Ninja Warrior UK

Based on the TV series, the park has several sections – an inflatable course

 

 

 

 

Mount Sasuke

 

 

 

 

 

and the obstacle course, which ends with The Wall.  

 

 

 

 

 

Can You Beat the Wall?

The Wall is just like at the end of the TV course – you have to run up it as far as you can and then pull yourself up the rest of the way. 

 

 

 

We have always found the staff friendly and ready to offer technique tips so everyone has a good chance of making it to the top. 

 

 

 

 

Mini Ninja Soft Play

These are also sessions run away from the main area for children aged 0 to 3 plus an adult.  

Nearest Town: Guildford
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: GU1 1DQ

Opens: Daily

Adult Cost: Various – depending on the session you choose. 
Child Cost: Various – depending on the session you choose. 
Free if: You aren’t taking part. 

Where to Eat: Eat at the cafe. 
Facilities: Cafe, snacks, ice creams, toilets, accessible toilets.

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

Parking: There is a car park but it can be busy.
Cost of Parking: Free

Information Written: August 2023
Information Checked: May 2024

 

Two Museums 

The history of Andover and the surrounding area is told across two museums under one roof – Andover Museum and Musuem of the Iron Age. 

 

 

 

 

Andover Museum 

Andover Museum lays out the history of Andover in exhibits, including recreations of a Stone Age person,

 

 

 

 

the Andover workhouse

 

 

 

 

 

and a creepy cupboard…

 

 

 

 

 

Boo!

 

 

 

 

 

It also has a children’s activity room and a trail around the museum. 

 

 

 

 

 

Witch Bottles

These are bottles full of urine, hair, pins and salt that in the 17th century were believed to ward of witches and their spells. 

 

 

 

 

The Cockatrice

Believed to roam around the picture perfect village of Wherwell,

 

 

 

 

the cockatrice was a fearsome creature with the body of a rooster, the tail of a lizard and the wings of a bat.

You can see it on the old weather vane from Wherwell Church.  

 

 

 

Museum of the Iron Age 

Musuem of the Iron Age tells the story of Danebury Hill Fort with a recreation of a roundhouse

 

 

 

 

and other exhibits. 

 

 

 

 

 

Danebury Hill Fort 

About 2,500 years ago, Danebury Hill Fort was a series of earthen ramparts, ditches and gateways protecting a central area. 

 

 

 

It is believed that during the Iron Age, about 300 to 400 people lived at Danebury Hill Fort, along with grain stores, livestock, temples and shrines.

 

 

 

Danebury Hill Fort is about a 15 minute drive from the musuem. 

 

Nearest Town: Andover
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: SP10 1DP

Adult Cost Range: £1 to £4.99
Child Cost Range: £1 to £4.99
Free if: Under 5 years

Opens: Wednesday to Sunday

Where to Eat: Cafe.
Facilities: Ice creams, snacks, shops, toilets.

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

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

Information Written: June 2022

 

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

 

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

 

Samuel Franklin Cody

Samuel Franklin Cody is an exiting and charismatic local character who the museum, and its wonderfully enthusiastic volunteers, have worked hard to bring to life. 

 

 

 

Cody was born in the USA and became a famous Wild West showman.

Later in life he became interested in kites and aviation. 

 

 

 

 

 

The Cody Flyer 

In 1908, Cody flew British Army Aeroplane No.1A, or The Cody Flyer, over Farnborough for 27 seconds and became the first person to fly a heavier-than-air machine in Britain.

This historic moment marked the beginning of a new era for British aviation. 

 

 

The Cody Flyer Replica

Volunteers have built an impressive and full-size replica of The Cody Flyer.

You can try flying it yourself in a flight simulator.

 

 

 

*The Wind Tunnels at Farnborough

These wind tunnels were used for research from the 1930s until the 1990s. Today these are listed buildings that you can see on a private tour, which includes visiting a tunnel that is 24 feet wide and also the Sea Plane Tank. 

I haven’t taken this tour yet but hope to over the summer. For further information on the Wind Tunnels, please visit the Wind Tunnels section of the Farnbrough Air Sciences Trust Museum website. 

 

Farnborough Airport

The museum is next to Farnborough Airport so you might also see aeroplanes flying over you. 

 

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

Opens: Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays.
Cost: Free and donations are welcome.

Where to Eat: There is a coffee shop.
Facilities: Coffee shop, snacks, drinks, toilets, accessible toilets.

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

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

Information Written: June 2022

 

The Story Worlds

…there is a Lollipopter to pilot,

 

 

 

 

an alligator waterfall to cross,

 

 

 

 

a spoon forest to add to,

 

 

 

 

a Hovering Observatory to fly through the clouds and

 

 

 

 

Hootah’s spaceship to explore in the Discover Children’s Story Centre Story Garden. 

 

 

 

 

Your Challenge!

Can you explore these worlds and write Hootah a story…

 

 

 

 

…he can post home to wake up his fellow Squigglydigglians!? 

 

 

 

 

 

The Temporary Exhibitions

There are also regular immersive exhibitions, often guided by a storyteller.

We have sleuthed our way around Rob Biddulph’s 100 Story Hotel,

 

 

had supper with Judith Kerr’s The Tiger Who Came to Tea,

 

 

 

 

and explored the world of Mog the Forgetful Cat.

 

 

 

 

 

Where to Eat

There is a cafe upstairs that serves food and drinks. There is also a picnic area in the garden. 

You can also bring your own food to the Story Centre.

 

The Outdoor Adventure Play Area

We love the imaginative Discover Children’s Story Centre Adventure Play Area.

The equipment and layout fires the imagination and is a natural extension of the Story Worlds.

 

There are things like a space ship, a house that walks, two slides, musical equipment and a mud kitchen.

 

Nearest Town: Stratford
County: London
Nearest Postcode: E15 4QZ

Adult Cost Range: Various – please see their website for details. 
Child Cost Range: Various – please see their website for details. 
Free if: Under 1

Opens: Daily

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic and eat at the picnic tables, try the cafe or try a cafe on the High Street.
Facilities: A shop, cafe, ice creams, picnic area, toilets and accessible toilets.

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

Parking: There are car parks around Stratford but the Story Centre does not have one of its own.
Cost of Parking: Various depending on where you park.

Information Written: June 2022

 

The Zones

The Discovery Centre is divided into five zones, each looking at a different area of science, nature and engineering.

 

Build It!

In this zone, children can dress up in hi vis jackets and hard hats and then use dumper trucks, wheelbarrows, chutes and pulleys to construct a house from bricks and lay a roof with slates.

 

 

 

Woodland and Water

This area includes an indoor stream with boats, waterfalls and dams and musical pipes to play.

Be sure to bring a change of clothes if you are going to play with the stream, my children get very wet!

 

 

Note that the Build It! and Woodland and Water Zones are inside the centre but somehow open to the air outside. They can both be cold so be sure to bring warm clothing in the winter.

 

 

 

Body and Perception

The centre piece of this zone is a huge magnetic board with moveable pipes and chutes you can arrange to form a ball run.

When the ball reaches the end it is blown back to the start!

 

 

There are also activities like the mysterious treasure chest and an electronic table with games to play

 

 

 

 

and a test your reactions machine!

 

 

 

 

 

Insect Enclosure

There are different animals to see, including a snake, stick insects, cockroaches, toads and leaf cutter ants – one of my favourites!

 

 

 

 

Forces and Movement

Here you can launch a hot air balloon and a rocket, play in a sand video game,

 

 

 

 

investigate space, play a huge piano with your feet, build a bridge, or shop in the mini-supermarket.

 

 

 

 

Light and Colour

Last but certainly not least, this zone has experiments with light and the fun Optimusic, which is an interactive game you play by stepping into light beams.

 

 

 

 

 

Cafe and Kiosk

Inside the centre is a cafe that serves hot and cold food and also a gift shop.

Outside is a kiosk that sells refreshments and lots of picnic tables.

 

 

 

The Adventure Play Areas

The Look Out has two of the bet adventure play areas we have come across – one for ages 3 to 6 years and another for ages 7 to 11 years.

We love the Look Out Discovery Centre Adventure Play Areas and visit regularly.

 

 

The Swinley Forest

The Look Out centre is surrounded by the Swinley Forest, which has cycle trails and three signposted walks to try, including the Heritage Trail, which leads you to an iron age hill fort and the site of a Roman town.

 

 

 

Orienteering

There is also a permanent orienteering course, which you can buy from the reception desk in the Discovery Centre for £1.

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

Adult Cost Range: £5 to £9.99
Child Cost Range: £5 to £9.99
Free if: Under 4

Opens: Daily

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

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

Parking: There is a large pay and display car park but this can be very busy.
Cost of Parking: From £3.10 for the first four hours.

Wildlife You Might See: Birds and insects.

Information Written: March 2017
Information Checked: January 2022

 

Play Trail

This adventure play trail has wooden equipment scattered along a woodland walk, including:

• a musical tiger
• animals to climb on
• a snail slide
• a tractor and
• wooden climbing frames with bridges, ropes and climbing walls.

 

 

High Wood Barn Play Area

Next to the cafe is a play area for children up to 8 years. It has equipment that includes:

• a wide slide on a hill
• a tunnel
• a wooden climbing frame
• a wooden pirate ship
• a log balance course
• a jeep springer
• animal springers
• an obstacle course
• puzzle boards and
• seats to sit on.

 

Little Monkeys Play Area

About a five minute walk from the cafe is a second play area for children to the age of 14 years. The equipment includes:

• a slide on a hill with tunnels
• a climbing frame of suspended baskets
• swings
• toddler swings
• a wooden climbing frame
• climbing rocks
• a seesaw
• an obstacle course with wobbly logs, bridges, and rope swings (this is hidden in the woods next to the play area!)
• a spinning hoop
• a basket swing
• a rope climbing frame
• a zip wire and
• seats to sit on.

 

 

Other Activities

As well as playing, there are other things to try, including:

• the Nature Detectives walk, which is a nature trail with information boards and brass rubbing spots. 

 

• a cafe that sells food and drinks and has an indoor play area with educational activities.  

 

• orienteering courses. Maps can be picked up from the Woodland Cafe or from the British Orienteering website.

 

• lots of trails. Have a look at the Itchen Valley Country Park Trail Guide for further details.

 

 

River Itchen

The strange thing about River Itchen Country Park is that you can’t actually get down to the river. 

You can stand on a bridge over the river though. To find it, leave the Woodlands Cafe with the play area on your left and follow the path.  

 

 

Itchen Valley Nature Reserve

If you cross this bridge you can walk through water meadows during the summer and early autumn (it is flooded at other times).

There are water voles, otters and lots of insects living here. 

 

Nearest Town: Southampton
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: SO30 3HQ

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Eat at the cafe, hire a barbecue or bring a picnic.
Facilities: Cafe offering snacks and ice cream, shop, toilets and accessible toilets, picnic areas. 

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

Parking: There are several different car parks to choose from. 
Cost of Parking: From £1.50 per hour.

Wildlife You Might See: Insects, butterflies, ducks, geese, kingfishers, other birds and deer.

Information Written: July 2020

 

The Playbarn

This is the indoor soft play area and it’s dominated by a three storey play frame with hidden areas, nooks and crannies, bridges, ropes and slides, as well as a ball pit with cannons and air jets. Hidden underneath is a football area and an interactive games mat. 

 

 

 

 

At the centre of the play frame is a huge three lane, wavy slide. It’s fast, fun and furious and adults can join in too – exhilarating stuff!

 

 

 

In the back corner is a small area for children under 4 years that has a slide, rocking animals and a sensory area with bubbling tubes. 

 

Around the outside of the play frame are tables for adults and a cafe where you can buy drinks, snacks and food.

 

The Mini Farm

The farm area is small but there are plenty of animals to see and feed, including alpacas, chickens and pigs.

 

 

 

If your children like collecting stamps then be sure to pick up an Animal Passport at the Information Desk before you go outside.

 

 

 

The Outdoor Play Areas

There are lots of activities to explore outside:

 

role play construction and digging

 

 

 

 

play with sand and water pumps

 

 

 

 

a farm-themed play area  

 

 

 

 

 

drive on sheep 

 

 

 

 

 

a fairy tale play area with swings and several slides

 

 

 

 

panning for gold

 

 

 

 

pedal bikes and cars.

 

 

 

 

There are also trampoline-style jumping pillows, a musical instrument area, remote controlled boats, coin operated rides, a wooden obstacle course, a very short safari train ride, a cow to pretend milk, a reptile house and a fairy door trail that leads around the lake. 

As you can probably imagine, Jake’s Playworld can be extremely busy during the holidays, especially on rainy days, but is much quieter during term time. The condition of the equipment varies from new to a little tired. 

Nearest Town: Sandhurst
County: Berkshire
Nearest Postcode: GU47 8JQ

Adult Cost Range: £1 to £9.99
Child Cost Range: £1 to £14.99
Free if: Under 1 and just visiting the farm.

Opens: Daily

Where to Eat: Cafe and an outdoor picnic area. 
Facilities: Cafe, shop, ice creams, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 3.5 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: Large car park
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Alpacas, sheep, ducks, geese, goats, pigs, ponies, rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, chickens, peacocks and lizards.

Information Written: March 2020

 

The Etches Collection Museum of Jurassic Life

The brilliance of this museum is that it displays the fossils and then brings them to life in multiple ways…

 

 

 

 

drawing the animals around them to illustrate which body part the fossil came from

 

 

 

 

providing specimens you can touch

 

 

 

 

 

showing you the workroom where fossils are removed from rocks

 

 

 

 

 

using CGI to show you what the creatures could have looked millions of years ago

 

 

 

 

providing hands-on, child-friendly activities like fossil excavation, puzzles, colouring and painting

 

 

 

 

posing a Mesozoic Murder Mystery for you to solve – can you use fossils to work out who ate the plesiosaur?

 

 

 

 

Find Fossils For Yourself

It also encourages you to go down to Kimmeridge Bay beach and find fossils yourself.

 

 

 

 

Great Value

The Etches Collection is interactive, modern, fun and informative.

It is also great value, as one ticket gives you free entry for a year, and compact, so there are no problems with short attention spans. 

 

 

6 Out of 5!

I asked my children how they would rate The Etches Collection and Kimmeridge Bay out of 5 and they said, “6”, which sums it up perfectly – we love coming here.

Nearest Town: Kimmeridge
County: Dorset
Nearest Postcode: BH20 5PE

Adult Cost Range: £5 to £9.99
Child Cost Range: £0 to £4.99
Free if: Under 5 years or with a ticket bought in the last 12 months.

Opens: Daily

Where to Eat: Cafe, picnic area and a nearby restaurant. 
Facilities: Cafe, shop, picnic area, toilets and accessible toilets.

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

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

Information Written: November 2019