Take a Break at Basingstoke Discovery Centre
Tucked away above Festival Place shopping centre is Basingstoke Discovery Centre, a large, modern library with a lively children’s section full of books and pictures.
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Marvel at the Model Railways at Pendon Museum, Abingdon
Pendon Museum houses model railways showing scenes from England during the 1920s and 1930s, some real and some imagined. The level of detail
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Discover What’s Hiding Inside Bordon Inclosure, Bordon
Hidden behind this unassuming exterior lies a woodland wonderland perfect for going wild and having an adventure. With something to explore around
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Meet the Animals at Deen City Farm, Morden, South London
Deen City Farm brings some much needed rural tranquility to the heart of South London. There is plenty to do and entry is completely free!
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Sunninghill Library, Between Sunningdale and Ascot
As we walked into Sunninghill Library my children squealed with delight and dived straight into the boxes of books. And it was easy to see why. The children’s section
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Ride the Rails at Mizens Railway, Knaphill, Woking
With a, “Peep, peep, toot, toot,” Mizens Railway welcomes you into the early 20th century. This atmospheric, miniature railway is run by friendly volunteers who clearly
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Roll With It at Basildon Park, Pangbourne
I first fell in love with Basildon Park whilst watching Mr Bingley gaze longingly after Jane Bennet in the 2005 film of Pride and Prejudice.
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Explore the Boardwalk at Riverside Park, Guildford
Riverside Park Nature Reserve is full of surprises – there is something different around every corner, whether it’s stumbling across a bird hide, seeing a lock lifting
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Discover Deer at Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary, New Forest
If you have ever caught a fleeting glimpse of a deer and wished the experience had lasted longer, then Bolderwood is the place for you. Famous for the herds of
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Beachcomb at Littlehampton West Beach, Littlehampton
Littlehampton West Beach feels wild – an uninterrupted stretch of sand extending as far as the eye can see, flanked by sand dunes and turquoise waters. It is stunning,
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Wander the Woods of Standen House, East Grinstead
From its hillside position, Standen House watches over flowering gardens, Sussex countryside and acres of woodland. Standen is an unusual house
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Find the Source of the Mole in Baldhorns Copse, Crawley
We had no idea what to expect as we cautiously peered through a hole in the trees and down a dark footpath. We had accepted a challenge to find the source
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Get Close to the Animals at Miller’s Ark Farm, Hook
Miller’s Ark might be small but it is jam-packed with animals to feed, cuddle and brush. We had close-encounters with so many animals – goats and sheep, pigs
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Discover The Black Pond of the Deadwater Valley NR, Bordon
There is nothing dead about the Deadwater Valley Nature Reserve. We were surrounded by wildlife from the moment we arrived – butterflies
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Escape It All at Morden Hall Park, Near Wimbledon
As you walk through the gates of Morden Hall Park you leave behind the hectic pace of South London and step into a peaceful country estate with a watermill
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Go Wild at Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre, Near Newbury
There’s lots to enjoy at Thatcham Nature Discovery Centre – two wooden play areas, Thatcham Lake and ducks galore, a cafe with indoor and outdoor tables and
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Visit the Snake’s Head Fritillaries of Cricklade North Meadow
There is no doubt that Cricklade North Meadow is a special place. Bordered by the River Thames and the River Churn, this old hay meadow is carpeted by flowers
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Discover Wizard Wix at Hatchlands Park, Near Guildford
Hatchlands Park is an ideal venue for a wild adventure with rolling parkland, hidden geocaches and a natural play area complete with a wooden tree house, fairy doors and an obstacle course.
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Explore the Gorgeous Grounds of Nymans, Near Crawley
The atmospheric ruins of Nymans overlook rolling countryside from the top of a hill. Beautifully manicured gardens surround the house and were
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Birdworld and Underwater World, Farnham
Birdworld and Underwater World is one of the largest bird parks in the UK. It was also a first for us – the first time we have visited somewhere that my children
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Chineham Library, Chineham Town Centre, Basingstoke
Chineham Library has a welcoming children’s section, plenty of activities and is also the first stop on the Story Trail quest to find Great Binfield the Giant. We visited
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Step Back in Time at Milestones Museum, Basingstoke
Milestones Museum is an indoor outdoor experience that recreates the streets of the past complete with cobbles and tramlines, workshops and stations, buses
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Stand at the Top of Hampshire on Butser Hill, Horndean
Butser Hill is one of the highest points in Hampshire with a story trail, kite flying and beautiful views that stretch out across the South Downs and onto Portsmouth
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Discover and then Lay Siege to King John’s Castle, Odiham
Today Odiham Castle is the ruined remains of one of King John’s strongholds. But during the 13th and 14th centuries, it witnessed a French seige
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Go Fossil Hunting at West Beach, Bognor Regis
The tide retreats remarkably quickly at West Beach, transforming it from a stone covered slope into a flat, sandy beach. We were there to try
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Spot the Dinosaurs at Crystal Palace Park, Bromley
“There’s one, crawling out of the water!” shouted my daughter, looking out across the lake towards the statue. We had only been in Crystal Palace Park for a couple of
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Enjoy the Bridges and Boardwalks of Fleet Pond
Fleet Pond has plenty to explore – boardwalks, jetties, three different trails, a beach with a paddling area and lots of ducks, swans and waterbirds. The area is a
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Meet the Dinosaurs of the Natural History Museum
Our mission today was to show the children how enormous dinosaurs were before Dippy the Diplodocus skeleton leaves the Natural History Museum on 4th January 2017.
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Gaze at the Views from Denbies Hillside, Dorking
Denbies Hillside’s panoramic views sweep up and down the valley and across to Leith Hill Tower. We spent about an hour and a half walking the Denbies Hillside
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Enjoy Lantern-Lit Gardens at RHS Garden Wisley Christmas Glow
As soon as we arrived at RHS Garden Wisley, we knew we were beginning a Christmas tradition. The gardens were open late and we arrived after dark. Everywhere was pitch black except for the trails of fairy lights, illuminated trees, glowing reflections and massive flower sculptures.
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Explore and Discover at the Winchester Science Centre
Winchester Science Centre is packed with hands on exhibits exploring science, maths and technology including the chance to walk through a human colon
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Explore the Cosmos at Winchester Planetarium
“Blast off into space and help save Christmas!” promised the Space Mission for Santa write up. High stakes stuff! We had no idea what was going to happen but
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Meet the Animals of Manor Farm, Near Southampton
Manor Farm transports you back in time to a Victorian farm with costumed farm workers, historic farm buildings, free-ranging animals and antiquated tractors.
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Play Areas, Arts and Orienteering at South Hill Park, Bracknell
South Hill Park is a grand stately home turned arts venue, which is surrounded by gardens, lakes, woods, and three very different play areas. The grounds divide into
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Pond Dip at Fox Corner Wildlife Area, Near Guildford
Fox Corner Community Wildlife Area is a tranquil, 14-acre wildlife area with a pond, meadow, woods and two brooks well as bridges, boardwalks and a pond dipping
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Paddle, Splash and Play at Stoke Park Splash Pad, Guildford
Stoke Park Splash Pad is a large, shallow paddling pool decorated with sea creatures. Open during the summer holidays, this is somewhere children can
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Admire the Views from Newlands Corner, Guildford
Newlands Corner is one of the most spectacular picnic spots we have visited. The views are simply breathtaking. This is also the spot chosen by Agatha Christie
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Try Orienteering at Ambarrow Court NR, Sandhurst
Ambarrow Court’s circular nature trail twists through shady woodland, over bridges and past wildflowers. It also hides a permanent orienteering course.
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Explore the Wonderful World of Wisley Gardens, Woking
With beautiful scenery, cascading waterfalls, lovely picnic spots, buggy friendly pathways and even play areas, RHS Garden Wisley is wonderful. The gardens are
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Meet the Inhabitants of Thundry Meadows, Elstead
With its evocative name, connections to Thor and great online reviews, I was expecting a lot from Thundry Meadows. In many ways, I was not disappointed.
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Admire the Gardens of Loseley Park, Near Guildford
Loseley Park’s gardens are small but enchanting. When we visited they were awash with forget-me-not flowers, butterflies, ducklings and geese. We investigated the
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Dive the Oceans at The Bournemouth Aquarium
There can’t be many places where you can see creatures from the Great Barrier Reef, the Ganges and the deep sea all under one roof, but Oceanarium: The Bournemouth
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Marvel at the Animals of The Natural History Museum at Tring
The atmospheric Natural History Museum at Tring is jam-packed with animals displayed in original, floor-to-ceiling, glass cases. It’s a fascinating place to
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Gaze into the Deep at Blue Reef Aquarium Portsmouth
Waving rays, graceful seahorses and glowing jellyfish were just some of the creatures that greeted us on a visit to the Blue Reef Aquarium Portsmouth. Inside, a winding
