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.

Locks Ride Play Area

Much of the play equipment is built over sand and includes:

• climbing nets to scramble over and under
• a spider’s web net
• a rope bridge
• a balance beam
• a slide set into a hill
• a basket swing

• a sand pit
• swings
• a toddler swing
• an accessible swing
• a trampoline
• a double zip wire.

Locks Ride Beach Area

The beach area has picnic tables and barbecues that must be pre-booked. 

Beside the play area is a multi-gym, two football pitches,

a cricket pitch and a pavilion.

Locks Ride Splash Pad

The Locks Ride Splash Pad is open from mid-May to mid-September. It’s lots of fun, especially on a hot day but can be very busy.

This has jets of water set into the floor and also overhead buckets, which gradually fill with water and then suddenly spill down onto the people below. 

Nearest Town: Winkfield Row, Bracknell
County: Berkshire
Nearest Postcode: RG42 7NJ

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or eat in the cafe.
Facilities: Cafe, toilets, picnic area, barbecues.

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

Parking: Car park and they can open additional spaces for busy times.
Cost of Parking: Free

Information Written: October 2016
Information Checked: July 2025

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

Runnymede Pleasure Grounds

Situated on the banks of the Thames, Runnymede Pleasure Grounds offers easy access to the River Thames.

It has an expansive field

and huge car park.

At one end there is a statue of Elizabeth II

and at the other, a cafe and little seasonal go karts.

Runnymede Pleasure Grounds Splash Pad

This refreshing paddling pool is for children to the age of 11 years. 

The water is very shallow in most places and deepest in the centre by the cone, where it came to my mid-calves.

Boat Trips 

Various boat trips are available up and down the River Thames.

You can also walk along the Thames Path.

The Runnymede Memorials

The water-meadows of Runnymede are where King John sealed Magna Carta in 1215. 

There are a number of interesting memorials to discover in the meadows and woodland.

The Paths

To reach the memorials you have to cross a meadow. 

There are steps up to the JFK Memorial and the view point.

The path along the River Thames is bumpy and uneven in places and can be muddy.

You can read about our visit to the Runnymede memorials here.

Runnymede Pleasure Grounds Play Area

The Runnymede Pleasure Grounds Play Area equipment includes:

• swings 
• toddler swings
• a climbing multiplay for older children
• a multiplay for younger children 

• a roundabout
• a springer seesaw
• a traditional seesaw
• seats.

Nearest Town: Old Windsor, Egham
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: TW20 0AE

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

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

How Long We Spent There: 3 hours
Buggies: Runnymede Pleasure Grounds is buggy friendly but the walk to the Runnymede Memorials is trickier and takes you over grass and uneven paths.

Parking: There is a large car park. There is another National Trust car park at the other end of the meadows.
Cost of Parking: Pay and display. The National Trust car park is free for members.

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

Information Written: May 2021
Information Checked: July 2025

Our visit to Runnymede Pleasure Grounds in Egham, near Chertsey and Windsor, 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.

The Trails

Various trails criss-cross Alice Holt Forest. Some are easy access, others are wilder.  Some are flat, others have steep hills. They are all marked and there are free maps available.

Story Book Trails

Alice Holt Forest is one of the venues that hosts story book activity trails based on the books of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. 

Trails have included The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo’s Child, The Highway Rat and Zog.  At the time of writing, there is a Superworm Trail.  

You buy a map bursting with activities to try along the trail – drawings to colour, puzzles to ponder and woodland things to spot.  

Along the way you also come face to face with characters from the stories, including the Gruffalo, Stick Man and the Gruffalo’s child.

The Timberline Play Trail

The 1km long Habitat Trail leads you past both adventure play areas 

and also hides huge play sculptures.

The Adventure Play Areas

Alice Holt has two adventure play areas.

Playwood Adventure Play Area is next to the cafe and has large wooden climbing frames, slides and swings.

Timberline Adventure Play Area is a five minute walk from Playwood and is a huge, circular obstacle course with wooden climbing frames, slides, bridges and nets. 

Other Activities

Alice Holt also has an Activity Centre and Shop that offers cycle hire 

table tennis 

volleyball 

and badminton.

There is also orienteering 

Go Ape 

and lots of picnic spots to try.

The Cafe 

This is located next to the main entrance and Visitor Centre.  You can its picnic tables to eat food you have bought there or brought from home. 

Nearest Town: Farnham
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU10 4LS

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

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

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

Parking: There is a large car park.
Cost of Parking: Various, starting from £3 for one hour. 

Wildlife You Might See: Ducks, geese, woodpeckers, hedgehogs, tadpoles, frogs, birds, insects and the odd story book character.

Information Written: March 2016
Information Checked: February 2025

Our visit to Alice Holt Forest and the Alice Holt Adventure Play Areas in Farnham 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.

Ash Embankment Aqueduct

Built in 1994, the Ash Aqueduct carries the Basingstoke Canal over the A331 dual carriageway and the River Blackwater. 

Section 3 of the Blackwater Valley Path leads underneath the aqueduct and from down below it looks like a normal road bridge.  

This makes climbing the bridge and discovering a canal a stunning surprise, especially on a sunny day.

Blackwater Valley Path Section 3: Shawfields to Hollybush Pits

This is 2 miles long and starts at Shawfields or Rowan Field. 

Ivy Road Recreation Ground is a convenient place to park near Shawfields.  

Follow the path across the field to a small bridge and turn left onto the Blackwater Valley Path. 

The path will lead you over footbridges

up to the Basingstoke Canal

past Lakeside Nature Reserve Adventure Play Area

over a couple of roads you need to cross with care 

through narrow paths lined with brambles and stinging nettles 

along the river 

finally ending at North Camp railway station 

and the Old Ford Pub. 

Carrington Recreation Ground

We continue on for a couple of minutes to play at Carrington Recreation Ground, which is also where we park.

River Blackwater

Along Section 3 of the path, the River Blackwater starts to feel like a fully sized river complete with weeds waving in the currents. 

River access becomes very difficult because of the wild vegetation growing alongside. 

Blackwater Valley Path

The Blackwater Valley Path is 23 miles long, marked by signposts and divided into 12 sections.  

These sections follow the river, are not circular and do not finish where they start.  

Paths Along Section 3

The paths along Section 3 are generally flat with a few gentle inclines and easy to use.  

The paths after Lakeside Nature Reserve can be very narrow, overgrown and muddy with patches of stinging nettles and brambles. 

There is hard surfacing that is said to suitable for wheelchairs, pushchairs and bikes.

We have all used scooters along this section between Shawfields and Lakeside Nature Reserve without too much difficulty, although the surface can be uneven in places and there are often stones or branches to dodge. 

But the path around Hollybush Pits does not feel like it is surfaced. In some areas it has large chunks of rock and brick sticking out of the ground. This wasn’t a problem for a bike but I have taken a scooter this way before and couldn’t use it. 

We now don’t take scooters beyond Lakeside Nature Reserve.

Would We Go Back?

We probably wouldn’t go back to the whole of Section 3 of the Blackwater Valley Path because of the paths around Hollybush Pits. 

Instead, we follow a different and circular route!

A Circular Alternative!

We often cycle along the first half of Section 3, beginning at Ivy Road Recreation Ground and cycling for about ten minutes to the Ash Aqueduct.

From here we either follow the Basingstoke Canal tow path 

to Ash Vale for an ice cream, which takes another ten minutes.

From Ash we cycle back to the aqueduct and rejoin the Blackwater Valley Path North and cycle to Lakeside Nature Reserve Adventure Play Area, which is about a five minute cycle from the aqueduct. 

After Lakeside Play Area we cycle back to the aqueduct and then Ivy Road, which takes about 20 minutes.

Where to Next?

Upstream – Section 2:  Pea Bridge to Shawfields

Downstream – Section 4:  Hollybush Pits to Coleford Bridge

Nearest Town: Ash, Ash Vale, North Camp
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode for Shawfields/Ivy Road: GU12 4XG
Nearest Postcode for Hollybush Pits/Carrington Recreation Ground: GU12 5PG

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic.
Facilities: None

How Long We Spent There: 3 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly up to Lakeside Nature Reserve but can be harder going afterwards. 

Parking: To park near Shawfields, we go to Ivy Road (GU12 4XG) – drive past the waste recycling centre and turn left next to the sign for Belle Vue Enterprise Centre. To park near Hollybush Pits, we go to Carrington Recreation Ground (GU12 5PG).
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Kingfishers, birds, badgers, lizards, ducks, moorhens, coots, Canada gees, butterflies and other insects.

Information Written: May 2024

Our visit to Section 3 of the Blackwater Valley Path from Shawfields in Ash to Hollybush Pits in North Camp 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.

Hawk Conservancy Trust

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

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

All About Birds

You can learn about the birds of prey from their enclosures 

and during talks,

interactive workshops

and flying displays.

The Birds of Prey

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

storks

eagles

owls

owls

and more owls!

The Play Area

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

Where to Eat

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

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

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

Opens: Various times throughout the year. 

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

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

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

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

Information Written: August 2023

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

Thomas Land

Thomas Land is a world of Thomas-themed rides 

and attractions.  

You can see characters like James 

Toby 

Cranky 

Henry 

Gordon 

Flynn

and Harold. 

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

Tidmouth Halt Station

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

a dinosaur trail and some zoo animals.

Drayton Manor

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

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

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

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

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

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

Parking: Large car parks
Cost of Parking: Free

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

Information Written: July 2020

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

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.

So Much to Do!

Hobbledown has an unbelievable amount to do, including:

Crystallite Mines  

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

Fairy Tale Castle Play Area

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

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

Hobbledown Village 

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

more walkways and bridges

obstacles to climb and a network of tunnels.  

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

The Imaginarium

An area with reptiles and insects

water play 

and an interactive jungle. 

Courtyard Play Village

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

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

Indoor Play Barn

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

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

and a cafe with indoor and outdoor tables. 

Animals

Hobbledown is also home to animals, including sheep, rheas

goats and wallabies.  

Characters and Books

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

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

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

Opens: Daily

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

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

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

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

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

Information Written: October 2022

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

The House and Lawn

The house is picture perfect 

with views over the surrounding hills, which you can enjoy from deckchairs. 

The Walks

There are various signposted walks around the gardens and wider estate.

Natural Play Areas

Scattered along the trails are natural play areas to enjoy with stumps, logs, dens 

and also a bird hide.

Kestrel Corner Play Area

Kestrel Corner Play Area is a wooden play area that is an easy ten minute walk from the house. 

It has equipment including a wooden multiplay with a slide and musical instruments, an obstacle course, swings and a tunnel.

Special Activities

As for many National Trust properties, Polesden Lacey runs activities for various age ranges throughout the year, which are listed on their website. 

When we visited there was a trail through the grounds with activities at each station, including hide and seek, cars to drive and lawn games. 

The Paths

There are various footpaths around the grounds – some are surfaced, some gravel and some earth and grass. We did not have any access problems and used an all-terrain buggy.

Nearest Town: Great Bookham, near Dorking
County: Berkshire
Nearest Postcode: RH5 6BD

Adult Cost Range: From £15
Child Cost Range: From £8
Free if: Under 5 or with National Trust membership

Opens: Daily (with some winter closures)

Where to Eat: There is a cafe, food vendors and you can bring a picnic.
Facilities: Snacks, ice cream, a shop, picnic areas toilets and accessible toilets.

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

Parking: There is a good sized car park.
Cost of Parking: £4 or free with National Trust membership

Wildlife You Might See: Butterflies, bees, insects and birds.

Information Written: April 2023

Our visit to Polesden Lacey in Great Bookham, near Dorking 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.

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.

 

Exploring Virginia Water

There are several areas of Virginia Water to explore:

Virginia Water

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

The Valley Gardens

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

The Savill Garden

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

Adventure Play at The Savill Garden

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

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

The Obelisk Lawn Play Area

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

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

Cafes

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

The Paths

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

Scooters and Bikes

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

Pick Up a Map

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

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

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

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

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

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

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

Information Written: November 2016
Information Checked: September 2023

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

Rushmere Country Park

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

It is covered with sculptures, play spaces

trees and dens 

and is criss-crossed with footpaths, 

cycle routes and bridleways.

The Fairy Trail

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

We spotted a fairy dinner party

 fairy doors

sculptures 

and a reading chair for a giant.

Woodpecker Trail

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

down a hill

past Stockgrove Lake 

and several play spaces.

The Play Areas

There are seven play spaces scattered across the park.

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

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

Treetops Cafe

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

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

The Leighton-Linslade Children’s Trail

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