Things to do on a rainy day
If the thought of spending the day trapped indoors with the kids doesn’t appeal, here’s our rainy-day guide for Havant and Waterlooville.
Soft Play – where would we be without soft play? Whoever thought of this first was a genius – I could kiss them. Fortunately our area has several soft play venues.
Play Planet in Horndean has a fairly large frame for the older ones, plus a really good separate area for the under 4’s. It also has a jaw-dropping vertical slide, which none of our family has quite mustered up the courage to go on yet (no I haven’t volunteered to show the kids how it’s done).
Horizon Oceans of Play in Havant is a water-themed soft play centre – not literally, that wouldn’t be much use on a rainy day – but the frame is designed like a large pirate ship, with several slides, ball pits and tunnels to explore. It is quite large so if the kids are still quite little, you may need to follow them in there if you don’t want to lose them…
Horizon World of Play is the sister centre to Horizon Oceans of Play and one of the newest soft-play centres in the area. Located inside Horizon Leisure Centre in Waterlooville, children can explore Great Britain, America, Italy and other countries (I’m sure you get the idea) in this ‘countries of the world’ themed centre. It also includes a toddler and babies area for the smaller ones
Little Diggers is located inside Wyevale Garden Centre in Havant, and is just by the café, which is handy for that all important cup of tea or coffee whilst you watch the children play. Aimed at children under 1.48 metres (don’t worry, there is a measuring wall), it includes a baby area, and an area for juniors so there is something for everyone.
The Spring Arts and Heritage Centre in Havant has a changing programme of exhibitions to visit and a permanent collection in the museum. The centre has a real local family feel and is very much community focused.
Petersfield Museum and Flora Twort Gallery often have themed events for children and their carers, and many of them are free if the child is accompanied by a paying adult.
Stansted House is worth a look on a rainy day – particularly the ‘below stairs’ rooms, which give a rich understanding of life as a servant in the heyday of the house (think Downton Abbey but on a smaller scale!). The displays are easily digestible for a young audience and the volunteer room stewards really help bring the place to life for young minds.
If all else fails and the kids are desperate to get out you may just have to don some wellies and get on with it! But at least you can do it in picturesque surroundings – Petersfield Heath and Pond is a lovely circular (and not too arduous) walk, with the added bonus of ducks to feed and a lovely café half way round. Staunton Park and Lake also has a circular walk, and Queen Elizabeth Country Park has many paths and wooded areas to explore. Queens Inclosure in Cowplain has a short circular walk and lots of fallen down trees – great for climbing on or hiding behind!
Source: https://www.familiesonline.co.uk/local/havant-waterlooville/in-the-know/things-to-do-on-a-rainy-day-in-havant-waterlooville-and-petersfield