Step Back in Time at Waverley Abbey, Farnham
The picturesque ruins of Waverley Abbey are surrounded by open fields, the River Wey and a small lake, which is home to herons, ducks and swans. Some of the
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Brave the Water Maze at Hever Castle, Near Tonbridge
Hever Castle was the childhood home of Anne Boleyn. It’s a picturesque castle that has everything a castle should have – a drawbridge, a moat
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Explore the Rim of the Devil’s Punch Bowl, Hindhead Common
The first thing that strikes you about the Devil’s Punch Bowl is the breathtaking view. It is impossible to do anything but gaze. There are plenty of places
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Scramble Along the Natural Play Trail at Box Hill, Dorking
Scattered throughout the woods on top of Box Hill are natural play areas with balance courses, ropes, logs, tree climbing, dens and a fort. This is called the Box Hill Natural
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Cross the River Mole Using the Box Hill Stepping Stones
There is something magical about finding your own way across a river, and jumping across the River Mole on the famous Box Hill Stepping Stones is no exception. Once you
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Adventure Up, Down and Around Box Hill, Dorking, Surrey Hills
With picturesque views to admire, mini-beasts to discover, stepping stones to navigate and a natural play trail to tackle, Box Hill is a perfect spot for an adventure and we
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Meander Through Winnall Moors Nature Reserve, Winchester
Winnall Moors is a nature reserve near the centre of Winchester that is home to otters, water voles, and kingfishers, as well as meadows, reedbeds, and the River Itchen.
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Wade to Spider Island at Magpie Bottom, New Forest
Magpie Bottom is a small area of woodland in the New Forest with a magical story trail, the remains of a WW2 airfield, and lots of wildlife. The River Avon Water flows
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Commemorate the Struggle for Freedom at Runnymede
The water-meadows of Runnymede are where King John sealed Magna Carta in 1215, taking a step towards freedom and modern democracy. They are also home
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Capture the Castles at Frimley Lodge Park, Frimley
Your quest at Frimley Lodge Park is to capture the castles and secure two treasure chests. But be warned, these are protected by a sandy moat patrolled by a crocodile
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Climb Onboard the Frimley Lodge Miniature Railway
At Frimley Lodge Miniature Railway, the atmosphere bustles with calls of, “All aboard,” whistling steam, and puffing engines. Each train journey lasts about six minutes.
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Storm and Conquer Danebury Hill Fort, Near Andover
About 2,500 years ago, Danebury Hill Fort was a series of earthen ramparts, ditches and gateways protecting a central area. As you can imagine, it has a spectacular location
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Scramble to the Secret Falls, Near Dorking, Surrey Hills
Our visits to Broadmoor always make us feel like jungle explorers on an expedition to find a secret waterfall. I like to think this is because the woods have a wild, jungle-like
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Splash Around Friday Street, Near Dorking, Surrey Hills
Nestled in the Surrey Hills is Friday Street, a quiet hamlet with paddling spots, a mill pond, shady woods, and even some scarecrows. It’s a beautiful place to explore
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Follow in the Footsteps of Elizabeth I at Hatfield House
Elizabeth I is one of my favourite historical figures so I was always going to love Hatfield House. This is where Elizabeth grew up, spent periods of house arrest,
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Search for Sculptures at Tout Quarries, Portland
At Tout Quarries, sculptures are hiding around every corner – and when I say hiding, I mean hiding! We have visited twice and still haven’t found every sculpture.
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Find the Folly at the Top of Chinthurst Hill, Wonersh Common
A walk up Chinthurst Hill is guaranteed to involve some climbing – there are stairs and gentle slopes to tackle on the path and trees and tangled logs
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Trip Trap Your Way Through Wallis Wood, Near Cranleigh
We came to Wallis Wood on the hunt for wildflowers and we weren’t disappointed. Not only did we find bluebells, wood anemones, daffodils and celandine
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Stand in Dinosaur Footprints at Spyway, Swanage
No one believed me when I announced we were going on a mission to discover dinosaur footprints at a place called Spyway. Our mission took us through
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Experience a Bygone Era at Didcot Railway Centre, Didcot
We were surprised by how much there is to see at Didcot Railway Centre. As well as two operational railway lines and a science exhibition, there is a turntable
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Bring Fossils to Life at The Etches Collection, Kimmeridge Bay
150 million years ago, the Dorset coast was a shallow, tropical sea patrolled by huge marine reptiles, predators and fish. All that remains today are fossils, which
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Rock Pool, Fossil Hunt and Snorkel at Kimmeridge Bay
I love everything about Kimmeridge Bay – the picturesque drive from the main road, the views out across the bay, the fossils hidden in the cliffs and along the beach
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Enjoy Ponies and Paddles at Latchmoor Brook, The New Forest
Latchmoor Brook is a shallow stream on the edge of the New Forest where you can see ponies, picnic, paddle and hunt for fossils. You will definitely need your wellies!
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Hear the Crickets Sing at Shortheath Common, Near Bordon
Shortheath Common is a Local Nature Reserve with a woodland, heathland, a pond and a play area. It is home to a variety of wildlife, including ducks, 23 different
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Beat the Maze at Stansted Park, Havant, Portsmouth
Stansted Park is one of those places that is a series of mini-adventures: an elegant house to explore, expansive parkland to discover and beautiful gardens
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Befriend the Animals at Staunton Country Park Farm, Havant
Staunton Country Park Farm is a small farm with lots of curious animals, an indoor and an outdoor play area and a Victorian Glasshouse. Everything on the
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Bowl Strikes and Spares at Hollywood Bowl, Basingstoke
We regularly visit Hollywood Bowl in Basingstoke with friends and always have a ridiculous amount of fun! My children love the neon lights, bowling in their
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Follow the Ups and Downs of Headley Heath, Leatherhead
At Headley Heath you can follow undulating trails through heathland, woodland and chalk hillside, passing ponds, view points and WW2
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Disappear into New Worlds at Woking Library, Woking
The children’s section of Woking Library is so inviting that we dropped in for ten minutes and ended up staying for nearly an hour and also left with several second hand books!
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Enter a ‘Living Work of Art’ at Stourhead, Wincanton
When you walk around the lake at Stourhead it doesn’t take long to realise why it was once described as, ‘…a living work of art’ – from almost any
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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
