Ninja Warrior UK

Based on the TV series, the park has several sections – an inflatable course 

Mount Sasuke

and the obstacle course, which ends with The Wall.  

Can You Beat the Wall?

The Wall is just like at the end of the TV course – you have to run up it as far as you can and then pull yourself up the rest of the way. 

We have always found the staff friendly and ready to offer technique tips so everyone has a good chance of making it to the top. 

Mini Ninja Soft Play

These are also sessions run away from the main area for children aged 0 to 3 plus an adult.  

Nearest Town: Guildford
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU1 1DQ

Opens: Daily

Adult Cost: Various – depending on the session you choose. 
Child Cost: Various – depending on the session you choose. 
Free if: You aren’t taking part. 

Where to Eat: Eat at the cafe. 
Facilities: Cafe, snacks, ice creams, toilets, accessible toilets.

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

Parking: There is a car park but it can be busy.
Cost of Parking: Free

Information Written: August 2023
Information Checked: May 2024

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

Two Museums 

The history of Andover and the surrounding area is told across two museums under one roof – Andover Museum and Musuem of the Iron Age. 

Andover Museum 

Andover Museum lays out the history of Andover in exhibits, including recreations of a Stone Age lady, 

the Andover workhouse

and a creepy cupboard… 

Boo! 

It also has a children’s activity room and a trail around the museum. 

Witch Bottles

These are bottles full of urine, hair, pins and salt that in the 17th century were believed to ward of witches and their spells. 

The Cockatrice

Believed to roam around the picture perfect village of Wherwell, 

the cockatrice was a fearsome creature with the body of a rooster, the tail of a lizard and the wings of a bat. 

You can see it on the old weather vane from Wherwell Church.  

Museum of the Iron Age 

Musuem of the Iron Age brings to life the story of Danebury Hill Fort with exhibits that include a roundhouse you can visit and Iron Age artefacts you can hold.

and other exhibits. 

Danebury Hill Fort 

About 2,500 years ago, Danebury Hill Fort was a series of earthen ramparts, ditches and gateways protecting a central area. 

It is believed that during the Iron Age, about 300 to 400 people lived at Danebury Hill Fort, along with grain stores, livestock, temples and shrines. 

Danebury Hill Fort is about a 15 minute drive from the musuem. 

Nearest Town: Andover
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: SP10 1DP

Adult Cost Range: £1 to £4.99
Child Cost Range: £1 to £4.99
Free if: Under 5 years

Opens: Wednesday to Sunday

Where to Eat: Cafe.
Facilities: Ice creams, snacks, shops, toilets.

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

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

Information Written: June 2022

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

Beaulieu National Motor Museum 

At the heart of Beaulieu is the National Motor Museum, which as you’d expect is packed full of cars 

and some motorbikes.

But mainly there are cars –

old cars 

new cars 

record breaking cars 

and famous cars like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 

Mr Bean’s mini 

and Del Boy’s three wheeler. 

There’s even a car shaped like an orange!

The Monorail 

Beaulieu is also home to the oldest monorail in England, 

which glides above the attractions 

and through the museum building!

Open-Topped Bus

This dates from 1912 and drives you gently around the grounds. 

Ride in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

At certain times of the year you can book a ride in a replica Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and also in Mr Toad’s car from the film The Wind in the Willows. 

Have a look at the Beaulieu website for full details. 

World of Top Gear 

There’s also an exhibition of the cars created on ‘Top Gear’.  

Little Beaulieu Adventure Play Area

Probably our favourite part of the visit was Little Beaulieu, the adventure play area, 

which is a labyrinth of secret passages and bridges, 

slides, and walkways. 

The Grounds and Cafe

On top of all that, there are gardens to explore

with Alice in Wonderland shaped bushes 

and a cafe.

Nearest Town: Hythe, near Southampton
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: SO42 7ZN

Adult Cost Range: Various – please see their website for details. 
Child Cost Range: Various – please see their website for details. 
Free if: Under 5 years

Opens: Daily

Where to Eat: Cafe and picnic areas.
Facilities: Ice creams, snacks, cafe, shop, picnic areas, toilets and accessible toilets.

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

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

Information Written: January 2023

Our visit to Beaulieu National Motor Museum in the New Forest is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

The Tea Rooms

The tea rooms have indoor and outdoor seating areas and serve a range of homemade foods that you can enjoy surrounded by memorabilia.

The Pooh’seum

Also inside is a museum dedicated to all things Winnie-the-Pooh, including information on A.A. Milne

signed books 

and lots of photos.  

There are also plenty of toys on display!

Ashdown Forest

Ashdown Forest is the magical heath and woodland that inspired A.A. Milne to write two books about the adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh and friends. 

The Pooh Corner staff gave us advice on where to visit and a little Expotition map for the children.

You can find the houses of Pooh, Piglet and Owl

play Poohsticks on the bridge 

or walk to the real life locations for the Winnie-the-Pooh stories. 

Hartfield Town Croft Playground

Near to Pooh Corner is the Poohscape Play Area, a small, sandy play area with equipment that includes swings, a slide, a climbing frame, a wooden train and picnic tables. 

Nearest Town: Hartfield, Ashdown Forest, near East Grinstead
County: East Sussex
Nearest Postcode: TN7 4AE

Opens: Daily
Cost: The Pooh’seum is free to enter. The tea rooms charge for food and drink orders.  

Where to Eat: Eat at Pooh Corner or bring a picnic and eat at the nearby play area.
Facilities: Tea rooms offering food, snacks, ice cream, a shop and toilets. 

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

Parking: No car park but there is free parking along the road outside. 
Cost of Parking: Free

Information Written: September 2022

Our visit to Pooh Corner and the Poohscape Play Area in Hartfield, Ashdown Forest, near East Grinstead, 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.

Samuel Franklin Cody

Samuel Franklin Cody is an exiting and charismatic local character who the museum, and its wonderfully enthusiastic volunteers, have worked hard to bring to life. 

Cody was born in the USA and became a famous Wild West showman. Later in life he became interested in kites and aviation. 

The Cody Flyer 

In 1908, Cody flew British Army Aeroplane No.1A, or The Cody Flyer, over Farnborough for 27 seconds and became the first person to fly a heavier-than-air machine in Britain. This historic moment marked the beginning of a new era for British aviation. 

The Cody Flyer Replica

Volunteers have built an impressive and full-size replica of The Cody Flyer. You can try flying it yourself in a flight simulator.

*The Wind Tunnels at Farnborough

These wind tunnels were used for research from the 1930s until the 1990s. Today these are listed buildings that you can see on a private tour, which includes visiting a tunnel that is 24 feet wide and also the Sea Plane Tank. 

I haven’t taken this tour yet but hope to over the summer. For further information on the Wind Tunnels, please visit the Wind Tunnels section of the Farnbrough Air Sciences Trust Museum website. 

Farnborough Airport

The museum is next to Farnborough Airport so you might also see aeroplanes flying over you. 

Nearest Town: Farnborough
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: GU14 6TF

Opens: Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays.
Cost: Free and donations are welcome.

Where to Eat: There is a coffee shop.
Facilities: Coffee shop, snacks, drinks, toilets, accessible toilets.

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

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

Information Written: June 2022

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

Discover Children’s Story Centre

…there is a Lollipopter to pilot,

an alligator waterfall to cross,

a spoon forest to add to,

a Hovering Observatory to fly through the clouds

and Hootah’s spaceship to explore in the Discover Children’s Story Centre Story Garden. 

Your Challenge!

Can you explore these worlds and write Hootah a story…

…he can post home to wake up his fellow Squigglydigglians!? 

The Temporary Exhibitions

There are also regular immersive exhibitions, often guided by a storyteller.

We have sleuthed our way around Rob Biddulph’s 100 Story Hotel,

had supper with Judith Kerr’s The Tiger Who Came to Tea,

and explored the world of Mog the Forgetful Cat. 

Where to Eat

There is a cafe upstairs that serves food and drinks. There is also a picnic area in the garden. You can also bring your own food to the Story Centre.

The Outdoor Adventure Play Area

We love the imaginative Discover Children’s Story Centre Adventure Play Area. 

The equipment and layout fires the imagination and is a natural extension of the Story Worlds. 

There are things like a space ship, a house that walks, two slides, musical equipment and a mud kitchen.

Nearest Town: Stratford
County: London
Nearest Postcode: E15 4QZ

Adult Cost Range: Various – please see their website for details. 
Child Cost Range: Various – please see their website for details. 
Free if: Under 1

Opens: Daily

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic and eat at the picnic tables, try the cafe or try a cafe on the High Street.
Facilities: A shop, cafe, ice creams, picnic area, toilets and accessible toilets.

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

Parking: There are car parks around Stratford but the Story Centre does not have one of its own.
Cost of Parking: Various depending on where you park.

Information Written: June 2022

Our visit to Discover Children’s Story Centre in Stratford is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

The Zones

The Discovery Centre is divided into five zones, each looking at a different area of science, nature and engineering.

Build It!

In this zone, children can dress up in hi vis jackets and hard hats and then use dumper trucks, wheelbarrows, chutes and pulleys to construct a house from bricks and lay a roof with slates.

Woodland and Water

This area includes an indoor stream with boats, waterfalls and dams and musical pipes to play. 

Be sure to bring a change of clothes if you are going to play with the stream, my children get very wet!

Note that the Build It! and Woodland and Water Zones are inside the centre but somehow open to the air outside. They can both be cold so be sure to bring warm clothing in the winter.

Body and Perception

The centre piece of this zone is a huge magnetic board with moveable pipes and chutes you can arrange to form a ball run.  When the ball reaches the end it is blown back to the start!

There are also activities like the mysterious treasure chest and an electronic table with games to play and a test your reactions machine!

Insect Enclosure

There are different animals to see, including a snake, stick insects, cockroaches, toads and leaf cutter ants – one of my favourites!

Forces and Movement

Here you can launch a hot air balloon and a rocket, play in a sand video game, investigate space, play a huge piano with your feet, build a bridge, or shop in the mini-supermarket.

Light and Colour

Last but certainly not least, this zone has experiments with light and the fun Optimusic, which is an interactive game you play by stepping into light beams.

Cafe and Kiosk

Inside the centre is a cafe that serves hot and cold food and also a gift shop. 

Outside is a kiosk that sells refreshments and lots of picnic tables.

The Look Out Adventure Play Areas

The Look Out has two of the bet adventure play areas we have come across – one for ages 3 to 6 years and another for ages 7 to 11 years. 

We love the Look Out Discovery Centre Adventure Play Areas and visit regularly.

The Swinley Forest

The Look Out centre is surrounded by the Swinley Forest, which has cycle trails and three signposted walks to try, including the Heritage Trail, which leads you to an iron age hill fort and the site of a Roman town.

Orienteering

There is also a permanent orienteering course, which you can buy from the reception desk in the Discovery Centre for £1

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

Adult Cost Range: £5 to £9.99
Child Cost Range: £5 to £9.99
Free if: Under 4

Opens: Daily

Where to Eat: Picnic tables and a cafe.
Facilities: A shop, cafe, ice creams, toilets and accessible toilets.

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

Parking: There is a large pay and display car park but this can be very busy.
Cost of Parking: From £3.10 for the first four hours.

Wildlife You Might See: Birds and insects.

Information Written: March 2017
Information Checked: January 2022

Our visit to The Look Out Discovery Centre 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.

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.

Child-Friendly Bowling

It’s very easy to make bowling child-friendly and guarantee that everyone hits some pins. Anyone unable to lift the ball can roll it down a ramp. 

You can also choose to have the buffers up for some players and down for others. These stop the ball rolling into the gutter. 

We use a combination of these for each child and often find the children score better than the adults! 

Have a look at the Hollywood Bowl FAQs for age and ability recommendations. 

Nearest Town: Basingstoke
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: RG22 6PG

Adult Cost Range: From £5 to £9.99
Child Cost Range: From £5 to £9.99
Free if: Not bowling

Opens: Daily.

Where to Eat: Diner-style cafe.
Facilities: Toilets, accessible toilets and ice-cream.

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

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

Information Written: August 2018

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

Woking Library

Woking Library is spacious, bright, colourful and packed with nooks and crannies where children can snuggle up in and disappear into their own world. 

Also on offer are a range of courses and sessions – have a look at their website for details.

Nearest Town: Woking
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU21 6EP

Opens: Daily except Sundays
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: There are cafes and restaurants near the library.
Facilities: There are accessible toilets but no public toilets.

How Long We Spent There: About an hour.
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: There are several town centre car parks.
Cost of Parking: Various depending on where you park. 

Information Written: June 2018

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

Nearest Town: Basingstoke
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: RG21 7LS

Opens: Everyday except Sunday
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: There are cafes and shops in town.
Facilities: Toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 30 minutes
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: There are several town centre car parks.
Cost of Parking: Costs vary depending on which town centre car park you use.

Information Written: March 2018

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

Pendon Musuem

Amongst our favourite models were the enormous viaduct

the beautifully detailed cottage gardens complete with vegetables and flowers

and the relaxing outside the pub.

Audio Tours 

You are guided round the musuem with an audio guide and the staff are very friendly and well informed. 

Family Trails

There are also family trails for older children and drop in modelling sessions for older children.

We found the museum family-friendly but note that it is too small to accommodate buggies.

Modelling

We were really impressed by Pendon Museum. My children left inspired to have a go at modelling themselves and, as they love trains, we do expect to return.

Didcot Railway Centre

If you are interested in trains, consider combining your visit to Pendon Museum with a trip to Didcot Railway Centre, which is about a ten minute drive. 

Nearest Town: Abingdon, near Oxford
County: Oxfordshire
Nearest Postcode: OX14 4QD

Adult Cost Range: £5 to £9.99
Child Cost Range: £5 to £9.99
Free If: Under 5

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

Where to Eat: Small cafe at the museum or the local pub.
Facilities: Toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Buggies: Cannot be accommodated.

Parking: There is a small car park and some spaces along the road to the museum.
Cost of Parking: Free

Information Written: December 2017

Our visit to Pendon Museum in Abingdon, near Oxford, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Sunninghill Library

It was easy to see why. The children’s section was bright and engaging with animal shaped chairs, 

low boxes full of picture books and bookshelves lit by ever-changing, multi-coloured lights.

This library might be small but it feels intimate and welcoming, almost like being at someone’s house, and the staff member we met was lovely and helpful.

The library is opposite St Michael’s CE Primary School and near a corner shop that sells ice creams and snacks. 

Nearest Town: Sunninghill, near Ascot
County: Berkshire
Nearest Postcode: SL5 7AA

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: There is a small corner shop near the library and some cafes on the High Street. 
Facilities: None.

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

Parking: We parked on School Road (SL5 7AA), a quiet road outside the library. There is a small car park at the end of School Road at the junction with Upper Village Road.
Cost of Parking: Free

Information Written: September 2017

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

Polka Theatre Indoor Play Area

The central foyer doubles as an indoor play area with:

• seats
• bean bags of different sizes
• rocking horses
• ride on toys
• tables with colouring materials
• a trunk full of costumes
• puppets 
• shelves full of books. 

This area is where people congregate ahead of shows so at times it is quiet and at others busy.

Polka Theatre Courtyard Play Area

The outside play area has: 

• a wooden climbing frame that looks like a baboon
• a two-storey play house
• a small pond with fish 
• a ball run
• some games boards. 

Nearest Town: Wimbledon, London
County: London
Nearest Postcode: SW19 1SB

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free to enter and play but the shows are ticketed. 

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

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

Parking: There is no car park and Polka Theatre’s website recommends public transport or if necessary, parking on the surrounding roads. Most of these roads are permit only from Monday to Saturday during the day but there are some roads with parking meters. We visited during the week and found a space on Latimer Road (SW19 1EP). It turned out to be a very convenient space, less than a 5 minute walk from the theatre, but it was the only one I saw and I felt lucky to have found one at all.
Cost of Parking: There are parking meters.

Information Written: April 2017

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

Imagination, Emotion…

Polka Theatre is dedicated to children. It hosts productions in two areas – the Adventure Theatre and the Main Stage. They also offer workshops, free storytelling and immersive play.

…and Discovery

The central foyer doubles as an indoor play area with seats and bean bags of different sizes, rocking horses and ride on toys.

A trunk bursts with costumes and puppets to try  

and there are shelves full of books 

and tables with colouring materials. 

This area is where people congregate ahead of shows, so at times it is quiet and at others it is busy.

The Courtyard Play Area

Outside in a small courtyard is the Polka Theatre Play Area with a wooden climbing frame that looks like a baboon,

a two-storey wooden play house, a small pond with fish 

and some playground games boards. 

The Polka Cafe

Next door is the Polka Cafe, where you can buy food, drinks, cakes, ice creams etc to eat in the cafe’s train carriage booths. I was told that you cannot take these refreshments into the theatre. There is also an outdoor picnic area. 

Morden Hall Park

We spent a happy few hours playing, exploring and imagining. We then drove to the nearby Morden Hall Park for a picnic. 

Nearest Town: Wimbledon, London
County: London
Nearest Postcode: SW19 1SB

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free to enter and play but the shows are ticketed. 

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

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

Parking: There is no car park and Polka Theatre’s website recommends public transport or if necessary, parking on the surrounding roads. Most of these roads are permit only from Monday to Saturday during the day but there are some roads with parking meters. We visited during the week and found a space on Latimer Road (SW19 1EP). It turned out to be a very convenient space, less than a 5 minute walk from the theatre, but it was the only one I saw and I felt lucky to have found one at all.
Cost of Parking: There are parking meters.

Information Written: April 2017

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

Chineham Library

Chineham Library is full of books and also activities for children. 

The Children’s Section

This welcoming area has little sofas, a small table and low boxes full of picture and board books that children can look through. 

The staff member we met was friendly and helpful and gave me some useful advice on choosing reading books.

When we visited the library was running various sessions like rhymetime and story telling parties, as well as book groups.

Great Binfield Copse Story Trail

We visited Chineham to quest along the Great Binfield Copse Story Trail. This is one of Hampshire County Council’s Story Trails and is called “Great Binfield, the Giant of Basingstoke“. 

Nearest Town: Basingstoke
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: RG24 8BQ

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Eat in one of the nearby cafes or bing a picnic and a blanket. 
Facilities: Cafe, ice creams, snacks, drinks, toilets. 

How Long We Spent There: About 30 minutes.
Buggies: Buggy friendly.

Parking: We parked near the library in Chineham Shopping Centre South car park. 
Cost of Parking: Free

Information Written: March 2017

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

The Cinema

When we visited, the cinema was almost empty – just me and another couple and the steward. The lighting and volume levels felt right – bright enough to see and move freely, loud enough to hear the film over the crying and rustling but not so loud that I worried about my baby’s hearing.

The cinema is next to Reception in one of the house’s rooms, complete with beautiful period features. It is an intimate size with some floor space that my baby crawled and played on.

If you would like to use the floor then book a seat next to the aisle as there is not much room on, or between, the seats. 

No Adverts!

I found Bringing in Baby to be excellent value, cheaper than many other cinemas and there were no adverts, just straight into the feature, which increases the chances of seeing the whole film before your baby becomes too fidgety!

South Hill Park

South Hill Park has fantastic facilities, including a baby-friendly cafe, lakes with ducks, sculpture trails and orienteering, and three play areas.

It is a few minutes walk from the South Hill Park Toddlers’ Play Area,

a five minute walk from Hedgehog Park Play Area and

a ten or fifteen minute walk from South Hill Road Play Area.

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

Adult Cost Range: £5 to £9.99 per seat
Child Cost Range: £5 to £9.99 per seat
Free if: Under 12 months

Opens: Every Friday at 10.30am.

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

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

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

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

Information Written: March 2017

Our visit to Bringing in Baby at South Hill Park in Bracknell is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Milestones Museum

The streets are set up to immerse you in times gone by, with people working, old modes transport 

and also shops, some of which you can go into. 

At the 1940s sweet shop, you can swap an old penny (bought at the ticket desk) for a bag of sweets. You choose from jars on the shelves and the sweets are weighed out in front of you on old scales.

The Post Office

We love the Post Office, where children under 5 years old can play postman. There is a fancy dress box, a post van, a post office counter, a sorting wall, an opening postbox, a door with a letterbox and some letters for posting. 

We also found books to read, jigsaws to solve and bricks to stack as well as magnetic letters. 

Milestones calls this a space for learning for 3 to 5 year olds. It is locked and can only be used by someone with a key (freely available from the downstairs desk).  

The Pier and Penny Arcade

Outside the Post Office is the Penny Arcade where you can swap modern money for old pennies and play on the machines.

There is a good variety of things to use – some you sit in, some you watch and some you play.

Other Activities

Other activities around the museum include bridge building bricks, Victorian fancy dress, a working pub and a hopscotch course. 

There is also a cafe and you can bring picnics.

Temporary Exhibits

Milestones Musuem often has fantastic temporary exhibits. 

We visited to try the LEGO^® Brick Around the World Challenge – an indoor trail where you crack codes, solve puzzles and answer riddles to help agents of the Tiger Club save the Crown Jewels from the evil clutches of the Master Collector… 

Mwah hah hah hah hah!…

Legal notice: LEGO^® is a trademark of the LEGO Group of companies which does not sponsor, authorize or endorse this site.

Nearest Town: Basingstoke
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: RG22 6PG

Opens: Daily but closed on some Mondays.

Adult Cost Range: From £16.50
Child Cost Range: From £13.25
Free if: Under 5 years

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

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

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

Information Written: March 2017

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