Family-friendly summer adventures: 10 of the best in the south-east of England

Hastings
A former Victorian baths complex on Hastings seafront is now home to one of the biggest underground skateparks in the world. As well as two BMX and skateboarding areas, Source Park has a balcony cafe for spectating parents. Close by, there’s plenty more to keep teens happy. The trio of 18-hole courses at Hastings Adventure Golf, host to the annual World Crazy Golf Championships, will keep the entire family entertained for a few hours, while Maggie’s is the perfect lunch spot for those craving some fish and chips (it gets busy, so worth booking your spot). There’s stonking sea views to be relished from the West Hill lift, a Victorian-era funicular, and pirates or bootleggers can be encountered during interactive cave tours at Smugglers Adventure. Most famous is Hastings Castle, which was originally a wooden tower that William the Conqueror ordered the construction of during his invasion of Britain in 1066.

St Albans
If your kids are fond of Beatrix Potter’s novels or – more likely – the CBeebies series Peter Rabbit, they should need no persuading to visit Willows Activity Farm, where they’ll get to enjoy a Peter Rabbit themed adventure playground, secret treehouse and stage shows. There’s also the opportunity to meet Squirrel Nutkin and co, and your little ones can pet animals and ride a tractor. That’s all a few miles south-east of St Albans’ shop-lined city centre; just west is Verulamium Park, which houses a model-boating lake and a splash park for toddlers. In between, lunch options should be easy to come by: St Albans has recently been lauded for its large choice of family-friendly restaurants.

Crowborough
Fictionally known as Hundred Acre Wood, the real-life Five Hundred Acre Wood was the setting for AA Milne’s beloved Winnie-the-Pooh stories. Energetic families can cycle there from Crowborough station: it takes about 45 minutes to Pooh Car Park via quiet, attractive back roads, including a picnic stop at the spectacular AA Milne memorial, aka Galleons Lap – “an enchanted place on the very top of the forest”. From the car park, stroll to Pooh Sticks Bridge to try the game before pedalling back to Crowborough’s country pubs for some lunch. After all, as Pooh said: “What could be more important than a little something to eat?” Other local temptations include Harrison’s Rocks, where kids of all ages can try out bouldering, or explore Bull Track bike club’s progressive trails.

Peterborough
Outdoorsy family? When exiting Peterborough’s station, put the city’s gothic cathedral behind you and follow a sculpture trail to the 2,000-acre Nene Park. As well as lakes and cycling trails, this beautiful expanse is home to Lynch Farm Riding, where kids – of all ages and experience levels – can explore on horseback. If you want to take in the views of the river Nene while working up a sweat, you can hire a kayak from Peterborough Boat Hire. And if you have some time to spare before you head home, Peterborough also possesses an art deco lido, which the whole family can enjoy.

Box Hill & Westhumble
Silver-spotted skippers. Adonis blues. Purple emperors. Giant fritillaries. All these butterflies – and more than 30 others – are found around Box Hill, a popular North Downs beauty spot which is great for scenic walks and stunning views. Summer sees sightings – plus, inevitably, crowds – peak. If you’re after a challenge, the three-mile Butterfly Walk takes you from woodlands to flowery glades, but expect some steep climbs. An easier option is the Natural Play trail, a level, two-mile walk, which features stepping stones and rope swings. If you opt for hill-top routes you’ll find yourself at a picnic spot championed in Jane Austen’s novel Emma, so be sure to stop and enjoy. Being a National Trust site, if you haven’t packed a picnic, you’ll find a cafe to hit the spot, and it’s all just a half-mile saunter up the aptly-named Zig Zag Road from Box Hill & Westhumble station in Surrey.

Cambridge
Younger children or slower-paced parents can pole their way along the River Cam on traditional punt boats, heading towards a pub or picnic lunch. Chauffeured punting tours are also available for those who want to relax and enjoy the views. If you’re up for seeing more of this glorious university city, the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences is a dream for dinosaur-loving kids. A complete Iguanodon skeleton welcomes you as soon as you enter the museum.

Chichester
Brighton is the south coast’s go-to beach town, but here’s an alternative shout. Repeatedly awarded Blue Flag status for cleanliness and safety, West Wittering beach has colourful huts, cafes and sand dunes ripe for castle building; at about a kilometre long, it tends to deliver space even on summer weekends. Venture north to find the resident Ice Cream Boat, exclusively selling award-winning Caroline’s Dairy flavours. If you’re still full of energy, head to Flip Out adventure trampoline park, or venture to Fishbourne – one stop away from Chichester on a Southern train – for a massive, mosaic-covered Roman palace and recreated gardens.

Seaford
Though shingly, the four-mile beach of this under-the-radar East Sussex town is excellent for bathing in calm seas or, at the eastern end, rockpooling. You might also hire a standup paddleboard or kayak from Skipper Water Sports, with lessons available. Stopping off for an ice-cream or a crepe is the perfect way to reward short walks to the dramatic Seven Sisters chalk cliffs. Alternatively, besides its gun platform affording 360-degree views, the charming Seaford Museum has a retro dress-up area and vintage computers to enchant 21st-century kids.

Letchworth Garden City
Around Letchworth runs the Garden City Greenway, a 14-mile cycling route via meadows and lakes. One potential stop is the Standalone Farm, where your children can meet pigs, goats and sheep. Howard Park – the world’s first garden city – contains children’s splash fountains, and the Letchworth Outdoor Pool pairs its heated, 50-metre main lido with a separate one for toddlers, plus a grassy sunbathing area. Close by and rather faster paced is Teamworks’ indoor kart racing and laser tag centre.

Arundel
Just north of Arundel’s station looms the West Sussex town’s riverside castle and its Norman keep. While children might not thrill at Thomas Gainsborough paintings in a gothic main house, large grounds and summertime jousting tournaments ought to appeal. Continue on and, having passed Mill Road Putting Green and Cafe, you’ll soon come to the Arundel Wetland Centre. Here, pelicans and pond-dipping classes complement boardwalks and boat safaris. Other local temptations include splashing in lidos or tackling museum quiz trails.

All aboard
Up to four kids per adult can travel with Thameslink, Southern or Great Northern on most journeys for as little as £2 during off-peak and super off-peak hours. Terms and conditions apply.