Family things to do near bournemouth | DAYoutWITHtheKIDS.co.uk | places to visit with kids

Bournemouth is a great place to have a day out with the kids. Below we've tried to list as many attractions as we can to make it easy for you to find fun places to visit - we hope you find our website useful - and easy to use. Do you know of any other great

places to go that we may have missed? If so, it would be really nice if you could you get in touch, so that other kids can enjoy the day out as well - thanks a lot - have fun!

Family Days Out near to Bournemouth

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Bournemouth Eye (< 1 mile)

Bournemouth

Bournemouth Eye Tethered Balloon Flights every day from the beautiful Lower Gardens in central Bournemouth. We'll take you 500ft. above this exciting resort where you'll experience amazing panoramic views over the English Channel and surrounding countryside, for up to 20 miles.

Bournemouth Bus Mystery Treasure Trail (< 1 mile)

Bournemouth

Bournemouth Bus Mystery Treasure Trail Looking for a fun and interesting way to explore Bournemouth? Don't just wander around aimlessly, do a Treasure Trail! These fun treasure hunts will teach you fascinating facts about the area and show you some beautiful scenery. Enjoy a fun family walk in the fresh air and solve an intriguing mystery at the same time.

Oceanarium (< 1 mile)

Bournemouth

Oceanarium The Oceanarium Bournemouth brings you face to face with marine life from the furthest reaches of the globe including clownfish, sea turtles, sharks and stingrays.

Bowlplex Poole (2 miles)

Branksome

Bowlplex Poole There are 24 computerised bowling lanes at Poole Bowlplex.

Ollie's Playland (3 miles)

Poole

Ollie's Playland Kids indoor play area in Poole. Two level play area for kids aged 3 and under, another for kids aged 4 to 11. Great venue for parties. Parents / carers can enjoy a meal from our café and keep an eye on the kids enjoying themselves.

Littledown Centre (3 miles)

Bournemouth

Littledown Centre Its Fun, Fitness and Friends for Kids at Littledown In our Kids Programme we have a wide range of activities designed for your children to have Fun, stay Fit & Healthy and make lots of new Friends There are various ways to join in the action

Giggles Play Centre (4 miles)

Bournemouth

Giggles Play Centre A great new children's indoor play centre with all pools, tunnels, slides, rope ladders, games and loads more

Splashdown (4 miles)

Poole

Splashdown Mega water park - there are four amazing outdoor rides to enjoy

Tower Park (4 miles)

Poole

Tower Park With a 10 screen multiplex cinema to bingo, bowling and a water park with 12 of the UK's most exciting indoor and outdoor rides, Tower Park is a fun day out for all.

Monkey Bizness (4 miles)

Poole

Monkey Bizness - the premier family entertainment centre, where kids can be kidz. With separate play areas for 0-2, 2-5 and 5-12 year olds.

Gus Gorilla's Jungle Playground (4 miles)

Poole

Gus Gorilla's Jungle Playground Gus Gorilla's Jungle Playground
three exciting levels - brave the spiral slide - see the amazing ball juggler - zoom down the drop slide - zip down the tube slides - fire the ball cannon - go bananas in our huge ball pool - improved toddlers area

Brownsea Island (5 miles)

Poole Harbour

Brownsea Island A peaceful island of woodland, wetland and heath with a rich diversity of wildlife for you to visit.

Adventure Wonderland (5 miles)

Christchurch

Adventure Wonderland So if you're a would-be Pirate, an intrepid Explorer, a Mad Hatter or just a plain old fashioned Fun Lover, then you and your family have got a real treat in store!

Bournemouth Aviation Museum (5 miles)

Christchurch

Bournemouth Aviation Museum What kid wouldn't want to sit at the controls of a real aircraft - well here we have a fab lot of military and civilian planes. Loads of other flying exhibits including a collection of model aircraft and an area for picnics close to the main runway at the airport in Bournemouth.

Poole Pottery and Factory Outlet (5 miles)

Poole

Poole Pottery and Factory Outlet Have a go children's area and potters wheel section in the Factory Outlet on the Quay.

The Dolphin Swimming Pool (5 miles)

Poole

The Dolphin Swimming Pool - swimming facilities and diving pool with 1m and 3m springboards and a 5m platform.

Serendipity Sams Play and Party Centre (5 miles)

Christchurch

Serendipity Sams Play and Party Centre Great kids indoor play centre - ring for more deatils

The Clay Studio (5 miles)

Christchurch

The Clay Studio We are a contemporary pottery painting studio offering inspiration fun for all the family. We help to bring out the artist in you through help and encouragement.

Indoor Karting Centre (5 miles)

Christchurch

Indoor Karting Centre WEBSITE IS DOWN - PLEASE RING B4 GOING Are you a budding Lewis Hamilton or Jenson Button - you'll never know unless you get along down to the Karting track - great fun

Snowtrax (6 miles)

Christchurch

Snowtrax Set in an attractive alpine environment, this exciting kids' Alpine Activity Centre offers loads of fun, with a wide range of thrilling "turn up and ride" activities, there's something for everyone. Parents can join in, or relax and enjoy the beautiful views from our Alpine Bistro.

Matchams Karting Bournemouth (8 miles)

Ringwood

Matchams Karting Bournemouth The 160cc Formula K Fun Karts are operated on a purpose built 100 metre track, these karts are perfect for the younger driver and reach speeds of up to 25mph. The Fun karts give the perfect opportunity for mum and dad to race the kids!

Coffee Pots Ceramic Cafe (8 miles)

Wimborne

Coffee Pots Ceramic Cafe is an exciting new venue in Wimborne, offering quality 'Fair Trade' coffee in our ground floor cafe. Why not take it easy with a cappuccino and newspaper, or a light lunch and a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, while the children paint a mug for Grandma in our ceramics studio.

Model Town at Wimbourne Minster (8 miles)

Wimborne Minster

Model Town at Wimbourne Minster Built well over 50 years ago, the superb 1/10th scale models continue to surprise and amaze visitors from all over the world with their superb quality and realism.

Swanage Railway (9 miles)

Swanage

Swanage Railway The award-winning Swanage Railway currently operates on the six miles of track between Swanage and Norden, through the beautiful Isle of Purbeck, passing the magnificent ruins of Corfe Castle.

Moors Valley Country Park (10 miles)

Ringwood

Moors Valley Country Park Adventure play, narrow-gauge steam railway, play trails - in fact there is loads to do - check webslink inside.

Farmer Palmers (10 miles)

Poole

Farmer Palmers ?The best, value for money, visitor attraction for children 8yrs and under!? ?Hands-on? animal events, outdoor play, indoor soft play areas & toddler/baby facilities. Serving home cooked food in large restaurant, your children will have a fun day whatever the weather!

Go Ape! (10 miles)

Ringwood

Go Ape! Think you, your friends and family can handle 3 hours of tree top adventure? Are you wild enough to climb 30ft up a rope ladder, Tarzan swing into a giant rope net then zip wire through trees, crawl through tunnels and tackle high wire rope bridges?

Putlake Adventure Farm (10 miles)

Swanage

Putlake Adventure Farm 30 acres of fun, lots of farm animals, indoor play centre and stuff to play on.

Corfe Castle (10 miles)

Wareham

Corfe Castle One of the most evocative ruined castles in England with over 1,000 years of turbulent history. Castle View visitor centre explores the lives (and deaths) of past residents - the Swanage Railway operates a steam train service to Corfe Castle

Corfe Castle Model Village (10 miles)

Corfe Castle

Corfe Castle Model Village Opened in 1966 to the public, the Model Village depicts the Castle and village as it was in 1646. You can compare the real castle with the Model castle from our garden, this gives a fantastic idea of how it used to look when it was home to Lady Banks

Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum (10 miles)

New Milton

Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum This spectacular motorcycle museum houses over 350 rare and classic motorcycles, many being the only remaining examples in the World.

Ringwood Town and Country Experience (11 miles)

Ringwood

Ringwood Town and Country Experience If you wonder what a village town was like in years gone by, then you must visit the Ringwood Town and Country Experience, this is not just a museum it is a fascinating insight to times gone by. It is a place for everyone to visit young and not so young and you will all enjoy it.

The Blue Pool (11 miles)

Wareham

The Blue Pool retains miniscule, light diffracting particles of clay in the water, causing a spectrum of colour variations, sometimes from minute to minute. Now deep turquoise, now emerald green, the Pool is a constantly changing delight to the eye. Has tea rooms and museum - quite fascinating.

Dorset Heavy Horse Farm Rescue Centre (13 miles)

Verwood

Dorset Heavy Horse Farm Rescue Centre As well as the rescued wildlife enjoy an under cover Go-Kart Arena, Mini Pedal Tractors and Trailers, Straw Fun Barn, Wooden Play Area, Sand Pit, Children's Fair Ground Ride, and Toddlers Toy Area.

Needles Park (15 miles)

Totland Bay

Needles Park visit to view these jagged chalk stacks and lighthouse, the unique multi coloured sand cliffs and enjoy the Park's facilities, including the spectacular chairlift.

The Needles Old Battery (15 miles)

Alum Bay

The Needles Old Battery This spectacularly sited fort overlooks the Needles rocks and has a fascinating history told by cartoons. There are guns on the parade ground, a twisty tunnel to explore and family activity packs to borrow plus a free children's soldier trail. Can you find Major Mindup and his Gunners? New for 2010: see how the Cartridge Store looked in 1880.

Monkey World (15 miles)

Wareham

Monkey World Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre is a 65-acre woodland park which is home to over 160 rescued and endangered apes and monkeys.

Royal Signals Museum (15 miles)

Blandford Camp

Royal Signals Museum It is the national museum of Army communications and the exhibits and displays show the part that communications have played in the many wars and campaigns of the last 150 years.

Lymington Sea Water Baths (16 miles)

Lymington

Lymington Sea Water Baths Unheated sea water baths open daily to swimmers from May to September from 10am to 7pm. Children's paddling pool and sandpit also available.

Island Planetarium (16 miles)

Yarmouth

Island Planetarium Planetarium Theatre and astronomy centre with various displays and shows. Discover the universe through a variety of exhibitions.

Underwater Archaeology Centre (16 miles)

Yarmouth

Underwater Archaeology Centre A centre where you can discover the wonders of Maritime history and archeology.

West Wight Sports Centre (16 miles)

Freshwater

West Wight Sports Centre 'We are located in the centre of Freshwater, and have one of the newest sports and leisure facilities on the Isle of Wight.'

Blandford Leisure Centre (17 miles)

Blandford

Blandford Leisure Centre Fantastic fun for all the family. Water cannons, bubble bath, and the waterslide are just some of the exciting water features in the swimming pools during our Water Wonderland Sessions. See inside for times and website.

The Tank Museum (17 miles)

Bovington

The Tank Museum The Tank Museum in Bovington Dorset houses the world's largest and finest collection of Armoured Fighting Vehicles from unique World War 1 tanks to the latest main battle tank of the British Army - Challenger. The Museum has a collection of almost 300 vehicles from over 26 countries.

Yarmouth Castle (17 miles)

Yarmouth

Yarmouth Castle The remains of a C16th coastal fort as well as a wonderful picnic spot, historic Yarmouth exhibition and a C16th shipwreck.

New Forest Reptile Centre (17 miles)

Lyndhurst

New Forest Reptile Centre Discover more about reptiles and amphibians here at this unique reptile centre located in the national park.

New Forest Treasure Trail (18 miles)

Lyndhurst

New Forest Treasure Trail Looking for a fun and interesting way to explore Lyndhurst? Don't just wander around aimlessly, do a Treasure Trail! These fun treasure hunts will teach you fascinating facts about the area and show you some beautiful scenery. Enjoy a fun family walk in the fresh air and solve an intriguing mystery at the same time.

Combat Island (18 miles)

Yarmouth

Combat Island Looking for action? Go commando! Set amongst acres of forested terrain lies the Island's exciting new laser combat adventure Combat Island.

Beaulieu (21 miles)

Brockenhurst

Beaulieu In the heart of the New Forest this great family day out has something for everyone from motoring to heritage and history to rides. 250 vehicles in the motor museum, living history in Palace house and unlimited rides on the monorail and bus make a day for the whole family.

Longdown Activity Farm (21 miles)

Ashurst

Longdown Activity Farm Longdown Activity Farm is a fantastic family day out for everyone. A daily schedule of activities includes kid goat and calf bottle feeding, small animal handling, duck feeding and meeting the pigs. Plus, there are lots more animals to see. There is a brilliant - and very bumpy tractor ride (weather permitting). Five indoor and outdoor play areas means theres lots of fun - whatever the weather!

Thanks for all the great places to go when visiting Dorset you keep sending in.
Now the summer holidays are upon us, we're trying to find as many things to do with kids as possible, especially cheap and free family friendly places to visit this year - theme parks, waterparks and swimming pools, museums, indoor soft playcentres, petting farms, wildlife parks and zoos, castles, railways, pottery making and ceramic cafes, roller and ice skating rinks, dry and indoor ski slopes, climbing walls, ten pin bowling alleys, steam railways and other tourist attractions.

Also teachers may find the site useful for ideas for the best places to take their classes on school journeys.

So, if you've been for great days out with the kids, or a school trip, which isn't listed above, just send in an email and we'll add it on so people on holidays and all the other children in Dorset can enjoy the great day out as well.

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