The Thursley Common Fire

At the end of May 2020, a fire tore through the boardwalk area of Thursley Common. Lots of trees and vegetation were lost and so was the boardwalk, with its Dragonfly Trail. 

This is a picture of Moat Pond before the fire.

This is a picture of Moat Pond after the fire.

Happily, the Dragonfly Trail has been rebuilt!

Moat Pond

We start our visits at Moat Pond, with its pine scent and marauding ducks.

In the autumn it is surrounded by fungus – we spotted 50 different types last autumn! (I’m sure it goes without saying but we never touch fungus, we just look at it). 

The Dragonfly Trail

This leads you along the boardwalk and over the peat bogs. 

Along the way you can spot lots of insects and lizards 

and also sundews.

The Trails

When we want a short visit we walk around Moat Pond and watch the wildlife from one of the many little beach-like areas. 

If we are after a longer walk, we venture along one of the marked trails. 

The Wildlife

Thursley Common teems with nature and you can almost always see something wonderful.

From spring to autumn, you can see animals on every visit, including animals such as dragonflies, lizards, caterpillars, birds, and spiders. 

On one visit there were thousands of tiny toads hopping across the paths in every direction. 

The Lizards

The lizards are easiest to see when warming themselves on the boardwalk during sunny days. 

Can You Spot the Lizards?

To ready your eyes for lizard spotting, have a look at the photo of a log below. There are three lizards hiding on it – how many can you spot?

Answers highlighted below!

Two are hiding here:

And another here:

Thor’s Den

There is nearby a play area called Thor’s Den on the edge of Thursley Common. You can walk there from Moat Pond but it is quite far so you may prefer to drive (GU8 6QD).

Nearest Town: Thursley, near Farnham
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU8 6LW

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a blanket and a picnic.
Facilities: None

How Long We Spent There: Up to 3 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly – we use an all terrain buggy as some areas are sandy and there are roots along some of the paths. 

Parking: There are lots of places to park along the road and a few car parks. We use the Moat Pond car park (GU8 6LW) as it is closest to Moat Pond. 
Cost of Parking: Free but a donation using a parking app is suggested.

Wildlife You Might See: Toads, frogs, wood ants, dragonflies, lizards, caterpillars, birds, spiders, grasshoppers and ducks.

Information Written: July 2019
Information Checked: October 2024

Our visit to Thursley Common National Nature Reserve is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Petersfield Heath Play Area

The play equipment includes:

• swings
• toddler swings
• a tyre swing 
• a rocking horse 
• a slide built into the hill 
• a roundabout 

• springers 
• a multiplay with a slide and binoculars 
• a sunken pirate ship sand pit 
• a tunnel
• a wooden climbing frame obstacle course with a slide and climbing wall.

Next to the play area are picnic tables 

and The Plump Duck cafe.

Petersfield Heath

This is ancient heathland with a large pond 

boat hire 

and a circular trail. 

Nearest Town: Petersfield
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: GU31 4LB

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or eat at The Plump Duck cafe. 
Facilities: Cafe, snacks, ice cream, picnic area, toilets, accessible toilets. 

How Long We Spent There: 2 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: There is a car park. 
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Lizards, insects, ducks, swans, geese, kingfishers and other birds.

Information Written: July 2022

Our visit to Petersfield Heath and Play Area in Petersfield is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Hawk Conservancy Trust

The Hawk Conservancy Trust’s mission is to conserve birds of prey in the UK and abroad.  

When we visited they had a particular focus on learning to love vultures, who have an unfair reputation. 

All About Birds

You can learn about the birds of prey from their enclosures 

and during talks,

interactive workshops

and flying displays.

The Birds of Prey

The Hawk Trust Conservancy is home to birds of prey, including vultures

storks

eagles

owls

owls

and more owls!

The Play Area

The bird of prey themed play area has places to climb, slide and swing.

Where to Eat

You can eat at Feathers Restaurant and there are two picnic areas.

Nearest Town: Andover
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: SP11 8DY

Adult Cost Range: £15 to £19.99
Child Cost Range: £10 to £14.99
Free if: Under 4 years 

Opens: Various times throughout the year. 

Where to Eat: Feathers Restaurant or bring a picnic.
Facilities: Snacks, ice cream, shop, cafe, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: A full day.
Buggies: Buggy friendly.

Parking: There is a large car park.
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Birds of prey like eagles, kites, hawks, owls, herons, storks and vultures.

Information Written: August 2023

Our visit to The Hawk Conservancy Trust in Andover is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Thomas Land

Thomas Land is a world of Thomas-themed rides 

and attractions.  

You can see characters like James 

Toby 

Cranky 

Henry 

Gordon 

Flynn

and Harold. 

Thomas, Percy and Rosie make regular appearances, pulling passengers riding in carriages Annie and Clarabel between Knapford station and Tidmouth Halt station. 

Tidmouth Halt Station

Once at Tidmouth Halt station, you find Spencer and an adventure play area 

a dinosaur trail and some zoo animals.

Drayton Manor

Drayton Manor is a theme park with rides for all ages, zoo animals and crazy golf. 

Nearest Town: Tamworth, near Birmingham
County: Staffordshire
Nearest Postcode: B78 3TW

Adult Cost Range: Various prices depending on when you go. Please see their website for details.
Child Cost Range: Various prices depending on when you go. Please see their website for details.
Free if: Under 2 years old

Opens: Various times and days throughout the year. Please see their website for details.

Where to Eat: Various restaurants, cafes and picnic areas.
Facilities: Toilets, accessible toilets, shops, cafes, snacks and ice creams.

How Long We Spent There: 5 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly 

Parking: Large car parks
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife you might see: Zoo animals, including tigers, red pandas, monkeys, meerkats, lynx, capybara, tapir, gibbon, marmoset, porcupine, frog, snake and bird like emus, cockatoos, flamingos and rheas.

Information Written: July 2020

Our visit to Thomas Land at Drayton Park in Tamworth, near Birmingham, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Paultons Park

Paultons Park itself is a family theme park that also has 

dinosaurs to spot

animals to watch

adventure play areas and splash pads

a wide variety of rides for all ages 

and a train and several garden walks for anyone who prefers something a little more gentle. 

Peppa Pig World

This Peppa Pig themed part of the park brings the Peppa Pig stories, characters and illustrations to life and allows you to explore Peppa’s town

meet her family and friends

 ride in their trains and boats

cars and helicopters 

and even meet Peppa herself. 

Peppa Pig Prep!

Believe it or not, we visited Peppa Pig World without having watched or read anything about Peppa Pig!

We still enjoyed our first visit, even without knowing the characters, but reading the books definitely made subsequent visits more magical!

George’s Spaceship Playzone

This is a soft play area with slides and climbing frames 

as well as an area for smaller children. 

Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs roam around the Lost Kingdom!

We spotted several, including Tyrannosaurus rex, Triceratops, Velociraptors and the staggeringly large Argentinosaurus. 

The Dinosaur Tour Co. offer dinosaur safaris by Jeep! 

Water Kingdom

Paultons Park has two splash parks – a large splash pad with tipping buckets, fountains and water shooters and another smaller one called Muddy Puddles.

Adventure Play Areas

There are three adventure play areas, including one that is themed around Mr Potato from Peppa Pig and another dinosaur-themed one where you can dig for fossils. 

Nearest Town: Romsey, Near Southampton
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: SO51 6AL

Adult Cost Range: Various prices depending on when you go. Please see their website for details.
Child Cost Range: Various prices depending on when you go. Please see their website for details.
Free if: Under 1 metre tall

Opens: Various times and days throughout the year. Please see their website for details.

Where to Eat: Various restaurants, cafes and picnic areas.
Facilities: Toilets, accessible toilets, shops, cafes, snacks and ice creams.

How Long We Spent There: 5 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly 

Parking: Large car parks
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife you might see: Penguins, giant tortoises, flamingos, pelicans, tropical birds, owls, fish, lizards and insects.

Information Written: July 2017
Information Checked: April 2021

Our visit to Paultons Park and Peppa Pig World in Romsey, near Southampton, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

So Much to Do!

Hobbledown has an unbelievable amount to do, including:

Crystallite Mines  

A sandy play area mining town where you use water, buckets and chutes to pan for little green Crystallite gems. You can swap an ounce of Crystallite (about twenty gems) for a lolly.

Fairy Tale Castle Play Area

Complete with tube slides, walkways, tunnels, a dragon and a fairy to save! 

It also has a water pillow to tackle, which is one of the strangest experiences – like you are walking on water. 

Hobbledown Village 

An adventure play area that is home to the Hobblers and has towers, tube slides

more walkways and bridges

obstacles to climb and a network of tunnels.  

Here you can also fly on Rumpletump and the double zip wire.  

The Imaginarium

An area with reptiles and insects

water play 

and an interactive jungle. 

Courtyard Play Village

This outdoor sand and water play area with a huge ball run is one of our favourite areas.  

Can you fill the tanks using this Rube Goldberg water machine ?!

Indoor Play Barn

An indoor play are that has a wooden climbing section with ball turrets, climbing walls and role play rooms

a second soft play frame with tubes and slides (including an area for the under 3s) 

and a cafe with indoor and outdoor tables. 

Animals

Hobbledown is also home to animals, including sheep, rheas

goats and wallabies.  

Characters and Books

Hobbledown sells books about the characters its adventure areas are based on. Details of how these can be bought are on the Hobbledown Epsom website. 

Next time we visit, I will read these stories to my children beforehand so they know who and what to look out for. 

Nearest Town: Epsom
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: KT19 8PT

Opens: Daily

Adult Cost Range: From £11
Child Cost Range: From £11
Free if: Under 2 years.

Where to Eat: Cafe or picnic areas.
Facilities: Cafe, shop, snacks, picnic areas, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: Full day
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: There is a large car park. 
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Lemurs, armadillos, camels, meerkats, wallaby, prairie dog, otter, goats, maras, alpacas, rabbits, capybara, sheep, pigs, rheas and birds of prey.

Information Written: October 2022

Our visit to Hobbledown in Epsom is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Longleat

Longleat can be divided into two main areas – the Safari and the Main Square.

The Safari 

This has an African Village to explore on foot and a Safari Drive-Through to explore from a vehicle – either your own or the Longleat bus. 

Safari On Foot – The African Village

Here you can see lemurs, wallabies and tortoises

zebra, warthogs and goats and hand feed giraffes.  

Safari By Car – The Drive-Through

The Drive-Through has a commentary app, which is a fab idea that turns your drive into a live action, Kate Humble guided documentary.

East African Reserve

In the first section you can see ostriches, giraffes and tapirs

zebra, flamingos, pelicans and vultures. 

Monkeys

Next up are the monkeys.  Signs warn that the monkeys may damage your car.

As the gates open, Kate Humble chirps, “You have been warned…”. 

The monkeys maraud along the lines of cars. We have seen them take cars apart. 

You can choose to skip this enclosure if you like. 

Big Game Park

This has animals including Anne the elephant

a caravan of camels, a herd of Ankole cattle with horns of up to 2m long

a crash of rhinos and the Deer Park, where you can feed deer from your car.

The Carnivores

When we visited the big carnivore enclosures – tigers, lions, cheetahs and wolves – the tension from the back seat was palpable. 

The Main Square

The second part of Longleat is the Main Square, which has the house, cafes and refreshments and more animals. 

The Bat Cave

This is a bat roost and the bats fly freely around your head. 

Jungle Cruise

On the Jungle Cruise, you take a large boat that wouldn’t have been out of place in The African Queen – a sort of jungle steamer. 

We sailed past gorillas, colobus monkeys, lots of birds 

and two hippos, who were being used as an island by some cheeky ducks.

But our favourite part of the cruise is feeding the sea lions. 

They splash around the boat and make a lot of noise, jumping up out of the water to catch the fish you throw them (which you must buy).

Animal Adventure

This is home to animals like meerkats, anteaters and porcupines

binturong, fennec fox and a sloth

lorikeets you can hand feed 

crocodiles, giant otters and koalas. 

There is also a farmyard with animals including reindeer, wallabies and goats. 

Adventure Castle Play Area

Adventure Castle is a fantastic, castle-themed adventure play area. 

The play area’s centrepiece is a huge wooden castle with ramparts, walkways, nets and slides galore.

There is also an indoor soft play area for small children.

It has almost everything you can imagine for children of all ages – huge slides, climbing frames, swings and an obstacle course.

The Splash Pad

Jets of water activate when you press discs in the floor – some sprayed up, some sprayed down and some formed tunnels to run through. 

The perfect end to an adventure-filled day.

Nearest Town: Warminster
County: Wiltshire
Nearest Postcode: BA12 7NW

Adult Cost Range: Various – please see their website for details.
Child Cost Range: Various – please see their website for details.
Free if: Under 3

Opens: Daily during the summer but with seasonal closures.

Where to Eat: There are various cafes and you can bring a picnic.
Facilities: Snacks, ice cream, cafes, picnic areas, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: A full day.
Buggies: Buggy friendly.

Parking: Large car park.
Cost of Parking: Free.

Wildlife You Might See: Zoo and safari park animals, including zebra, giraffes, camels, vultures, monkeys, an elephant, rhinos, deer, lions, tigers, cheetahs, wolves, insects and spiders, hippos, seals, gorillas, bats, anteaters, giant otters, meerkats and wallabies.

Information Written: July 2017
Information Checked: January 2024

Our visit to Longleat is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

 

Exploring Virginia Water

There are several areas of Virginia Water to explore:

Virginia Water

The picture perfect main lake area, which has Leptis Magna ruins, a waterfall, the totem pole and places to buy food, drinks and ice cream. 

The Valley Gardens

250 acres of free to enter gardens, carefully planted with flowering plants from across the world.

The Savill Garden

The Savill Garden is a smaller area of paid for gardens that often have child-friendly events. 

Adventure Play at The Savill Garden

Adventure Play is an exciting adventure play area with a collection of wooden huts, tree houses and tube slides connected by bridges, climbing tunnels, nets and ladders.  

Please note: Adventure Play has an entry fee and pre-booked time slots.

The Obelisk Lawn Play Area

If you walk past the totem pole towards The Savill Garden, you will find the free entry Obelisk Lawn Play Area. For us, this was a 10 to 15 minute scoot.

Obelisk Lawn Play Area has a sunken ship and equipment for children aged 2 to 9 years old. 

Cafes

There are several cafes scattered around all areas of Virginia Water where you can buy drinks, coffee, snacks and ice cream.

The Paths

There are lots of walking routes to choose from. Each pass different features on a variety of surfaces – some paths are flat and well surfaced, others are muddy but flat and others are rugged and bumpy.

Scooters and Bikes

Scooters and bikes are welcome around Virginia Water but only on certain paths – the permitted cycle routes. These do not include the paths from the main car park to the totem pole, waterfall or Leptis Magna ruins.

Pick Up a Map

There are clear sign posts but it is worth picking up a map. We found one in the cafe at the Valley Gardens car park and you can also find one on the Windsor Great Park website.

Nearest Town: Virginia Water
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU25 4QF

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or try one of the many places to buy food – the cafe next to Virginia Water car park or The Savill Garden car park, mobile cafes scattered across the gardens or nearby pubs.
Facilities: Cafes, picnic areas, ice creams, snacks, toilets, accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 3 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: Several large car parks –  Virginia Water (GU25 4QF), Virginia Water South (SL5 7SB), Valley Gardens (TW20 0UJ – but Members and Friends only) and The Savill Garden (also TW20 0UJ). All of these are very busy during warm weather. 
Cost of Parking: From £3.10 per hour.

Wildlife You Might See: Butterflies and other insects, lots and lots of ducks and other water birds.

Information Written: November 2016
Information Checked: September 2023

Our visit to Virginia Water Lake and the Valley Gardens in Windsor Great Park is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Rushmere Country Park

Rushmere CP is somewhere to head out into nature and explore.  

It is covered with sculptures, play spaces

trees and dens 

and is criss-crossed with footpaths, 

cycle routes and bridleways.

The Fairy Trail

The fairies hide along the short Access for all footpath, which has smooth, easy to walk along paths. 

We spotted a fairy dinner party

 fairy doors

sculptures 

and a reading chair for a giant.

Woodpecker Trail

Following the longer Woodpecker Trail (which is bumpier with a steep hill you go up and down) leads you deeper into the park, 

down a hill

past Stockgrove Lake 

and several play spaces.

The Play Areas

There are seven play spaces scattered across the park.

This includes a play area for younger children (those under the age of 6) and has equipment that includes a playhouse, roundabout, giant snails and a sand pit with a static digger machine. 

Also scattered along the trails are other pieces if play equipment, like a wobbly bridge and balancing stumps. 

Treetops Cafe

Treetops Cafe perches high on the hillside with beautiful views over a lake where herons breed.

Along the viewing balcony are tables and also binoculars you can use to look at the herons and their nests. 

The Leighton-Linslade Children’s Trail

We visited Rushmere Country Park after trying the Leighton-Linslade Children’s Trail. 

Nearest Town: Heath and Reach, near Leighton-Linslade
County: Bedfordshire
Nearest Postcode: LU7 0EB

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or eat in the cafe.
Facilities: Cafe, ice cream, snacks, toilets, accessible toilets, picnic area.

How Long We Spent There: 3 hours
Buggies: The Access for all path is buggy friendly. The paths along the other trails vary, although I did see people with buggies on each one. 

Parking: Large car parks.
Cost of Parking: Various – please check their website for details.

Wildlife You Might See: Adders, insects, common lizards, herons and other birds.

Information Written: February 2017
Information Checked: August 2023

Our visit to Rushmere Country Park in Leighton-Linslade is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Shepherd Meadows

The meadows are a nature reserve of about 100 acres split in two by the River Blackwater and the Blackwater Valley Path.

This is a particularly lovely section of the river, with benches and angling platforms scattered along it.

The Circular Walk

There is an easy to navigate, circular walk around the reserve that takes you up one side of the River Blackwater, over a bridge and then down the other side of the river to another bridge. 

This route is labelled on the reserve map near the car park.

Poohsticks

The bridges are perfect for a slow game of Poohsticks, so be sure to gather some twigs along your walk.

Sandhurst Memorial Park and Play Area

Adjoining the nature reserve is Sandhurst Memorial Park and Play Area, a well-equipped recreation ground and play area with everything from a gorgeous pond and more ducks, to football and tennis, a sand pit, a huge slide and a zip wire. It also has toilets and a cafe with a seating area.

It took us 20 minutes, walking at a very leisurely pace, to reach the play area from the Shepherd Meadows car park.

The Paths

The paths vary from smooth to stony to grassy. They are clearly labelled on the reserve’s map. 

I took an all-terrain buggy and did not have any access problems, although I expect the meadows may become wet in the winter.

Nearest Town: Sandhurst, near Camberley and Crowthorne
County: Berkshire
Nearest Postcode: GU47 0FJ or GU47 9BJ

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or walk to the cafe near to Sandhurst Memorial Park and Play Area. 
Facilities: None at the reserve itself but there is a cafe, toilets, accessible toilets, a picnic area, ice creams and snacks available at Sandhurst Memorial Park and Play Area – so opt for the second car park if these are important.

How Long We Spent There: 3 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: There are two, free car parks and both are a good size. The first is for Shepherd Meadows itself and is on Marshall Road (GU47 0FJ will take you past the car park, which is on the opposite side of the road than the residential houses). The other is next to Sandhurst Memorial Park and Play Area (GU47 9BJ). To find Shepherd Meadows from this car park, take the path to the left of the play area and walk past the balancing pond where you will pick up signs to Shepherd Meadows.
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Ducks, swans, butterflies, insects and birds.

Information Written: May 2017
Information Checked: April 2023

Our visit to Shepherd Meadows and Sandhurst Memorial Park and Play Area in Sandhurst, near Camberley and Crowthorne, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Aldenham Country Park Farm

On the farm, a route leads you past the farm animals, including cows and pigs

goats and donkeys

ducks and peacocks.  

It also has tractor rides

and an area where you can pay a little extra and meet some smaller animals, like rabbits, guinea pigs and giant snails. 

Winnie the Pooh

When we visited, Winnie the Pooh was there to meet, cuddle and wave at the guests.

100 Aker Wood

After our visit to the farm, we walked through the Country Park to 100 Aker Wood and explored the magical places where Winnie the Pooh and his friends have their adventures.  

We discovered places like Winnie the Pooh’s house

Wol’s tree 

and the bees.

Aldenham Country Park

Aldenham Country Park itself has an orienteering course and cycle trails 

mini golf and trampolines

a lake and nature trails. 

The Adventure Play Area

This exciting Aldenham Country Park Adventure Play Area has wooden play equipment, including a zip wire, sand play areas 

a water play area complete with a water pump 

and accessible equipment.

At the time of writing, you have to book to use the play area and there was a charge of £3. 

There are sessions exclusively for children with special needs. 

Nearest Town: Elstree, near Watford
County: Hertfordshire
Nearest Postcode: WD6 3BA

Opens: Daily

Adult Cost Range: Various starting at £4.50. Please see their website for details. 
Child Cost Range: Various starting at £4.50. Please see their website for details. 
Free If: You are only visiting the Country Park (and not the farm or play area).

Where to Eat: Eat at the cafe, hire a barbecue or bring a picnic.
Facilities: Cafe offering snacks and ice cream, toilets and accessible toilets, picnic areas. 

How Long We Spent There: 2 hours at the farm and the rest of the day in the Country Park.
Buggies: Buggy friendly.

Parking: There is a large car park. 
Cost of Parking: From £4.50 per day.

Wildlife You Might See: Birds, insects and farm animals – cows, pigs, chickens, ducks, sheep, rabbits, guinea pigs – maybe even Winnie the Pooh!

Information Written: July 2022

Our visit to Aldenham Country Park Farm in Elstree near Watford is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Pirate Ship Play Area

The pirate ship multiplay has a slide, a hammock, a cargo net, a climbing wall and easy to climb steps. 

Next to it is a water play area with wheels, chutes and a water pump. 

There is also a wide slide with a ramp, a spinning disc and a rock pile and basket swing.

Adventure Play Area

The adventure play area has the following equipment:

• a tube slide and wooden climbing frame with a climbing wall, a ladder, a fireman’s pole and easy to climb stairs 
• a wooden climbing frame made of logs 
• an obstacle course with nets, wobbly logs and ropes
• a spinning disc 
• hammocks 
• musical stepping stones
• toddler swings 
• swings
• a cradle swing
• a zip wire 
• a trampoline
• picnic tables 
• seats.

The Cafe

Next to the play area is Jacksons cafe and also a kiosk.

The Paddling Pool

California Country Park has a paddling pool you pay to use.  This is only open during the summer.

At the time of writing it was £2.90 for anyone entering the water and £1.20 for adults going in to supervise but not swim.  

California Country Park

As well as the adventure play area, Calirfornia Country Park has four main areas – Longmoor Lake, heathland, woodland and Longmoor Bog, an 8,000 year old mire accessible by boardwalk.

The Walks

The park map suggests different  walks that take you around the lake, through some woodland or over a small boardwalk. 

Scooters and Bikes

We often take bikes and scooters on a twenty minute, circular route around the lake.   This route is surfaced and starts and finishes at the adventure play area. 

Nearest Town: Finchamstead
County: Berkshire
Nearest Postcode: RG40 4HU

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or eat at the cafe. 
Facilities: Picnic tables, cafe, ice creams, snacks, drinks, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: About three hours.
Buggies: Buggy friendly.

Parking: There is a large car park.
Cost of Parking: Various charges depending on the season. 

Wildlife You Might See: Butterflies, snakes, birds, ducks, swans, geese and other birds.

Information Written: March 2017
Information Checked: February 2023

Our visit to California Country Park and Adventure Play Area in Finchampstead is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Paddle Steamers and Rainforests

Woking playground takes you on a rainforest adventure, with jungle-themed play equipment.

Animal Spotting

There are some 23 animals hiding around the park.

These include a jaguar – can you spot it in the photo?

a hummingbird

a caiman

and giant centipede. 

Woking Park Adventure Play Area

The play equipment includes:

• a sand play area with buckets and pulleys and a water play area with chutes, taps, bridges and collection pool

• a two-storey paddle steamer climbing frame
• a lily pad balance trail
• a wooden climbing frame shaped like rainforest plants with ladders, bridges, spider webs and walkways
• two springers
• a barrel shaped roundabout 
• a zip wire
• a tunnel and 
• a playhouse.

There is also:

• net climbing frame
• a climbing wall and spider web
• an uphill balance course and wobbly bridge
• swings
• toddler swings
• a basket swing
• a centipede seesaw
• two huge slides set into a hill with easy to climb steps and 
• a toddler-sized slide.

Woking Park

The play area is on the edge of Woking Park, which has gardens filled with trees, bridges and pathways

and a duck pond, stream and a multi-gym.

Leisure Facilities

Also within Woking Park are some leisure facilities including Pool in the Park, tennis courts and mini golf. 

The tennis courts and mini golf can be pre-booked.

Nearest Town: Woking
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU22 9BA

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or eat in the one of the cafes.
Facilities: Cafe, toilets and accessible toilets in the leisure centre by the park.

How Long We Spent There: 2 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: Large pay and display car park.
Cost of Parking: Free for the first two hours. 

Wildlife You Might See: Ducks and squirrels.

Information Written: October 2016
Information Checked: October 2022

Our visit to Woking Park and Play Area in Woking is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Boats

There are boat trips from the quay, including the Mudeford Ferry, which will take you across Chichester Harbour and to the beach opposite the quay on Mudeford Sandbank and Hengistbury Head Nature Reserve.  

The ferry only takes cash and sails at various times during the year so be sure to check their website before you go. 

Crabbing

People fish for crabs from the quayside using lines and bait bags, which can be bought on the quayside.  You are asked not to use hooks.

Places to Eat

Along the quay there are a couple of places to eat and also to buy crabbing supplies.

Mudeford Quay Beach

Mudeford Quay Beach is next to the car park and is a small stretch of sandy beach that overlooks Christchurch harbour. 

This beach is a good place to launch a boat, kayak, paddle board etc or to play in the sand.  It’s not really somewhere suitable to paddle or play in the water as it is muddy.

Avon Beach

Avon Beach starts next to the car park, where it is a mixture of sand and shingle. Further along the beach it becomes sandier.  

There is a track running alongside the beach that you can use to find the Avon Beach facilities, which include a shop, cafe and toilets.  

Mudeford Quay Play Area

Next to the quay and car park is Mudeford Quay Play Area, a small adventure play area dominated by a huge ship to plunder. 

The play equipment includes:

• a swing
• a toddler swing 
• a wooden ship climbing frame with a slide, nets, a rope bridge and a climbing wall
• a spinning cup
• a seesaw 
• a roundabout 
• two wooden springers 
• a little zip wire 
• a sand play area with chutes
• seats and 
• a picnic table.

Nearest Town: Christchurch, near Bournemouth
County: Dorset
Nearest Postcode: BH23 4AB

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or try one of the cafes. 
Facilities: Ice creams, snacks, cafe, picnic table, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: Full day.
Buggies: Buggy friendly.

Parking: Large pay and display car park
Cost of Parking: From £1.70 per hour.

Wildlife You Might See: Seabirds, crabs and other sealife.

Information Written: July 2022

Our visit to Mudeford Quay in Christchurch is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Manor Park Play Area

This wonderfully imaginative play area is for children under the age of 12 years.

It has play equipment including:

• swings
• a basket swings
• tigers to ride
• crocodiles to walk on
• a jeep springer
• animal springers
• logs and bridges

• wooden teepees
• small hills
• games boards
• wooden huts with nets, a tunnel and a telescope for younger children
• toddler swings that go around in a circle and
• a large multiplay with nets, a slide and a tube slide.

We had an exciting time here but all missed the traditional-style toddler swings.

Manor Park

The play area is on the edge of a park that has large fields,

a pond with ducks,

a skate park

and a fallen tree trunk to climb on.

The Sports Areas

There is also a multi-gym and tennis and basketball courts that are free to use and do not need to be booked.

Nearest Town: Aldershot
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: GU12 4JT

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic.
Facilities: Toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 1.5 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: No car park but to date we have always been able to park on Church Hill (GU12 4JT), which is the road next to the play area.
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Butterflies, ducks and water birds.

Information Written: June 2017
Information Checked: January 2022

Our visit to Manor Park and Play Area in Aldershot is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII

The story of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn is brought to life by costumed Tudor characters, panelled rooms, 

banquet halls and even a potential candidate for Henry VIII’s bed chamber.

The Grounds

The grounds boast several formal gardens, statues,

waterfalls, a lake 

and bushes shaped like chess pieces and animals. 

The Ducks

There are also plenty of marauding ducks to feed.

Two Mazes

There are two mazes to pit your wits against – a hedge maze and a water maze.

The Hedge Maze

The hedge maze is lots of fun and took us about ten minutes of wandering around to solve.

The Water Maze

The water maze is ingenious. 

Your task is to reach the centre whilst dodging the jets of water that suddenly erupt if you step on the wrong stone.

The Adventure Play Area

The fantastic Hever Castle Adventure Play Area centres around a castle called Tudor Towers. 

It has tube slides, turrets, bridges and poles. 

It also has a secret passage, maze and musical instruments.

The castle is surrounded by more play equipment, including slides, swings, tunnels and an obstacle course. 

Nearest Town: Hever, near Tonbridge
County: Kent
Nearest Postcode: TN8 7NG

Adult Cost Range: Various 
Child Cost Range: Various
Free if: Under 5 years or entry to the gardens can be free with RHS membership at set times.

Opens: Daily from March to December.

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or eat at the cafe.
Facilities: Picnic area, cafe, snacks, barbecues, toilets and accessible toilets. 

How Long We Spent There: 4 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: The castle is a short walk from the car park, which has lots of spaces.
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Ducks and swans.

Information Written: May 2016
Information Checked: September 2021

Our visit to Hever Castle in Hever, near Tonbridge, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Pirbright Green and Play Area

This play area has:

• swings
• toddler swings
• a long slide
• a roundabout
• a rocking horse
• a climbing frame
• a seesaw
• a short obstacle course 
• seats.

There is also a basketball court, football pitches and a cricket pitch

and a picnic table.

Nearest Town: Pirbright, near Woking
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU24 0JE

Opens: Daily

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or eat at one of the two pubs by the green.
Facilities: None

How Long We Spent There: 1 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: There are two car parks next to the play area. 
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Ducks, swans and geese.

Information Written: April 2016
Information Checked: June 2021

Our visit to Pirbright Green and Play Area in Pirbright near Woking is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

The Pirate Ship Play Area

To the right of the car park is a pirate ship in a sand pit, complete with a pulley and chute system, an anchor, and a ship’s wheel. There are also:

• swings
• toddler swings
• a long slide with easy to climb steps
• a wooden climbing frame
• a log balance course
• a spinning disc
• a tyre swing
• a rope climbing frame
• spinning swings
• child-sized picnic tables.

The Second Play Area

A short walk to the left of the car park, is a second play area with equipment that includes:

• a multiplay with ropes, a small climbing wall and easy to climb steps
• springers
• a seesaw
• a spinning disc
• a basket swing 
• a rope climbing frame 
• a climbing wall
• a DJ controller where you can mix music 
• a sensory garden.

Mill Pond

Next to the Pirate Play Area is a small area of woodland, a pond you can walk around, and ducks to feed. 

Sports Facilities

There is also a range of sports facilities, including:

• a Blue Bac Ball, which is a game where you compete against another player

• multi-use games area with a basketball net and football goal

• an Olympic Legacy wall that you can take a time trial challenge on. This wall is an obstacle course with things like a climbing wall, monkey bars, and a trapeze

• a skate park.

The Cafe

By the pond is a cafe that serves drinks, snacks and ice creams. McDonalds is also next door.

Nearest Town: Bracknell
County: Berkshire
Nearest Postcode: RG12 7WT

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic. There is also a cafe and a McDonalds next to the play area. 
Facilities: Cafe, snacks, ice creams, picnic area, toilets, accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 2 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: There is a car park next to the pirate ship play area.
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Ducks, swans, geese, insects and squirrels.

Information Written: November 2016
Information Checked: October 2020

Our visit to Mill Park and Mill Pond Play Area in Bracknell is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

The Playbarn

This is the indoor soft play area and it’s dominated by a three storey play frame with hidden areas, nooks and crannies, bridges, ropes and slides, as well as a ball pit with cannons and air jets. Hidden underneath is a football area and an interactive games mat. 

At the centre of the play frame is a huge three lane, wavy slide. It’s fast, fun and furious and adults can join in too – exhilarating stuff!

In the back corner is a small area for children under 4 years that has a slide, rocking animals and a sensory area with bubbling tubes. 

Around the outside of the play frame are tables for adults and a cafe where you can buy drinks, snacks and food.

The Mini Farm

The farm area is small but there are plenty of animals to see and feed, including alpacas, chickens and pigs.

If your children like collecting stamps then be sure to pick up an Animal Passport at the Information Desk before you go outside.

The Outdoor Play Areas

There are lots of activities to explore outside:

role play construction and digging

play with sand and water pumps

a farm-themed play area  

drive on sheep 

a fairy tale play area with swings and several slides

panning for gold

pedal bikes and cars.

There are also trampoline-style jumping pillows, a musical instrument area, remote controlled boats, coin operated rides, a wooden obstacle course, a very short safari train ride, a cow to pretend milk, a reptile house and a fairy door trail that leads around the lake. 

As you can probably imagine, Jake’s Playworld can be extremely busy during the holidays, especially on rainy days, but is much quieter during term time. The condition of the equipment varies from new to a little tired. 

Nearest Town: Sandhurst, near Crowthorne
County: Berkshire
Nearest Postcode: GU47 8JQ

Adult Cost Range: £1 to £9.99
Child Cost Range: £1 to £14.99
Free if: Under 1 and just visiting the farm.

Opens: Daily

Where to Eat: Cafe and an outdoor picnic area. 
Facilities: Cafe, shop, ice creams, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 3.5 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: Large car park
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Alpacas, sheep, ducks, geese, goats, pigs, ponies, rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, chickens, peacocks and lizards. 

Information Written: March 2020

Our visit to Jake’s Playworld, Indoor Playbarn and Mini Farm in Sandhurst, near Crowthorne, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.