willows, Priestwood Court Road, Bracknell RG421TU.
5. Like getting crafty? Keep an eye on the Artful Hub page – they are planning new creative courses starting this January at Slough Museum and Horsemoor Green Community Centre in Langley.
£5 Zumba Classes on Tuesdays 5.15-6.15pm from 23rd Jan at the Queensmere Observatory shopping centre, Slough. Book a place: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/slough-high-street-zumba-classes-tickets-796114438717
Free Face painting & Balloon art
6. A trip to IKEA Reading with FREE face painting and balloon art on Sat 6th, Sun 7th, Sat 13th and Sun 14th Jan 11am – 5pm
Free Library Children’s Sessions
7. Story and Rhyme Time sessions
• Mondays 10.30am at Windsor Library
• Tuesdays 10.30am at Maidenhead Library • Tuesdays 2pm at Cippenham Library • Tuesdays 2.30pm at Dedworth Library
• Wednesdays 10.30am at The Curve Slough Library
• Thursdays 2.30pm at Cox Green Library
• Fridays 11am at Langley Library • Fridays 2pm at Boyn Grove Library
8. Local Author Special Storytime – Sat 13th Jan 2.30pm at Windsor Library
Join local author Rhian Lynette, who will be reading her new picture book ‘Goose and Bear.’
9. Duplo sessions – Tuesdays 2.30pm at Cippenham Library
10. Saturday Lego sessions
• Maidenhead library 11am-1pm on Sat 6th/20th Jan (includes Lego, puzzles and board games)
• Dedworth library 10.45am-12.15pm on Sat 6th/20th Jan, 3rd/17th Feb and 2nd/16th/30th March.
11. Story Time with Crafts – Thursdays 10.30am at Windsor Library
12. Try Scratch Coding for FREE (for children age 9-11) – Sundays 11.30am-12.30pm at Dedworth Library. Booking required – call 01753 868733, email dedworth.library@rbwm.gov.uk or visit in branch.
Free Outdoor Trails
13. Sensory Trail at Burnham Beeches (Free entry – car park fees apply)
14. Go for a lakeside walk and play in the Emma Sallis Adventure Playground at Black Park. (Free entry – car park fees apply)
The below activities are not free
Trains Trains Trains
15. Thomas TrackPlay day at The Centre, Slough – Sun 14th January
Bring your kids along to play with loads of Thomas the Tank Engine trains on giant Thomas track layouts! Book a slot: https://www.trackplay.co.uk/events/slough-2
16. Sat 6th Jan – see model train layouts in Maidenhead at the Marlow, Maidenhead & District Model Railway Club Annual Winter Show – Cox Green Community Centre
17. Ride a miniature train
• Sun 7th Jan at the Prospect Park Railway 12-3.30pm
• Saturdays and Sundays in January at the Watford Miniature Railway 12-4pm
Children’s Sessions
18. Take your baby or toddler to a local playgroup and make some new friends.
19. Try an under 5s session at Norden Farm in Maidenhead
• Baby signing – Wednesdays 1.45pm, book a slot: https://norden.farm/events/baby-signing
• Funky Monkeys Music and Movement class – Fridays 11am, book a slot: https://norden.farm/events/funky-monkeys
• Bring Baby Choir – Fridays 12.30pm, book a slot: https://norden.farm/events/bring-baby-choir
20. Role Play fun at the Pop Up Play Village
• Sun 28th Jan 10am – Langley College
• Tues 30th Jan 10.15am – Datchet
Book a slot: https://popupplayvillage.co.uk/organiser/pop-up-play-village-in-and-around-slough-and-staines/
Days Out
21. HALF PRICE tickets at Odds Farm on Mondays in January! Great for pre-schoolers. You must book online and enter the discount code from their website: https://www.oddsfarm.co.uk/moody-mondays/
22. Explore BCA Zoo on a guided tour – Sunday 7th January 10am
BCA, Hall Place Burchetts Green, Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 6QR
Book a slot: https://zoo.bca.ac.uk/encounters/
23. Design your own chocolate at the world’s smallest chocolate factory! Get 10% off a chocolate making working at Dr Chocs when you book online: https://drchocs.com/
24. In a crazy golf mood? Head to Jenner’s Cafe at Riverside Gardens in Maidenhead, where they have a cheap and cheerful outdoor crazy golf course: https://www.jennerscafe.com/Crazy-golf/
Combine with a winter walk at Ray Mill Island, and see the birds and little animals at the aviary.
25. Go on a guided tour of the Windsor Guildhall, and check out the little Windsor Museum while you’re there: http://windsormuseum.org.uk/guildhall-talk/. Then have a walk along Windsor Riverside and see the swans.
26. Take a family-friendly stroll through Cliveden: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/oxfordshire-buckinghamshire-berkshire/cliveden/visiting-cliveden-with-family
Cinema
27. The new Mean Girls movie is out in cinemas from January 17th. It’s a 12A. For lower price tickets:
• Sky Cinema customers get 2 FREE Vue tickets with the app
• If you are an Odeon member you can get £5 tickets
• A family of 4 ticket at Reading Biscuit Factory is £20, making it £5 each.
28. See a kids film at the cinema at low prices – Vue (£2.49), Cineworld (£2.50) and Odeon (£3.25). These cheap kids screenings are on Saturday and Sunday mornings around 10/11am – check your local cinema for exact times and what film they are showing.
Theatre
29. See a Peppa show live! Peppa Pig’s Fun Day Out is showing at The Beck Theatre on Sat 27th and Sun 28th Jan. Book tickets online: https://trafalgartickets.com/beck-theatre-hayes/en-GB/event/family/peppa-pigs-fun-day-out-tickets
30. See the Basil Brush Live Family Show at the Theatre Royal Windsor – Sat 27th Jan 2.30pm. Book tickets: https://theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk/basil-live/. Get £15 tickets with code HELLO24 – offer ends Sun 6th Jan
31. Take your child to see the ballet! Wizard of Oz by Ballet Theatre UK is on at Theatre Royal Windsor- 22nd – 24th January. Suitable for age 5+. Book tickets: https://theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk/wizard-of-oz-2024/ Get £15 tickets with code HELLO24 – offer ends Sun 6th Jan
Cultural Events
32. See live music at Slough’s The Curve Venue at the Ghazal Lounge UK Concert – Saturday 19th January 7pm. https://curvevenue.uk/events/ghazal-lounge-uk
33. Sat 27th Jan – Indian Republic Day Celebration at Slough Hindu Temple
Ice Skating
34. Miss the Christmas ice rinks? Well you can skate all year round in Slough. Skate at Slough Ice Arena. Fridays (3-5pm and 8.30-10.30pm) are when they have their Ice Disco: https://www.everyoneactive.com/centre/slough-ice-arena/#activities
Eating Out
35. Step back in time to the year 1917 at The Ivy – Royal Windsor, where throughout January you can have the All Day set menu for £19.17 and unlock a time capsule of flavours https://ivycollection.com/1917-2/
36. Have a family meal at The Real Greek where kids eat FREE every Sunday. There are restaurants in Windsor, Bracknell and Reading.
I hope this cheers up your January. It’s always nice to get out of the house, especially when you have kids. Let me know what you get up to – tag me on socials @themummystylist
Sabrina x
