Hampshire
A perfect blend of picture-postcard villages, undulating hills, leafy lanes, a superb coastline and vibrant towns combine with a rich maritime heritage to make Hampshire an ideal place to spend family days out.
The woods and heaths of the New Forest, where ponies graze through oak-fringed glades, merge into the lovely Solent shores, both areas a vast playground for energetic youngsters. With several attraction-packed towns and cities at your disposal, theme parks, wildlife parks and a plethora of history and heritage museums to stretch your kid’s imaginations, a day out could easily become two, three or even four.
Things to do in Hampshire for kids
Exbury Gardens
Exbury Gardens is a spectacular 200 acre site offering families a fantastic outdoors adventure with over 20 miles of pathways, three woods and parkland to explore. The Steam Railway is the highlight of the day for most families. The 20 min journey around the north-east corner of the Gardens commences at Exbury Central Station and Children are encouraged to look out for the railway’s woodland creatures made out of moss, including rabbits, a squirrel, deer, and a New Forest pony.
Gosport
With gorgeous views across the Solent and English Channel to the Isle of Wight, family friendly accommodation, country walks and attractions, Gosport and Lee-on-the-Solent is an ideal place for family breaks. The area is great for both walking and cycling and the beaches of Stokes Bay and Lee-on-the-Solent are great for families and for swimming and sailing. Whatever time of year you are planning to visit, there are a host of local events to enjoy and organise your trip around.
National Motor Museum Beaulieu
Beaulieu in the New Forest is perhaps best known for being the home to the National Motor Museum, a 250 vehicle collection of some of the most valuable and historically important vehicles in history, as well as some of the nation’s best loved film cars such as Rupert Grint’s flying Ford Anglia, as seen in Harry Potter and a replica from the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. With family friendly events throughout the year, 1 visit won’t be enough!
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the perfect family destination, with plenty of things for the kids to do. With miles of pebble beaches to explore and gigantic green spaces, you can soak up the sea air and enjoy nature’s playground. Visit family favourite Blue Reef Aquarium with it’s new Jelly Babies exhibit and playful otters, and Clarence Pier Amusement Park for some wild rides and an adventure on the new Pier Pressure sky trail.
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is a living history and there is no better or exciting way to discover and explore 800 years of maritime history. Children and adults alike can learn in innovative ways which include, games, dressing up, crafts and trails at each attraction. A day out will have them clambering the decks of HMS Warrior 1860 and HMS Victory, exploring spacious museums and flying a replica Merlin helicopter at Action Stations.
Royal Navy Submarine Museum
Dive into history at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Gosport, Hampshire go onboard our submarines and meet a real submariner to hear his stories about living beneath the waves.
Explore the Royal Navy’s first submarine Holland 1 launched in 1901 now recognised as a marvel of engineering. Discover the only surviving WW2 submarines remaining in the UK, the mighty HMS Alliance and midget submarine, X24. New family exhibition for 2012! Horrible Science of Submarines opening Easter.The New Forest Centre
The New Forest Centre in Lyndhurst is packed full of displays and activities about the New Forest National Park. There's something here for all ages and you'll find out more about how to enjoy your time in the Forest. Every Tuesday and Thursday during the school holidays you can enjoy a drop in session where the whole family get a chance to explore the New Forest Museum in more detail and join in some enjoyable Forest themed activities.
