Things to do with kids around Southampton?

shy-but-need-help

We'll be off to visit family in a few weeks, just outside Southampton and I'm looking for good suggestions of things to do with kids (age 13 to 1) that are free/cheap whilst we're there. Family we're travelling with are pushing for Paultons Park but matter how awesome that looks or how great the reviews are we are definitely not affording that on our budget (plus there's 7 of us and I'm already having to pay for a hotel and all the meals whilst there)

Any good suggestions of what to do in or around Southampton (ideally under 30 minutes drive as DD2 gets badly car sick) of things that are free or cheap (a few quid a person rather than £10+ per person)

Thanks in advance!

FlowerPower

I don't have kids, but I'm in Southampton so I half qualify to answer!

My first thought is the New Forest - it's not far away. Pack a picnic, there's bike hire if you want, and there's even treasure hunts (I think £5 to buy a treasure map), which seem like cute idea - http://www.treasuretrails.co.uk/hampshire/things-to-do.html

Marwell Zoo is awesome, but pricey. I think Longdown Farm, in Ashurst, is supposed to be nice for kids as well, but not sure how much that costs.

For free in Southampton itself, there's always the Common. It's a big park with a playground and nice pub. Bring a frisbee etc, and maybe some money for ice cream, might be enough to entertain kids on a nice day. St James Park is a newly done up park which has a zipline, climbing wall, and looks fantastic, but it's small - so not really good for a day out!

If you're willing to put up with a longer drive, there's always the option of Bournemouth's beaches about 40mins drive away

Spirit_2

Go to the New Forest have a picnic and see the ponies. Google has some good circular walks.

The beach if you head out towards Bournemouth

Portsmouth has the historic dock yard

The lovely beach at West Wittering ( a bit further than 30 minutes but absolutely brilliant for a cheap seaside day) about £7 to park and take a picnic.

Catherdral towns of Winchester and Salisbury

Owl

Moors Valley Country Park... Lots of trails to do (nature one... you can download a book to do while you walk round),play trail (good fun) and all trails are open for bikes and are good to cycle on....

Louiseamy

I have two little ones, 4 and 19months...

We love Itchen Valley Country Park, there is Go Ape there as well as a play trail, playgrounds and pond dipping.

Royal Victoria Country Park is on the water, and is great for picnicing. there is a train that goes around the park and a couple of playgrounds and walks.

The Rapids in Romsey or the Quays in southampton itself are good fun pools, We prefer the Rapids, but both are good.

Winchester and the Cathedral is nice to see, we often picnic in the cathedral grounds.

The Common is good too, as a previous poster mentioned. There is also a paddling pool there too. And The hawthorns urban wildlife centre is worth a look as its free.

The beach at Lepe is nice for a day out, its pebble rather than sand if you didnt fancy the trek to Bournemouth. But if you do head that way the Southbourne is a nice sandy beach that is much closer than Bournemouth and a lot quieter too, but still with facilities.

Fruit picking at Pickwell farm is also a fun afternoon out.

These are just off the top of my head, but there are lots of things to do locally. :-)

Hope you have a great trip.
XxX

shy-but-need-help

Thanks for the suggestions, New forest does sound very do-able, we have woods locally but nothing like wild ponies etc!

I shall add everything to my list ready for when extended family act like it's the end of the world and that there would be absolutely nothing else to do if we don't agree to go to Paultons Park.

lostinrates

When you go to the forest, there are LOTS of lovely foals about too. Look out for pigs (we saw a sow and her biggish piglests today) cattle and donkeys.

Bubbabinks

I have to second Moors Valley country park - all ages can have fun there.
As you do one of the walks theirs little adventure play things the kids can do.

russ_c

In the New Forest theres a Deer sanctuary at Bolderwood (couple of miles west of Lyndhurst), theres also several different walks, car park,grassy area for picnic/ball games, toilets, the only expense is the ice cream mans usually there!

Also just before the Bolderwood turning is the Forest reptile centre at a place called Holiday Hill, where you can see adders, lizards, frogs and toads ect, all kept in big netted pens. I havent been for quite a few years but as far as i know its still free, just a small charge to park.