West Wittering Beach

West Wittering is an easy beach to visit with children. 

There is a very large car park next to the beach.  There are also a cafe, toilets and accessible toilets.

It can be very busy during warm summer days, with traffic blocking the roads to the beaches. 

East Head

At the very end of the car park is East Head, a wild spit of land managed by the National Trust with shingle and sand beaches, dunes and salt marshes.  

If you are very lucky, you may even spot a seal.

Nearest Town: West Wittering, Near Chichester
County: West Sussex
Nearest Postcode: PO20 8AJ

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or eat at the one of the cafes. 
Facilities: Cafe, snacks, ice cream, picnic area, toilets, and accessible toilets. 

How Long We Spent There: All day
Buggies: Usual beach issues – some paths are uneven and others are sandy. 

Parking: There is a large paid for car park by the beach.
Cost of Parking: Varies with the time of year.  If you book in advance you receive a discount.

Wildlife You Might See: Sea life and seabirds

Information Written: May 2016
Information Checked: August 2023

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

Lepe Country Park

If you need an energy busting day then plan on paddling, sand castles and fossil finding before the tide comes in and then fairy door hunts, adventure play and a nature walk.

Or if you just want somewhere to relax, just sit back and enjoy the view.

Meadows

Alternatively, walk towards the east end of the beach past wild flower meadows on one side and the sea on the other.

This is a buggy friendly route that leads you to the beach, Lepe Point and Stansore Point, where the path becomes much sandier.

Lepe Point Nature Reserve

Lepe Point Nature Reserve, is a protected area of woodland and meadows with a boardwalk, pond and bird hide.

Stansore Point

Stansore Point is a good place to sit and enjoy the view, whether you want to watch huge ships cruise The Solent or gaze across at the Isle of Wight.

D-Day Remnants

There are D-Day remnants near Stansore Point, including pier heads, construction platforms and slip ways.

You can see pictures and find further details on the New Forest Remembers website.

Fossil Finding

At Stansore Point it is also possible to find fossils of shells, plants and mammal bones, including mammoth bones. I understand it is best to look when the tide is out and to bring wellies in case the clay is exposed.

Have a look at the UK Fossil Collecting website for full details.

You can also have a look at the western end of the beach where you can find fossil shells and corals. 

Dinosaur Footprint

Inside the Visitor Centre is a dinosaur footprint, which was found at Lepe. It is on the floor on the right of the desk by the window.

Fairy Door Trails

There are two trails to choose from – one through the Sensory Garden and another across the wild flower meadows and cliffs. 

The doors are marked on a map and are each in a different type of tree with a little explanation about the kind of fairy living inside. 

Lepe Beach

There is a family beach area, which is a very short walk from the car park. 

Further down the beach, low tide reveals a spit of land where we found crabs amongst the rocks, dug holes to catch the sea, built up huge sand castles and found interesting stones, including one of the bone shaped ‘fossils’ mentioned above.

Lepe Country Park Adventure Play Area

The Lepe Country Park Play Area is a wooden adventure play area with equipment that includes:

• a swing
• a toddler swing
• a basket swing
• insect shaped springers
• a seesaw
• play houses
• a double slide with easy to climb stairs
• an obstacle course with logs, stumps, ropes and nets
• a wooden climbing frame
• a snake balance trail
• picnic tables
• seats.

Nearest Town: Exbury, New Forest
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: SO45 1AD

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Try the cafe or bring a picnic.
Facilities: Cafe, picnic area, snacks, ice creams, barbecues, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 4 hours
Buggies: There are some pathways that are buggy friendly along the seafront.  The beach itself can be hard to push a buggy along because it is divided by wooden posts, many of which have rotted to near sand level and are splintered in places.

Parking: There are two pay and display car parks – one next to the play area and fairy trails and another next to the beach, Visitor Centre and cafe. These are connected by stairs that lead down to the beach but we drove between the two because we were using a buggy. We parked easily in both but it must be very busy at peak times.
Cost of Parking: For April to September start at £2.50 for one hour and an all day ticket costs £9.50.

Wildlife You Might See: Seaside wildlife, seabirds and other birds, butterflies and other insects.

Information Written: September 2017
Information Checked: May 2023

Our visit to Lepe Country Park in Exbury in the New Forest is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Bracklesham Bay

Bracklesham Bay is a beach a little to the East of the better known West Wittering beach.

Finding Fossils

Fossils can be found all over the beach. The best time to start to look for fossils is from about an hour before low tide when the sea starts to roll back, revealing the sand. 

There are lots of different types of fossils you could discover, including shells, shark teeth and ray teeth.

No Equipment Needed!

You don’t need any special equipment to find these fossils. It is a good idea to bring some towels, containers, and kitchen roll to keep them safe. 

Other Things to Look For

As well as fossils, you can find bits of driftwood, seaweed, shells, crabs, and hermit crabs.

The Beach

We always round our trips off with a visit to The Beach, a relaxed, child-friendly beach restaurant and cafe. 

Watch the Sunset

Billy’s has recently been named as one of the top 25 places in the world to watch the sunset – listed with places like Florida, Bora Bora, and Mexico!

Access to the Beach

The car park is next to the beach so access is generally easy but it can be difficult with a buggy because you have to climb down a steep, stoney slope. 

Access is easier from the slipway next to Billy’s.

The Tides

Be sure to check the tide times before you visit. The beach is a sandy expanse (with shingle) when the tide is out

but the sand disappears quickly as the tide comes in. 

Nearest Town: Bracklesham Bay, near Chichester
County: West Sussex
Nearest Postcode: PO20 8JH

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or eat at Billy’s on the Beach. 
Facilities: Picnic tables, cafe, snacks, ice creams, toilets, accessible toilets. 

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

Parking: There is a pay and display car park. It can be very busy on warm days.
Cost of Parking: Various

Wildlife You Might See: Sea creatures and seabirds.

Information Written: January 2017
Information Checked: February 2023

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

Dinosaur Island 

Welcome to Dinosaur Island, a dinosaur-themed adventure play area at Southwater Country Park.

Follow the Footprints

When you arrive, a trail of dinosaur footprints lead you on a five to ten minute walk to Dinosaur Island, where adventure awaits…

Southwater CP Adventure Play Area

The adventure play area is jam-packed with equipment, including:

• basket swings
• toddler swings
• tyre swings
• wooden climbing frames with balance courses and slides
• a long slide with a choice of easy to climb stairs or a cargo net walkway
• baskets suspended in a rope climbing frame
• aerial walkways

• musical walls
• a zip wire
• bridges
• a roundabout
• a seesaw
• a springer
• a spider web climbing frame and
• a sand play area with buckets, pulleys and dinosaur bones to excavate.

Southwater Country Park 

As well as Dinosaur Island, Southwater Country Park has an orienteering course, a lake, a nature area, 

a beach with a swimming area and a water sports centre where you can kayak, canoe, sail and paddle board.

Nearest Town: Horsham, near Crawley
County: West Sussex
Nearest Postcode: RH13 9UN

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: At the cafe or bring a picnic.
Facilities: None

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

Parking: Good sized car park.
Cost of Parking: From Various depending on when you visit – please see their website for full details.

Wildlife You Might See: Ducks, swans, geese, lizards, butterflies and dragonflies.

Information Written: January 2017
Information Checked: October 2020

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

Highcliffe Beach

The views from the clifftop are spectacular. You can see along the coast for miles in both directions and out to the Isle of Wight and The Needles.

Cliffhanger Cafe

The Cliffhanger Cafe is a child-friendly cafe next to the car park. On arrival the staff gave us a highchair, a colouring book and some crayons.

Double High Waters…

At low tide, the beach is an expanse of sand and shingle. 

At high tide the beach all but disappears.

Be sure to check the tides when planning your trip – I have been caught out on a number of occasions by the unusual ‘Double High Waters’ here. 

Finding Fossils

Along the beach we noticed some lumps of clay lying on the beach that were full of small, grey shells and tubes. Some were visible on the outside of the clay and some were hidden inside. 

In about fifteen minutes we managed to collect 7 fossils. 

They were whole and quite small – most were less than 2cm long.

The Cliffs

The cliffs can be unstable so we do not look for fossils on or near the cliffs. They are also made of clay so you can get very muddy when you visit.

To Reach the Beach

The are two routes from the car park down to Highcliffe beach. 

There is a path down the cliffs, which has a sea view but is steep with some stairs. 

There is an easier route that can be accessed through a green gate on Waterford Road (by Cliffhanger Cafe) at the entrance to the car park. It doesn’t have any stairs and has a smooth and less steep surface (at the bottom left of this photo).

Highcliffe Play Area

If you find yourself waiting for the tide to change, or just fancy a play, then have a look at the nearby Highcliffe Play Area.

Nearest Town: Highcliffe, near Christchurch and Bournemouth
County: Dorset
Nearest Postcode: BH23 5DG

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or try the Cliffhanger Cafe. 
Facilities: Ice creams, snacks, picnic tables, cafe, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: Full day.
Buggies: Buggy friendly if you use the easier route to the beach (detailed above).

Parking: Large car park
Cost of Parking: Various depending on the season.

Wildlife You Might See: Sealife and seabirds.

Information Written: November 2016
Information Checked: July 2022

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

The Ships

One ship is a multiplay with sides to climb up, nets to tackle and a hold to hide in. 

The other is afloat on a sea of sand with buckets, pulleys and chutes to operate and hidden fossils to discover.

The Play Equipment

The play equipment is suitable for children to the age of 14 years old that includes:

• a boat multiplay with a slide and nets
• a second multiplay for younger children with a slide
• swings
• toddler swings 
• a basket swing
• a wooden climbing frame with nets
• a spinner
• a sand play area with a boat, buckets and chutes.

The Sports Facilities

There is also a trim trail, a five-a-side football pitch and a skate park.

Nearest Town: Godalming
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU7 2LG

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

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

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

Parking: No car park but we parked on the road by the park’s entrance. 
Cost of Parking: Free

Information Written: April 2017
Information Checked: July 2022

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

The Dinosaur Museum

The Dinosaur Museum brings dinosaurs to life with life-sized models

skeletons

information about the scientists who discovered dinosaurs

interactive displays

fossil excavation 

and activity sheets with a medal reward at the end.

Nearest Town: Dorchester
County: Dorset
Nearest Postcode: DT1 1EW

Opens: Daily

Adult Cost Range: £10 to £14.99
Child Cost Range: £5 to £9.99 
Free if: Under 3 years old

Where to Eat: There are lots of places to eat in Dorchester.
Facilities: Toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 1 hour
Buggies: Buggy friendly ground floor but there is a second floor at the top of a flight of stairs. 

Parking: There are several car parks in Dorchester. I have used the pay and display car park at Durngate Street (DT1 1NA), which is a few minutes walk from the Museum, and also Trinity Street (DT1 1TU), which is about a five to ten minutes walk.  
Cost of Parking: Varies.

Information Written: July 2022

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

Priest’s Way

The walk to Keates Quarry and the dinosaur footprints is an easy 3/4 of a mile along paths with sea views. 

When you leave the Spyway car park head towards the sea and then turn right onto Priest’s Way in the direction of Worth Matravers. 

Keate’s Quarry

Along Priest’s Way you walk past a working quarry that is surrounded by stacks of stone. This is limestone from the local area, which has been quarried for centuries, building places like Corfe Castle and Westminster Abbey. 

“Dinosaur Tracks” This Way

A little way after the quarry you come to a gate on the right with a picture of a dinosaur and “Dinosaur tracks” written on it.

Keates Quarry is then just a short walk across the field.

Be sure to bring wellies! It was very muddy when we visited and we had to make stepping stones to reach the gate.

Dinosaur Footprints

The fossilised dinosaur tracks are believed to have originally been made by Brachiosauruses walking on a lagoon’s beach. 

Brachiosauruses were enormous plant eating dinosaurs that could grow to 30m long. They lived 145 million years ago at a time when Dorset was a tropical area covered in swamps, lagoons and forests. 

The footprints are enormous! 

We think we spotted baby dinosaur footprints too.  

Dancing Ledge and the Cliffs

From the Spyway car park you can also walk towards the sea and cliffs and then either walk down the coastal paths or just enjoy the beautiful views. 

I understand you can also see Dancing Ledge, which is an area of cliff that has been quarried into a flat ledge and has a rock pool that was created for local school children. 

Scratched Arse Ware?

Sadly, we didn’t have time to explore the rest of Spyway and discover what Scratched Arse Ware is or see Dancing Ledge but I will update this post after our next visit.

Instead we drove for 20 minutes to Dorchester to see the Dinosaur Museum.

The Paths

When we visited, the paths ranged from smooth to muddy and bumpy. I used an all terrain buggy and think you might struggle with a normal buggy. 

Nearest Town: Swanage
County: Dorset
Nearest Postcode: BH19 3HG

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic. 
Facilities: None

How Long We Spent There: 2.5 hours
Buggies: I used an all terrain buggy without any problems, although I could not push it over the muddy fields. I think some of the paths might be too bumpy for a normal buggy.

Parking: There is medium sized car park.
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Seabirds like puffins, shags, guillemots and sea gulls, cows and insects.

Information Written: February 2020

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

The Etches Collection Museum of Jurassic Life

The brilliance of this museum is that it displays the fossils and then brings them to life in multiple ways…

drawing the animals around them to illustrate which body part the fossil came from

providing specimens you can touch

showing you the workroom where fossils are removed from rocks

using CGI to show you what the creatures could have looked millions of years ago

providing hands-on, child-friendly activities like fossil excavation, puzzles, colouring and painting

posing a Mesozoic Murder Mystery for you to solve – can you use fossils to work out who ate the plesiosaur?

Find Fossils For Yourself

It also encourages you to go down to Kimmeridge Bay beach and find fossils yourself.

Great Value

The Etches Collection is interactive, modern, fun and informative. It is also great value, as one ticket gives you free entry for a year, and compact, so there are no problems with short attention spans. 

6 Out of 5!

I asked my children how they would rate The Etches Collection and Kimmeridge Bay out of 5 and they said, “6”, which sums it up perfectly – we love coming here.

Nearest Town: Kimmeridge, near Wareham
County: Dorset
Nearest Postcode: BH20 5PE

Adult Cost Range: £5 to £9.99
Child Cost Range: £0 to £4.99
Free if: Under 5 years or with a ticket bought in the last 12 months.

Opens: Daily

Where to Eat: Cafe, picnic area and a nearby restaurant. 
Facilities: Cafe, shop, picnic area, toilets and accessible toilets.

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

Parking: There is good sized car park.
Cost of Parking: Free

Information Written: November 2019

Our visit to The Etches Collection Museum of Jurassic Marine Life in Kimmeridge Bay, near Wareham, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Rock Pooling

Low tide reveals sandy areas and rock pools where we have spotted fish, crabs and anemones. The rocks can be slippery though so take care.

Be sure to plan your visit around the tides. At high tide there is hardly any beach and it would be easy to become cut off. 

The Purbeck Marine Wildlife Reserve and Snorkel Trail

The sea around Kimmeridge Bay is protected as the Purbeck Marine Wildlife Reserve. There is a 400m long snorkelling nature trail around the marine reserve that has good visibility. 

For details, drop into the Fine Foundation Marine Centre, which is run by the Dorset Wildlife Trust, and has exhibits with information on the bay’s wildlife as well as equipment to hire.

Fossil Hunting

It is easy to find fossils at Kimmeridge Bay. 

This photo shows one of two large fossilised ammonite shells that are visible as you walk along the beach. To find these, turn left at the bottom of the stairs that lead down from the car park and keep your eyes peeled. 

It is also possible to find fossils on or inside rocks lying on the beach (but note that you are not allowed to use hammers). 

If you are very lucky you may even find bones from marine reptiles.  

The Etches Collection Museum of Jurassic Marine Life 

The Etches Collection is a brilliant museum that displays and brings to life the fossils you find at Kimmeridge Bay. It is interactive, modern, fun and informative and a must visit if you are going fossil hunting. 

The museum is about a five minute drive from the beach. We visit  during high tide, whether that is before or after we go to the beach.

Accessibility

The beach is accessed by a steep flight of stairs. The beach itself is fairly flat but the rocks can be slippery when wet. 

There are warning signs that the cliffs are dangerous and can be unstable, so we never go near the cliffs.

Nearest Town: Kimmeridge, near Wareham
County: Dorset
Nearest Postcode: BH20 5PF

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic. 
Facilities: Portaloo toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 1 hour
Buggies: The beach is accessed by a steep flight of stairs that are hard to take a buggy down.

Parking: There is good sized car park.
Cost of Parking: Free but there is a toll road that operates in high season. 

Information Written: October 2019

Our visit to Kimmeridge Bay and The Etches Collection Museum of Jurassic Marine Life in Kimmeridge, near Wareham, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Splashing and Paddling

Latchmoor Brook is a peaceful place to combine a picnic and a paddle to cool off during the summer. 

During the winter or wet months it can be muddy and I understand the mud could be dangerous. 

Fossil Hunting

You can find fossils along the stream at any point from the path to the woods. You are most likely to find fossilised shells but, if you are very lucky, you may find fish remains and shark teeth. 

Please note that you need permission to collect specimens and are not allowed to dig here.

The Mud

It was muddy when we visited and we could not walk far along the brook. I understand the mud can become dangerous so be sure to only visit during dry times of the year. 

To Find Latchmoor Brook

Follow the path from Telegraph Hill car park that leads to the left. You walk past gorse bushes and go down a slight hill. At the bottom of the hill you come to a boggy area and a small stream, which is Latchmoor Brook. 

We crossed the brook and turned right to walk along it. The brook is initially shallow but quickly cuts into the clay, developing steep banks, before disappearing into the forest. 

Nearest Town: Fordingbridge, New Forest
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: SP6 2QY

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

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

How Long We Spent There: 2 hours
Buggies: I managed with an all terrain buggy. The paths are grassy, uneven and boggy in places and there is no path along the brook itself. 

Parking: There is a small car park called Telegraph Hill car park.
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Ponies and insects.

Information Written: March 2019

Our visit to Lacthmoor Brook, near Fordingbridge in the New Forest, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Sand Lizards

If you are lucky you might spot a sand lizard in the sand dunes or fossils in the stones.

Fossils

Fossils can either be found in the pebbles on the beach or in the chalk and flint pebbles exposed at low tide. Many of the larger pebbles, and most complete fossils, can be found at the end of the beach nearest the car park – no long walks required!

We found this fossil, which we think is a flint cast of the inside of an ancient sea urchin (but would be happy to hear otherwise). It is about 2 inches in diameter and has clear markings. The children were delighted. 

Beachcombing

It is not surprising that Littlehampton West Beach is a protected Nature Reserve. We found all sorts of treasures from sharks’ egg cases to cuttlebones.

We even saw a little egret wading in the shallows.

Littlehampton Fort

After leaving we discovered that behind the car park is Littlehampton Fort, which is over 150 years old and was built to protect the entrance to the River Arun from attack.

West Beach Cafe

Next to the car park are public toilets and West Beach Cafe, which serves refreshments and also has breakfast, lunch and dinner menus. From here you can see the River Arun and the contrasting Littlehampton East Beach, with its theme park, promenade and amusements.

Access

The beach is only a short walk from the car park but to reach the sea you have to climb down a steep, stoney slope. 

Nearest Town: Littlehampton
County: West Sussex
Nearest Postcode: BN17 5DL

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or try the West Beach Cafe. 
Facilities: Ice creams, snacks, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: We spent about five hours at West Beach.
Buggies: There is a steep slope down to the sea but I used an all terrain buggy without any issues.

Parking: Good-sized car park
Cost of Parking: From £0.60 in the winter and £1.50 in the summer.

Wildlife You Might See: Sea life, seabirds and sand lizards.

Information Written: June 2017

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

Bognor Regis West Beach

These rocks are at the western end of the beach, near the beach huts. They are visible at low tide. We had read that these rocks are full of fossils and that under the right conditions, the sea also sweeps away the sand to reveal fossil-filled clay underneath.

The Fossils

Unfortunately, when we visited sand was covering the clay and we did not find any loose fossils. We saw a few tiny fossils (1 or 2mm wide) that were embedded in the hard rocks.

Sandcastles and Swimming

 At low tide, West Beach is a great place to build a sandcastle but we suspect that the submerged rocks could make paddling and swimming difficult. 

Access to the Beach

The land is protected by stones so bring a buggy that can cope.

Nearest Town: Bognor Regis
County: West Sussex
Nearest Postcode: PO21 2FZ

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic and a blanket, cafe and refreshment stands.
Facilities: Cafes, ice cream, toilets near the pier. 

How Long We Spent There: 1 hour
Buggies: You need to bring a buggy that can handle the stony slope and sand. 

Parking: There are parking spaces on the road by the beach.
Cost of Parking: Free when we visited (the machines were covered so we could not see when charges apply).

Wildlife You Might See: Sealife and seabirds.

Information Written: January 2017

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

Crystal Palace Dinosaur Play Area

The play equipment includes:

• a sand pit with a dinosaur egg to climb in and dinosaur bones to climb on
• two dinosaurs to climb on
• a dinosaur multiplay unit
• toddler swings
• swings
• a roundabout
• two slides
• a balance beam. 

The Dinosaurs

We found the rest of the statues on the other side of the lake. They were fascinating – huge, charismatic, and exciting. For full details please see Crystal Palace Park.

Everything Else!

There is also a maze, a gorilla statue, a small wooded area, a large sports centre, terraced gardens with statues of sphinxes, boat hire, a cafe, and a small farm with free entry. The boat hire and farm are not open every day so please check the website for details.

Nearest Town: Crystal Palace, near Bromley, London
County: Greater London
Nearest Postcode: SE20 8DT

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Eat at the cafe or bring a picnic.
Facilities: Cafe, snacks, ice cream, picnic area, toilets, accessible toilets. 

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

Parking: There are several different car parks to choose from. We parked easily and for free on Thicket Road (SE20 8DT). You can also try the Crystal Palace Park car park, which is located just off Thicket Road near the junction with the A234.  There were some spaces but not many. There is another larger car park at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre (SE19 2BB).  All of these car parks are free.
Cost of Parking: Free and there is free parking on nearby roads too.

Wildlife You Might See: Ducks, swans, geese, Indian runner ducks, parakeets and squirrels.

Information Written: January 2017

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

The Dinosaurs

We found the rest of the statues on the other side of the lake. They were fascinating – huge, charismatic, and exciting.

Iguanodons ate ferns, deer towered above us, ichthyosaurs hauled themselves out of the water, and one particular plesiosaur stared menacingly at us across the lake as if sizing up a potential meal. 

Research Before You Visit

The condition of the statues varies – some have been restored, others are crumbling or in the middle of being restored. 

There wasn’t much information available so do some online research before you go if you are interested in dinosaurs or the history of the statues.

Guess Work

Don’t expect to see statues that show scientifically accurate dinosaurs. The statues were finished in 1854 and were the Victorians’ best guess of how dinosaurs would have looked. 

Some are very inaccurate – the Iguanadon’s nose horn should actually be its thumb! We found the inaccuracy added to the fun – this is not a place that takes itself too seriously.

Crystal Palace Park

As well as crawling with dinosaurs, Crystal Palace Park also has a maze, a gorilla statue, a small wooded area, a large sports centre, terraced gardens with statues of sphinxes, boat hire, a cafe, and a small farm with free entry. 

The boat hire and farm are not open every day so please check the website for details.

The Wildlife

We were amazed by how much there is to do in the park. We saw plenty of wildlife – ducks, geese, a grey heron, lots of parakeets as well as some of the boldest squirrels we have ever encountered.

Crystal Palace Dinosaur Play Area

The play equipment includes:

• a sand pit with a dinosaur egg to climb in and dinosaur bones to climb on
• two dinosaurs to climb on
• a dinosaur multiplay unit
• toddler swings
• swings
• a roundabout
• two slides
• a balance beam. 

Nearest Town: Crystal Palace, London
County: Greater London
Nearest Postcode: SE20 8DT

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Eat at the cafe or bring a picnic.
Facilities: Cafe, snacks, ice cream, picnic area, toilets, accessible toilets. 

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

Parking: There are several different car parks to choose from. We parked easily and for free on Thicket Road (SE20 8DT). You can also try the Crystal Palace Park car park, which is located just off Thicket Road near the junction with the A234.  There were some spaces but not many. There is another larger car park at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre (SE19 2BB).  All of these car parks are free.
Cost of Parking: Free and there is free parking on nearby roads too.

Wildlife You Might See: Ducks, swans, geese, Indian runner ducks, parakeets and squirrels.

Information Written: January 2017

Our visit to Crystal Palace Park in Bromley, London, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Dippy the Diplodocus

I’ve always loved the Natural History Museum and couldn’t wait to take my children there. I had a specific mission – to show my children Dippy the Diplodocus skeleton before it leaves on 4th January 2017.

The children were amazed by Dippy’s size. They were young so the concept of a skeleton was a little abstract for them but they recognised it as being a dinosaur. 

I wrote this in January 2017. Dippy has now left the Natural History Museum and has been replaced by the skeleton of a blue whale. 

The T-Rex

Next stop was the Dinosaur Gallery. Its first exhibit gives you the chance to get up close and personal with a life-size T-Rex that roars and eyes the crowd.

The Dinosaur Gallery

The Dinosaur Gallery is displayed on two levels. There are several dinosaur skeletons suspended from the ceiling that are viewed from a suspended walkway. 

There are also specimens on the floor, including a Diplodocus skull, dinosaur and alligator skin comparisons, hatching dinosaur eggs and a Triceratops skeleton.

The Mammals Gallery

There was so much to see in the Mammals Gallery.

We retreated to the blue whale room and were relieved to find it less crowded and the blue whale itself as mind-blowingly massive as I remembered. 

The Marine Invertebrate Room

The last room we had planned to see was the Marine Invertebrate room. Sadly, it was closed for a puppet show so we decided to call it a day and go for some lunch in a local cafe.

So, So Busy

Choose the timing of your trip carefully. I visited during a peak time and the museum was so busy that the children struggled to see many of the exhibits.

Using a Buggy

I used a buggy but it was difficult – many walkways were narrow, the lift in the blue whale room was not in use and manoeuvring was hard because the rooms were so full of people. 

Next time I will leave all our stuff in the cloakroom.

Useful to Know

1. The museum can be really busy

Google suggests that the museum’s busiest times are school holidays, weekends and Fridays from about 12 noon until about 4pm.

2. Entry queues can build up

When we drove past at 10am the museum had just opened and there was an enormous queue but by 10.50am it was down to about five minutes. When we left the museum at 1pm there was no queue at all but when we drove past at 2pm an enormous queue had built up again.

3. Step-Free Access

The front entrance (Cromwell Road) into the Museum has steps but no ramp. The Exhibition Road entrance has step free access.

4. The Cloakroom

Children under 3 can leave items in the cloakroom for free. Buggies can be left but need to be folded.

5. Check Before You Go

You can check the museum’s website to make sure that all the galleries you want to see are open on the day you plan to visit.

The Natural History Museum at Tring

If you are interested in animal specimens then consider the Natural History Museum at Tring but note that there are no dinosaurs there.

Nearest Town: South Kensington, London
County: London
Nearest Postcode: SW7 5BD

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Cafe, picnic area and nearby restaurants and pubs. 
Facilities: Cafe, snacks, ice creams, shop, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 1 hour
Buggies: Buggy friendly in theory but difficult when it is busy.

Parking: The museum does not have a car park and but there are NCP car parks in the area, some of which can be booked online.
Cost of Parking: Varies and can be expensive.

Information Written: January 2017

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