Bournemouth - Any ideas?????

As stated in the above link, The Oceanarium is a good place for kids - worth doing when you have a couple of hours spare.

There's also MonkeyWorld in Wareham, which is about an hour away, and Marwell Zoo, also about an hour away in Winchester!

I don't know Bournemouth at all, but of course the dreaded McDs often have play areas. And I reckon you often get a good VFM breakfast in a supermarket cafe. While there aren't often play areas there, if you were coming to Bristol I'd say breakfast at Morrisons at Cribbs Causeway, then one of you nip round and buy any supplies you need while the other heads off the The Mall, which has a play area out the back. Is there anything like that near Bournemouth, maybe?

Also, I suggest visiting Poole Quay. There are museums, aquariums, boats, islands to visit, and Poole Pottery (very famous apparantly) which contains a have-a-go area for kids where they can paint plates or plaster of paris figures. They have a website: https://www.poolepottery.com


Sadly the pottery closed on the quay a couple of years back, it's now been replaced by horrible flats! The Aquarium also closed a while back. You can still get boats over to Brownsea Island and crabbing is popular and cheap. You just need a crabline and some bait, which is available at loads of kiosks.

Hi,
I live in Poole and i would suggest if you could come ove this way from Bournemouth (about 1-2 miles), go to the Dolphin centre. There is a huge multi storey car park which links straight into the shopping centre, there are several cafes in side and burger king, kfc and mc d's in easy walking distance. But the best bit is on the top floor there is a huge play area called Ollies and the kids love it. There is an entrance fee to the play area, but i don't think its very expensive.
The other option would be Poole park - where there is a cafe (unfortunatley not very cheap) with Gus gorilla's next door (another huge play area, again has an entrance fee) but also next to that is an outdoor playground and a small train that you and the children can ride, also lots of ducks to feed, which the ids love!! There is lots of open space at poole park so is great for letting off steam!!
Hope this helps, let me know if i can help with anything else, i live in poole and have three small children so know the area pretty well!!
Thanks
Elisa

flutterbybutterfly wrote:

I go on holiday with my hubbie and kids (youngest 2 yesterday!) and will be leaving at 4:00am in the morning due to the fact that the kids don't travel well so they'll still be asleep on the journey. We will probably arrive about 9:00am so just in time for breakfast. I don't know the area at all, can anyone recommend somewhere we can go to get a good breakfast which has a kids area so they can stretch their legs.

Also, any other recommendation of places to go rain or shine would be gratefully received.

Thanks!!!

I expect that we are too late but we were away on our holiday (in bournemouth) when you posted this but anyway, here goes...

We spend as much time as possible on the beach and use Durley Chine or Alum Chine. Don't park in the Durley Chine car park, you can usually park in West Overcliff Drive for nothing - you may need to do a few circuits - we go around the durley bit a couple of times first and then move onto Alum. You do have to walk/climb down the steps or path but if you park at Durley, everyone sends dad to the top to collect the car and picks everyone/thing up from the bottom of the car park. If you want to spend all day on the beach, it is worth investing in a beach shelter for shade and use lots of sun tan lotion on the children.
If you are NT members then I believe that there is a beach at Studland bay where you would be able to park for free (Don't quote me on that though as I'm not 100% sure).

LittleDown Centre is good for swimming - just basic pool/baby pool with a couple of slides - probably not for teenagers but fine for younger families. Can get very busy if it is pouring with rain.
There is a splash down centre for older children - never been myself.

Fireworks from the pier on Fridays at 10pm during peak summer. We parked at Durley and walked back towards the pier along the front as Bournemouth itself is difficult to park and like most towns is full of clubs and such - can be a bit intimidating especially with prams and little ones.

If you don't mind driving, we had a really nice day out at youvilton - Air Fleet Museum using Tesco tokens.
Sealife centre is not bad cost wise but we haven't been in.

Greyhounds at Poole aren't too expensive for a bit of fun provided you don't go mad on the betting. We found a leaflet giving 2 for 1 entry. Think it cost us £5 to get in + 12 x £1 bet - 1 x £5 win - not too bad for a night out - depends on the ages of the children but at £5 to get in you don't need to stay for all 12 races. (book if you want to eat)

Raceway - stock cars, hot rods, that sort of thing in Matchams lane.

Avaiation museum at Hurn airport - not been myself - saving that for a rainy holiday.

Alice in Wonderland theme type park (younger children) - again not tried it.

Moors Valley Country Park (think that is what it is called) - Nice country park a bit in land. If I remember, there is a little train, playground trail (walk a bit find some equipment walk a bit more, find another etc), tree top walk.
For older children there is a Go Ape - I think it is at West Moors but not sure.
(Tap and Railway - spirit group pub in West Moors itself)

Christchurch has a harbour area with play ground which you can while away a few hours on a dull day (plus opportunity to pop into shops if you need to)

Steam Railway at Swanage. We haven't been for several years but usually park at the far end. Take train to swanage, have a wander around and train back to the car.

There are a couple of pubs in the spirit group which do reasonable meals at 2 for £10.

Other places on our to do another time list are - Portsmouth, Southampton, Weymouth.

The New Forest - can hire bikes + trailers and tag-a-longs for the kiddies if you are feeling energetic - book in advance.