Photo: Photo of Fleet: Colin Smith, CC BY-SA 2.0Days out with toddlers in Hampshire
For a toddler day out in Hampshire, England, try Manor Farm Country Park in Bursledon, where under 3s go free and daily activities run in all weathers, or Staunton Country Park in Havant, a farm with pigs, sheep and llamas that needs no booking. Birdworld at Holt Pound and New Forest Wildlife Park at Ashurst also list toddlers among their audiences.
Toddlers do best with short visits, soft play and animals close enough to see properly. Hampshire has farms, a wildlife park and parks with play areas that suit a morning or an afternoon, and each place below lists toddlers in its audience.
Check opening days first. Staunton Country Park closes at 4pm from 1 November to 31 March, and Birdworld's bird park closes at 4.30pm in winter, although its Play Barn stays open until 5pm. Last admission at Birdworld is 4pm, so arrive early in the afternoon.
Soft play is best booked ahead. Active Monkeys in Fleet asks visitors to book online because capacity is limited, and Manor Farm asks for children to be accompanied by an adult at all times. Check the day's opening before you travel, since several of these places change their hours with the season.
Every place here is checked against its official website; the latest check was on .
Indoor play for toddlers
Soft play and indoor play for when the weather is poor or the children need a break from being outdoors.
Image: Active Monkeys Play CentreActive Monkeys Play Centre
An indoor play centre in Fleet for toddlers and young children. Sessions are booked online, and the centre is open most days of the year.
Why it's here: An indoor play centre in Fleet for toddlers and young children, open daily except Christmas and Easter Sunday. Sessions are booked online.
Kids2Day Soft Play
Kids2Day is an indoor soft play centre in Chandler’s Ford, with a café and a pre-school on the same site. The centre is now run by The Play Park and offers open play with no timed sessions.
Why it's here: Soft play in Chandler's Ford with open play from 10am to 6pm and no timed sessions, plus a café on site.
Photo: Rob Young from United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0Manor Farm Country Park
Manor Farm is a family farm inside River Hamble Country Park, with farm animals to meet and daily activities in all weathers. Visitors can walk in without booking, and once inside they can stay all day.
Why it's here: Farm animals to meet and daily activities in all weathers, with under 3s going free. Day tickets on the council page are child (3 to 16) £11 and adult £13.
Animals and farms
Places where toddlers can meet animals up close, with pre-booking or set times to check.
Image: Hampshires Top AttractionsStaunton Country Park and Farm
A farm in the middle of Havant with pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, llamas and alpacas, plus gardens to explore. No advance booking is needed.
Why it's here: A farm in the middle of Havant with pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, llamas and alpacas. No advance booking is needed, and the park is open from 10am.
Photo: J W Parker, CC BY-SA 2.0New Forest Wildlife Park
A wildlife park in New Forest woodland near Ashurst with nearly 200 animals from 29 species, run with a strong focus on conservation. Residents include otters, lynx, a wolverine and wolves, which returned to the park in summer 2026, and visitors can walk among the wallabies.
Why it's here: Nearly 200 animals from 29 species, with walk-through wallaby and deer areas and two adventure playgrounds. Under 3s go free, and booking is not needed.
Photo: Gareth James, CC BY-SA 2.0Marwell Zoo
A wildlife park near Colden Common, eight miles from Winchester, with animals from around the world. It is open all year except on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Why it's here: A wildlife park near Colden Common, eight miles from Winchester, with animals from around the world. Open every day except Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Photo: Birdworld, CC BY-SA 4.0Birdworld
A bird park with a Play Barn, a play area and a cafe, two miles south of Farnham on the Hampshire and Surrey border. Treetop adventures are also on site.
Why it's here: A bird park with a Play Barn, an outdoor play area and a café near Holt Pound. Last admission is at 4pm, and the Play Barn is open until 5pm in winter.
Outdoor play and parks
Free or low-cost places with play areas, for a picnic and a run around.
Photo: Mr Ignavy, CC BY-SA 2.0Beggarwood Park
A Green Flag woodland park and Local Nature Reserve in Basingstoke, with a toddler and junior play area, outdoor gym equipment, a pump track and the Café in the Park.
Why it's here: A Green Flag woodland park in Basingstoke with a toddler and junior play area and the Café in the Park. No charge is mentioned on the council page.
Image: Fleet Town CouncilHartland Country Park
A country park near Hartland Village with free parking, benches and picnic tables, a play area, a children's cycle track, ponds and woodland. It is popular with local families.
Why it's here: Free to visit, with free parking, a play area for children, a children's cycle track and picnic tables.
Photo of Southampton: Christopher Hilton, CC BY-SA 2.0Northumberland Adventure Playground (The Venny)
The Venny is a small local park at the northern end of Northumberland Road in Southampton. It has a play area, seating and planting that is managed to encourage wildlife.
Why it's here: A small local park in Southampton with a play area for young children. It is free to use, and the council page gives no set opening hours.
Questions people ask
Where can toddlers go in Hampshire when it rains?
Active Monkeys Play Centre in Fleet is indoor play for toddlers and young children, open daily except Christmas and Easter Sunday, and Kids2Day Soft Play in Chandler's Ford has open play from 10am to 6pm with no timed sessions.
Which Hampshire farms are good for toddlers?
Staunton Country Park in Havant has pigs, sheep, goats and llamas with no pre-booking needed, and Manor Farm Country Park in Bursledon lets under 3s in free, with daily activities.
Are there toddler play areas in Hampshire parks?
Beggarwood Park in Basingstoke has a toddler and junior play area, and Hartland Country Park in Fleet is free to visit with a play area and free parking.