Free things to do in Chinnor with kids – Activities for 5 days!

Some days when I have the girls I’ll splash out and take a trip to Mini Farmers Club or Rush. Other days I’ll challenge myself to keep it cheap. When you’re working to a budget it forces you to be more creative, arguably more present, too. 

When I do pay for a big-ticket activity, there’s so much pressure.

Pressure for them to enjoy themselves. Pressure to stay until the very last minute of the session.

When you keep it very cheap, or free, this pressure disappears. I can’t tell you how frustrated I feel when I pay up for a few hours at Lynx gym and all they want to do is sit and eat snacks on the glittery floor outside. 

The floor is pretty great. But I don’t want to spend £13 to look at it, thanks.

I’ve been paying double nursery fees for almost two years now, and with a natural tendency to look for bargains, I’ve got a plethora of free fun days with kids in Chinnor.

Not all of these are 100% free. Toddler groups usually ask for a little donation, so prepare to part with a £1.

Here’s a whole week of free things to do with kids in Chinnor for you.

MONDAY

Red Kite Centre

A free stay and play for under 5’s. You have to pre book but it’s a small little group with toys and chat 🙂

10-11:30am

Then in the PM- Nature trail up Chinnor Hill.

You can park by the train station in Chinnor and walk up towards the football pitch, or you can park there. I just hear of too many cars getting broken in there so always avoid it. There are lots of hills and muddy puddles here. Good for kids who like getting muddy and puddle splashing!

Another great space for puddle splashing is down by Oakley Lane. These puddles get huge! Wear full water proofs and take spare socks. If you’re super prepared (unlike me) bring a towel too. 

FREE 

TUESDAY

Rainbow Tots, Chinnor Community Church.

There’s a room full of toys and ride ons which can feel a little chaotic when it’s busy. Then a smaller space with a doll house, books, trains etc. After a cuppa and biccy everyone moves into the other room for songs and juice. 

9-11ish, but you can turn up anytime between these hours. 

£1 donation 

WEDNESDAY

Tots and Toys, Chinnor Methodist Church

Used to be called Tots and Toast pre covid. No toast now, but they do have biscuits and juice. Loads of toys, role play, trains, cars, and a quiet craft room. There’s a little story, songs, and some chat at the end.  It has a nice vibe in the craft area.

9-11:30, but you can turn up anytime between these hours. 

£1 donation 

THURSDAY

St Andrews Church

I’ve only ever been to this one once, and while I think the vicar is fab here, the group is a little too structured when I went with a 1 and 3 year old. If your kids can sit and listen to stories and sing, you’ll be fine. If they want to climb chairs and run around a church, this isn’t the place. I doubt the group leaders would mind though, they’re very nice.

(11ish)

Free (I think! I didn’t pay…) Bring pennies as they do a song where you add pennies to a pot.

FRIDAY 

Park tour!

Chinnor has 5 parks. I think. Maybe more in the housing estates, actually. Take a trip around a couple of parks. I usually stop at MPS Chinnor on my way between for a quick pick-me-up, so this usually costs me a pack of marshmallows. 

FREE

Other free activities in Chinnor for any day of the week

• Chinnor Library
• Chinnor park exercise equipment (the girls always love this, there’s more up by the quarry, too
• Charity shop and bakery (will likely cost you a cake!)

Activities near close to Chinnor – and free!

Maple Tree’s Messy Monday – Monday, 10-11:30, The Maple Tree Centre, Wheatley

JIGSAW – Tuesdays, Term time,. 9:30-11am, St Mary’s Church – £1.50 per family

Sparklers Toddler Group – Wednesdays, Term time only. 9-11am. Thame, St Mary’s Church – Donation

Haddenham Toddler Group, Wednesdays, 9:30-11:30am in The Walter Rose Room at Haddenham Village Hall

TOYBOX – Thursdays, Term time only, two time slots in the morning. Long Crendon Baptist Church – Free