New Forest

[Cheguevarahamster]

We are going to the new forest in a few weeks and are staying near Ringwood. Can anyone recommend some good places for day trips around the area. Don't mind driving up to 40 minutes each way. I already have Moors Valley Country Park on my list. Any activities will do- parks, zoos, good play areas, museums. For two boys ages 6 & 8.

Paultons park, monkey world, tank museum, fossil hunting at the beach whose name I can't remember, Bournemouth aquarium, new forest water park.

Thanks eve!

New forest wildlife park (usually a discount code online) has a great adventure play area. Paultons park is much more than peppa pig world...

Boulder Wood Walk, Motor Museum at Beaulieu, Broadlands at Romsey, New Forest Visitor Centre at Lyndhurst, Lymington (nice town), Winchester Cathedral and Museums.

Lepe beach is lovely for a walk, skimming stones, bbq etc - not classic bucket and spade but lovely anyway. Lots of D Day memorabilia as well. You're also not so far from the historic dockyard at Portsmouth which is great for all ages

Beaulieu motor museum - even if you're not that interested in cars. Lots of space, a cool elevated monorail ride, open to bus rides, lots of history, lots of really lovely-looking cars. They've got the cars from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Harry Potter among many, many others. And a fab Top Gear museum that is very tongue in cheek - probably now even more so!

Alum chine is a lovely beach if you get the weather!

If you want to try crabbing, Mudeford is fab. There's a little shop there where you can buy crab lines and bait.

Oh we went to pretty much exactly where you say last year - are you at Oakdene? I also have two boys similar ages. We liked:
Beaulieu (pronounced bewley)
Aviation museum at airport, very interactive and we were there about 1.5 hours!
Amusement park next door to the aviation museum, don't remember it's name but it's alice in wonderland themed
kayaking at mudeford quay, got double kayaks and is very safe, not deep nor choppy
biking, lots of biking
Bournemouth beach on a sunny day
Moors Valley (that you already have)
Corfe castle and the miniature village in the same town. We are NT members though, this would be expensive otherwise.
tried to go to waterpark in Poole (splashdown) but turned up at the same time as 3 coach loads of teenagers and so didn't bother! Cinema next door.

Had a really nice meal in Noisy Lobster in Ringwood, plus one or two pub lunches in new forest. It was such a good holiday we're half in mind to go back next year.

I would avoided Splashdown at all costs, I'm still scarred from taking DDs and their friends there 7 years ago

It's a victim of its own success and very, very overcrowded.

Open top bus from Bournemouth station over the chain ferry to the Purbecks. You can go to Swanage, walk up to Old Harry Rocks etc. The day tickets mean you can hop on and off whenever you want and the family tickets (up to five people) are fantastic value. Great day out.

There is a sea water lido in Lymington, with loads of play apparatus in the water for kids. Looks great fun, if cold!

Kingston Lacy and Mottisfont NT properties are both great.
Paultons Park
Moors Valley
Bolderwood
New Forest Reptile Centre
Lepe Country Park

Thought Beaulieu overpriced and overrated myself but then I don't give a toss about cars!

Day trip to Salisbury and paddle in Queen Elizabeth Gardens. There's a kind of island in the middle and most DC love jumping on and off. Wilton House adventure playground is also good.

The seawater lido in Lymington is fab. If the water is too cold for you you can rent a wetsuit there. Not just for a sunny day, either - it's actually a pretty good thing to do on a drizzly grey day.

These are brilliant! Thanks all.

usain no not at oakdene. Really excited about going!

Bit of a drive but i thought Marwell zoo was a good day out and worth travelling to.

Are you going to Sandy Balls? I love that place :)

You'll be staying near me then

The bournemouth air show is on 18-21st and is brilliant. There is usually a park and ride into the show.

good for a rainy saturday afternoon if your boys like scalextric cars

Any tips for the other side, close to Lepe?
Can you see ponies all over the place?

Yy to ponies (and donkeys and cows) everywhere. Usually in the middle of the road you want to drive down

Exbury Gardens near Lepe looks good, we've never been though.

as a local - do not feed or attempt to pat the horse, donkeys etc,

Too many people are doing this so hey now expect food from humans and can get aggressive, then the same people complain about being hurt.

Paultons
Longdown dairy farm
Beaulieu - garden centre there has great food
Bournemouth aquarium
New forest wildlife centre (discount if you have an IKEA family card)

Manor Farm - J8 of M27. I'm a local and I never get bored of it. 19th C farm and run as such. Also there's woods and fields to walk in all the way down to the river Hamble.