Dorset or Cotswolds with young children

[Poppadomstreet]

Hi,

We were looking to go to Dorset for four nights at the beginning of May. My youngest will be 14 months and I also have a three-year-old. However I have just found a place in the Cotswolds, the accommodation is a bit nicer and it’s only £50 more expensive.

I’m just wondering if there is plenty to do in the cotswolds (Cirencester area) with young children?

The places we had in our mind for possible days out in Dorset are: Brownsea Island, Moores Valley country Park, and The blue pool. I’d like to keep it pretty budget friendly, mainly outdoor places where we can explore at our own pace.

Any advice welcome to help me make a decision!

I'd go to Dorset, kids mostly play for ages on a beach. Costwolds is a bit more dog walking and country pubs to me.

Swanage in Dorset is nice for small kids, lovely safe beach, Corfe Castle is only about 5 miles away, and there's a steam railway in Swanage too. You can visit the Swanage Lifeboat Station shop too. Much better bet than the Cotswolds imo.

Incidentally, the best takeaway fish and chips I ever had in my entire life was when we were on holiday in Swanage years ago. Never forgotten it!

I’d go to Dorset ,most small children like a beach even if it’s in wellies and a coat .

I like Dorset. For kids there are beaches and weird "seaside" places like Lulworth Cove (won't be very warm in May tho) and for adults there's a lot of history (Thomas Hardy for example). I think the Abbotsbury swannery is in Dorset?

I’d go to Dorset and I’ve lived in and loved the Cotswolds my entire life!

We love both, but I'd definitely do Dorset. Corfe Castle is gorgeous, with lots of pubs, a miniature village, the actual castle grounds, playground etc. Swanage is also great - beautiful and lots to do Inc arcades, lovely playground, lots of cafes/bookshop etc.

If you get bored you can always get the car ferry across to Sandbanks as well - loads more beaches and fun things to do over there.

I'm very familiar with and fond of the South Cotswolds area but agree with others that Dorset is better with very young DC, we had a lovely first family holiday with our two at similar ages staying near Poole.

There's the Cotswold wildlife park...

OTOH I live in Swanage and it does have a good beach - Studland beach nearby is even better.
There is a little soft play and petting farm just up the road https://putlakeadventurefarm.co.uk/ or a bit further away there is Farmer Palmers which people say is great for little ones. https://www.farmerpalmers.co.uk/

Echoing Corfe Castle, Swanage, Farmer Palmers and Blue Pool. Poole harbour boat rides could be fun too, though they book up early.

Abbotsbury's a bit further away to see the swans. You used to be able to double it up with a visit to Farmer Palmers, though they've moved to just outside Wareham now.

If it rains there is a swimming complex with indoor pools/slides and cinema in Poole but go early, the pool gets very busy.

I live in Dorset, so feel free to ask any questions. Brownsea Island is National Trust. You can do a cruise around Poole Harbour. Poole Quay. Swanage. Lulworth Cove. Weymouth.

Another vote for Dorset, Corfe Castle and the steam train to Swanage is a perfect holiday day out for little kids! There's lots to do in Cirencester area too but mostly paid attractions - Cotswold wildlife park, Cotswold farm park, Bibury trout farm etc.

Dorset it is then! Thanks all.

This is great to hear @ExtraDisorganised as we will be staying near Poole. It’s our first holiday as a 4 on our own, we’ve been away twice since DS2 arrived but both times have been with grandparents.

@Notquitegrownup2 i had looked at the swimming pool as a rainy day activity so good to know it gets busy.

Thank you @Sassybooklover any restaurant recommendations? Both my children are adventurous eaters so we’re not too restricted but anywhere family friendly would be good.

Another vote for Dorset and the Perbeck peninsula. We took out almost 2yo there and had plenty to do.
He loved exploring the ruins at Corfe castle and the little model village next to it.

Playground on the sea front in Swanage

Farmer Palmers activity farm is one of the best we've been to.

Studland bay is beautiful white sandy beach.

Lulworth cove and Durdle Door

We took the car across to Sand Banks on the ferry and had lunch and a play at the lovely beach there.

Drove home via the car ferry to Bournemouth, which has the aquarium for a rainy day.

I've done both with under 5s and Dorset is much better suited to that age group. We keep meaning to go back as there's so much to do.

Dorset is good for kids as it's a bit more urban (well Poole and Bournemouth is) so there are some rainy day options. My kids are older now but they liked

• Farmer Palmers (play farm near Lytchett)
• Moors Valley (just have to pay to park- really good playgrounds and a cafe)
• Monkey World at Wareham
• Poole Park - lots of swans and geese and a playground and a little train (seasonal so check)
• Beach at Sandbanks/ Branksome
• Splashdown (the indoor waterpark that I think @Notquitegrownup2 mentioned - it can be a bit feral in the holidays but on a weekday in term time it'll be fine).
• Also Poole is drivable to Peppa Pig World near Romsey but that's a bit $$$

Restaurants- Bournemouth/Poole has most of the usual suspects in terms of the chains but not that many great independents if I'm honest. A few worth mentioning that I know - The Cliff pub does really good Sunday roasts (book), and in the same area Baafi for pizzas or Lazy Jacks on Sandbanks itself (both also do takeaway). The Caff at Sandbanks is great for basics like toastie and chips or full English after the beach. There's a good little restaurant called South Deep in one of the marinas off Liliputt too. Otherwise, Westbourne (local high street between B&P) has a lot of little eateries- quite a lot of Asian food there. 1805 in the town centre does great authentic Chinese but is high end price wise.

Dorset is child heaven (I brought up 2 dc here, so take it from me). Funnily enough we're going to Cirencester area for our summer break - but dc are adults now so we're all up for long walks to country pubs etc

I'm further west in the county but can recommend Love Cake in Swanage - if you love cake!

Just to add, probably not your idea of holiday fun, but if the weather is bad there's a small soft play at the Ark in Poole Park and a bigger one at Tower Park (which is an out of town entertainment and shopping place and where the waterpark is).

Cotswolds boring. More for pubs and restaurants not so good for young children.

Dorset has a special place in my heart.

To add to the above, lulworth castle is a good shout, i think theres a tank museum nearby too

Yes- Bovington- it's very good but may be a bit old for the 3 year old unless they're a bona fide tank fanatic. Mine started enjoying it around age 5.