Everything we have tried and written about is listed here.
Zebon Copse is very special for me – it’s the place that inspired me to start this website way back in 2016! The boardwalk was wonderfully overgrown and felt more like exploring a hidden jungle path than taking your children for a walk, as you can see from this photo.
Zebon Copse Play Area has the longest and most involved obstacle course we have seen – ideal for playing the floor is lava! It also has plenty of nature nearby – both the Zebon Copse Nature Reserve and the beautiful Basingstoke Canal are just a short walk away.
I can only guess this play area is called Jurassic Park because of its monster-sized slide, cargo nets and climbing walls, not to mention one of the biggest slides we have seen.
Royal Victoria Country Park has a story trail along which you follow Professor Nutrino, a Time Agent, as she battles to fix a tear in time… with a little help from your children.
There is so much to do at Royal Victoria Country Park – paddle in the sea, follow a story trail, puff along on a miniature railway, tackle the orienteering course and
Royal Victoria Country Park has a shady adventure play area with a wide variety of equipment, including a wooden fort, slides, swings and a jeep.
Majestic Snaprails Park was originally part of an estate owned by a plant collector. Today it has a pondside walk, little waterfall with tiny fish and a colourful play area nestling beneath towering trees.
Locks Ride Recreation Ground Splash Pad and Play Area is somewhere you can spend a summery day being drenched. It also has a beautiful play area with sand, palm trees and barbecues.
Like the setting for a summer holiday, Locks Ride Recreation Ground has a play area with sand, water, and palm trees. Much of the play equipment is built over sand.
Hampshire has plenty of places to enjoy a paddle, including beaches, streams and splash pads. It also boasts hidden spots in the New Forest, which are amongst some of the most picturesque places we have visited.
Runnymede Pleasure Grounds Splash Pad is on the banks of the River Thames and is a great place to begin a walk along the Thames Path or explore the memorials of Runnymede, including the sealing of Magna Carta.
Runnymede Pleasure Grounds is on the banks of the River Thames and is a great place to begin a walk along the Thames Path or explore the memorials of Runnymede. It has an unusual amount to do, including the Runnymede Pleasure Grounds Play Area, a paddling pool, amusements, boat trips along the Thames and a cafe.
The Runnymede Pleasure Grounds play area is on the banks of the River Thames alongside a splash pad, amusements, boat tour stops, and a cafe.
How best to organise the adventures listed on this site? A simple enough question, but one I wrestled with for some time.
After much thought, I divided all adventures into the following categories, listed below in alphabetical order.
We spent most of our visit to Jocks Lane Recreation Ground playing with the spurting water jets of the splash pad. A refreshing way to cool off in the heat.
Water jets spray in all directions from the splash pad, which is surrounded by benches, sun umbrellas and a cafe.
Jocks Lane Recreation Ground has lots of ways to play – a colourful play area, a spurting splash pad, a mini golf course and even miniature railway.
Gasps erupted from the back seat as we arrived at Jocks Lane Recreation Ground. It was easy to see why – the car park was enclosed by a brightly coloured play area, a splash pad with spurting jets of water and a large field with a zip wire.
Written for those days when you need some adventure inspiration, this is a list of all the adventure categories on this site, in alphabetical order.
Where will you go?
There are occasions when only an indoor venue will do.
When you would prefer not to be outdoors, but would still like to get out for a bit, consider these activities.
There are some days when you fancy trying somewhere new but would also prefer to stay local.
Here are the adventures you can have within about a 10 mile radius of the following places.
The focus of this website is Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire but we also visit places that are further afield too!
Here are the counties we visit most often, with the activities we have found in each.
In this post, I have tried to list the activities that different age groups might enjoy. There is also category listing the activities I think could be enjoyed by people of any age. Clearly these groupings won’t be accurate for everyone, so please do check for yourselves before you try any of them.
On some trips you know you will need certain facilities.
Here is a list of activities divided into groups by what’s available at the venue.
When my children were small, I always tried to take a buggy out with us – it was so convenient to have everything we might need in one place. But for some activities, a buggy just won’t work.
These are all places I have been able a take a buggy without any problems.
Sometimes you need to pick an activity to fit into a specific part of your day.
This is our rough breakdown of how long you need to enjoy each of the activities.
The vast majority of the activities that I try and list on this website are free entry.
I have noticed over the years that some venues don’t charge for entry but instead impose a high parking fee. To allow for this, I have split free activities down again into those
When I started this website, I wasn’t sure whether to include ratings because everyone experiences things differently.
In the end, I decided to use ratings as they can convey a lot of information quickly. The criteria I use to give a rating can be found here.
If, like me, you have ever longed to adventure through 100 Aker Wood with Winnie the Pooh and his friends then there are two places to consider visiting – Aldenham Country Park and Ashdown Forest.
Aldenham CP is home to 100 Aker Wood, including Winnie-the-Pooh’s house,
The Sands Recreation Ground and Play Area hides well but is worth finding. It is a small but has everything you need for a relaxed afternoon’s play – a beautiful setting
Boundstone Recreation Ground is a small play area on top of a hill with a zip wire. The play equipment is for children to the age of 14 and includes a multiplay with
Rowledge Recreation Ground Play Area is a quiet, little playground with: swings, toddler swings, two slides with easy to climb steps, a rope climbing frame, two springers
My children love the idea of the Stone and Iron Ages – flint tools, cave paintings, hill forts, making fire.
Below are some places to imagine your way back in time.
There are lots of places to splash, play and paddle in Surrey.
Here are several of our favourites – some are well known and others are hidden away.
Brass rubbing trails combine wellies, crayons and the great outdoors – a winning combination for a family afternoon. Here are the brass rubbing trails we have enjoyed so far.
If you’re like me and love a good puzzle, consider pitting your wits against a maze. So far we have tried two types – classic hedge mazes and also a water maze where the dead ends are jets of water.
Fossil hunting is a bit like treasure hunting – you know roughly where to go but you are never sure exactly what you will find. Sometimes you find fossils quickly and other
Waterfalls may not be something you associate with the South East of England but here are nine adventures that involve walking to waterfalls and weirs.
Following a story trail adds a creative twist to a family walk. It’s also a great way to discover a new location. Below are eight story trails compiled by Hampshire CC. These are walks
Climbing the Zig-Zag path to Selbourne Common feels like ascending to a magical woodland world, hidden away in the treetops from everyone but you. Selbourne Common is
Whether it’s plundering treasure, skippering ships, climbing the rigging or simply running around shouting, “Aaaaarrrrrr!” in your loudest pirate voice, there is nothing quite like
When you’re in the mood for a bit of natural drama, consider the Ashford Hangers National Nature Reserve, a part of Hampshire that has been referred to as “Little Switzerland”.
With sandy paths galore, James Bond connections and World War 2 remnants, Hankley Common is full of surprises. Hankley Common has beautiful
Avast, ye landlubbers, it’s time for a round of mini-golf…pirate style! This is Mr Mulligan’s Pirate Golf, where it’s just you and your golf ball against a course of pirates, parrots, floating rafts,
What would you discover if you “took a stroll through a deep dark wood”? In Alice Holt Forest, it could be almost anything – play trails, cycle tracks, table tennis, adventure play
Playwood Adventure Play Area has a woodland theme with a log cabin and a wooden climbing frame built to look like trees and logs. The perfect place for the Gruffalo to hide…
Timberline Adventure Play Area is a huge obstacle course that is a fun place to play The Floor is Lava. It is hidden away in Alice Holt Forest, about a five minute walk from
Today I found out that the Dragonfly Trail along the Thursley Common boardwalk has been rebuilt and is open! At its best, there is something almost primeval
Welcome to Thor’s Den! An exciting name for an exciting play area sitting on the edge of Thursley Common. The equipment includes: toddler swings (with
One of the surprises hiding along the Basingstoke Canal are flashes – one minute you are walking along a narrow canal and the next, a beautiful lake known as a flash.
This beautiful walk along the Basingstoke Canal has the added bonus of three play areas, three locks and plenty of ducks! Section 5 of the Basingstoke Canal