I’ve been busy juggling kids and work this week, but managed to sneak off for a day out yesterday which always feels like a win!
The challenge… what do you do with a 4-year-old and a 12 year old that doesn’t cost the earth but still keeps them both entertained?
Not always easy.
But I think we may have found a bit of a winner…
Bournemouth Aviation Museum
We had a slow morning, packed up some lunch, grabbed snacks (standard), and headed over to the Bournemouth Aviation Museum, right by the airport.
It felt great that it was only about £20 for us to get in, which these days feels like a bargain. The 4 year old even got a free sticker, which instantly a winner!
It’s one of those slightly old school, volunteer run places, but that’s part of the charm. And, for kids it’s brilliant.
There are loads of planes, helicopters, vehicles, and even fire engines that you can actually climb inside. Not just look at… properly get in and explore.
Buttons, switches, satisfying knobs to twiddle all the so much fun.
The youngest was absolutely loving one of the smaller planes where we ended up role playing a flight to Tenerife for a solid 45 minutes… 😂
The helicopter was huge and a big hit, and both boys were basically sprinting from one aircraft to the next. One of the best bits was being so close to Bournemouth Airport we kept stopping to watch planes taking off and landing while eating ice creams in the sunshine (yes… 25°C in April, madness!).
There’s also a proper old school 90s flight simulator, which they both had a go on landing and crashing planes obviously.
We probably spent a good couple of hours there before they’d seen everything. I’ll be honest, I quite enjoyed climbing into the cockpit of the Avro Vulcan not something you get to do every day!
Nicks Farm (Perfect Combo Nearby)
After that, we jumped back in the car and headed over to Nicks Farm, which is only about 10 minutes away making it a really easy combo for a full day out.
It’s a small, slightly chaotic little farm… but in a really nice, relaxed way. The kind of place where kids can just get stuck in.
There are goats, sheep, rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens, ducks highland cows all the classics and you can actually get in with some of the animals, which the kids loved.
You can buy bags of feed and feed the animals, and there are certain times where you can hold some of the animals too, which is great for younger kids especially.
It’s not polished or fancy, but that’s what makes it good. It feels real, friendly, and easy and both kids were happy, which is the main thing!
Alternative: Discover Village (Indoor Option)
If the weather’s not playing ball, or you just want something indoors, I’ve heard really good things about Discover Village in Hurn in the same car park as the aviation museam.
It’s a big indoor role-play centre for younger kids, with little shops and setups where they can pretend and play for hours. We haven’t been yet, but it’s definitely on the list.
Final Thoughts
This turned out to be a brilliant, low-cost day afternoon and one I’d definitely recommend if you’re looking for cheap things to do in Bournemouth with kids.
It’s a great alternative if the beach is packed, or if you just fancy doing something a bit different for a change.
And the best part… it kept both a 4-year-old and a 12-year old happy, which is no small achievement!
Why Westbourne?
If you’re planning a family trip and want a base that’s close to all of this, take a look at our family-friendly apartments in Westbourne. It makes days like this super easy without the hassle of driving everywhere.
Staying in Bournemouth with kids?
👉 Check availability at our family-friendly Westbourne apartments and book direct to save.
