Wisley and Cobham
RHS Garden Wisley · Photo: Patche99z
The morning is at the Royal Horticultural Society's flagship garden, with a tropical glasshouse and lakes. After lunch, cross to Painshill, an 18th-century landscape garden where children can hunt for follies around the lake, including a grotto lined with crystals.
Historic House · 10:00–12:45 (2h45m)
Glasshouse first, then the lakeside paths; lunch at one of the garden cafés. No scooters or balls.
An outdoor historic house in Woking, aimed at ages 4 and up.
Photo: Patche99z
Nature & gardens · 13:15–16:00 (2h45m)
Walk the circuit to the Chinese bridge and the grotto; paths can be narrow.
An 18th-century landscape garden around a serpentine lake, with follies to find including a crystal grotto, a Chinese bridge and a ruined abbey. It works as a long adventurous walk for children who like discovering things.
Photo: Ian Capper
South EastCanterbury city centre
Three indoor stops a few minutes apart in the walled city. Children go free at the cathedral, the underground Roman museum has a mosaic floor still in place and objects to handle, and the free Beaney finishes the day with natural history cases and family trails.
Canterbury Cathedral → Canterbury Roman Museum → The Beaney
South EastLyndhurst
Morning walks under some of the tallest trees in the New Forest along Ornamental Drive, starting at Bolderwood and moving on to the redwoods of the Tall Trees Trail. The afternoon is at Beaulieu, where one ticket covers racing cars, a monorail and a stately home.
Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary → Blackwater Arboretum and Tall Trees Trail → Beaulieu National Motor Museum
South EastPortsmouth Harbour
Spend most of the day at the historic dockyard going aboard HMS Victory and HMS Warrior and seeing the raised Tudor warship Mary Rose. End by going up the Spinnaker Tower next door for a view across the Solent to the Isle of Wight.
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard → Spinnaker Tower
