Hampshire - things to do

[mumdebump]

Holidaying in Hampshire in June. Any suggestions for places to go, things to do in the area suitable for 3 yo. Thanks.

For a full day out try

Paultons Park

Tis truly fab for small children, and not bad for adults too

Thanks. Now a lifetime few years ago I would have run a mile from such a place. Now I'm thinking 'ooh, looks a good day out'. Funny how a little one changes your perspective .

Any good beaches? (Hants or Sussex)
Good places to take toddler to see ponies in the New Forest?

we often go to rufus stone - off the a31 on the b3078 - mainly cause its fairly quiet and theres lots of space. ponies are everywhere - but be careful because they are wild and tourists do get kicked or nipped occassionally espec if they are waving food at the animals. there's marwell zoo near winchester. winchester and salisbury are nice old cities with good restaurants/pubs etc. there are lots of beaches in dorset - bournemouth/poole. not sure about hants though. alice in wonderland theme park - though its in dorset near bouremouth airport

Thank you. We're going to be in E Hants nearer Sussex than Dorset so prob won't make it that far for a beach but will definitely have to go to Rufus Stone if only for the great name

In that case if you have bad weather try The Milestones Museum in Basingstoke, a fab indoor 'Real Life' type museum with reconstructed streets of houses, shops & workshops etc. Mind you good in any weather really. Has a lot of hands on things to do.
There is also The Historic Dockyard in Portsmouth which has HMS Victory, The Mary Rose, HMS Warrior etc.
Blue Reef Aquarium in Southsea (like Sea Life Centre). Are you going in the Summer Holidays,in which case you could go to Hollycombe, this is near Liphook & is an outdoor museum of Steam Powered Fairground rides plus narrow gauge trains, which is only open at weekends or weekdays as well in summer holidays. If you come on over into West Sussex there is the Chichester Harbour area, Weald & Downland Museum at West Dean, nr Chichester, Amberley Working Museum, near Arundel and nice beaches near Worthing in the Goring & Ferring Areas plus Climping near Littlehampton.

Marwell Zoological Park

If you are in E Hants, the nearest sandy beach is at West Wittering.

Also try Birdworld and Alice Holt Woodland Park - both in Surrey, but near Hampshire