The Splash Pad

The splash pad has jets of water and overhead buckets that gradually fill with water and then suddenly spill down onto the people below.

The Beach

The beach area has hammocks, picnic tables and barbecues that can be pre-booked. There is also a cafe and toilets.

Opening Hours

The Locks Ride splash pad has set opening hours so be sure to check before you go. 

The Play Area

Much of the play equipment in Locks Ride Recreation Play Area is built over the sand and includes:

• climbing nets
• a rope bridge
• a slide set into a hill with easy to climb steps
• two basket swings
• a chair swing
• a rope swing
• a double zip wire and
• a water play area with a small water chute and pump.

Beside the play area is a multi-gym, two football pitches, a cricket pitch and a pavilion.

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

Opens: The splash pad is open daily from mid-May to mid-September. The play area is open daily.
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Picnic tables or the cafe.
Facilities: Ice creams and toilets.

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

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

Information Written: August 2017

The Play Equipment

The play equipment is said to be for children up to 14 years and includes:

• swings
• toddler swings
• a basket swing
• a tyre swing
• an accessible roundabout
• a climbing frame for older children
• equipment that spins, springs and slides
• a rope climbing frame
• a multiplay with a small slide and bridge
• an accessible multiplay with a slide
• a bendy slide with easy to climb steps and a climbing wall
• a seesaw springer
• a cup spinner
• a slide for younger children shaped like a cannon and with easy to climb steps
• musical instruments
• a picnic table
• seats. 

Sports Facilities

Next to the play area is a multi-gym, toilets

and a field.

An ornamental pond is only a short walk away. 

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

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic.
Facilities: Picnic area, toilets, accessible toilets. 

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

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

Information Written: July 2022

Municipal Gardens has a range of newly refurbished equipment that provides a challenge for children of all ages but is only recommended to the age of 12 years. It includes:

• a fortress climbing frame with a tube slide, climbing walls, bridges, poles and nets
• a games area with anagrams, four in a row and reversi as well as a kitchen hob and kaleidoscope
• a second slide for younger children
• a network of houses for smaller children to climb around and play in
• toddler swings
• double swings
• swings
• a rope swing
• a tyre swing
• a balance course
• a roundabout
• a spinning disc
• a wobbly pirate ship with a steering wheel
• sea creature springers
• a seal seesaw
• a Cinderella seesaw
• a picnic table and
• seats for adults.

Municipal Gardens has a multi-use games area and you can play basketball, football, hockey and cricket. There is also a skateboarding area and an outdoor gym.

There are also gardens and open areas to walk through and picnic in.

Nearest Town: Aldershot
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: GU11 3EP

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

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

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

Parking: There no car park but you can usually find a space on one of the nearby residential roads. Be sure to find one that does not have parking restrictions. We try Cargate Avenue (GU11 3EP), Upper Elms Road (GU11 3ES), Cargate Hill (GU11 3AA), The Warren (GU11 3AB) and Lansdowne Road (GU11 3ER).
Cost of Parking: Free

Information Written: June 2017
Information Checked: August 2023

The play area is for children to the age of 12 years old and has equipment, including:

• a sunken pirate ship in a sand pit
• a water play area
• swings
• a basket swing
• a climbing area
• toddler swings
• an aerial balance course
• a fairy tale house with a slide
• a second slide for smaller children with easy to climb stairs
• a treasure chest
• wooden hoops to climb through and
• seats for adults.

Around the play area there are football pitches, a multi-use games area, skateboarding ramps, tennis courts, a basketball court and rugby pitches.

There is also a picnic bench and public toilets.

Nearest Town: Byfleet
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: KT14 7LZ

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic.
Facilities: Picnic area, toilets and accessible toilets.

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

Parking: There is a small car park next to the Byfleet Recreation Ground and Play Area and there are also places to park along the roadside.
Cost of Parking: Free

Information Written: September 2017
Information Checked: May 2021

The Play Area 

The play equipment includes:

• toddler swings
• swings
• a big slide reached by climbing a hill
• a tunnel
• climbing logs
• a sand play area
• a wooden climbing frame
• a basket swing
• a small multiplay with a slide, easy to climb stairs and climbing nets
• a roundabout 
• a small magnifying glass built into a post
• a picnic table
• seats.

The Sports Pitches 

Next to the play area there is a football pitch, tennis courts and a cricket pitch.  

The Cafe

At the bottom of the Recreation Ground is the Coffee Can on the Green, a small cafe that sells snacks, ice creams, drinks etc and has toilets that customers can use. 

Nearest Town: The Bourne, Farnham
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU10 3PR

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Eat in the Coffee Can on the Green, buy something in the shop next to the play area or bring a picnic and a blanket.
Facilities: A cafe with toilets and accessible toilets for customers, ice creams, snacks and a shop.

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

Parking: There is a car park at the end of the recreation ground (GU10 3PR).
Cost of Parking: Free

Information Written: March 2017
Information Checked: May 2023

Broadwater Park Play Area

The play area is for children to the age of 14 years old.

The equipment for younger children includes:

• a multiplay and slide a bridge
• a wooden climbing frame with a slide
• a wooden play house 
• a sand pit with sand play equipment and mushrooms
• a play house with seats and puzzle boards
• a Simon says machine
• toddler swings
• a springer seesaw
• a car and motorbike springer
• a spinning cup.

The play equipment for older children includes:

• a climbing frame with bars and a climbing wall
• a spinning ring
• equipment to balance on
• swings.

Broadwater Park Recreation Ground

Next to the play area are picnic tables and

a large field with cricket pitches.

Also Broadwater Park Multi Use Games Area

and tennis courts.

Broadwater Park

This is a large park with fields, a tarmac path you can scooter on,

a pond next to the play area where you can feed ducks

and a huge lake with another picnic area. 

The Paths

The paths are generally flat and easy to walk on. Some are surfaced and others are muddy.

Nearest Town: Godalming
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU7 1HR

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic.
Facilities: Picnic area, toilets, accessible toilets.

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

Parking: Car park next to the park and near the play area.
Cost of Parking: Free

Information Written: July 2022

The Recreation Ground

The play equipment includes:

• a multiplay with a big slide and a small slide, nets, a tunnel, bridges and a fireman’s pole
• an obstacle course
• swings
• toddler swings
• a basket swing
• a wooden climbing frame with nets
• a spinner
• a seesaw
• a roundabout
• a music area
• a duck and a horse springer
• a zip wire
• a climbing frame for older children
• a climbing wall
• seats.

Next to the play area is a basketball net and a field with a football pitch.

There are also public toilets.

Highcliffe Beach

Highcliffe Beach is very nearby and you can enjoy spectacular views, playing on the beach finding fossils or eating at the child-friendly Cliffhanger Cafe.

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

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or try one of the local cafes. 
Facilities: Toilets and accessible toilets.

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

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

Information Written: July 2022

The play equipment includes:

• swings
• toddler swings
• a multiplay with a slide, cargo nets and ladders
• a balance course
• two springers
• a rope swing
• a basket swing
• a zip wire and
• seats for adults.

Next to the play area is a large sports field with a football pitch. 

Nearest Town: Gomshall, Near Guildford
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU5 9LJ

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: There are nearby pubs or bring a picnic.
Facilities: None.

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

Parking: I couldn’t find a public car park nearby. The one next to the playground is for the Scout hut only.
Cost of Parking: None

Information Written: August 2020

The Play Areas

The play equipment is divided between two areas, one for younger children and another for older children. The enclosed area for younger children has:

• toddler swings
• springers
• a seesaw
• a roundabout
• a sand play area with chutes and pulleys
• a swing for wheelchair users
• a small multiplay with a ramp and a slide
• a multiplay with ropes to climb, a ladder and a slide
• a larger multiplay with a slide, steps, a fireman’s pole, a bridge and a little house
• boards with games and puzzles
• a zip wire.

The area for older children has equipment including:

• a long slide set into a hillside
• climbing rocks
• a basket swing
• swings
• spinning swings
• a wooden climbing frame
• an obstacle course.

Sports Areas

Dotted around the park are football pitches, tennis courts, cricket facilities, a basketball court and a skate park.

Near the skate park is a cafe with a seating area that serves refreshments and ice creams.

The Pond

Behind the play area is a picturesque pond covered with ducks, swans, gulls and coots.

Go Wild

Sandhurst Memorial Park also has some wild areas. In the corner is Seeby’s Copse, an area of ancient woodland, and at one end is Shepherd Meadows, a beautiful nature reserve with fields full of wild flowers and butterflies as well as the River Blackwater.

To find the reserve, take the path to the left of the play area and follow it past the pond, where you will pick up signs to the reserve.

Pick a Car Park

There are two car parks. The first is next to the play area (GU47 9BJ).

The second is on Marshall Road (GU47 0FJ will take you past the car park, which is on the opposite side of the road than the residential houses). This is the car park for Shepherd Meadows and it is about a twenty minute walk to the play area.

Nearest Town: Sandhurst, near Camberley
County: Berkshire
Nearest Postcode: GU47 9BJ

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

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

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

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

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

Information Written: May 2017
Information Checked: April 2023

The play equipment includes:

• toddler swings
• swings
• a very small multi-play and slide 
• a larger multi-play with a slide, climbing walls and a bridge
• a rope climbing frame
• a tyre swing
• a zip wire
• a four way springer.

There is also a football pitch, cricket pitch, and tennis courts. 

Nearest Town: Churt
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU10 2JG

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

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

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

Parking: There are two, free car parks. One is down a little road off Hale House Lane (GU10 2JG) and is right next to the play area. The other is on Churt Road (GU10 2JA – look for the sign for the Recreation Ground) and is next to the pavilion and tennis courts.
Cost of Parking: Free

Information Written: May 2017
Information Checked: May 2021