Paultons Park in Hampshire
It’s a hoot! hoot! at Paultons Park where I recently visited this large attraction near the New Forest. This park does not only boast many thrill seeking rides but the World’s first Peppa Pig World where you can ride up to windy castle, float up in a hot air balloon and ride George’s dinosaur with your little one’s. I was amazed of this new addition at the park and especially enjoyed riding in Grandpa pigs train.
If you have older children who may not be swept up with Peppa pig mania, believe me, they will enjoy the fun to be had in Peppa Pig World, the Park alongside, has amazing birds like pelicans and flamingos also it has many other great rides where you get whizzed and spun around, splashed upon and sped around in a large roller coaster in all different twists and turns. This park is a great day out for the family and well worth a visit. Parking is free and admission varies from peak to off-peak, children under 1 metre go free. To find out more take a look at the Paultons Park website.
Sealife, Brighton, opposite Palace Pier
If you like to feel like a mermaid or a merman and wish to explore the ocean, this is a place for you and your children. Right from the start you are taken on a discovery of what is in our seas and oceans around the world with large and small fish. I loved the turtles and the large sting ray tanks where you can view the sealife from above and below. One of the new attractions and my favourite to date was the glass bottom boat where you can see into a large tank with sharks, two large turtles and several sting rays. I loved walking through the ocean tunnel which makes you feel like you are under water. If you would like to touch a crab or starfish why not take a look at the interactive pools. The Sealife centre is a great day to explore our underwater friends and learn about the sea around us. Also you can spend your pocket money in the shop before you go. For information visit Sealife Centre website
Washbooks Farm, Brighton Road,Hassocks in West Sussex
Washbrooks farm is a family friendly attraction set in lovely countryside just past the Sussex Downs and ideal for picnics. It gives you an insight to how a working farm is run and allows you to go into the barn and meet all the animals, there are goats, pigs, chickens, donkeys, turkeys, cows and sheep. Your children can visit the inside play area with a slide, small maze and sandpit. Outside the farm has many great climbing and outdoor play equipment where the kids can hang, balance and swing around on whilst you can sit and watch with a coffee! New this Easter the farm introduced the Giant Pillow! a bouncy castle for all but on the floor and a zip wire that whizzes you through the air. There is a Tea room for hungry tummies at lunch serving hot or cold food, ice cream and drinks, lots of gifts for the children to buy too. Before you leave don’t forget the tractor trailer ride. This farm park has something for everyone and I have enjoyed many days here. For more information take a look at Washbrooks website
Groombridge Gardens and Enchanted forest, Groombridge, near Tunbridge Wells
What a lovely day I had at Groombridge with a boat ride along the river to the Enchanted forest and the many faces carved in the trees gave an extra magical touch on my journey to the forest. Once you get there you can visit the Robinson Crusoe’s adventure park which is the orginial set of the televison show with wooden platforms to climb up for the young and old. As you walk around the forest there are many things to see like the blue pool, serpents lair and magical pools with fairy houses built within the river banks. If you catch a time within the summer holidays or half terms there is a storyteller with wise old tales for the children in the setting of the forest and a wigwam. For the more energetic you can walk up high in the forest, swing on the swings attached to trees and go on the half mile walk way through the tree tops. After your long walk through the forest you can meet an animal, which is one of only two in this country, called a ”Zeezonk” a cross between a donkey and a zebra(believe me its amazing). The final stage of your walk takes you through Giants vineyard and birds of prey area with falcons, eagles and hawks and on to the restaurant where you can buy yourself anything from ice cream to a cooked meal. After lunch I took a stroll around the gardens of the 17th Century house, played a giant game of chess on the lawn and chilled out near the fountain. Groombridge is a fun day of exploring and magic which little ones, mums and Dads will enjoy. For more information take a look at the website Groombridge
West Wittering Sandy Beach, West Wittering, near Chichester
I had to get up early to enjoy this day out! as arriving too late, can result in getting stuck in traffic due to how popular this blue flag beach is. Miles of sandy beaches greet you with high and low tides throughout the day, the landscape changes in front of your eyes, where one minute you can walk miles out on the soft wet sand, play in lagoons of water amongst the shells and then once the tide comes in it splashes onto the sandy beach. Don’t forget your bucket and spade to build sandcastles and some small change for an ice cream at the shop. We took a picnic and had it on the beach but you can also have them on the grass lawns around the beach. To park there all day costs just £3.50 in the week and a little more at weekends, so if you are looking to save money and have a simple day out, this place is for you. For more information, tidal times and the local weather forecasts for the area take a look at West Wittering beach website
