Hampshire - things to do with kids

[waterlane]

Hi there
We've got a staycation booked in Hampshire and we're going to do Peppa pig whilst there but I wondered if there are any good local places we should check out with the little ones. Thanks

The new forest is an obvious one. Lovely walks and it’s always novel to see the ponies, pigs and cows roaming free.

beaulieu Motor museum is quite interesting if you like that sort of thing.

If you have national trust membership then mottisfont is a nice place to visit.

Moors valley country park is also lovely, they have go ape there too depending on your DC ages, but you don’t have to do it, still plenty for younger kids.

There’s lots of nice beaches along the south coast and if you get a rainy day, splashdown in Poole (I know it’s Dorset, but not too far) is a good indoor water park.

You can also get the boat from Poole harbour to brown sea island, again national trust, but that’s a lovely day out.

It’s a lovely part of the world. Have fun.

Bucklers Hard is lovely. And Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is great. You could a ferry or hovercraft over to the Isle of Wight and (weather permitting) get an open top bus round the island. So much to do in that part of the world. Have a lovely time!

Thanks for the recs. Has anyone been to Finkley Down Farm? We wanted to find something as local as possible to where we are staying as the kids are little

Marwell is also an obvious choice.

Finkley down farm is a good day out. I would also recommend the new forest, lots to see.

Winchester is lovely - cathedral, walks along river, Bishops palace ruins etc. Plus the science centre and planetarium. Maxwell zoo not far away either

Finkley is awesome. Not sure where you are staying but Wellington Country Park is worth a trip

Furzey gardens is wonderful for an ages. It's quite near pepper pig world.

It's a large gardens with fairytale trail. Lots of fun things, tree houses etc to discover. It's quite reasonable entry prices.

Finkley down is good too.

Whereabouts are you staying?

Oh, and when? (Term time; during week etc).

Finkley is great, Winchester science centre is well worth a visit and definitely Marwell. Bucklers hard is a nice trip. When you go to Peppa Pig world spend some time in the rest of the park, the queues are usually shorter and it's a lot of fun.

@Heartofstrings

Finkley is awesome. Not sure where you are staying but Wellington Country Park is worth a trip

Just looked at Wellington and it looks amazing! Perfect for our ages and close to where we're staying. Thanks so much!

For rainy days: Intech

Noirs Valley Country park is ace, and cheap, and lots to do

Moors

Intech (Winchester Science Centre) can be very NOISEY, I personally think it is better suited to year 2+ primary than 'little ones'.

Romsey Rapids for a wet day.
Frankies Fun Factory soft play, Romsey for a wet day.

Or also for a wet day, though can get busy on wet days, Poppies Crafts just on the North side of Romsey. The children can tear up bits of paper and stick them onto a small 3d animal (decopatch). Has nice tea rooms attached.

Longdown Activity Farm

New Forest Wildlife park.

Definitely Moors Valley.

NB I don't know the current opening status of any of the indoor places I mentioned.

Hampshire is a large county. Where are you staying?

Just looked where Finkley Down is - near Andover, so guessing near there, but also not too far from Soton & Paulton's.

How about Hawk Conservancy, Andover?

I would say this place as my kids loved it:
www.hants.gov.uk/thingstodo/countryparks/manorfarm
However, it looks like they aren't doing the activities at the moment but that might change!

New forest wildlife park is amazing.