Netley Park

Royal Victoria Country Park stands on the site of Netley Hospital, a vast Victorian military hospital that was the world’s longest building. 

Today, all that remains of the quarter of a mile long building is the central chapel, but by walking around the park you can get a sense of its enormous scale.

This photo was taken from one end of the hospital building – the chapel was the middle of the building, there was a whole other wing on the other side!

Southampton Water

The country park overlooks Southampton Water, which has a busy, slightly industrial feel – boats of all sizes regularly sail past and there is what looks like a refinery on the opposite shore.

The Beach

The shingle beaches are covered in little shells.

We collected about thirty in ten minutes.

There are ramps down onto the beach for easy access. In other places you have to jump!

Rock Pools and Crabbing

It might not look like it, but rock pools form amongst the pebbles along the beach.

If you look closely, you may spot a crab!

We managed to find quite a few.

Then let them go and watched as they buried themselves again.

Royal Victoria CP Story Trail

The Royal Victoria Country Park Story Trail is called “Time Trouble at Royal Victoria Country Park“ and follows Professor Nutrino, a Time Agent, as she battles to fix a tear in time…with a little help from your children.

And There’s More

The park also has fields to play in

a miniature railway called the Royal Victoria Railway

a permanent orienteering course (course map available from the Visitor Centre), family activities and a fairy garden…

…with a huge picnic table guarded by a wizard!

The Cedar Rooms

Next to the play area is the Cedar Rooms, a restaurant and cafe with a large outdoor seating area. We had a delicious, wood fired pizza.

The Paths

The fields were dry and the paths were flat and easy to push a buggy along.  

Some still show signs of the past.

Royal Victoria CP Adventure Play Area

The Royal Victoria Country Park Adventure Play Area play equipment includes things like:

• a large wooden fort with slides, tunnels, nets, a wobbly bridge and easy to climb ramps
• lots of different swings
• a roundabout
• a music wall
• a multiplay for younger children.

Nearest Town: Netley, near Southampton
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: SO31 5GA

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: The Cedar Rooms cafe and restaurant or bring a picnic.
Facilities: Cafe, snacks, ice creams, picnic area, toilets and accessible toilets.

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

Parking: There are several, good sized, pay and display car parks around the park.
Cost of Parking: From £1.80 per hour to a maximum of £4 per day

Wildlife You Might See: Deer, ducks, seagulls, waterbirds and sea creatures.

Information Written: May 2017
Information Checked: July 2025

Our visit to Royal Victoria Country Park in Netley, near Southampton, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Jocks Lane Recreation Ground

The Jocks Lane Play Area has a range of equipment including:

• toddler swings
• swings
• a place for a tyre swing (but no tyre when we visited)
• a swinging seesaw
• a multiplay for younger children with a tunnel and a slide

• game boards
• musical pipes
• a fire engine with little tunnels
• a roundabout.

Equipment for Older Children

There is also equipment for older children:

• a climbing frame obstacle course
• a spinner
• swings that spin
• a zip wire.

Jocks Lane Splash Pad

Water jets spray in all directions from the Jocks Lane Splash Pad, which is surrounded by benches, sun umbrellas and a cafe.

In the sunshine Jocks Lane has that holiday vibe.

Splash Pad Restrictions

There are some restrictions on the use of the splash pad – only children under 8 years are allowed to use it before 5pm and there are no balls or inflatable toys allowed. 

You must wear swimming suits and swimming nappies (if necessary).

The Recreation Facilities

Jocks Lane also has a number of tennis courts, a five-a-side football pitch,

basketball courts and a kick about area,

table tennis tables

a multigym

and a sports field.

There is also a miniature golf course,

a riverside walk to Jocks Copse and Tinkers Copse

and a miniature railway that is run by the Bracknell Railway Society.

Nearest Town: Bracknell
County: Berkshire
Nearest Postcode: RG12 2BH

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Cafe or bring a picnic.
Facilities: Ice creams, snacks, cafe, toilets and accessible toilets.

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

Parking: Car park
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Butterflies and other insects.

Information Written: June 2017
Information Checked: July 2025

Our visit to Jocks Lane Recreation Ground, Play Area and Splash Pad in Bracknell is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Basingstoke Canal Centre Play Area

Next to the Canal Centre is a wooden play area with:

• toddler swings
• a springer
• a balance course with nets, tightropes, log stumps, a climbing wall, balance beams and rope swings.

So Much To Do!

There is a wide range of activities on offer: hire boats and canoes, walk to Frimley Lodge, play in the fields, enjoy the towpath,

take narrow boat trips, explore woods and ponds, choose a picnic spot or check out the playground.

The Basingstoke Canal Centre

The Canal Centre has information on the canal, a gift shop, a campsite, and public toilets. 

There is also a cafe that serves a selection of refreshments, has indoor tables, and outdoor picnic benches.

Potters’ Pond

Behind the Canal Centre is a pond dipping area 

and a wild woodland 

with paths, ponds, and bridges.

The Towpath

I use an all-terrain buggy when we walk on the towpath. It is generally even but there are quite a few stones, which can be bumpy with a normal buggy. 

We also enjoy cycling along the towpath down to Frimley Lodge Park 

or further afield to see the giant locks that line the Deepcut Flight. 

Explore the Canal on Foot

The Basingstoke Canal has about 33 miles of towpath. 

From the Canal Centre you can walk for about 20 minutes at a slow pace to the well-equipped Frimley Lodge Park, which has two play areas, a trim trail, sports facilities, and a cafe. 

It also has the Frimley Lodge Miniature Railway, which has public running days at various times during the year. 

Explore the Canal by Water

You can also take a trip on Rosebud, a small narrow boat. Trips last about an hour but only run on a limited number of days. 

At certain times of the year rowing boats, canoes and pedalos are available to hire from the Canal Centre too.

The Swing Bridge Closes…

The swing bridge at the Canal Centre closes towards the end of the afternoon. The exact time is usually stated on a sign on the bridge. 

After it closes, you can reach the Canal Centre by crossing the canal at the nearby road bridge, although there is a flight of steps to climb up.

…and so Does the Barrier!

There is a barrier at the entrance to the car park that closes at the end of the day. You cannot enter the car park after it has closed but you can leave – just drive up to the barrier and it will lift. 

Nearest Town: Mytchett, near Farnborough
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU16 6DD

Opens: The canal is open daily but the Canal Centre has seasonal opening hours. Please see their website for details. 

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

How Long We Spent There: About 2 hours.
Buggies: I use an all terrain buggy as the tow path is generally even but has quite a few stones on it, which can be bumpy with a normal buggy.

Parking: There are two car parks, one just through the entry barrier and another tucked away past the Canal Centre. 
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Ducks, swans, Canada geese, herons, coots, moorhens, other birds, foxes, stag beetles, butterflies and insects.

Information Written: March 2017
Information Checked: June 2024

Our visit to Basingstoke Canal Centre and Play Area in Mytchett, near Farnborough, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Section 4 of the Basingstoke Canal Towpath

Section 4 of the Basingstoke Canal towpath takes you from Pirbright Bridge to Curzon Bridge in Deepcut. 

The is a picturesque two mile walk past 11 of the 14 locks in the Deepcut Flight.

The Deepcut Flight

The Deepcut Flight is a series of 14 locks on the Basingstoke Canal between Pirbright and Surrey Heath.  In total these locks raise boats by nearly 100 feet in just 2 miles!

The Locks

The locks have two enormous wooden doors at each end with huge levers. 

The Route

This section of the towpath starts at Lock 15, which is next to Pirbright Bridge 

and a conveniently placed car park.   

Then heads under Cowshott Bridge to Lock 17.

The Bisley Bullet

Along the path are remnants of the Bisley Bullet, a railway line that connected Brookwood to nearby rifle ranges.  This line was closed in the 1950s, leaving only its brick piers.

Curzon Bridge

The path leads past another seven locks 

and ends at Curzon Bridge, a modern bridge that shelters Lock 25. 

Plenty of Wildlife

Wildlife is everywhere along the canal and we spotted butterflies, caterpillars, spiders, ladybirds, newts, freshwater snails and lots of fish, including a large one that looked like a pike.

There were plenty of waterbirds, including ducks and coots with gorgeous chicks.

The Walk 

This section of the towpath is 2 miles long and is not circular. It took us about 1.5 hours, walking at a child’s pace. I often cycle this route and it takes about 20 minutes to reach Pirbright Bridge from Curzon Bridge. 

Uphill or Downhill?

If you cycle or walk from the Deepcut to Pirbright you go down the hills.  If you cycle in the other direction, you are going uphill. 

The Paths

The towpath is generally flat but does rise 100 feet along this stretch. This means that at each lock there is a little hill but nothing we found strenuous. 

It can be muddy in places so be sure to bring wellies if it has been raining.

The surface can be a little bumpy with stones in some places but is easy to use a bike or buggy along.

Where to Next?

North – Section 3: St John’s to Brookwood to Pirbright Bridge        

South – Section 5: Curzon Bridge to Frimley Green to Canal Centre

Nearest Town: Pirbright or Deepcut (depending on which end you start from)
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU24 0AG (on Pirbright Bridge) or GU24 0DN (from Deepcut). The Deepcut postcode will take you to Stanley Hill, which is as close to the Deepcut lay-by as possible to direct with postcodes. The lay-by is actually next to the railway bridge on Gapemouth Road. For the exact location, please see the Where To Go Map as the marker called “Basingstoke Canal Walk 05 – Deepcut to Frimley Green to Basingstoke Canal Visitor Centre” points to the lay-by.

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic and a blanket. 
Facilities: There is a picnic table along the way at lock 28.

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

Parking: We parked one car at Pirbright Bridge (where there is room for several cars) and the other at the lay-by on Gapemouth Road (GU24 0PQ – see above for details).
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Ducks, swans, Canada geese, herons, coots, moorhens, other birds, foxes, stag beetles, butterflies and other insects.

Information Written: May 2017
Information Checked: June 2024

Our visit to the Deepcut Flight and Section 4 of the Basingstoke Canal towpath from Pirbright Bridge to Curzon Bridge in Deepcut is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

The Basingstoke Canal Centre Play Area

Next to the Canal Centre is a small wooden play area with:

• toddler swings
• a springer
• a balance course with nets, tightropes, log stumps, a climbing wall, balance beams, and rope swings.

The Frimley Lodge Park Play Areas

From the Basingstoke Canal Centre you can walk for about 20 minutes to the well-equipped Frimley Lodge Park, which has another two play areas.

Nearest Town: Mytchett, near Farnborough
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU16 6DD

Opens: The canal is open daily but the Canal Centre has seasonal opening hours. Please see their website for details. 

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

How Long We Spent There: About 2 hours.
Buggies: I use an all terrain buggy as the tow path is generally even but has quite a few stones on it, which can be bumpy with a normal buggy.

Parking: There are two car parks, one just through the entry barrier and another tucked away past the Canal Centre. 
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Ducks, swans, Canada Geese, coots, moorhens, birds, butterflies and insects.

Information Written: March 2017
Information Checked: June 2024

Our visit to Basingstoke Canal Centre and Play Area in Mytchett 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.

The Sidings Play Area

The play equipment is based on Swanage Railway and Corfe Castle.

It has equipment including: 

• a locomotive to climb on 
• a castle 
• a climbing wall 
• a slide
• climbing bars
• picnic tables.

Swanage Railway

Swanage Railway is a full-size heritage railway that operates a range of steam and diesel locomotives, as well as historic carriages

that huff and puff you through old stations 

to Swanage and the seafront and Corfe Castle. 

Nearest Town: Norden, near Swanage and Wareham
County: Dorset
Nearest Postcode: BH20 5DW

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic.
Facilities: Picnic tables, cafe, ice creams, snacks, accessible toilets and toilets.

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

Parking: Large car park.
Cost of Parking: £4 per day. 

Information Written: June 2022

Our visit to The Sidings Play Area at Norden Station on the Swanage Railway in Dorset is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Swanage Railway

This full-size heritage railway operates a range of steam and diesel locomotives, as well as historic carriages

that huff and puff you through old stations 

and railway memorabilia 

to Swanage and the seafront and Corfe Castle. 

Devon Belle Observation Car

One of the historic carriages is the Devon Belle or Pullman Observation Car No. 14. 

This has been used as an ambulance to transport wounded WW1 soldiers, 

as a holiday observation car and also to tour the USA with the Flying Scotsman! 

The views from the Devon Belle are much better than the normal carriage. It currently costs an extra £3.50 per person.

The Railway Route

The steam trains puff along the 5.5 mile line between the stations at Norden 

Corfe Castle

Harmans Cross and Herston Halt

and Swanage. 

Corfe Castle

Corfe Castle sits next to the railway line. You can choose to steam on past or break your journey at Corfe Castle station, taking the short walk to the village and castle. 

Norden Station Play Area

The Sidings Play Area at Norden Station is themed on Swanage Railway and Corfe Castle and has equipment to climb on and explore. 

Nearest Town: Norden, Corfe Castle, Harmans Cross or Swanage, all near Wareham
County: Dorset
Nearest Postcode: BH20 5DW

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

Where to Eat: Norden station, Corfe Castle station and Swanage station have cafes or you can bring a picnic.
Facilities: Various, depending on which station you are at. Please see their website for details.

How Long We Spent There: 1 hour exploring Norden station and the play area.  Norden to Swanage is about a 25 minute train ride, one way.
Buggies: You can’t take buggies on the train but they can go into the Guard’s Van. 

Parking: Large car park.
Cost of Parking: £4 per day. 

Information Written: June 2022

Our visit to Swanage Railway in Dorset 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.

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.

Longleat’s Adventure Castle

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

I am not going to list out all of its equipment because it had almost everything you can imagine for children of all ages.

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

The Splash Pad

The splash pad’s jets of water activate when you press discs in the floor – some sprayed up, some sprayed down, some formed tunnels to run around. 

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: Cafes, picnic areas, snacks, ice cream, 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, hippos, seals, gorillas, bats, anteaters, otters, meerkats and wallabies.

Information Written: July 2017
Information Checked: January 2024

Our visit to Adventure Castle Play Area at Longleat, near Warminster, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Epic Fun

LEGOLAND^® is a LEGO^® brick theme park complete with epic music, shows, models, crowds and queues.

Themed Lands

LEGOLAND^® is divided into action-packed themed lands, which combine LEGO^® brick models with rides, water fun, live shows and adventure.

Drench Towers

There is also an enormous water play area called Drench Towers and Splash Safari that has Duplo^® animals (including the polar bear, giraffe and elephant) and interactive water features like water cannons, water slides and fountains. 

Miniland

Miniland features LEGO^® brick models of cities like London, Amsterdam and Paris as well as models of the space shuttle and remote controlled boats.

Legal notice: LEGO^®, DUPLO^® and LEGOLAND^® are trademarks of the LEGO Group of companies which does not sponsor, authorize or endorse this site.

Nearest Town: Windsor
County: Berkshire
Nearest Postcode: SL4 4AY

Opens: Various times throughout the year

Adult Cost Range: Various
Child Cost Range: Various
Free if: Under 90cm tall

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or eat at one of the cafes. 
Facilities: Cafes, drinks, snacks, ice creams, picnic areas, toilets, accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: We spent a full day at LEGOLAND^® Windsor Resort and still didn’t manage to see everything!
Buggies: Buggy friendly.

Parking: There is a massive car park.
Cost of Parking: From £8

Information Written: October 2016
Information Checked: December 2023

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

Moors Valley Country Park Adventure Area

There are two play areas next to the Visitor Centre, which are divided into the Adventure Area, which is for older children, and the Castle and Sandworks area, which is for younger children.

The Adventure Play Area

This has:

• a large slide with a climbing wall
• a climbing wall
• a climbing boulder
• a zip wire

• a basket swing
• a large rope climbing frame
• a huge wooden fortress with a long tube slide, tunnels and rope bridges
• rope swings.

The Castle and Sandworks

The equipment here includes:

• a multi-play with a slide and easy to climb steps
• another slide
• a large multi-play shaped like a house with a slide, fireman’s pole, climbing wall and ropes to climb on
• toddler swings made of ropes
• a wooden train

• mechanical diggers you can operate
• wooden animals 
• an obstacle course
• springers
• spinners
• sand construction areas with buckets, chutes and pulleys.

The Play Trail

The fantastical Play Trail at Moors Valley Country Park guides you through the woods to a Tree Top Trail

and 9 hidden play areas, including the Enchanted Forest, Snake Pit and Hawk House.

The Miniature Railway

The Moors Valley Railway rumbles through the park (with seasonal opening hours). This is a miniature railway that connects Lakeside and Kingsmere stations.

Everything Else!

Moors Valley is packed full of adventures – trails to try, trees to climb and games to play. 

Nearest Town: Ringwood
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: BH24 2ET

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or eat in the Visitor Centre cafe.
Facilities: Toilets, accessible toilets, ice creams, snacks, cafe, picnic areas.

How Long We Spent There: 4 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly. Note that this is not wide enough for a buggy but there is a path that allows you to skip past it.

Parking: Large car park but it is very busy at peak times.
Cost of Parking: Various charges, from between £1.80 per hour.  Please see their website for full details.

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

Information Written: April 2017
Information Checked: October 2022

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

Moors Valley Country Park Play Trail

The Play Trail is a route that guides you through the woods to 9 hidden play areas and the Tree Top Trail.

You can explore a Giant Wood Ants’ Nest

wander the Enchanted Woods

make music at the House of Baba Yaga

crawl through the Snake Pit

brave the Bewlidernest

fly through the Hawk House

soar along the Tree Top Trail

sneak past the Spiders

pick your way through the infested waters of Crocodile Crossing

and scramble up Timber.

The Paths

The Play Trail is about a mile long and took us about 2 hours to complete with a lot of stopping and playing. 

The paths are clearly marked and I did not have any problems pushing an all-terrain buggy.

The Miniature Railway

The Moors Valley Railway rumbles through the park (with seasonal opening hours). This is a miniature railway that connects Lakeside and Kingsmere stations.

Everything Else!

There are other marked trails to try – fitness trails, walking trails, cycling trails, audio trails and even a Hawk Walk, which is a walk through the forest with free flying hawks (this needs to be booked in advance)!

Also on offer is Go Ape Tree Top and Segway Adventures,

an orienteering course, a golf course with Footgolf and a family activity area with pitch and putt and equipment hire. 

Where to Eat?

There is a cafe and two picnic areas – one next to the lake and railway and another between the Visitor Centre and the forest.

The latter has life-size sculptures of the Gruffalo and the Gruffalo’s child.

The Moors Valley Play Areas

The fantastic play areas are divided into the Adventure Area, for older children, and the Castle and Sandworks area, for younger children.

The Adventure Area

The Adventure Area has:

• a large slide with a climbing wall
• a climbing wall
• a climbing boulder
• a zip wire
• a basket swing
• a large rope climbing frame
• a huge wooden fortress with a long tube slide, tunnels and rope bridges
• rope swings.

The Castle and Sandworks

The Castle and Sandworks has equipment including:

• a multi-play with a slide and easy to climb steps
• another slide
• a large multi-play shaped like a house with a slide, fireman’s pole, climbing wall and ropes to climb on
• toddler swings made of ropes
• a wooden train

• mechanical diggers you can operate
• wooden animals 
• an obstacle course
• springers
• spinners
• sand construction areas with buckets, chutes and pulleys.

Nearest Town: Ringwood
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: BH24 2ET

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or eat in the Visitor Centre cafe.
Facilities: Toilets, accessible toilets, ice creams, snacks, cafe, picnic areas.

How Long We Spent There: 4 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly. Note that this is not wide enough for a buggy but there is a path that allows you to skip past it.

Parking: Large car park but it is very busy at peak times.
Cost of Parking: Various charges, from £2 per hour.  Please see their website for full details.

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

Information Written: April 2017
Information Checked: October 2022

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

Moors Valley Railway Lakeside Station

Moors Valley Railway begins near the Visitors Centre and car park.

You steam off from Lakeside Station

and chuff along the tracks.

The Lake

The train rumbles on

and past a beautiful wildlife lake with lots of ducks and a picnic area that you can visit after your train ride.

The Moors Valley Adventure Play Area

It also loops around the large Moors Valley Adventure Play Area

and goes underneath it through a tunnel. 

Kingsmere Station

The train journey ends at Kingsmere station,

which has an engine shed, goods yard and carriage shed to explore as well as a model and gift shop. 

Moors Valley Country Park

The railway is located in Moors Valley Country Park, an outstanding combination of play areas and woodland.

It has an enchanting play trail

woodland to explore

and the brilliant Moors Valley Adventure Play Area that you steam past on your railway journey.

Nearest Town: Ringwood
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: BH24 2ET

Adult Cost Range: £1 to £9.99
Child Cost Range: £1 to £9.99
Free if: None

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

Where to Eat: Try the onsite cafe or bring a picnic.
Facilities: Toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 1 hour exploring the railway and stations and the rest of the day at the Country Park.
Buggies: You can’t take buggies on the train. Moors Valley Country Park is buggy-friendly. 

Parking: Large car park but it is very busy at peak times.
Cost of Parking: Various charges, from £2 per hour.  Please see their website for full details.

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

Information Written: April 2017
Information Checked: October 2022

Our visit to Moors Valley Railway at Moors Valley Country Park in Ringwood is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Pinewood Activities Adventure Play Area

The play equipment is divided between two areas, Pinewood Adventure and another, more traditional playground. 

The adventure play area has equipment including:

• toddler swings
• basket swings
• a small multiplay and slide for the very young
• a long rope swing
• a wooden climbing frame

• a rope climbing frame
• spinners
• a balance course with bridges, logs and ropes
• a tunnel
• a zip wire.

The Railway Play Area

The second play area has:

• swings
• toddler swings
• a small wooden train to walk along 
• a large play train with a tunnel and carriages 
• a play house
• a seesaw

• a long slide set into a hill
• a trampoline
• a climbing frame with a climbing wall, nets and monkey bars
• springers 
• picnic tables.

The Cafe

There is a cafe that serves refreshments and ice cream.

Pinewood Miniature Railway

Next to the play areas is the Pinewood (Wokingham) Miniature Railway.

It does not run everyday so please see their The Pinewood (Wokingham) Miniature Railway website for details of their open days.

Sports Areas 

On the other side of the car park is a field with a football pitch and a trim trail with six equipment stations (all aimed at those over 12 years).

Pond Dipping

Dickie’s Pond is also nearby and has a pond dipping platform.

Pond dipping equipment (nets, information sheets, a tray and magnifying glasses) can be borrowed from the cafe by leaving a deposit of £5. Near the pond is a woodland walk, with sculptures of woodland animals.

Nearest Town: Wokingham Without, near Crowthorne and Wokingham
County: Berkshire
Nearest Postcode: RG40 3AQ

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Cafe and a picnic area. 
Facilities: Cafe, shop, ice creams, toilets, picnic area.

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

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

Wildlife You Might See: Ducks, birds, insects and pond life.

Information Written: July 2017
Information Checked: July 2022

Our visit to the Pinewood Activities Centre in Wokingham Without, near Crowthorne and Wokingham, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Pinewood Miniature Railway

The steam engines come in all shapes and sizes, each with their own style and character. My favourite was Moosejaw with its snow guard, golden bell and unusually shaped chimney. 

Unsurprisingly, my children loved the one that looked like a tiny Thomas the Tank Engine.

The Track

During your ride you weave through the trees, past multi-coloured fairy doors, signals, engine sheds, a water tower and a mini viaduct.

It Can Be Busy!

The railway can be extremely busy so try not to leave your visit to the end of the day.

Pinewood Activities Centre

There is also plenty to do before and after your rides as the railway is at Pinewood Activities Centre, which has two play areas,

pond dipping, woodland walks, a miniature railway, a cafe, a trim trail, sports field as well as various clubs and societies. 

Nearest Town: Wokingham Without, near Crowthorne and Wokingham
County: Berkshire
Nearest Postcode: RG40 3AQ

Adult Cost Range: £1 to £4.99
Child Cost Range: £1 to £4.99
Free if: Under 3 years.

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

Where to Eat: Try the cafe or bring a picnic. 
Facilities: Cafe, shop, ice creams, toilets, picnic area.

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

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

Wildlife You Might See: Ducks, birds, insects and pond life.

Information Written: April 2018
Information Checked: July 2022

Our visit to the Pinewood (Wokingham) Miniature Railway in Wokingham Without, near Crowthorne and Wokingham, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Victory Field Recreation Ground

The play equipment is said to be suitable for children to the age of 13 years old and includes:

• a play train with a tunnel
• swings
• a toddler swings 
• a basket swing
• springers 
• a zip wire

• a rope climbing frame that spins
• a big slide set into a hill with the choice of easy to climb stairs or a slope and a rope
• a multiplay castle with a slide 
• an obstacle course with a rope bridge, climbing wall, nets and log swings.

Sports Equipment

There is also a variety of sports facilities:

• a multi-gym
• a basketball court
• a football pitch
• a 5-a-side football pitch
• tennis courts 
• a table tennis table.

Tom Green’s Field

Behind the tennis courts is a field called Tom Green’s Field, where you can either have a short walk or try a longer walk around Ascot.

Nearest Town: Ascot
County: Berkshire
Nearest Postcode: SL5 7DG

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

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

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

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

Wildlife You Might See: Birds, stag beetles, butterflies and other insects.

Information Written: February 2017
Information Checked: June 2022

Our visit to Victory Field Recreation Ground and Play Area in Ascot is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

The Look Out Play Area

The play area is divided into three sections, each aimed at different ages and abilities.

Ship Play Trail

This is an Infant Play Trail for ages 3 to 6 years that has:

• a galleon with nets, a wheel and a slide
• a second, smaller boat
• springers
• a trampoline
• a train
• a wobbly, wooden hut
• toddler swings
• wobbly bridges
• a climbing wall
• a balance course and
• wobbly balance boards.

Inclusive Area 

This fully inclusive area has:

• a wheelchair accessible roundabout 
• a swing 
• a cradle swing 
• an accessible slide 
• musical instruments 
• fun house mirrors
• a basket swing.

The Fort 

This is a Junior Play Trail for ages 7 to 11 years that has:

• swings
• climbing walls
• wobbly bridges
• ladders
• balancing logs
• hanging rings and
• a rope climbing frame.

Kiosk and Picnic Area

Next to the play area are lots of picnic tables and a kiosk that sells refreshments.

Swinley Forest

The play area is next to the Swinley Forest, with cycle routes and various trails.

The Look Out also has a permanent orienteering course and you can buy a map from the reception desk in the Discovery Centre for £1.

The Look Out Discovery Centre

Inside The Look Out Discovery Centre are over 90 activities including a huge marble run, a building site, an indoor stream, a reaction testing game and a range of hands-on science experiments, including a hot air balloon to launch and a globe that floats in mid-air. 

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

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

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

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

Parking: There is a large car park but this gets very busy.
Cost of Parking: From £2 for the first four hours.

Wildlife You Might See: Birds and insects.

Information Written: March 2017
Information Checked: January 2022

Our visit to the adventure play area at The Look Out Discovery Centre Play Area in Bracknell is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.