What’s on

Are you looking for a fun, exciting and welcoming attraction to make your holiday go with a bang?

There are magical museums, historic houses and gorgeous gardens, fun family attractions, tremendous trains, thrilling theme parks, fantastic farms and amazing animal parks, and awesome adventure parks.

There are fantastic events this Autumn at these Great Days Out attractions. This February Half Term become a Dinosaur Detective at the Dinosaur Museum in Dorchester – it’s fantastic fun for the kids and they win a Hunter’s Medal if they discover all the dinosaurs. Dorchester’s other top attraction – the Tutankhamun Exhibition – also offers great fun with the Tutankhamun Treasure Hunt. There are prizes for all successful children.

Handle historic motoring objects and race your own balloon-powered car in the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu. Become a medieval builder in Beaulieu Abbey and dress up as a Victorian in Palace House.

Super Family Attractions

Go to Britain’s original Dinosaur Museum and see T rex, Velociraptor, Triceratops and other dinosaurs. Steam in to Swanage on an historic steam train on the Swanage Railway as it winds through the beautiful Purbeck countryside; Marvel at the Tutankhamun’s tomb treasures and mummy at the stunning Tutankhamun Exhibition. Unleash your inner Tarzan at one of three Go Ape Centres in the area – Moors Valley, Itchen Valley or Haldon. For a full day’s fun visit Adventure Wonderland, Dorset’s number one award winning theme park

Ride on the miniature steam railway at the Pecorama, Beer. For a great family day out make tracks to Beaulieu voted the best large visitor attraction in 2013.  There’s an enchanting experience for the young and the young at heart at the Teddy Bear Museum where there is over 100 years of teddies. Dive deep at Bournemouth’s Oceanarium and come face to face with numerous amazing creatures.

Great Days Out

Slow the pace a bit with a wagon ride at the award winning Dorset Heavy Horse Farm Park. Get in touch with your wilder side at Marwell Zoo that has over 170 exotic and endangered species. Cool down at Splashdown Poole, the South’s favourite waterpark with some of the UK’s most exciting water flumes. Switch on to plenty of nostalgic fun at the Montacute TV Radio and Toy Museum.

Gaze in awe at the terracotta warriors in the Terracotta Warriors Museum. Stroll through the delightful walled gardens whilst the kids have fun feeding the farm animals at Kingston Maurward Gardens and Animal Park. Take an amazing fun and action packed day out at the world’s largest heritage and cultural event, the Great Dorset Steam Fair. Be part of the mass feeding of up to 600 mute swans at Abbotsbury Swannery. Discover the Priest’s House Museum’s rich collections of archaeology, costume, childhood and local history of the local area. 

Amazing Places to Visit

Get hands on with animals at the award winning Farmer Palmer’s Farm Park, ideal for the under 8’s. See the newly expanded Haynes International Motor Museum with the UK’s largest exhibition of the greatest cars from around the world. Uncover the heritage of Sherborne Castle a stately family home since 1617. For a great Somerset family day out visit Wookey Hole Caves with its many attractions. Explore the Purbeck the ideal way 0n bike with Cyclexperience. For great family fun head to The Ark in Poole

Relax and unwind as you take a stroll around the Blue Pool with its enchanting and tranquil waters. Explore the history, science and technology of communication at the Royal Signals Museum. Discover the secrets of ancient Egyptian magic and mummies at the Mummies Exhibition. Sample cider at its best in Perry’s Cider Mill and Rural Museum. Explore the magnificent Grade 1 Listed Cliff top mansion of Highcliffe Castle and enjoy a Dorset cream tea in the tearoom.

Get thrills the thrills of quad biking and other outdoor activities at Gorcombe Extreme Sports. Discover history where it happened at Portland Castle and Old Sherborne Castle. Let the kids have fun at Devon’s Crealy Adventure Park. Sail the high seas with City Cruises Poole and explore the Jurassic Coast. Travel through time at one of the south west’s newestest attractions – Seaton Jurassic. There’s plenty of farmyard fun to be had at Longdown Activity Farm.

There is a whole host of things to do, places to visit, and experiences to be had in the South and South West.