Best Country Parks in Hampshire for Outdoor Fun with Kids
We love being outside with the kids, and we know how beneficial it is for all of our mental well-being—not only because the research supports it but because we can see the difference in their behaviour after a day outdoors compared to a day spent indoors.
Why country parks? I love the ease of visiting a country park. I know the parking will be well-organised, there will be maintained toilets, picnic spots, and play equipment, as well as somewhere to grab a coffee. It makes for a nicely packaged day out.
Over the past six years, we’ve spent a fair amount of time exploring many of the local country parks in and around Hampshire. The seven I’ve written about below are my top picks—the ones with the best play areas, cafes, coffee, and spaces to explore.
Hampshire Country Parks:
This is one of the parks I’ve visited the most, so I know it well!
What to Expect:
As you arrive, you’ll drive down a long road leading to a large car park. Once parked, I recommend heading straight to the main café, as these are the only loos on site—so it’s a good idea to stop here before you start exploring.
From here, we usually take one of two routes. If we're having a shorter day out, we turn left towards the sandy play areas and lake, which are perfect for a bit of relaxed exploring. If we have more time, we head right onto the play trails. I’ve loved these trails since I was a child, and while they’ve added new things over the years, some of the original play equipment remains, which I love. There's so much to do, but be prepared to walk! If you’re bringing little ones, you’ll need a buggy or carrier. Luckily, every 50 metres or so, there’s another play frame to keep them moving and entertained.
Family Activities:
While you can add activities like Go Ape or bike hire to your day, there’s plenty to enjoy without needing to spend extra. The play trail itself is a highlight, and the little train ride is great fun for younger children. Behind the café, there’s also a small conservation room worth checking out.
Personal Tip:
Moors Valley has something for every age, making it ideal for mixed-age families. If you have younger children, the little train is always a hit. While the coffee at the café isn’t the best, it’s definitely passable and will warm you up on a cold day.
What to Expect:
Itchen Valley has been a staple place for me to visit for many years—both when I worked as a nanny and as a child (it’s actually where I learned to ride my bike). So, it’s pretty special to me. Over the years, it’s had a few updates, but the most recent one, which they are currently in the middle of, will be the biggest yet.
When you arrive, you'll need to park and pay via the RingGo app, so make sure you’ve got it set up in advance. There’s a coffee shop just as you come in, which opens at 10 AM, so if you’re an early riser (who isn’t with kids?), I’d recommend bringing a coffee with you. The cafe caters for gluten free, quite well and there is always lunch boxes and selection of cakes.
Near the coffee shop, there’s a play park, and as you head through the woods, you’ll find play trails and a mud kitchen to explore. At the other end of the play trail, you’ll reach another park, and—finally—a second set of toilets, which has been needed for a while! There's plenty of parking, but in summer it can get busy, and the car park tends to fill up by around 11 AM, so it’s worth getting there early.
It’s a beautiful park with woodland walks and popular play areas, perfect for families wanting to explore the outdoors.
Family Activities:
The play trail and parks are great for children of all ages. Beyond the parks and trails, there are plenty of woodland walks, and a large hill that’s a fun challenge for little legs to conquer. There’s also a Go Ape on-site. While it’s not the best Go Ape I’ve done, it’s still a lot of fun!
Personal Tip:
The tree cover in the woods is excellent, so even on rainy days, you can enjoy a day out here and stay fairly sheltered. Also just inside the cafe, there is small indoor nature play area which I have spent many hours in over the years, so don’t miss this (best for under 3’s).
What to Expect:
This country park is on another level! I’ve only been once, and it was either on or just before my due date with my second, so it was very much a waddle around for me, but we had the best day! It’s on the pricier side, but once you’re inside, you can see why. During high season, it’s £19.95 per person for those aged 2 and up, and in low season, it’s £16.45. These are the online prices, so expect to pay a few pounds more if you buy tickets on the door.
There is so much to do. As soon as you’re through the entrance, you’ll find a splash park to your left, play areas and a bouncy pillow straight ahead, and further down the hill, a petting zoo. There are also plenty of walking trails and a fantastic restaurant/café. And don’t forget the train ride! There are a couple of activities that cost extra, so it’s certainly not a cheap day out, but on a good weather day, it’s definitely worth it.
Family Activities:
There’s honestly so much to do here—I didn’t feel like I even scratched the surface during my visit! There’s a dinosaur walk, indoor soft play, multiple play areas, animal encounters, splash zones, mini-golf, and so much more! It’s a place that easily fills a full day for kids of all ages.
Personal Tip:
I’d suggest booking tickets in advance, especially during school holidays, as it gets really busy. Perhaps visiting in late spring, around May or June, would be a better option for avoiding the crowds. They also have a sensory room for those who need it, which is a thoughtful addition to the park.
What to Expect:
I took the kids here for a day out after it was recommended during the school holidays. Although I initially found it a bit tricky to find the entrance (I thought I was going to the farm, not the country park), once we were in, it turned out to be a lovely inner-city country park. It has ornamental gardens, a farm, and family-friendly trails. I’ll definitely be going back to visit, though next time I’ll likely spend more time in the country park and less in the farm. The farm didn’t have as much to see and do compared to others we’ve visited, but it was still enjoyable.
Family Activities:
We spent most of our time in the farm, and it was perfect for a relaxed walk around. It’s small enough for little legs to manage without getting too tired. The play areas were great and catered to a broad range of ages. It was really busy when we visited, but this didn’t impact our day—we still had a lovely time. There’s also an indoor play area, which is sectioned off for younger and older children. My kids enjoyed playing there for an hour or so.
Personal Tip:
If you’re visiting the farm, the parking is free, so make sure to get a code from reception and enter it into the machine before you leave.
What to Expect:
This is another country park where I’ve spent a lot of time over the years, and I have fond memories of family BBQs on the fields by the sea when I was little. When you arrive, there are a couple of car parks to choose from, but I’d recommend heading up the hill to the one at the top, as it’s closest to the main café and play areas.
Dogs aren’t allowed in the fenced play areas, but there is a non-fenced section where dogs on leads are welcome. As you drive up, you’ll no doubt spot the bouncy castle and trampolines, which seem to be a regular feature in the summer. You’ll need to pay extra for these, and under 3s aren’t allowed on them.
The main café has recently been renovated and is fantastic—it serves great pizzas and a wide range of other foods. There’s also a second café in the old hospital chapel in the middle of the fields, overlooking the sea. This one has a hatch, so it’s perfect for grabbing an easy takeaway. If you have older children, it’s worth reading up on the fascinating history of the park, especially about how the site used to look and its previous uses.
There are plenty of walking routes, and, of course, there’s a little train, which runs on peak days.
Family Activities:
The main playground is pretty epic, and my kids can easily spend hours there. There’s so much to explore, making it perfect for adventure games and hide-and-seek. We’ve also spent entire days down by the shore, throwing stones into the water and exploring the trees. Just next to the road on the right, as you look down the hill, there’s an amazing wooden carving of a dragon that shouldn’t be missed, along with some extra climbing equipment tucked away in the trees!
Personal Tip:
If you want to park for free, arrive early and park on the road just outside the park. There are limited spaces, so it’s best to get there first thing. Make sure to bring a buggy if you have little ones, as we’ve done this many times and it makes getting around easier.
What to Expect:
This is another place that has changed a lot over the years. I actually spent some time working at the QE2 Centre, which is based here, and have always enjoyed exploring the woodland walks. It’s also a popular spot for family BBQs, and they even have BBQs available to hire in the summer, making it a great place for parties.
As you arrive, there’s a long drive through the woods until you reach the newly refurbished café and park area. I’d recommend parking here as it’s a convenient base for exploring most of the park. About a 10-minute walk down from the park is the riverside, where you’ll find a jetty that stretches out across the river. I think you can launch paddleboards (SUP) here, though I’m not 100% sure. It’s also a fantastic spot for crabbing—if you don’t fancy trying it yourself, your little ones can still enjoy seeing what others have caught on a sunny day.
Family Activities:
There are loads of trees to climb and areas to explore, which could easily make for a full day out. But if you want to add even more to your visit, you can head to Manor Farm, a historic working farm with an old schoolhouse on site. The farm has so much to offer, and the recently renovated indoor play area and café are fantastic additions. We visited over the summer and completed one of their trails, and the kids could have spent hours running around.
Personal Tip:
In winter, it gets really muddy, so make sure you have full wet weather gear and a good pair of wellies!
What to Expect:
When you first arrive, you’ll navigate a compact but spacious car park, with the sea right in front of you. To your right is a great play area suitable for most ages, with trees to climb and explore. If you head down the steps ahead, you’ll find the café, which is only a few years old, and this is also where the toilets are located. The café has a hatch and gets very busy in the summer, but the food is good and especially welcome on a colder winter’s day.
You can enjoy a walk along the coast, passing an amazing old seaside house, until you reach a wider, stony beach that’s perfect for some stone-throwing. If you walk to the left of the café, there’s a slightly sandier area, which is ideal for summer visits.
Family Activities:
There’s plenty to explore here if you’re up for a bit of adventure. A small river runs down towards the sea, and you can often spot swans nearby. We’ve spent many hours rock climbing and exploring the area. It’s been our go-to spot for a quick seaside escape, though now that we’ve moved closer to Southsea, we don’t visit as much.
Personal Tip:
It’s a fantastic spot to watch ships sailing by, which can be really exciting for little ones.
Final Thoughts:
These country parks each offer something unique, but they’re all well worth a visit. Whether you’re after woodland walks, seaside adventures, or a fun day out with the kids, there’s something for everyone. If you are looking for a fun day out in London head here to check out some tips or if you want some tips on how to make the school holidays a little easier head over here. If you have any tips to share or recommendations for other parks, please feel free to comment below—I’d love to hear them! (Can you guess where the photo was taken?)
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