Mooching round Portsmouth waiting for ferry - 2.10 y.o. Forecast rain. Nothing too taxing

[mrsgboring]

Can anyone help? Title says it all really. We're catching the S. Malo ferry on Saturday night and would like to spend most of the day in Portsmouth or environs.

Is the Historic Naval Dockyard a good place for a toddler?

I am in early stages of pregnancy - already feeling sick and knackered and not a little pathetic, (also terrified of spending 12 hours puking on a ferry) so anywhere we go has to have a plentiful supply of sitting down, eating opportunities and lavatories.

Dockyard is ok, and there is a small soft play area attached to a cafe which is free. However, I wouldn't do any of the ships with a small toddler. Other options in Portsmouth would be Gunwharf (although parking on a busy wet saturday might be difficult) - could do both dockyard and gunwharf as they are 5 mins walk apart. Southsea common is great with good playgrounds, but if it is raining wouldn't be much fun. How much time do you think you will have there? Park near Cathedral (free for 2 hours) and walk round old port and have walk by entrance to harbour and Round Tower (again not much fun if it is raining).

There's an aquarium in Southsea, it's not huge but might kill a couple of hours. Gunwharf is ok, might be very busy but there's bowling, a cinema, plenty of eateries and toilets.

If you get the foot ferry from Portsmouth over to Gosport there's a short walk along the seafront up to the Submarine Museum which may appeal to your DC.

Good point re submarine museum. DS1 loved it when he was about 2.5 (Daddy is a submariner). The wheels and knobs etc went down well although he was a bit scared in the actual submarine went the alarm went off (it is quite load and they do it every time).

oops loud

Ooo thank you these are fab suggestions.