Tips for a week in Bournemouth with a toddler

[Blablabla1984]

We'll be going on holiday to Bournemouth for the 1st time with our 18m old. Any tips on activities and child friendly restaurants are welcome. Thanks :)

[TiggyD]

There's a nice park in poole. Possibly called poole park. Big lake, train ride, mini petting zoo(?), cafes etc. Looks nice.

[redskytonight]

Amazing country park with great playground, walks, trails etc - Moors Valley Country Park.

What is your AIBU?

[FuckingVipers]

Head over to the IOW on the ferry.

This isn't an AIBU though.

[StrawberryQuik]

There's a nice big acquarium on the seafront, agree with the pp who said head to the IOW though.
Have been both to Bournemouth and IOW on Holiday and the IOW felt much more like a holiday.

[Babymamamama]

When dd was toddler aged we loved getting the little train along the promenade. Nice swing park overlooking the sea at the western end of the beach (final stop on the little train). We enjoyed the acquarium and spent many a happy hour making sand castles on the beach. We also did a day trip to Poole and dd enjoyed painting a piece of crockery at the Poole pottery.

[Babymamamama]

Oh and peppa pig world is just down the road and great fun for that age group.

[TotalConfucius]

Farmer Palmers at Sandford is about 15 minutes away and is good for toddlers. Unless they are my toddler who falls into the pig trough.
Monkey World is about half an hour and can be interesting for toddlers. Unless they are my toddler who scares all the monkeys indoors with one look.

[blobatina]

Moors Valley Country Park
Peppa pig world
Corfe Castle, getting the steam park and ride then going on to Swanage

[Magstermay]

Farmer Palmers was fab, Poole park and the little soft play there, the Aquarium, beach, Lemur Landings soft play.

[Magstermay]

Oh and Swanage has a mini amusement park

[SaucyJack]

I bottle fed a goat at Farmer Palmer's. Then it shat on my foot.

I'd still go back.

[SpiceLinerandHoneyLove]

Lemur landings soft play at Tower Park in Poole
The Ark at Poole Park, again soft play but also swans, miniature steam train, lake and play parks there
Moors Valley Country Park. Parking is expensive but entry is free. Gruffalo and Gruffalo's child are there along with great steam trains and play parks
In Bournemouth itself try Little Pickles soft play in Winton, Sprinkles Gelato ice cream parlour, the Oceanarium, amusement arcade on the front
Try Branksome Chine beach for a great spot for beach BBQs and walks on the prom
The Littledown Centre has a great pool with lots of slides and a baby pool
The Soft Play Cafe in Southbourne is good
There is masses to do. Bournemouth is big place and has a lot of attached districts
No need to go abroad to the IOW

[Hawkinzy]

Sprinkles Gelato is horrendous now! Creams on Charminster Road is wayyyy nicer.

Oceanarium on the beachfront, the beach itself (avoid the far Boscombe end and under the pier, junkie needles galore), Bournemouth Pier, loads of soft play places.

Poole- Farmer Palmers in Organford, Poole park, Tower Park (not actually a park but a leisure complex - has a huge soft play place called Lemur Landings too), Upton Country Park (really lovely place), Brownsea Island, Poole Quay, Poole Pottery (not sure if they still do the make-your-own plates etc), museum. Paultons park/peppa pig world is about half an a hour away if you're willing to travel. Moors Valley is about 20 mins away. Avon Heath Country Park is about 15 mins away.


Food (Poole) - loads of food places in Tower Park, Day's (buffet), Corkers on the Quay, Da Vinci's, Rope & Anchor.

Bournemouth - Funki Griller, Starz diner, The Lost Garden, 7Bone, Rancho, Tiien