30 of the best things to do in Bournemouth with kids

With its long golden sand beach and string of family attractions, it’s no wonder that so many holidays are booked in Bournemouth with kids.

contains affiliate links*

I’ve visited Bournemouth and neighbouring Poole with my daughter more than a few times, both when the sun’s shining and out of peak season in early Spring and late Autumn, and we’ve never been bored yet.

So if you’re looking for a family holiday by the seaside, here’s my pick of the best things to do in Bournemouth with kids, as well as ideas for Poole and easy day trips.

Hit the beach 

With an impressive seven miles of award-winning beaches, no trip to Bournemouth with kids is complete without some time at the seaside.

If it’s not the weather to paddle, there’s a promenade along the back of the beach and you can stroll down to Poole and Sandbanks beyond, as well as down to Hengistbury Head, or wander along the cliff path for part of the way (watch out for the goats on the cliffs!)

When the sun is shining, you’ll find some of the warmest sea temperatures in the UK, and on a clear day you can see out to the Isle of Wight as well as Old Harry Rocks.

Made up of a string of beaches, they do all merge into the other, so you’ll find Blue Flag beaches, dog-friendly beaches, plenty of space for sandcastles, as well as people enjoying watersports along here.

You could hire a beach hut if you fancy, and during the summer months, the Allianz KidZone beach safety scheme makes sure any lost children (and vulnerable adults) are quickly reunited with their families or guardians. Runs from July 14-September 3.

For ideas of how to entertain kids at the beach, check out my post of the best beach activities

Wander along Bournemouth Pier

While you’re enjoying the beach, head down for a walk along Bournemouth Pier – it’s free off-season, or there’s a small fee during the main season.

Originally opened in the 19th century, these days the pier is home to a large arcade with games, lots of shops selling souvenirs, sun hats, ice cream and more, plus the Rock Reef activity centre (read on for more about that).

There are also a couple of restaurants, where you can relax with a drink or something to eat and enjoy the views out across the sea. Or the Oceanarium is also next to the pier, so it’s easy to combine the two.

The Oceanarium, Bournemouth

Discover penguins and sea turtles, along with dwarf crocodiles and otters (plus huge numbers of fish, of course) at the 12 themed environments of The Oceanarium in Bournemouth.

There’s an Adventure Quiz Trail to complete, while kids can measure themselves against a penguin (as well as watching them waddle).

Keep an eye out on the day’s activities for talks and feeding times, with a chance to see otters, penguins and sharks getting fed. Plus there are special animal experiences to add some VIP fun to your visit.

Check out my Bournemouth Oceanarium review after our own visit during a very rainy day in Bournemouth with kids

Rock Reef, Bournemouth

Whether you’re visiting Bournemouth in the summer or on a rainy day, there’s something to entertain everyone at Rock Reef.

The activity centre on the end of the pier is ideal for adventurous kids. Older kids can even fly over the waves (and make believe you’re going to keep going under) with the RockReef Pierzip Line.

Running from a 25m high platform, you speed the 250 metres down to the beach in 30 seconds – and as it’s a dual zipwire, you can race a friend down. Suitable for kids over 1.3m.

You can buy PierZip tickets with free cancellation here

Planned to spend the day at Bournemouth Beach but got caught out by the rain? The adrenaline-fuelled adventure centre also has 28 themed indoor climbing walls with different degrees of difficulty for kids 4 and above (and adults too, of course).

There’s also a vertical drop slide, a high ropes aerial obstacle course, and an indoor caving experience to try.

Bournemouth Aviation Museum

If your kids love all things transport, the city is also home to the Bournemouth Aviation Museum where you can sit inside the cockpit of a variety of planes and helicopters, as well as getting hands on with some of the interactive displays, not to mention a flight simulator.

As an added bonus, it’s near the airport for some added plane spotting! It’s worth knowing that the aircraft are all outdoors, so the museum does occasionally close in very bad weather, particularly if there are high winds – best for a drizzly day when you can dash from one plane to another.

For more ideas of the best things to do in Dorset with kids, check out my top picks

City Sightseeing Bournemouth open-top bus

Hop-on hop-off bus tours can be a great way to explore with kids, as a more scenic way of getting from A to B or to take in some of the highlights in one trip.

The City Sightseeing open-top double deckers leave from Bournemouth Pier and Poole Quay, travelling around the Sandbanks peninsula as well as Poole Quay.

You can choose 24h and 48h tickets, and the complete loop takes around 90 minutes. Runs from late March to late September.

Mr Mulligan’s Bournemouth

This crazy golf course is truly out of this world – and as the intergalactic course (think space invaders rather than sci-fi) at Mr Mulligan’s is all indoors, it’s a great option for rainy days in Bournemouth.

Allow around an hour for the 18-hole course (depending on the number of players) which sees you try to putt past aliens and spaceships. Over-18s only after 8.45pm but otherwise families are welcome to take on the challenge.

Smugglers Cove adventure golf

You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to adventure golf in Bournemouth – Smugglers Cove is another 18-hold mini golf course themed around the town’s smuggling history.

You’ll find yourself trying to get past obstacles including treacherous rocks, waterfalls and church ruins, among other challenges as you battle your family for the golfing crown.

Perfect for mini pirates, although it does close over the winter months. May the best smuggler win!

Visit the Upside Down House

EDIT: Closing in January 2026 Turn your world upside down and get some fantastic fun photos as a souvenir of your Bournemouth trip at the Upside Down House.

One of many across the country, each is designed slightly differently, but always to let you capture some surreal shots, whether you seem to be hanging from the ceiling or holding a bed above your head.

Find it near the Tourist Information Centre and the Pavilion.

Adventure Wonderland, Bournemouth

Reopening date tbc after some major renovation work and with new attractions planned

This Dorset theme park is themed around Alice in Wonderland, and has been named one of Dorset’s top family attractions – as well as rides, there’s a maze, the Wild Thing indoor play, soft play and other activities, all aimed at families with children aged 3 to 10.

There are some minimum height restrictions (and a few maximum heights!) but Adventure Wonderland is a great option with kids of different ages.

Alum Chine Tropical Gardens

Transport yourself to the tropics with a wander through the free Alum Chine Tropical gardens – with the beach in the distance and the sun shining, it’s easy to believe you’ve left Dorset behind.

Dating back to the 1920s, the paths weave around palm trees and flowering plants, with benches to stop and soak up the views.

They’re easy to reach from the Blue Flag beach below, and there’s also a Treasure Island-themed play area nearby if kids fancy something more active than a gentle walk.

Incidentally, if you’re wondering what a ‘chine’ is, it’s a steep dry river valley – you’ll find four within Bournemouth, often now with paths and stairs leading between the beach and the cliffs.

Visit a play cafe

While there’s soft play to enjoy in Bournemouth, as in most towns, you’ve also got another choice of fun days out for toddlers and preschoolers, at one of the play cafes.

With role play as well as educational toys (although they’ll be having far too much fun to realise they’re learning), it makes a great option with younger kids – plus a chance for parents to relax.

Kids Play Cafe is aimed at children aged 0-6, with two locations including one in Charminster, a short drive from Bournemouth beach, with the emphasis on learning through play in some fun fantasy settings as well as real life ones.

Wild Ones play cafe in Kinson is for slightly younger kids, aimed at ages 0-4. Taking them on an adventure into the forest, it’s also a short drive outside Bournemouth city centre, but well worth checking out.

Or Cosy Village Role Play Cafe is designed for kids aged 0-5, very close to Wild Ones play cafe in Kinson, with lots of everyday settings for little ones to role play.

Oasis Fun Indoor Centre, Bournemouth

Oasis Fun Bournemouth is the ultimate rainy-day destination in Bournemouth with kids of all ages. 

The large indoor play centre has more than enough to do to keep children and teens occupied for hours, including a spacious soft play area for little ones, 6 bowling alleys, an adventure golf course, arcade games, pool tables, and a cafe.

The variety of activities makes Oasis Fun a great spot if you have children with different interests too, as everyone can find something to entertain them during the day, and with one of the best soft play areas in Dorset, it’s a must with toddlers.

Try an Escape Room

An escape room is always a fantastic indoor family activity, especially if it’s pouring outside, particularly with older kids and teens. You can test your family’s teamwork skills as you race to find clues, solve puzzles, and attempt to escape the room before the time runs out. 

There are some great escape rooms in Bournemouth, including Marvo Mysteries and the Lockey.

For more ideas of the best things to do in Dorset in the rain with kids, check out my top picks

VR Mania Bournemouth 

Leave reality behind and step into a virtual world at VR Mania, with an ever-growing series of VR games to enjoy.

The indoor centre has a huge variety of multiplayer VR experiences that the whole family can enjoy as well as options for solo players, or a chance to roam through the VR Arcade as well as choosing specific games.

While there is no strict age limit, VR is usually recommended for children above 7 years, while some games are best for those 12+.

Hengistbury Head Visitor Centre

Although Hengistbury Head isn’t in Bournemouth itself, it’s so close (around 15 minutes by car), that it should definitely be on your list of things to do in Bournemouth with kids.

The perfect place to visit to discover more about the area’s wildlife and geology, the Hengistbury Head Visitor Centre is full of interactive displays and makes a great starting point if you’re planning to head to Dorset’s nature reserves or go fossil hunting.

You can also explore the nature reserve around the centre, and hop on the little land train for some great views of Christchurch harbour (the land train doesn’t run during winter months).

Looking for somewhere to stay in Bournemouth with kids? Check out my review of Shell House luxury self-catering

Things to do in Poole with kids

While Poole and Bournemouth are separate towns, they’re so close to each other – you can walk from Bournemouth Beach to Poole Beach without too much effort – that anything in Poole is easily accessible from Bournemouth too.

Poole boat tours

If you want to get out on the water, there are a string of boat tours and cruises running from Poole Quay, including the ferry to Brownsea Island.

Check out Coastal Cruises running from Poole, taking you along the Jurassic Coast and to Swanage.

Or team a jaunt around Poole harbour with a trip up the Wareham River with Greenslade Pleasure Boats.

City Cruises boat tours from Poole (including the harbour tour and circular tours to Swanage) are no longer operating as of mid October 2024

Check out my video of our cruise from Poole with City Cruises to get a taste of what you’ll see

Splashdown, Poole

If you’re looking for something fun to do on a rainy day in Dorset with kids, why not make getting drenched fun with a visit to Splashdown waterpark in Poole.

Great whether you’re visiting Dorset with toddlers or older kids, there’s the Ricky’s Reef for younger ones, Buccaneers’ SplashZone for under 8s  and 13 flumes ranging from gentle to high-speed thrills, and slides featuring black holes.

Some do venture outdoors but you’ll mostly be inside. There’s a minimum height restriction of 1m. Kids can’t go on the slides with parents. Tickets must be prebooked.

Insanity Gaming Arcade, Poole

Insanity Arcade is a family friendly retro gaming arcade in Poole, with over 60 classic arcade games and gaming consoles for all kids and adults of all ages to enjoy. 

You’ll find everything from Guitar Hero and Street Fighter to Mario Karts, Sonic the Hedgehog, and more, so you can share some of your favourite childhood games with your little ones. 

Rather than using the standard token system, the arcade charges a per-hour entry fee which gets you unlimited free use of all of the games and machines. There’s also an on-site bar and grill to grab lunch once you’re done gaming, making Insanity the perfect rainy-day activity in Dorset for families.

If you’re looking for more ways to burn off some energy, it’s worth knowing that Flip Out Poole has now closed

Upton Country Park, near Poole

A grand mansion sits at the heart of Upton Country Park, just outside Poole, but it’s the woodlands which are most tempting for kids. (the house does open on Sundays and bank holidays for most of the year if you fancy peeking inside though).

There is a great play area made using natural wood, or if you’re visiting in summer (or sometimes during unexpected heatwaves), a splash fountain to help cool off in the Walled Garden.

The cycle routes also form part of the Castleman Trailway, the old Southampton to Dorchester railway line turned into a gentle 16.5 mile cycling and walking path.

RSPB Arne

This lovely nature reserve overlooking Poole Harbour is a great place to explore with nature-loving kids, as well as babies and toddlers – there are buggy-friendly paths as you search for wildlife, along with a low ropes course for slightly older kids.

It’s the only place where all six of the UK’s native reptiles can be found, plus birds galore, and there are often children’s trails during holidays to help you explore the heathland and ancient woodland.

It’s also very close to Shipstal beach if you want some coast with your countryside.

Day trips from Bournemouth with kids

Visit Brownsea Island

For more native animals, take a ferry from Poole or Sandbanks over to Brownsea Island, home to endangered red squirrels – perfect for kids to scurry around as well.

Famous too as the birthplace of Scouting, there are special calming walks if you want to wind down plus a family squirrel trail and other activities like den building.

Check out my review of a day exploring Brownsea Island with kids

Corfe Castle

Trace a thousand years of history at the now ruined Corfe Castle – not least the fact it inspired Kirrin Castle in the Famous Five books.

With its murder holes, secret places and tales of treachery and treason, not to mention rumour of royal death and its place in the Civil War, it’s perfect to let imaginations run wild.

Check out my review of a day out at Corfe Castle with kids

Swanage Railway 

This lovely heritage steam railway chuffs through the countryside along the old Southern Railway line between Swanage and Norden, stopping at the ruins of Corfe Castle – so you can also use it as a more unusual way to get from A to B as well.

Look out for the services marked with an ‘O’ when the special Observation Car is also running, with its huge windows for the best views, as well as special themed services on the Swanage Railway year-round.

Norden is the closest station to Bournemouth if you want to cut down on time in the car.

Corfe Castle Model Village

If you’re planning a visit to the ruins of Corfe Castle (or even if you’re not), you can transport yourself back to the days when the castle’s walls still stood, in 1646 before it was destroyed in the Civil War.

Corfe Castle model village shows people visiting the church, standing by the moat and generally getting on with life in the village, while there is also a fairy garden, life-size Civil War soldiers on guard plus other activities for families (and working stocks if anyone misbehaves).

Kingston Lacy

This beautiful English country house has a far more dramatic history than the elegant façade might suggest – remodelled to look like a Venetian palace, its former owner was also a renowned Egyptologist so you can see the largest private collection of ancient Egyptian artefacts at Kingston Lacy too.

Home to artwork by Rubens, Van Dyck, Titian and Brueghel, it has also been called the South West’s ‘national gallery’, while the huge estate is home to Iron Age hill forts, the world’s oldest pedigree herd of Ruby Red Devon cattle, and gardens so impressive that Queen Victoria sent her gardeners here to get inspiration.

There’s a woodland trail and walks galore too. Limited numbers are allowed in the house, so make sure you pick up one of the timed tickets when you arrive.

Highcliffe Castle, Christchurch

Highcliffe Castle was built in the 1830s and has played host to royalty over the years – but with kids’ trails and some impressive rooms to discover, it’s also a great place to visit with family in Dorset.

As well as the formal gardens and woodlands in the grounds, there’s also a beach and nature reserve to explore. You’re recommended to prebook tickets, with limited numbers allowed inside the house itself.

Moors Valley Country Park

On the border of Hampshire and Dorset, Moors Valley Country Park makes another great place to get outdoors with kids – and there’s an added draw for families.

Because lurking in the country park is a fearsome monster, with a poisonous wart on the end of his nose and purple prickles all over his back.

One of the locations for the string of Forestry England Julia Donaldson trails, it’s still home to both a Gruffalo and the Gruffalo’s Child, along the children’s Play Trail, as well as other family trails.

Plus, of course, plenty of places to walk, cycle or watch the scenery from a narrow gauge steam train – along with a more adrenaline-fuelled option on the Go Ape High ropes course, for anyone who fancies themselves the scariest creature in the wood – including choices for mini adrenaline junkies too.

Paultons Park & Peppa Pig World

If you’re a parent, chances are you’ll already know of Hampshire’s top theme park – as Paultons Park is the home of Peppa Pig World. But as well as the gentle rides and chance to meet Peppa and George if you’re visiting Hampshire with a toddler, there’s plenty more heart-racing fun.

The family theme park has more than 70 rides, acres of grounds and animals to meet, as well as several themed areas: Lost Kingdom is all about dinosaurs, while Critter Creek is great for younger ones, so there’s something for older and taller kids who want some adrenaline thrills as well as less scary options.

Add in playgrounds, a discovery trail and other events and shows, and it’s very easy to fill your day out – no surprise this is one of the top family attractions in Hampshire.

Check out my tips for visiting Peppa Pig World

Explore the New Forest

One of the loveliest spots in England, the New Forest National Park is packed with pretty villages, lovely walks and most excitingly for small kids, ponies which roam freely – not to mention a few donkeys.

If you’re exploring the New Forest, the chances are you’ll see some along the way but a good place to spot them is near Brockenhurst, around Beachern Wood.

Finding them is a good excuse to set out on a walk or a cycle ride. From Brockenhurst, there’s an off-road trail to Bank, or we cycled from nearby Beaulieu to Bucklers Hard on the waterfront. You can also go canoeing on the river, as well as discovering some of the family attractions in the New Forest.

For more things to do in the New Forest with kids, check out my top picks

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links – any purchases you make are unaffected but I may receive a small commission

Oceanarium/Alum Chine/Old Harry Rocks/Brownsea Island/Corfe Castle/Peppa Pig World/New Forest copyright MummyTravels, all other images courtesy of Depositphotos

LIKED THIS? SIGN UP FOR MY EMAIL NEWSLETTER