With its lengthy golden sand seaside and string of household sights, it’s no surprise that so many holidays are booked in Bournemouth with youngsters.
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I’ve visited Bournemouth and neighbouring Poole with my daughter various instances, each when the solar’s shining and out of peak season in early Spring and late Autumn, and we’ve by no means been bored but.
So in case you’re searching for a household vacation by the seaside, right here’s my decide of the perfect issues to do in Bournemouth with youngsters, in addition to concepts for Poole and straightforward day journeys.
Hit the seaside
With a powerful seven miles of award-winning seashores, no journey to Bournemouth with youngsters is full with out a while on the seaside.
If it’s not the climate to paddle, there’s a promenade alongside the again of the seaside and you may stroll all the way down to Poole and Sandbanks past, in addition to all the way down to Hengistbury Head, or wander alongside the cliff path for a part of the best way (be careful for the goats on the cliffs!)
When the solar is shining, you’ll discover among the warmest sea temperatures within the UK, and on a transparent day you may see out to the Isle of Wight in addition to Outdated Harry Rocks.
Made up of a string of seashores, they do all merge into the opposite, so that you’ll discover Blue Flag seashores, dog-friendly seashores, loads of area for sandcastles, in addition to individuals having fun with watersports alongside right here.
You might rent a seaside hut in case you fancy, and throughout the summer season months, the Allianz KidZone seaside security scheme makes certain any misplaced kids (and weak adults) are shortly reunited with their households or guardians. Runs from July 14-September 3.
For concepts of find out how to entertain youngsters on the seaside, take a look at my publish of the perfect seaside actions
Wander alongside Bournemouth Pier
Whilst you’re having fun with the seaside, head down for a stroll alongside Bournemouth Pier – it’s free low season, or there’s a small charge throughout the primary season.
Initially opened within the nineteenth century, lately the pier is dwelling to a big arcade with video games, a number of outlets promoting souvenirs, solar hats, ice cream and extra, plus the Rock Reef exercise centre (learn on for extra about that).
There are additionally a few eating places, the place you may loosen up with a drink or one thing to eat and benefit from the views out throughout the ocean. Or the Oceanarium can be subsequent to the pier, so it’s simple to mix the 2.
The Oceanarium, Bournemouth
On the different finish of the county, you may uncover penguins and sea turtles, together with dwarf crocodiles and otters (plus enormous numbers of fish, after all) on the 12 themed environments of The Oceanarium in Bournemouth.
Try my Bournemouth Oceanarium overview after our personal go to throughout a really wet day in Bournemouth with youngsters
There’s an Journey Quiz Path to finish, whereas youngsters can measure themselves in opposition to a penguin (in addition to watching them waddle).
Hold a watch out on the day’s actions for talks and feeding instances, with an opportunity to see otters, penguins and sharks getting fed. Plus there are particular animal experiences so as to add some VIP enjoyable to your go to.
Rock Reef, Bournemouth
Whether or not you’re visiting Bournemouth in the summertime or on a wet day, there’s one thing to entertain everybody at Rock Reef.
The exercise centre on the top of the pier is right for adventurous youngsters. Older youngsters may even fly over the waves (and make imagine you’re going to maintain going below) with the RockReef Pierzip Line.
Working from a 25m excessive platform, you pace the 250 metres all the way down to the seaside in 30 seconds – and because it’s a twin zipwire, you may race a buddy down. Appropriate for teenagers over 1.3m.
You may purchase tickets with free cancellation right here
Deliberate to spend the day at Bournemouth Seashore however bought caught out by the rain? The adrenaline-fuelled journey centre additionally has 28 themed indoor climbing partitions with totally different levels of problem for teenagers 4 and above (and adults too, after all).
There’s additionally a vertical drop slide, a excessive ropes aerial impediment course, and an indoor caving expertise to strive.
Purchase tickets with free cancellation right here, plus an possibility to order now, pay later
Bournemouth Aviation Museum
In case your youngsters love all issues transport, Dorset can be dwelling to the Bournemouth Aviation Museum the place you may sit contained in the cockpit of a wide range of planes and helicopters, in addition to getting arms on with among the interactive shows, to not point out a flight simulator.
As an added bonus, it’s close to the airport for some added airplane recognizing! It’s price realizing that the plane are all open air, so the museum does often shut in very unhealthy climate, notably if there are excessive winds – finest for a drizzly day when you may sprint from one airplane to a different.
For extra concepts of the perfect issues to do in Dorset with youngsters, take a look at my prime picks
Metropolis Sightseeing Bournemouth open-top bus
Hop-on hop-off bus excursions may be a good way to discover with youngsters, as a extra scenic approach of getting from A to B or to absorb among the highlights in a single journey.
The Metropolis Sightseeing open-top double deckers depart from Bournemouth Pier and Poole Quay, travelling across the Sandbanks peninsula in addition to Poole Quay.
You may select 24h and 48h tickets, and the whole loop takes round 90 minutes.
Mr Mulligan’s Bournemouth
This loopy golf course is really out of this world – and because the intergalactic course (assume area invaders reasonably than sci-fi) at Mr Mulligan’s is all indoors, it’s an important possibility for wet days in Dorset.
Enable round an hour for the 18-hole course (relying on the variety of gamers) which sees you attempt to putt previous aliens and spaceships. Over-18s solely after 8.45pm however in any other case households are welcome to tackle the problem.
Smugglers Cove journey golf
You’re spoiled for selection in the case of journey golf in Bournemouth – Smugglers Cove is one other 18-hold mini golf course themed across the city’s smuggling historical past.
You’ll end up making an attempt to get previous obstacles together with treacherous rocks, waterfalls and church ruins, amongst different challenges as you battle your loved ones for {the golfing} crown.
Excellent for mini pirates, though it does shut over the winter months. Might the perfect smuggler win!
Go to the Upside Down Home
Flip your world the wrong way up and get some incredible enjoyable images as a memento of your Bournemouth journey on the Upside Down Home.
One in all many throughout the nation, every is designed barely in a different way, however all the time to allow you to seize some surreal photographs, whether or not you appear to be hanging from the ceiling or holding a mattress above your head.
Discover it close to the Vacationer Data Centre and the Pavilion.
Journey Wonderland, Bournemouth
Reopening Spring 2024 after renovations
This Dorset theme park is themed round Alice in Wonderland, and has been named one in all Dorset’s prime household sights – in addition to rides, there’s a maze, the Wild Factor indoor play, tender play and different actions, all geared toward households with kids aged 3 to 10.
There are some minimal peak restrictions (and some most heights!) however Journey Wonderland is a superb possibility with youngsters of various ages.
Alum Chine Tropical Gardens
Transport your self to the tropics with a wander by means of the free Alum Chine Tropical gardens – with the seaside within the distance and the solar shining, it’s simple to imagine you’ve left Dorset behind.
Courting again to the Twenties, the paths weave round palm timber and flowering vegetation, with benches to cease and take in the views.
They’re simple to succeed in from the Blue Flag seaside under, and there’s additionally a Treasure Island-themed play space close by if youngsters fancy one thing extra energetic than a delicate stroll.
By the way, in case you’re questioning what a ‘chine’ is, it’s a steep dry river valley – you’ll discover 4 inside Bournemouth, typically now with paths and stairs main between the seaside and the cliffs.
Go to a play cafe
Whereas there’s tender play to take pleasure in in Bournemouth as in most cities, you’ve additionally bought one other selection of enjoyable days out for toddlers and preschoolers, at one of many play cafes.
With function play in addition to academic toys (though they’ll be having far an excessive amount of enjoyable to grasp they’re studying), it makes an important possibility with youthful youngsters – plus an opportunity for folks to loosen up.
Children Play Cafe is geared toward kids aged 0-6, with two places together with one in Charminster, a brief drive from Bournemouth seaside, with the emphasis on studying by means of play in some enjoyable fantasy settings in addition to actual life ones.
Wild Ones play cafe in Kinson is for barely youthful youngsters, geared toward ages 0-4. Taking them on an journey into the forest, it’s additionally a brief drive outdoors Bournemouth metropolis centre, however nicely price trying out.
Or Cosy Village Position Play Cafe is designed for teenagers aged 0-5, very near Wild Ones play cafe in Kinson, with a number of on a regular basis settings for little ones to function play.
Oasis Enjoyable Indoor Centre, Bournemouth
Oasis Enjoyable Bournemouth is the last word rainy-day vacation spot in Bournemouth with youngsters of all ages.
The massive indoor play centre has greater than sufficient to do to maintain kids and teenagers occupied for hours, together with a spacious tender play space for little ones, 6 bowling alleys, an journey golf course, arcade video games, pool tables, and a restaurant.
The number of actions makes Oasis Enjoyable an important spot when you’ve got kids with totally different pursuits too, as everybody can discover one thing to entertain them throughout the day, and with probably the greatest tender play areas in Dorset, it’s a should with toddlers.
Strive an Escape Room
An escape room is all the time a incredible indoor household exercise, particularly if it’s pouring outdoors, notably with older youngsters and teenagers. You may check your loved ones’s teamwork abilities as you race to seek out clues, resolve puzzles, and try to flee the room earlier than the time runs out.
There are some nice escape rooms in Bournemouth, together with Marvo Mysteries and the Lockey.
For extra concepts of the perfect issues to do in Dorset within the rain with youngsters, take a look at my prime picks
Centre VR Bournemouth
Centre VR Bournemouth is the most important VR Centre within the UK and has one of many largest picks of video games and titles in all of Europe.
The indoor centre has an enormous number of multiplayer VR experiences that the entire household can take pleasure in, from capturing zombies or defending Mars from assault to enjoying a digital recreation of loopy golf or laser tag collectively.
Whereas there isn’t any strict age restrict, the centre means that VR is simply appropriate for kids above 7 years, whereas some video games are finest for these 12+.
Hengistbury Head Customer Centre
Though Hengistbury Head isn’t in Bournemouth itself, it’s so shut (round quarter-hour by automobile), that it ought to undoubtedly be in your listing of issues to do in Bournemouth with youngsters.
The right place to go to to find extra in regards to the space’s wildlife and geology, the Hengistbury Head Customer Centre is filled with interactive shows and makes an important start line in case you’re planning to move to Dorset’s nature reserves or go fossil looking.
You can even discover the character reserve across the centre, and hop on the little land prepare for some nice views of Christchurch harbour (the land prepare doesn’t run throughout winter months).
Issues to do in Poole with youngsters
Whereas Poole and Bournemouth are separate cities, they’re so shut to one another – you may stroll from Bournemouth Seashore to Poole Seashore with out an excessive amount of effort – that something in Poole is well accessible from Bournemouth too.
Metropolis Cruises Poole
If you wish to get out on the water, there are a string of boat excursions and cruises operating from Poole Quay, together with a 70-minute jaunt across the harbour previous Brownsea Island, Sandbanks Peninsula and Studland Bay.
Try my video of our cruise from Poole with Metropolis Cruises
Or you may head alongside the Jurassic coast on round cruises from Poole or Swanage, in addition to hopping on a ship for day journeys from Poole to Swanage (or vice versa).
There are additionally mixed tickets with Swanage railway and the Metropolis Sightseeing Bournemouth open-top bus teamed with a cruise.
Splashdown, Poole
In the event you’re searching for one thing enjoyable to do on a wet day in Dorset with youngsters, why not make getting drenched enjoyable with a go to to Splashdown waterpark in Poole.
Nice whether or not you’re visiting Dorset with toddlers or older youngsters, there’s the Ricky’s Reef for youthful ones, Buccaneers’ SplashZone for below 8s and 13 flumes starting from light to high-speed thrills, and slides that includes black holes.
Some do enterprise open air however you’ll largely be inside. There’s a minimal peak restriction of 1m. Children can’t go on the slides with dad and mom. Tickets should be prebooked.
Flip Out Poole
Flip Out Poole is Dorset’s largest indoor journey park, with loads of all-weather enjoyable for households.
Positioned contained in the Dolphin Procuring Centre in Poole, the thrilling journey park contains actions comparable to interactive soccer, laser tag, bumper automobiles, a battle cannon space, a curler skating rink, arcade video games, and a tender play space for toddlers.
You may e-book a 2 or 3 hour expertise which will get you limitless entry to the entire park’s actions. The park is open to youngsters of all ages, however some actions do have a peak or age restrict, so ensure that to test upfront.
In contrast to loads of different Flip Out places, it’s price realizing there aren’t any trampolines at Flip Out Poole.
Madness Gaming Arcade, Poole
Madness Arcade is a household pleasant retro gaming arcade in Poole, with over 60 traditional arcade video games and gaming consoles for all youngsters and adults of all ages to take pleasure in.
You’ll discover all the pieces from Guitar Hero and Road Fighter to Mario Karts, Sonic the Hedgehog, and extra, so you may share a few of your favorite childhood video games along with your little ones.
Relatively than utilizing the usual token system, the arcade fees a per-hour entry charge which will get you limitless free use of the entire video games and machines. There’s additionally an on-site bar and grill to seize lunch when you’re completed gaming, making Madness the proper rainy-day exercise in Dorset for households.
Upton Nation Park, close to Poole
A grand mansion sits on the coronary heart of Upton Nation Park, simply outdoors Poole, however it’s the woodlands that are most tempting for teenagers. (the home does open on Sundays and financial institution holidays for many of the yr in case you fancy peeking inside although).
There’s a nice play space made utilizing pure wooden, or in case you’re visiting in summer season (or generally throughout sudden heatwaves), a splash fountain to assist cool off within the Walled Backyard.
The cycle routes additionally kind a part of the Castleman Trailway, the outdated Southampton to Dorchester railway line became a delicate 16.5 mile biking and strolling path.
RSPB Arne
This beautiful nature reserve overlooking Poole Harbour is a superb place to discover with nature-loving youngsters, in addition to infants and toddlers – there are buggy-friendly paths as you seek for wildlife, together with a low ropes course for barely older youngsters.
It’s the one place the place all six of the UK’s native reptiles may be discovered, plus birds galore, and there are sometimes kids’s trails throughout holidays that will help you discover the heathland and historic woodland.
It’s additionally very near Shipstal seaside in order for you some coast along with your countryside.
Day journeys from Bournemouth with youngsters
Go to Brownsea Island
For extra native animals, take a ferry from Poole or Sandbanks over to Brownsea Island, dwelling to endangered crimson squirrels – excellent for teenagers to scurry round as nicely.
Well-known too because the birthplace of Scouting, there are particular calming walks if you wish to wind down plus a household squirrel path and different actions like den constructing.
Try my overview of a day exploring Brownsea Island with youngsters
Corfe Fortress
Hint a thousand years of historical past on the now ruined Corfe Fortress – not least the very fact it impressed Kirrin Fortress within the Well-known 5 books.
With its homicide holes, secret locations and tales of treachery and treason, to not point out hearsay of royal demise and its place within the Civil Warfare, it’s excellent to let imaginations run wild.
Try my overview of a time out at Corfe Fortress with youngsters
Swanage Railway
This beautiful heritage steam railway chuffs by means of the countryside alongside the outdated Southern Railway line between Swanage and Norden, stopping on the ruins of Corfe Fortress – so you too can use it as a extra uncommon option to get from A to B as nicely.
Look out for the companies marked with an ‘O’ when the particular Remark Automobile can be operating, with its enormous home windows for the perfect views, in addition to particular themed companies on the Swanage Railway year-round.
Norden is the closest station to Bournemouth if you wish to reduce down on time within the automobile.
Corfe Fortress Mannequin Village
In the event you’re planning a go to to the ruins of Corfe Fortress (and even in case you’re not), you may transport your self again to the times when the fort’s partitions nonetheless stood, in 1646 earlier than it was destroyed within the Civil Warfare.
Corfe Fortress mannequin village exhibits individuals visiting the church, standing by the moat and usually getting on with life within the village, whereas there’s additionally a fairy backyard, life-size Civil Warfare troopers on guard plus different actions for households (and dealing shares if anybody misbehaves).
Kingston Lacy
This lovely English nation home has a much more dramatic historical past than the elegant façade would possibly counsel – remodelled to seem like a Venetian palace, its former proprietor was additionally a famend Egyptologist so you may see the most important personal assortment of historic Egyptian artefacts at Kingston Lacy too.
Residence to art work by Rubens, Van Dyck, Titian and Brueghel, it has additionally been known as the South West’s ‘nationwide gallery’, whereas the large property is dwelling to Iron Age hill forts, the world’s oldest pedigree herd of Ruby Purple Devon cattle, and gardens so spectacular that Queen Victoria despatched her gardeners right here to get inspiration.
There’s a woodland path and walks galore, plus an illuminated path in winter known as Ignite. Timed tickets should be prebooked and restricted numbers allowed in the home.
Highcliffe Fortress, Christchurch
Highcliffe Fortress was constructed within the 1830s and has performed host to royalty through the years – however with youngsters’ trails and a few spectacular rooms to find, it’s additionally an important place to go to with household in Dorset.
In addition to the formal gardens and woodlands within the grounds, there’s additionally a seaside and nature reserve to discover – plus some enjoyable on-line actions to maintain the go to going when you get dwelling. You’re beneficial to prebook tickets, with restricted numbers allowed inside the home itself.
Moors Valley Nation Park
On the border of Hampshire and Dorset, Moors Valley Nation Park makes one other excellent spot to get open air with youngsters – and there’s an added draw for households.
As a result of lurking within the nation park is a fearsome monster, with a toxic wart on the top of his nostril and purple prickles throughout his again.
One of many places for the string of Forestry England Julia Donaldson trails, it’s nonetheless dwelling to each a Gruffalo and the Gruffalo’s Little one, alongside the kids’s Play Path, in addition to different household trails.
Plus, after all, loads of locations to stroll, cycle or watch the surroundings from a slender gauge steam prepare – together with a extra adrenaline-fuelled possibility on the Go Ape Junior Excessive ropes course, for anybody who fancies themselves the scariest creature within the wooden.
Paultons Park & Peppa Pig World
In the event you’re a dad or mum, likelihood is you’ll already know of Hampshire’s prime theme park – as Paultons Park is the house of Peppa Pig World. However in addition to the light rides and likelihood to satisfy Peppa and George in case you’re visiting Hampshire with a toddler, there’s a lot extra heart-racing enjoyable.
The household theme park has greater than 70 rides, acres of grounds and animals to satisfy, in addition to a number of themed areas: Misplaced Kingdom is all about dinosaurs, whereas Critter Creek is nice for youthful ones, so there’s one thing for older and taller youngsters who need some adrenaline thrills in addition to much less scary choices.
Add in playgrounds, a discovery path and different occasions and exhibits, and it’s very simple to fill your time out – no shock this is likely one of the prime household sights in Hampshire.
Try my suggestions for visiting Peppa Pig World
Discover the New Forest
One of many loveliest spots in England, the New Forest Nationwide Park is full of fairly villages, beautiful walks and most excitingly for small youngsters, ponies which roam freely – to not point out a couple of donkeys.
In the event you’re exploring the New Forest, the probabilities are you’ll see some alongside the best way however a great place to identify them is close to Brockenhurst, round Beachern Wooden.
Discovering them is an effective excuse to set out on a stroll or a cycle experience. From Brockenhurst, there’s an off-road path to Financial institution, or we cycled from close by Beaulieu to Bucklers Exhausting on the waterfront. You can even go canoeing on the river, in addition to discovering among the household sights within the New Forest.
For extra issues to do within the New Forest with youngsters, take a look at my prime picks
Disclosure: This publish incorporates affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I could obtain a small fee
Oceanarium/Alum Chine/Outdated Harry Rocks/Brownsea Island/Corfe Fortress/Peppa Pig World/New Forest copyright MummyTravels, all different photos courtesy of Depositphotos
