Colne Valley Regional Park
ENTRY
Free
SETTING
Outdoors
BUGGY FRIENDLY
Yes
What it’s like
Wooden climbing challenges, a sand pit and river dipping in a chalk stream, spread across open countryside outside Uxbridge.
This is one for wellies and a free afternoon. The adventure zone has wooden climbing challenges and a sand pit for the smaller ones, while a brass rubbing trail gives them something to hunt for on the walk. The bit that'll actually stick in their memory is the river dipping in the Misbourne Chalk Stream, and in school holidays there are expert-led sessions if you want someone else to point out what's wriggling in the net.
Beyond that it's countryside walks, nature trails and cycling routes, so it suits a family happy to just wander rather than one after a single big attraction. There's no single admission fee for most of the park, though Church Gardens in Harefield charges £7.50 for an adult and £3 for a child, and that's only open Sundays from April to October plus bank holiday Mondays. Elsewhere it's free to explore, but parking charges apply year round at the two on-site car parks, which stings a bit when the entry itself is free.
Worth knowing before you set off: the Riverside Café has been closed since September 2025 and the Visitor Centre is shut too, so don't plan the day around a sit-down lunch, bring a picnic instead. Some footpaths are also closed for HS2 construction and that's set to run for the next eight years, so a route you fancied on the map might be blocked. Dogs are welcome throughout except inside the café building, and there are accessible toilets and baby change on site.
It suits a mix of ages rather than one narrow band. Toddlers will happily dig in the sand pit while older kids take on the climbing challenges or head off on the cycling routes, and the river dipping works well for anyone old enough to hold a net steady.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- Suits toddlers to older kids, with river dipping for the ones old enough to hold a net
- Parking
- Two on-site car parks run by Bucks County Council
- Dogs
- Well-behaved dogs welcome. Not allowed in main café area
- Church Gardens in Harefield only opens Sundays April to October plus bank holiday Mondays
- Bring a picnic, both the café and Visitor Centre are currently closed
- River dipping expert-led sessions run in school holidays
- Cattle graze some meadows in spring and summer, which can affect wheelchair routes
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
Most of the park is free to explore. Church Gardens in Harefield is the exception, at £7.50 for an adult and £3 for a child.
Do we need to book?
There's no booking link for general visits. The river dipping sessions in school holidays are expert-led, so it's worth asking ahead if you want a spot.
Is there anywhere to eat?
Not right now. The Riverside Café has been closed since September 2025, so bring a picnic instead.
Is it OK to bring a pushchair or wheelchair?
The site lists pushchair and wheelchair accessibility, though the Denham walk has kissing gates that larger wheelchairs might struggle with and a steep slope near Denham Lock.
Can we bring the dog?
Yes, well-behaved dogs are welcome across the park, just not inside the café building.
Is parking free?
Parking charges apply year round at both on-site car parks.
What if it's wet weather?
Some entrance routes to Staines Moor are prone to flooding in wet weather, so check which paths you're aiming for if it's been raining.
Can we do a birthday party there?
Birthday parties aren't being held at the Denham café at the moment, as it's closed.
Are there footpaths closed at the moment?
Some are, due to HS2 construction, and that's expected to continue for the next eight years.
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