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

 

The Beach

West Wittering is an easy beach to visit with children.

There is a very large car park next to the beach.  There are also a cafe, toilets and accessible toilets.

 

 

 

It can be very busy during warm summer days, with traffic blocking the roads to the beaches. 

 

 

 

East Head

At the very end of the car park is East Head, a wild spit of land managed by the National Trust with shingle and sand beaches, dunes and salt marshes.  

 

 

 

If you are very lucky, you may even spot a seal.

 

 

Nearest Town: West Wittering, Near Chichester
County: West Sussex
Nearest Postcode: PO20 8AJ

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or eat at the one of the cafes. 
Facilities: Cafe, snacks, ice cream, picnic area, toilets, and accessible toilets. 

How Long We Spent There: All day
Buggies: Usual beach issues – some paths are uneven and others are sandy. 

Parking: There is a large paid for car park by the beach.
Cost of Parking: Varies with the time of year.  If you book in advance you receive a discount.

Wildlife You Might See: Sea life and seabirds

Information Written: May 2016
Information Checked: August 2023

 

Lepe Country Park

If you need an energy busting day then plan on paddling, sand castles and fossil finding before the tide comes in and then fairy door hunts, adventure play and a nature walk.

 

 

 

Or if you just want somewhere to relax, just sit back and enjoy the view.

Have a look at the Lepe Country Park website’s map for an overview of the activities on offer.

 

 

 

The Meadows

Alternatively, walk towards the east end of the beach past wild flower meadows on one side and the sea on the other.

 

 

 

This is a buggy friendly route that leads you to the beach, Lepe Point and Stansore Point, where the path becomes much sandier.

 

 

 

 

Lepe Point Nature Reserve

Lepe Point Nature Reserve, is a protected area of woodland and meadows with a boardwalk, pond and bird hide.

 

 

 

 

Stansore Point

Stansore Point is a good place to sit and enjoy the view, whether you want to watch huge ships cruise The Solent or gaze across at the Isle of Wight.

 

 

 

 

The D-Day Remnants

There are D-Day remnants near Stansore Point, including pier heads, construction platforms and slip ways.

 

 

 

You can see pictures and find further details on the New Forest Remembers website.

 

 

 

 

Fossil Finding

At Stansore Point it is also possible to find fossils of shells, plants and mammal bones, including mammoth bones. I understand it is best to look when the tide is out and to bring wellies in case the clay is exposed. Have a look at the UK Fossil Collecting website for full details.

You can also have a look at the western end of the beach where you can find fossil shells and corals. 

 

 

The Dinosaur Footprint

Inside the Visitor Centre is a dinosaur footprint, which was found at Lepe. It is on the floor on the right of the desk by the window.

Please see the Family Fun section of the Lepe website for further details as well as printable activities you can take with you or try at home!

 

 

The Fairy Door Trails

There are two trails to choose from – one through the Sensory Garden and another across the wild flower meadows and cliffs.

The doors are marked on a map and are each in a different type of tree with a little explanation about the kind of fairy living inside. 

 

 

The Beach

There is a family beach area, which is a very short walk from the car park. 

 

 

 

 

Further down the beach, low tide reveals a spit of land where we found crabs amongst the rocks, dug holes to catch the sea, built up huge sand castles and found interesting stones, including one of the bone shaped ‘fossils’ mentioned above.

 

The Play Area

The Lepe Country Park Play Area is a wooden adventure play area with equipment that includes:

• a swing
• a toddler swing
• a basket swing
• insect shaped springers
• a seesaw
• play houses
• a double slide with easy to climb stairs
• an obstacle course with logs, stumps, ropes and nets
• a wooden climbing frame
• a snake balance trail
• picnic tables
• seats.

Nearest Town: Exbury, New Forest
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: SO45 1AD

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

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

How Long We Spent There: 4 hours
Buggies: There are some pathways that are buggy friendly along the seafront.  The beach itself can be hard to push a buggy along because it is divided by wooden posts, many of which have rotted to near sand level and are splintered in places.

Parking: There are two pay and display car parks – one next to the play area and fairy trails and another next to the beach, Visitor Centre and cafe. These are connected by stairs that lead down to the beach but we drove between the two because we were using a buggy. We parked easily in both but it must be very busy at peak times.
Cost of Parking: For April to September start at £2.50 for one hour and an all day ticket costs £9.50.

Wildlife You Might See: Seaside wildlife, seabirds and other birds, butterflies and other insects.

Information Written: September 2017
Information Checked: May 2023

 

The wooden play equipment includes:

• a swing
• a toddler swing
• a basket swing
• insect shaped springers
• a seesaw
• play houses
• a double slide with easy to climb stairs
• an obstacle course with logs, stumps, ropes and nets
• a wooden climbing frame
• a snake balance trail
• picnic tables
• seats.

 

Lepe Country Park

Lepe Country Park has a huge range of activities on offer.

If you need an energy busting day then plan on paddling, sand castles and fossil finding before the tide comes in and then fairy door hunts, adventure play and a nature walk.

 

 

Or if you just want somewhere to relax, just sit back and enjoy the view.

Have a look at the Lepe Country Park website’s map for an overview of the activities on offer.

Nearest Town: Exbury, New Forest
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: SO45 1AD

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

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

How Long We Spent There: 4 hours
Buggies: There are some pathways that are buggy friendly along the seafront.  The beach itself can be hard to push a buggy along because it is divided by wooden posts, many of which have rotted to near sand level and are splintered in places.

Parking: There are two pay and display car parks – one next to the play area and another next to the beach, Visitor Centre and cafe. These are connected by stairs that lead down to the beach but we drove between the two because we were using a buggy. We parked easily in both but it must be very busy at peak times.
Cost of Parking: For April to September start at £2.50 for one hour and an all day ticket costs £9.50.

Wildlife You Might See: Seaside wildlife, seabirds and other birds, butterflies and other insects.

Information Written: September 2017
Information Checked: May 2023

 

 

 

Finding Fossils

Fossils can be found all over the beach, including:

• fossil shells 

 

• shark teeth 

 

• ray teeth.

You don’t need any special equipment to find the fossils but it is a good idea to bring some towels, containers, and kitchen roll to keep them safe.

The best time to look for fossils is from about an hour before low tide. 

 

 

Other Things to Find

As well as fossils, you can find bits of driftwood, seaweed, shells, crabs, and hermit crabs.

 

 

 

 

Billy’s on the Beach

We always round our trips off with a visit to Billy’s on the Beach, a relaxed, child-friendly beach restaurant and cafe.

 

 

 

 

Watch the Sunset

Billy’s has recently been named as one of the top 25 places in the world to watch the sunset – listed with places like Florida, Bora Bora, and Mexico!

 

 

 

 

Access to the Beach

The car park is next to the beach so access is generally easy but it can be difficult with a buggy because you have to climb down a steep, stoney slope. 

 

 

 

Access is easier from the slipway next to Billy’s.

 

 

 

 

The Tides

Be sure to check the tide times before you visit.

The beach is a sandy expanse (with shingle) when the tide is out but the sand disappears quickly as the tide comes in. 

 

Nearest Town: Bracklesham Bay, Near Chichester
County: West Sussex
Nearest Postcode: PO20 8JH

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or eat at Billy’s on the Beach. 
Facilities: Picnic tables, cafe, snacks, ice creams, toilets, accessible toilets. 

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

Parking: There is a pay and display car park. It can be very busy on warm days.
Cost of Parking: Various

Wildlife You Might See: Sea creatures and seabirds.

Information Written: January 2017
Information Checked: February 2023

 

Dinosaur Island 

Welcome to Dinosaur Island, a dinosaur-themed adventure play area at Southwater Country Park.

 

 

 

 

Follow the Footprints

When you arrive, a trail of dinosaur footprints lead you on a five to ten minute walk to Dinosaur Island, where adventure awaits…

 

 

 

The Adventure Play Area

The adventure play area is jam-packed with equipment, including:

• basket swings
• toddler swings
• tyre swings
• wooden climbing frames with balance courses and slides
• a long slide with a choice of easy to climb stairs or a cargo net walkway
• baskets suspended in a rope climbing frame
• aerial walkways
• musical walls
• a zip wire
• bridges
• a roundabout
• a seesaw
• a springer
• a spider web climbing frame and
• a sand play area with buckets, pulleys and dinosaur bones to excavate.

 

Southwater Country Park 

As well as Dinosaur Island, Southwater Country Park has an orienteering course 

 

 

 

 

and a lake, nature area,

 

 

 

 

 

a beach with a swimming area and a water sports centre where you can kayak, canoe, sail and paddle board.

 

Nearest Town: Horsham, near Crawley
County: West Sussex
Nearest Postcode: RH13 9UN

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: At the cafe or bring a picnic.
Facilities: None

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

Parking: Good sized car park.
Cost of Parking: From Various depending on when you visit – please see their website for full details.

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

Information Written: January 2017
Information Checked: October 2020

 

Southwater Country Park 

At the heart of the park is a lake with a beach and swimming area. 

Please note that the beach operates a booking system during the summer holidays – please see their website for details.

 

 

Activities

It has an orienteering course and the map is available to buy from the Southwater Country Park Visitor Centre.

There is also a water sports centre where you can kayak, canoe, sail and paddle board.

 

 

Dinosaur Island 

Dinosaur Island Adventure Play Area is a dinosaur-themed adventure play area, where adventure awaits…just follow the footprints!

 

 

 

This is jam-packed with equipment, including swings, slides, things to climb, aerial walkways and a zip wire.

 

Nearest Town: Horsham, near Crawley
County: West Sussex
Nearest Postcode: RH13 9UN

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: At the cafe or bring a picnic.
Facilities: None

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

Parking: Good sized car park.
Cost of Parking: From Various depending on when you visit – please see their website for full details.

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

Information Written: January 2017
Information Checked: October 2020

 

Highcliffe Beach

The views from the clifftop car park are spectacular.

 

 

 

 

You can see along the coast for miles in both directions and out to the Isle of Wight and The Needles.

 

 

 

 

 

Cliffhanger Cafe

The Cliffhanger Cafe is a child-friendly cafe next to the car park.

On arrival the staff gave us a highchair, a colouring book and some crayons.

 

 

 

 

The Tides

At low tide, the beach is an expanse of sand and shingle.

At high tide the beach all but disappears.

 

 

 

Be sure to check the tides when planning your trip – I have been caught out on a number of occasions by the unusual ‘Double High Waters’ here. 

 

 

 

 

Finding Fossils

Along the beach we noticed some lumps of clay lying on the beach that were full of small, grey shells and tubes. Some were visible on the outside of the clay and some were hidden inside. 

 

 

In about fifteen minutes we managed to collect 7 fossils.

They were whole and quite small – most were less than 2cm long.

 

 

 

 

The Cliffs

The cliffs can be unstable so we do not look for fossils on or near the cliffs.

They are also made of clay so you can get very muddy when you visit.

 

 

 

 

 

To Reach the Beach

The are two routes from the car park down to Highcliffe beach.

There is a path down the cliffs, which has a sea view but is steep with some stairs. 

There is an easier route that can be accessed through a green gate on Waterford Road (by Cliffhanger Cafe) at the entrance to the car park. It doesn’t have any stairs and has a smooth and less steep surface.

 

 

Highcliffe Play Area

If you find yourself waiting for the tide to change, or just fancy a play, then have a look at the nearby Highcliffe Play Area.

 

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

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

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

How Long We Spent There: Full day.
Buggies: Buggy friendly if you use the easier route to the beach (detailed above).

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

Wildlife You Might See: Sealife and seabirds.

Information Written: November 2016
Information Checked: July 2022

 

The Ships

One ship is a multiplay with sides to climb up, nets to tackle and a hold to hide in.

 

 

 

The other is afloat on a sea of sand with buckets, pulleys and chutes to operate

 

 

 

 

and hidden fossils to discover.

 

 

 

 

 

The Play Equipment

The play equipment is suitable for children to the age of 14 years old that includes:

• a boat multiplay with a slide and nets
• a second multiplay for younger children with a slide
• swings
• toddler swings
• a basket swing
• a wooden climbing frame with nets
• a spinner
• a sand play area with a boat, buckets and chutes.

 

The Sports Facilities

There is also a trim trail

 

 

 

 

 

a five-a-side football pitch

 

 

 

 

 

and a skate park.

 

 

Nearest Town: Godalming
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU7 2LG

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

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

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

Parking: No car park but we parked on the road by the park’s entrance.
Cost of Parking: Free

Information Written: April 2017
Information Checked: July 2022

 

The Dinosaur Museum

The Dinosaur Museum brings dinosaurs to life with life-sized models

 

 

 

 

skeletons

 

 

 

 

 

information about the scientists who discovered dinosaurs

 

 

 

 

interactive displays

 

 

 

 

 

fossil excavation

 

 

 

 

 

and activity sheets with a medal reward at the end.

 

 

 

Nearest Town: Dorchester
County: Dorset
Nearest Postcode: DT1 1EW

Opens: Daily

Adult Cost Range: £10 to £14.99
Child Cost Range: £5 to £9.99 
Free if: Under 3 years old

Where to Eat: There are lots of places to eat in Dorchester.
Facilities: Toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 1 hour
Buggies: Buggy friendly ground floor but there is a second floor at the top of a flight of stairs. 

Parking: There are several car parks in Dorchester. I have used the pay and display car park at Durngate Street (DT1 1NA), which is a few minutes walk from the Museum, and also Trinity Street (DT1 1TU), which is about a five to ten minutes walk.  
Cost of Parking: Varies.

Information Written: July 2022