With its lengthy golden sand seashore and string of household points of interest, it’s no surprise that so many holidays are booked in Bournemouth with children.
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I’ve visited Bournemouth and neighbouring Poole with my daughter quite a lot of occasions, 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 should you’re in search of a household vacation by the seaside, right here’s my choose of the perfect issues to do in Bournemouth with children, in addition to concepts for Poole and simple day journeys.
Hit the seashore
With a formidable seven miles of award-winning seashores, no journey to Bournemouth with children 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 seashore and you’ll stroll right down to Poole and Sandbanks past, in addition to right down to Hengistbury Head, or wander alongside the cliff path for a part of the way in which (be careful for the goats on the cliffs!)
When the solar is shining, you’ll discover a number of the warmest sea temperatures within the UK, and on a transparent day you possibly can see out to the Isle of Wight in addition to Outdated Harry Rocks.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 house for sandcastles, in addition to individuals having fun with watersports alongside right here.
You could possibly rent a seashore hut should you fancy, and in the course of the summer time months, the Allianz KidZone seashore security scheme makes certain any misplaced youngsters (and weak adults) are rapidly reunited with their households or guardians. Runs from July 14-September 3.
For concepts of the way to entertain children on the seashore, take a look at my publish of the perfect seashore actions
Wander alongside Bournemouth Pier
When you’re having fun with the seashore, head down for a stroll alongside Bournemouth Pier – it’s free low season, or there’s a small payment throughout the primary season.
Initially opened within the nineteenth century, as of late the pier is residence to a big arcade with video games, a number of retailers 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 possibly can 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 possibly can uncover penguins and sea turtles, together with dwarf crocodiles and otters (plus large numbers of fish, after all) on the 12 themed environments of The Oceanarium in Bournemouth.
Take a look at my Bournemouth Oceanarium evaluate after our personal go to throughout a really wet day in Bournemouth with children
There’s an Journey Quiz Path to finish, whereas children can measure themselves towards a penguin (in addition to watching them waddle).
Preserve a watch out on the day’s actions for talks and feeding occasions, 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 tip of the pier is right for adventurous children. Older children may even fly over the waves (and make consider you’re going to maintain going beneath) with the RockReef Pierzip Line.
Operating from a 25m excessive platform, you velocity the 250 metres right down to the seashore in 30 seconds – and because it’s a twin zipwire, you possibly can race a good friend down. Appropriate for teenagers over 1.3m.
You may purchase tickets with free cancellation right here
Deliberate to spend the day at Bournemouth Seaside however bought caught out by the rain? The adrenaline-fuelled journey centre additionally has 28 themed indoor climbing partitions with totally different levels of issue 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 attempt.
Purchase tickets with free cancellation right here, plus an choice to order now, pay later
Bournemouth Aviation Museum
In case your children love all issues transport, Dorset can be residence to the Bournemouth Aviation Museum the place you possibly can sit contained in the cockpit of a wide range of planes and helicopters, in addition to getting palms on with a number of 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 figuring out that the plane are all outside, so the museum does sometimes shut in very unhealthy climate, notably if there are excessive winds – finest for a drizzly day when you possibly can sprint from one airplane to a different.
For extra concepts of the perfect issues to do in Dorset with children, take a look at my high picks
Metropolis Sightseeing Bournemouth open-top bus
Hop-on hop-off bus excursions will be an effective way to discover with children, as a extra scenic means of getting from A to B or to soak up a number of 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 entire loop takes round 90 minutes.
Mr Mulligan’s Bournemouth
This loopy golf course is actually out of this world – and because the intergalactic course (suppose house invaders reasonably than sci-fi) at Mr Mulligan’s is all indoors, it’s an awesome choice 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 alternative in relation to 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 attempting 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. Could the perfect smuggler win!
Go to the Upside Down Home
Flip your world the other way up and get some implausible enjoyable pictures as a memento of your Bournemouth journey on the Upside Down Home.
Certainly one of many throughout the nation, every is designed barely in another way, however at all times 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 every of Dorset’s high household points of interest – in addition to rides, there’s a maze, the Wild Factor indoor play, gentle play and different actions, all geared toward households with youngsters aged 3 to 10.
There are some minimal top restrictions (and some most heights!) however Journey Wonderland is a good choice with children of various ages.
Alum Chine Tropical Gardens
Transport your self to the tropics with a wander by the free Alum Chine Tropical gardens – with the seashore within the distance and the solar shining, it’s simple to consider you’ve left Dorset behind.
Courting again to the Nineteen Twenties, the paths weave round palm bushes and flowering crops, with benches to cease and take in the views.
They’re simple to achieve from the Blue Flag seashore beneath, and there’s additionally a Treasure Island-themed play space close by if children fancy one thing extra lively than a delicate stroll.
By the way, should 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 seashore and the cliffs.
Go to a play cafe
Whereas there’s gentle play to get pleasure from in Bournemouth as in most cities, you’ve additionally bought one other alternative 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 awesome choice with youthful children – plus an opportunity for fogeys to loosen up.
Children Play Cafe is geared toward youngsters aged 0-6, with two areas together with one in Charminster, a brief drive from Bournemouth seashore, with the emphasis on studying by play in some enjoyable fantasy settings in addition to actual life ones.
Wild Ones play cafe in Kinson is for barely youthful children, geared toward ages 0-4. Taking them on an journey into the forest, it’s additionally a brief drive outdoors Bournemouth metropolis centre, however effectively price testing.
Or Cosy Village Function 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 children of all ages.
The big indoor play centre has greater than sufficient to do to maintain youngsters and teenagers occupied for hours, together with a spacious gentle 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 awesome spot if in case you have youngsters with totally different pursuits too, as everybody can discover one thing to entertain them in the course of the day, and with top-of-the-line gentle play areas in Dorset, it’s a should with toddlers.
Attempt an Escape Room
An escape room is at all times a implausible indoor household exercise, particularly if it’s pouring outdoors, notably with older children and teenagers. You may take a look at your loved ones’s teamwork abilities as you race to seek out clues, clear up 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 children, take a look at my high picks
Centre VR Bournemouth
Centre VR Bournemouth is the biggest VR Centre within the UK and has one of many largest alternatives 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 get pleasure from, from taking pictures zombies or defending Mars from assault to enjoying a digital recreation of loopy golf or laser tag collectively.
Whereas there isn’t a strict age restrict, the centre means that VR is barely appropriate for youngsters 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 automotive), that it ought to positively be in your record of issues to do in Bournemouth with children.
The proper place to go to to find extra in regards to the space’s wildlife and geology, the Hengistbury Head Customer Centre is stuffed with interactive shows and makes an awesome place to begin should you’re planning to move to Dorset’s nature reserves or go fossil looking.
You may as well 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 children
Whereas Poole and Bournemouth are separate cities, they’re so shut to one another – you possibly can stroll from Bournemouth Seaside to Poole Seaside with out an excessive amount of effort – that something in Poole is definitely 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 working from Poole Quay, together with a 70-minute jaunt across the harbour previous Brownsea Island, Sandbanks Peninsula and Studland Bay.
Take a look at my video of our cruise from Poole with Metropolis Cruises
Or you possibly can 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
Should you’re in search of one thing enjoyable to do on a wet day in Dorset with children, 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 children, there’s the Ricky’s Reef for youthful ones, Buccaneers’ SplashZone for beneath 8s and 13 flumes starting from light to high-speed thrills, and slides that includes black holes.
Some do enterprise outside however you’ll principally be inside. There’s a minimal top restriction of 1m. Children can’t go on the slides with dad and mom. Tickets have to 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 Buying Centre in Poole, the thrilling journey park contains actions reminiscent of interactive soccer, laser tag, bumper vehicles, a battle cannon space, a curler skating rink, arcade video games, and a gentle 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 children of all ages, however some actions do have a top or age restrict, so be certain that to test upfront.
Not like lots of different Flip Out areas, it’s price figuring out there are not 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 children and adults of all ages to get pleasure from.
You’ll discover every thing from Guitar Hero and Road Fighter to Mario Karts, Sonic the Hedgehog, and extra, so you possibly can share a few of your favorite childhood video games together with your little ones.
Quite than utilizing the usual token system, the arcade costs a per-hour entry payment 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 carried out gaming, making Madness the right 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 a lot of the 12 months should you fancy peeking inside although).
There’s a nice play space made utilizing pure wooden, or should you’re visiting in summer time (or typically throughout surprising heatwaves), a splash fountain to assist cool off within the Walled Backyard.
The cycle routes additionally kind a part of the Castleman Trailway, the previous Southampton to Dorchester railway line was a delicate 16.5 mile biking and strolling path.
RSPB Arne
This pretty nature reserve overlooking Poole Harbour is a good place to discover with nature-loving children, 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 children.
It’s the one place the place all six of the UK’s native reptiles will be discovered, plus birds galore, and there are sometimes youngsters’s trails throughout holidays that can assist you discover the heathland and historic woodland.
It’s additionally very near Shipstal seashore if you would like some coast together with your countryside.
Day journeys from Bournemouth with children
Go to Brownsea Island
For extra native animals, take a ferry from Poole or Sandbanks over to Brownsea Island, residence to endangered purple squirrels – excellent for teenagers to scurry round as effectively.
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.
Take a look at my evaluate of a day exploring Brownsea Island with children
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 loss of life and its place within the Civil Struggle, it’s excellent to let imaginations run wild.
Take a look at my evaluate of a day trip at Corfe Fortress with children
Swanage Railway
This pretty heritage steam railway chuffs by the countryside alongside the previous Southern Railway line between Swanage and Norden, stopping on the ruins of Corfe Fortress – so you too can use it as a extra uncommon solution to get from A to B as effectively.
Look out for the providers marked with an ‘O’ when the particular Statement Automobile can be working, with its large home windows for the perfect views, in addition to particular themed providers on the Swanage Railway year-round.
Norden is the closest station to Bournemouth if you wish to reduce down on time within the automotive.
Corfe Fortress Mannequin Village
Should you’re planning a go to to the ruins of Corfe Fortress (and even should you’re not), you possibly can transport your self again to the times when the citadel’s partitions nonetheless stood, in 1646 earlier than it was destroyed within the Civil Struggle.
Corfe Fortress mannequin village reveals 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 Struggle troopers on guard plus different actions for households (and dealing shares if anybody misbehaves).
Kingston Lacy
This stunning English nation home has a much more dramatic historical past than the elegant façade may recommend – remodelled to appear to be a Venetian palace, its former proprietor was additionally a famend Egyptologist so you possibly can see the biggest non-public 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 massive property is residence to Iron Age hill forts, the world’s oldest pedigree herd of Ruby Pink 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 have to 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 over time – however with children’ trails and a few spectacular rooms to find, it’s additionally an awesome place to go to with household in Dorset.
In addition to the formal gardens and woodlands within the grounds, there’s additionally a seashore and nature reserve to discover – plus some enjoyable on-line actions to maintain the go to going when you get residence. 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 great spot to get outside with children – 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 tip of his nostril and purple prickles throughout his again.
One of many areas for the string of Forestry England Julia Donaldson trails, it’s nonetheless residence to each a Gruffalo and the Gruffalo’s Baby, alongside the youngsters’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 choice on the Go Ape Junior Excessive ropes course, for anybody who fancies themselves the scariest creature within the wooden.
Paultons Park & Peppa Pig World
Should you’re a mother or father, likelihood is you’ll already know of Hampshire’s high theme park – as Paultons Park is the house of Peppa Pig World. However in addition to the light rides and probability to fulfill Peppa and George should you’re visiting Hampshire with a toddler, there’s lots extra heart-racing enjoyable.
The household theme park has greater than 70 rides, acres of grounds and animals to fulfill, 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 children who need some adrenaline thrills in addition to much less scary choices.
Add in playgrounds, a discovery path and different occasions and reveals, and it’s very simple to fill your day trip – no shock this is among the high household points of interest in Hampshire.
Take a look at my suggestions for visiting Peppa Pig World
Discover the New Forest
One of many loveliest spots in England, the New Forest Nationwide Park is filled with fairly villages, pretty walks and most excitingly for small children, ponies which roam freely – to not point out just a few donkeys.
Should you’re exploring the New Forest, the possibilities are you’ll see some alongside the way in which however a superb 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 Laborious on the waterfront. You may as well go canoeing on the river, in addition to discovering a number of the household points of interest within the New Forest.
For extra issues to do within the New Forest with children, take a look at my high picks
Disclosure: This publish comprises affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I’ll obtain a small fee
Oceanarium/Alum Chine/Outdated Harry Rocks/Brownsea Island/Corfe Fortress/Peppa Pig World/New Forest copyright MummyTravels, all different photographs courtesy of Depositphotos