to add an item to your Itinerary basket.
With only a few weeks to go until the school summer holidays kick off, you may be thinking about ideas for days out with the children. If you are looking to make the most of your budget this summer, why not consider planning a trip to some of the following Hampshire attractions, all of which offer free entry for children:
Royal Victoria Country Park, Southampton
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Sitting on the edge of Southampton Water, Royal Victoria Country Park is a great spot to watch the cruise liners head in and out of Southampton port. Added to this, there’s lots of lawned areas for run about and play on, outdoor play areas, a fairy garden and geocaching locations.
Please note: although entry to Royal Victoria Country Park is free, charges apply for parking and the miniature railway.
Royal Armouries - Fort Nelson, near Portsmouth
Step back in time and explore this restored Victorian fort, Royal Armouries - Fort Nelson can be found just outside Portsmouth. Home to the Royal Armouries national collection of artillery and historic cannon, the fort has an interesting history and is ideal for all ages.
Thruxton Motorsports Centre, near Andover
Thruxton has a busy calendar this summer with thrilling motorsports events including the British Truck Racing (6-7 July) and British Superbikes (9-11 August).
Children under 12 go free, when accompanied by a paying adult.
New Forest Reptile Centre, New Forest
Ever wanted to learn more about the UK’s native reptile species including the famous adder? Well pop along to the New Forest Reptile Centre, just outside Lyndhurst this summer where you have the opportunity to view some of these creatures in the centre’s ‘pods’.
Open throughout the school summer holidays, entry is free with a suggested donation.
Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) Museum, Winchester
An ideal place to visit on those rainier summer days, the RLC Museum is free to enter and contains many exhibits and artefacts detailing the RLC’s history. Children will love the hands-on activities on offer including mini parachute making!
Moors Valley Country Park, near Ringwood
With its acres of parkland, popular play trail, Tree Top Trail and play areas, Moors Valley Country Park offers a full day out for all the family.
Entry to Moors Valley is free although parking charges apply. The park is great for some off-road cycling, family dog walks or a picnic by the lake.
Other facilities at Moors Valley (of which charges apply) include a café, bike hire, segways, Go Ape trail and a miniature railway.
Southampton City Art Gallery
Explore some of Southampton’s Cultural Quarter with your family on a trip to the Southampton City Art Gallery. Free to visit, the gallery has regularly rotating displays feature works from the collection, national touring exhibitions and work by local artists.
Look out for creative events aimed at children during the school summer holidays, many of which are at a low cost.
Buckler’s Hard, New Forest
Grab a picnic and head to Buckler's Hard, a historic maritime village which sits on the Beaulieu River. Although a small charge applies for visiting the Bucker’s Hard Museum and the river cruise, a great free activity to do is to walk the 2-mile journey to nearby Beaulieu (or vice versa), where you may get the chance to spot some of the New Forest’s donkey residents plus other wildlife.
Get further inspiration for your summer visit to Hampshire
Discover 50 things to do this summer in Hampshire
Find free things to do in Hampshire
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Rich in history, with a small beach and miles of open fields, Royal Victoria Country Park is a hidden gem on the south coast.
Fort Nelson is home to the Royal Armouries national collection of artillery and historic cannon – the big guns – and is a great day out for all the family. Step back in time and explore a fully restored Victorian fort with its high ramparts, original fortifications, massive parade ground and underground tunnels, plus a national museum housing over 700 pieces of artillery from across the world and spanning 600 years of history – each with their own story to tell.
Thruxton is the fastest race circuit in the UK and hosts events as varied as the British Touring Car Championship, Truck racing, British Superbikes and Historic racing.
Come and discover some of the UK's native reptile and lizard species at this fascinating centre in the heart of the New Forest. Free admission, donations welcome.
The Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) Museum tells the story of over 200 years of Army transport and supply, from the Battle of Agincourt to the present day.
Moors Valley Country Park and Forest is a large country park on the Hampshire/Dorset border.
Explore Southampton City Art Gallery’s diverse collection of fine art, which can tell the story of European art from the Renaissance through to the present day. The gallery has regularly rotating displays feature works from the collection, national touring exhibitions and work by local artists.
Escape to the beauty spot of Buckler’s Hard, where history and stunning scenery come together for an unforgettable trip out in the New Forest countryside. Once a bustling shipbuilding village where ships for Nelson’s Navy were built, the charming village of Buckler’s Hard now a peaceful haven. Relax with a cuppa and a slice of cake, take a ramble beside the Beaulieu River, or delve into the village’s history in the Buckler’s Hard Museum.
