We’ve got a new addition to the family… 🦆
Meet Sprinkles the Duck a very friendly little guest who lives at The Sprinkle Pad. Kids absolutely love taking him out on their adventures, snapping photos and sharing them with us on Instagram. It’s such a fun way to get them out exploring and making memories and anything that helps win the battle against screen time is a win in our house!
If you’re heading down for a family holiday in Bournemouth, especially if you’re staying somewhere like our family-friendly apartment in Westbourne, The Sprinkle Pad, there’s honestly no shortage of things to do. Living here with two kids (4 and 12), we’re always out and about trying to find the best days out so here are a few of our favourites that work really well for both sunny and slightly unpredictable British weather…
Moors Valley Country Park
Only about a 20-minute drive from Bournemouth, Moors Valley is one of those places you can go back to again and again and never get bored. It’s got a massive play park with zip lines, slides and sand areas where the kids can just run wild for hours. There’s also a miniature steam railway which is always a hit especially around Christmas when it gets a bit magical with Santa and the elves.
If your kids are a bit older (or you fancy getting involved yourself), the Go Ape course up in the trees is brilliant and definitely gets the adrenaline going. For a slower pace, you can wander through the woods following the Stick man trail, which is perfect for little ones, and stop off at the huge wooden play structures dotted around the park the beehive is always a favourite with ours.
We usually take a packed lunch as the café can be a bit pricey, and if you’re visiting in the summer, it’s worth knowing the parking can add up sometimes we park just outside and walk in. Bikes or scooters are a great shout here too.
Paultons Park & Peppa Pig World
If you’ve got younger kids, Peppa Pig World at Paultons Park is pretty much guaranteed to be a big win. It’s about an hour from Bournemouth and makes for a full day out. Everything is really well set up for families, with loads of rides that are actually suited to little ones (which isn’t always the case with theme parks).
Even with older kids, there’s plenty going on in the wider park to keep everyone entertained, so it’s one of those rare days out that genuinely works for a mixed age group. Expect queues in peak season, but it’s worth it for the excitement levels alone.
Lulworth Castle & the Jurassic Coast
Lulworth Castle might not sound like the most obvious choice with kids, but it’s actually a really fun day out. The castle itself is impressive, and there’s usually something going on to keep children engaged when we went at Easter there were trails and activities set up around the grounds which made it much more interactive.
The best bit about heading this way is you can easily turn it into a bigger day out. Lulworth Cove is just down the road and is absolutely stunning, and if you’re feeling up for it you can carry on to Durdle Door. It’s a bit of a trek with younger kids, but worth it if you’ve got the energy.
The Etches Collection
If the weather turns when you are at the beach, this is such a good one to have up your sleeve. The Etches Collection in Kimmeridge is a brilliant little fossil museum that feels surprisingly immersive. It was created by a local fossil collector and ex plumber and everything inside has been found along the Jurassic Coast, which makes it feel really special.
The kids love the interactive bits, especially the augmented reality displays where you can see what the creatures would have looked like. If you time it right, you can sometimes watch fossils being cleaned through a viewing window, which is pretty cool. It’s also a great stop if you’ve been down on Kimmeridge beach and need somewhere warm and dry before heading home.
Swanage
Swanage is one of those classic seaside towns that just works every time. It’s about an hour from Bournemouth and has everything you want for a proper family beach day sandy beach, fish and chips, arcades, and plenty of little shops and cafés to wander around. You an hop on the open top Dorset Breezer to get there too!
The kids always love the arcades (handy if grandparents are around to supervise while you sneak off for a coffee… or something stronger). If you fancy doing something a bit different, the beach saunas are definitely worth trying especially if you’re brave enough to jump in the sea afterwards.
If you’ve still got some energy, head up to Durlston Country Park for a walk around the headland. There are loads of little trails for the kids and some great views.
Beaulieu Motor Museum
Over in the New Forest, Beaulieu Motor Museum is one of those places that surprises you. Even if you’re not massively into cars, it’s still a really good day out.
There’s a huge collection of vehicles, and the kids seem to love the variety especially when there are special exhibits on. Last time we went, they had Lightning McQueen and Mater which went down very well.
There’s quite a lot to explore around the wider site too, so it doesn’t feel like you’re just walking around a museum. Tickets last for a year as well, which makes it great value if you’re local or planning to come back.
Staying in Bournemouth With Kids
If you’re planning a trip and looking for somewhere to stay, location really does make a difference. Being based in Westbourne gives you that nice balance close to the beach and all the main attractions, but without the chaos of the town centre.
Our family-friendly holiday apartment in Westbourne, The Sprinkle Pad, is set up with kids in mind, so you’ve got things like soft play and toys ready to go when you get back from a day out.
And don’t forget…
Sprinkles the Duck loves a day out too 🦆
If you do take him along on any of your adventures, tag us on Instagram we love seeing where he ends up!
Final Thoughts
One of the best things about staying in Bournemouth with kids is how much there is to do nearby. Whether you’re heading to the beach, exploring the Jurassic Coast, or just looking for an easy day out, there’s always something that works for the whole family.
And the best part? You don’t have to go far to find it.
Staying in Bournemouth with kids?
👉 Check availability at our family-friendly Westbourne apartments and book direct to save.
