Family Attractions
Theme park day
Peppa Pig World at Paultons Park
Animal day
Longdown Activity Farm
Mixed family outing
Gardens, play and steam railway at Exbury
Flexible pace
Easy to mix big attractions with quieter local days
From Boathouse, family days out can range from full attraction visits to simpler outdoor outings that are easier to fit around the rest of your stay.
Why this area works for families
The best family destinations are not always the ones with the most rides or the biggest name. What often matters more is variety, and that is where this area works well. One day can be built around a major attraction, while the next can be slower and more flexible, with animals, gardens, play areas or outdoor space instead.
This makes the area especially useful for mixed-age groups. Younger children may prefer farm animals, Peppa-themed rides or open play spaces, while older children often enjoy bigger parks, steam railways, outdoor activities or simply having room to explore.
Peppa Pig World at Paultons Park
Peppa Pig World is one of the best-known family attractions in the region and a strong choice for families with younger children. It forms part of Paultons Family Theme Park and includes nine Peppa-themed rides, character experiences, water play and indoor play areas, all built around the world of the show.
Because the attraction sits inside the wider Paultons Park, it also works well for mixed-age groups. Younger children can spend their time in Peppa Pig World, while older children and adults can enjoy the rest of the park’s larger selection of rides and attractions.
Longdown Activity Farm
Longdown Activity Farm offers a more hands-on kind of family day out and is especially appealing to younger children. Daily activities include bottle-feeding calves and kid goats, duck feeding, animal encounters and tractor and trailer rides, alongside indoor and outdoor play areas.
This makes it a good alternative to a theme park day. The experience is more relaxed, more interactive and often easier for families who want something lively without the queues and pace of a larger attraction.
New Forest Wildlife Park
New Forest Wildlife Park gives families a calmer outdoor day built around animals and woodland surroundings. It is one of the better-known family attractions in the area and offers a mix of wildlife enclosures, nature-focused experiences and open-air space, making it a good fit for children who enjoy animals and exploring at a steadier pace.
For many families, it works particularly well as part of a broader stay because it feels different from both a city outing and a theme-park day. It also sits naturally alongside other New Forest plans, so it can be included as part of a day that mixes one attraction with wider time outdoors.
Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway
Exbury Gardens is a strong option for families who want a gentler day out. The gardens offer wide open space, seasonal colour and plenty of room to walk, while the steam railway adds a feature that younger visitors often particularly enjoy.
It also suits mixed-age groups well because the visit does not rely on one fixed pace. Some families come mainly for the train and open space, while others enjoy the setting, the quieter atmosphere and the chance to spend time outdoors without the structure of a full attraction programme
Easier outdoor family days
Getting to Hythe Marina
Most of the larger family attractions are easiest to reach by car, especially if you want flexibility around arrival times, breaks and heading back before children get too tired. That makes it easy to plan one bigger attraction day, then follow it with a simpler outing the next day.
Boathouse works well as a family base because the day trips feel varied while the return each evening feels calm and straightforward. One day can be built around rides, another around animals, and another around gardens or easier outdoor time, without needing to change hotels or overcomplicate the stay.
Plan your family stay
If you are travelling with children, this area gives you a useful mix of attraction-led days and lower-pressure outings. Peppa Pig World, Longdown Activity Farm, New Forest Wildlife Park and Exbury Gardens all offer different kinds of family experiences, which makes it easier to build a stay around what suits your children best.
That flexibility is what makes Boathouse a strong base for family trips. You can plan one or two bigger days out, keep the rest of the trip more relaxed, and still have plenty to enjoy across the wider area.