Closed facilities and cancelled events

In this section

• Battle of Britain Bunker
• Council meetings, committees and petitions
• Facilities temporarily closed to the public
• Cancelled events and activities
• Guidance for managers of multi-purpose community facilities

Battle of Britain Bunker

Current social distancing measures make it very difficult for us to run the high-quality tour experience that we have offered until now.  So, while the government has permitted museums in England to reopen, we have decided, after much careful thought, that it is better to reopen when we can bring the fullest experience possible to visitors. Therefore, the bunker and visitor centre will not be reopening during the school summer holidays. 

During August, we will review government guidance on social distancing and look for our earliest opportunity to reopen, which we hope will be before the Battle of Britain 80th anniversary period ends. A date will be announced as soon as it is known. 

We also hope to use this opportunity of an extended closure to enhance some of our displays.

We will remain a key online presence among Second World War-themed museums across the summer, publishing original videos and other resources on our website and via our social media channels.

We'd like to thank all our visitors and Hillingdon residents for their patience while we continue to review the situation, and look forward to opening our doors as soon as we can. 

Council meetings, committees and petitions

• The council's decision making process continues to put residents first. 
• Essential council and planning committee meetings are being held virtually and streamed live on the council's YouTube channel.   
• Other public council meetings have been temporarily suspended for the foreseeable future.
• Usual public speaking rights at planning committees in relation to a petition may be suspended temporarily. Instead, written representations will be considered. Lead petitioners, applicants and agents will be advised directly.

Facilities temporarily closed to the public

• Beach at Ruislip Lido
• Compass Theatre, Ickenham
• Winston Churchill Theatre, Ruislip
• Hillingdon young people's centres
• Merrimans Respite Care
• Adult learning centres
• Day provision at Grassy Meadow Dementia Resource Centre and Queens Walk Resource Centre
• In line with government guidelines, our early years centres are open for vulnerable children and key worker families - and we are now gradually opening up these services to other children, prioritising those who are due to start school in September. Please contact your childcare provider for their reopening plans
• Children's centres - with the exception of Colham Manor, South Ruislip, Barra Hall and Harefield, which are open for pre-booked midwifery appointments only 
• Hillingdon Rural Activities Garden Centre

There are planned phased reopenings of Hillingdon libraries in August. If you're a library member, you can access online resources for free. 

Cancelled events and activities

Council social events have been cancelled/postponed until further notice. These include but are not limited to:

• Family Fishing Fun Days (26 July and 9 August)
• tennis sessions (see our tennis page for information about some tennis courts that have reopened and are bookable)
• Carers' Forum
• Hillingdon library events
• tea dances, desi dances and lines dances (at Uxbridge Civic Centre, Yiewsley and West Drayton Community Centre, and Winston Churchill Theatre)
• all Mayor engagements
• Hayes Community Family Fun Day

Where tickets have been sold, we are in the process of contacting people to let them know and to process refunds.

Please note: We have temporarily turned off our events section (Discover Hillingdon) during this time.

Guidance for managers of multi-purpose community facilities

Managers of community facilities have discretion over when they consider it safe to open for any activity permitted by legislation and may decide to remain closed if they are not able to safely follow the advice in the relevant guidance, to make the space COVID-19 secure.

Read the guidance