Health visiting team
Phone line Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (option 4)
Birth to 5 · Free, NHS
Health visitors help with sleep, feeding, behaviour, toileting and talking, and the same number books child health clinic appointments.
For families
Rochester with little ones
Moving here with a baby or a toddler? These are the free groups, classes, swimming, playgrounds and days out in and around Rochester, plus the practical things to sort when you arrive.
The first things to sort 5
Health visitors, registering a birth, the council family hubs and feeding support.
Registering a birth
By appointment, 9.30am to 3pm, Monday to Friday
A birth must be registered within 42 days. Request an appointment online and the office calls back within five working days.
Medway Register Office, Northgate, Rochester ME1 1LS
Strood Children and Family Hub
Stay and play and baby groups, booked week by week online
Families with children under 5 · Free
The council's family hub across the bridge, with free baby groups and stay and play sessions booked through a Medway Family Information Service account.
Clifton Close, Strood ME2 2HG
Chatham Children and Family Hub
Healthy Child Clinic Mondays 10am to 1pm, by appointment
Families with children under 5 · Free
Baby groups and stay and play sessions, plus baby massage and Incredible Years for Babies, an 11 week course for babies under 6 months.
All Saints, Magpie Hall Road, Chatham ME4 5AZ
Beside You Medway
Weekly drop-ins across Medway
Pregnancy and new babies · Free
Infant feeding support, including bump to breastfeeding drop-ins. Book a Hello Baby appointment by phone or by emailing medch.mbn@nhs.net.
Nurseries and pre-schools, with their Ofsted results, are on the schools page under Nurseries. Every 3 and 4 year old in England can get 15 funded hours a week over 38 weeks of the year, and working parents can get 30 funded hours from 9 months. For GPs taking new patients, see the useful numbers.
Free groups every week 7
Rhymes, songs and stay and play sessions that cost nothing or close to it.
Rochester library: rhymes and toddler time
Baby Bounce and Rhyme: Mondays 10.45am and Fridays 2.15pm. Toddler Shake and Boogie: Wednesdays and Fridays 10.45am. Teatime Storytime: Tuesdays 3.45pm
Babies to 8 · Free
Free half hour sessions at the library in the Community Hub at Eastgate, with a changing area. Storytime is for 3 to 8 year olds after school, and Jasper's community cafe is upstairs in the same building.
Rochester Community Hub, Eastgate, Rochester ME1 1EW
Strood library: rhymes and toddler time
Baby Bounce and Rhyme: Tuesdays and Thursdays 10.30am. Toddler Shake and Boogie: Mondays and Fridays 10.30am. Teatime Storytime: Tuesdays 3.30pm
Babies to 8 · Free
The same free half hour sessions at the Strood library.
Strood Community Hub, 133 High Street, Strood ME2 4TJ
Small Sounds at Rochester Cathedral
Thursdays 10.15am to 11am, arrive around 10am
Under 5s · Listed as free
A music session led by the Cathedral musicians. Places are limited and booked in blocks of five; join the waiting list at music@rochestercathedral.org.
Ithamar Chapel, off the Cafe in the Crypt, Rochester Cathedral, ME1 1SX
Wiggles and Giggles at St Andrew's
Once each half term; next on 27 November 2026, 9.30am to 11.30am
6 months to 3 years · Free
A themed stay and play run by the independent school. Book ahead on its Bookwhen page.
St Andrew's Pre-School, 81 St Margaret's Street, Rochester ME1 3BJ
Funky Fridays at St Francis
Fridays 9.45am to 11.15am, term time
Pre-school children with a grown-up · £2 donation a family
Messy play, all welcome, no need to book.
St Francis Church, Galahad Avenue, Strood ME2 2YS
Little Saints at All Saints
Tuesdays 9.30am to 11.30am, term time
Babies and toddlers with a grown-up
A weekly baby and toddler group in the church.
All Saints Church, Magpie Hall Road, Chatham ME4 5NE
Little Lambs stay and play
Wednesdays 10am to 11.30am, term time
Babies and toddlers with a grown-up
St John's Chatham's group, at Emmaus while the church building is worked on: stories, songs, crafts and snacks, with coffee for the grown-ups.
Emmaus Christian Centre, Clover Street, Chatham ME4 4DT
Baby and toddler classes 7
Paid classes with a venue in Rochester, Strood or Chatham. Most run in term time and book online.
Baby Sensory Medway
Term time classes in Borstal, with days and times on its timetable
Birth to 13 months
Sensory classes for babies, listed at St Matthew's Church in Borstal; Baby Sensory Medway also runs at St Mary's Island and Hempstead Valley. Book through its timetable.
St Matthew's Church, 76 Borstal Street, Rochester ME1 3HL
Bloom Baby Classes Medway
Wednesdays 10.15am Busy Bees, 11.30am Caterpillar Club; winter term 11 November to 16 December 2026
Newborn to wobbly walkers · £54 for the six week winter term
Baby sensory and baby massage classes.
All Saints Parish Hall, Rochester ME2 4HE
Musical Bumps Medway
St Justus: Fridays 10.40am and 11.30am. Kidzone: Tuesday mornings. Term time
Newborn to 4 · £7.50 a class
Music and movement classes in age bands. Book ahead through Happity.
St Justus Church, The Fairway, Rochester ME1 2LT, and Kidzone, 661 Maidstone Road, ME1 3QJ
Hartbeeps Medway
Tuesday mornings: Baby Bells, Sitters First Steps and Lively Toddler. Term time
1 month to 4 years · £9.50 to £11.50 a class
Multi-sensory music classes; the Medway team also runs at Beechen Hall in Chatham.
St Mary's Island Community Centre, Island Way West, Chatham ME4 3EP
Baby Bliss baby massage
Baby Massage and Move: Mondays 9.30am, courses from 9 November 2026
3 to 12 months · £35 a course
A short course teaching baby massage.
St Mary's Island Community Centre, Island Way West, Chatham ME4 3EP
Tiny Toes Ballet
Saturdays: 2.15pm (18 months to 2) and 3pm (2 to 4), term time
18 months to 7 · £8.50 a class
Ballet for toddlers and little ones, with Sunday classes at St Mary's Island too.
St Nicholas Church, High Street, Strood ME2 4TR
Tots footy at Strood Sports Centre
Saturdays 9.30am to 10am, term time
2 to 4 · £5.05 a session
Council run, and there is no need to book.
Strood Sports Centre, Watling Street, Strood ME2 3JQ
Swimming 5
Baby swim schools and the public pools with family sessions.
Turtle Tots North Kent
Baby and toddler classes on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays
Babies, toddlers and 3 and 4 year olds
Baby swimming lessons at the Abbey Court pool in Strood. Find a time and book on its pool timetables, or email northkent@turtletots.com.
Abbey Court School, Rede Court Road, Strood ME2 3SP
Water Babies
Search for times with your postcode and baby's date of birth
Newborn to 4 and over
Baby and toddler swimming in age groups, at two pools near Rochester.
Nuffield Health Medway, Medway Valley Leisure Park, Strood ME2 2SS, and the Holiday Inn Rochester pool, Maidstone Road, Chatham ME5 9SF
Puddle Ducks
See the timetable on its booking page
Babies to 4, and Swim Academy from 4
Baby and pre-school swimming, plus aquanatal classes in pregnancy.
Hilltop Primary Academy pool, Hilltop Road, Rochester ME2 4QN
Strood Sports Centre pool
Teaching pool open in public swims, including weekends 11.45am to 1.15pm
All ages; under 4s one adult to one child · Under 3s free with an adult
The council says its teaching pool suits parent and baby and parent and toddler swims. In family holiday swims children pay £1 with a paying adult.
Watling Street, Strood ME2 3JQ
Medway Park family swims
Term time family swims: Fridays 4.45pm, Sundays 9.15am and 1.30pm
Under 16s with an adult; under 4s one adult to one child
Medway's biggest pools, with the teaching pool and boom pool open in family swims.
Mill Road, Gillingham ME7 1HF
Parks and playgrounds 10
Free play areas, from the riverside Esplanade to the country parks a short drive away.
Esplanade Gardens play area
Toddler and junior play · Free
Toddler and junior climbing frames, toddler swings and springers by the river, with views of the castle and the bridge and a flat riverside path. Pay and display parking.
The Esplanade, Rochester ME1 1QW
The Vines
Open every day
Free
Gardens by the cathedral with a natural play area, open every day.
Vines Lane, Rochester ME1 1RQ
Jacksons Field
Toddler and junior play · Free
Toddler and junior climbing frames, stepping stones and toddler swings, next to a skate area.
New Road, Rochester ME1 1BD
Priestfields Recreation Ground
Toddler and junior play · Free
Toddler and junior climbing frames, a spinner and toddler swings, with parking.
Priestfields, Rochester ME1 3AD
Victoria Gardens
Junior play and toddler swings · Free
A play area with toddler swings, a bandstand, three big wooden arches and gardens on Fort Pitt Hill.
Fort Pitt Hill, ME1 1DZ
Strood Waterfront play area
Toddler swing seats · Free
Climbing units, a balance trail and swings with a toddler seat by the river at Watermill Gardens.
Canal Road, Strood ME2 4DR
Broomhill Park
Open every day
Toddler swing seats · Free
A play area with a tyre swing and toddler swings, woodland walks, sculptures and a car park. Some paths are steep.
King Arthurs Drive, Strood ME2 3NB
Capstone Farm Country Park
Daily from 7.30am; cafe and toilets 9.30am to 4pm in winter
Toddler and junior play · Free; parking £3.50 a day
A big play area with an inclusive roundabout and cable runway, plus a cafe, toilets and a visitor centre, in more than 114 hectares of woods, meadows and lakes.
Capstone Road, Chatham ME7 3JG
Riverside Country Park
Daily from 8am; cafe and toilets 10am to 4pm
Toddler swing seats · Free; parking £3.50 a day
A play area with play houses and a climbing trail, a cafe and toilets, and walking and cycling trails along the estuary.
333 Lower Rainham Road, Rainham ME7 2XH
Ranscombe Farm Reserve
Open every day
Free
Plantlife's reserve on the edge of Strood, with a free family adventure map for a walk. There is a car park but no toilets or cafe.
Sundridge Hill, Cuxton ME2 1LA
Soft play and rainy days 4
Indoor play and museums that work with little ones.
Monkey Bizz
Tuesday to Sunday in term time, every day in the holidays; sessions 9.30am, 12.30pm and 3.30pm
Tots Town for under 4s, with a baby corner · Under 6 months free; 6 to 11 months £7.50; 1 to 4 years from £10.80
Book a session ahead. Cafe with table service and free parking.
Unit 1, Arden Business Park, Chaucer Close, Medway City Estate, ME2 4LF
Jumpin Fun Toddler Time
Toddler Time: Fridays 10am to 12pm and Sundays 9am to 10am
4 and under
An indoor inflatable park with sessions just for under 5s, next door to Monkey Bizz. Closed on Mondays.
Unit 2, Arden Business Park, Chaucer Close, Medway City Estate, ME2 4LF
Guildhall Museum
Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm
Children £1.10, adults £5
Local history out of the rain, with pushchair storage and baby changing in both toilets, though the toilets are up steps. Halloween crafts 27 to 30 October 2026.
High Street, Rochester ME1 1PY
Royal Engineers Museum
Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm
Under 5s free
A dog trail, dressing up and hands-on displays, buggy friendly apart from the trench, with lifts, baby changing and a cafe.
Prince Arthur Road, Gillingham ME7 1SA
Days out 7
The bigger outings, with what under 5s pay.
The Historic Dockyard Chatham
10am to 5pm until 1 November 2026, then 10am to 4pm until 15 November; closed for winter from 16 November apart from Christmas events
3 and under free
The play area by the visitor entrance is free with no ticket needed, next to the Mess Deck restaurant. With a ticket there is an outdoor adventure play area and indoor soft play in the Wagon Stop canteen.
Main Gate Road, Chatham ME4 4TY
Diggerland Kent
From 10am on open days
Children under 90cm free
The construction themed park at Strood. Children under 100cm can use the coin-operated rides and the indoor play areas, and there is a picnic area, baby changing and free parking. Pre-book by midnight the day before.
Medway Valley Leisure Park, Roman Way, Strood ME2 2NU
Rochester Castle
Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 4pm, October to March
Under 5s free
Pushchairs are allowed but the keep is hard going with one, so the gardens and picnics are the easy part. Toilets are in the castle gardens.
Castle Hill, Rochester ME1 1SW
Eastgate House
Weekends 10am to 5pm
Children 5 to 17 £3.06
The historic house on the High Street, with Dickens' Swiss Chalet in the garden and a Halloween scavenger hunt 17 to 29 October 2026.
High Street, Rochester ME1 1EW
Fenn Bell Conservation Project
Every day, 10am to 5pm
Under 2s free with a ticket; children £8
A small zoo and conservation project at the Fenn Bell Inn, with a car park and food and drink from the pub.
Fenn Street, St Mary Hoo ME3 8RF
The Strand Leisure Park
Splash pad at weekends from May and daily in the summer holidays
Splash pad free
Riverside play parks, picnic areas, a miniature railway and a free splash pad in summer.
Pier Road, Gillingham ME7 1TT
Fort Amherst
Grounds open all year
Grounds free
The grounds are free to explore, with the Cannon Cafe and accessible toilets. Pushchairs cannot go into the tunnels.
Chatham ME4 4UB
Cafes and changing 4
Where to stop for a coffee with a pushchair, and where to find a changing table.
Jasper's community cafe
Monday to Friday 9am to 3.30pm; Saturday openings are posted on its social media
A not for profit cafe run by volunteers, upstairs in the same building as the library, with lift access and a kids' menu. It can close in some school holidays.
First floor, Medway Adult Education Centre, Eastgate, Rochester ME1 1EW
The Mess Deck at the Dockyard
The Dockyard's opening hours
No Dockyard ticket needed
Highchairs, and the free play area is right next to it.
The Historic Dockyard, Chatham ME4 4TY
Costa Coffee, High Street
One of the few High Street cafes that lists baby changing, along with accessible toilets.
59-61 High Street, Rochester ME1 1LX
Toilets and changing in town
Public toilets are in the Castle Gardens. The Community Hub at Eastgate has step-free toilets and a Changing Places toilet, and the library's baby sessions have a changing area.
Castle Gardens and Rochester Community Hub, Eastgate, ME1 1EW
Time for you 4
A gym in an old chapel and the padel courts around Medway.
Granite Gym
Monday to Friday from 10am into the evening; Saturday 2pm to 6pm; Sunday 2pm to 4pm
Drop in to any class for £15
Muay Thai, kickboxing, no-gi jiu jitsu, wrestling, boxing and MMA in the old chapel at the Chatham end of the High Street, which the gym says was built in 1078. More than 20 classes a week, one to one training, and classes booked online.
St Bartholomew's Hospital Chapel, Gundulph Road, ME1 1DP
Frindsbury Tennis and Padel Club
6am to 10.30pm daily
Six floodlit outdoor padel courts, booked through the club app, with lower court prices for members.
Upnor Road, Frindsbury ME2 4UX
Platform 26 Padel
Weekdays 8am to 10pm
60 minute court from £24
Two pay and play courts in Chatham, with coaching from beginner level, a ladies mix-in, and junior coaching and camps.
Waterfront Way, Chatham ME4 4JT
Tour Padel Medway Campus
Two outdoor courts on the university campus at Chatham Maritime, booked through Playtomic.
University of Greenwich Medway Campus, Chatham ME4 4AG
Checked on 13 October 2026 against Medway Council, Rochester Cathedral, the churches' own listings, each class, pool, attraction and cafe's own website or booking page, and Padel Underground. Class times change by term, so book or check before you go. Know a group we have missed? Tell us.