Activities in New Forest in the rain

[phoebemcpeepee]

We're off to The New Forest (near Lymington) next week and the forecast is abysmal .
We had planned to go cycling & a day at the Lido we will still do unless it's absolutely torrential but with 5 kids age 10-13 to entertain, they (& we!) will go stir crazy if we just stay indoors playing board games all day.
we don't want to be spending a fortune everyday but really need to plan a couple of days out - any suggestions?

I once spent 3 hours in Lyndhurst museum with a 2 year old. Try that!!!

Go to the isle of wight on the ferry.

Romsey Rapids swimming pool has a decent flume, wave pool, rapids, waterfall etc...
Fort Victoria Model Railway

Use the Met Office forecast - it’s very good - the forecast doesn’t look too bad after Saturday.

I wouldn't ferry over to the island- it'll be Cowes week & they'll triple the already extortionate prices 😂 we're hoping to go from the island to the new forest camping next week but the prices are ridiculous

There is an activity centre (climbing mostly I think) at Calshot. Beaulieu Motor Museum. Bournemouth Aquarium maybe?

There are loads of little villages that are nice to visit even in the rain. Burley is a good one, it’s witch themed and there are lots of little shops and some tea rooms. Lyndhurst is also worth a stroll, there’s an old fashioned sweet shop at one end of the high street. There is also a hop on / off new forest bus that you can sit indoors, we’ve done it in the rain before and not got out! You can get on at Lyndhurst or Lymington, google new forest bus tour. Lymington is really nice too and there is a little play park near the Lido.

More expensive days out are Beaulieu Motor Museum which isn’t far, a bit further out there are good indoor ball pit soft play places that I can point you in the direction of. Lepe beach is good, as long as it’s not actually raining there is a play park, cafe and sensory garden and little walk, you only pay for parking. There is an aquarium in Bournemouth which isn’t too far away but is a drive.

I will keep thinking! X

If you went to Southampton there is a cinema and bowling and nice places to eat - book online at Hollywood Bowl Southampton and Showcase Cinema De Lux. Marwell Zoo is a bit further away towards Winchester. Romsey Rapids has already been mentioned which is good. There is also Splashdown near Bournemouth which has flumes etc. Beaulieu village has a chocolate shop and a really nice garden centre cafe. There is a pub nearby called the Royal Oak which does good food and has a nice garden if it isn’t raining xx

There are a few museums and an art gallery in Southampton too. They might be running school holiday events.
Interesting way to get into Southampton would be to drive over to Hythe, get the pier train and then the ferry across the water.
hytheferry.co.uk/

Thanks everyone some really great suggestions.

Highlight for my DS was the Ferrari or Mclaren garage in one of the towns. They were v nice to him... (can't even remember what type of car it was, but DS would...)

The Ferrari/Maserati garage is in Lyndhurst

there is a very original crazy golf at Lymington its just past the Isle of WIight ferry