The garden is a lovely place to spend the afternoon. Flora from the Americas and Asia added…read morevariety. There were whimsical sculptures by local artists through the garden. My favorite was a turtle made of household metal objects including spoons. Although I didn't eat there, the cafe looked inviting. We had walked along the coastal path and entered through the rear of the garden. If you have time, I recommend walking along the path to Steephill Cove as well. The views are gorgeous.

I went to Ventnor Botanic Gardens last year and it was fantastic place! The scenery is great and…read morethe flowers and trees were blooming. It is quite difficult to get there if you don't have a car, but there is buses that run throughout the day but they only allow single tickets than return tickets, which is abit silly really. There is several coastal paths at the back of the gardens which allows you to walk down to the beach or you can sit on one of the several benches that is dotted around the gardens. A really great place to have a picnic with friends or family.

An idyllic destination a short drive from London, Painshill Park is a great place to spend a day…read moreenjoying the beauty of the English countryside. Created by the eccentric Charles Hamilton, the park was created as a "romantic landscape". Both organized and naturalistic, the park offers many vistas, perspectives and experiences. Created with a variety of follies dotting the landscape, the park offers panoramic views and interesting scenes. Views from the Gothic Temple and the Turkish Tent are breathtaking. While exploring the man-made grotto (which is currently undergoing renovation) you can't help but be in awe of Hamilton's vision while at the same time thinking "This guy must have been totally out there to build stalactites with lathe and plaster and then cover them in pieces of crystal!". Whether walking the grounds, bringing a blanket and a book and enjoying the solitude, Painshill Park is a wonderful place to visit. Be prepared to walk, as the park is large and very hilly. It's a good climb to the top of the Tower as well. Would definitely recommend this if you need a relaxing afternoon away from the hustle and bustle of London.

A grade 1 listed park, much renovated over the last 25 years, by the trust that owns it…read more Created by Charles Hamilton ,in the mid 18th century, after his 2 (obligatory) Grand Tours, he wanted to create an idyllic natural setting, around a lake, with water diverted from the river Mole. He was very succesful in this, and created a number of follies, a Grotto, and the unusual Turkish Tent. Many of the plants are of American origin, and were just becoming fashionable at the time. It's worth remembering it's a park like setting rather than a garden like Wisley. Reasonable cafe near the entrance, and the ever present gift shop. Worth chcking their website for offers, currently free entry on Wednesdays in November, children free at weekends, and A special Santa event. The Grotto is only open at the weekends. A great place for a walk on a sunny day, great views across the lake and Surrey.

It is so good my family loves it so much better than before 100% recommend it has so much ridesread more

A fun place for all the family, lots of rides for the kids and adults alike, great little…read morecafeteria. Wildlife and falconery on display. Wonderful open vistas of the countryside, be warned this place is very big so may exhaust you walking round.

Not just in the summer but also in the depths of winter! Lovely walks, interesting museum (former…read morehospital chapel) and stunning views; a must.

great for a stroll. lovely grounds. short or long walks. lovely playgrounds for the kids and a…read moreminiature railway. cafe good too! local to us and great value :)

This tranquil haven can be easily missed if you don't know it's there but it's a really beautiful…read moreunspoilt woodland. There are various pathways to explore set around the lake which is the focal point and if you walk in with any bread the ducks will soon be over to investigate. Definitely a great place for children and dogs alike or a little picnic as there are plenty of benches and open areas to occupy. I myself just tend to stroll around and enjoy being amongst the nature. The woodland is a really nice size, it won't take you allday to walk a lap and there is plenty of parking available so head down in the car with the clan.

This is an area of real beauty but extemely hilly and very well suited for pushchairs or…read morewheelchairs. You park in its carpark and walk down a steep hill towards the lake which you can then walk around. There is a lot of trees and shrubs and many ducks and fish who equally enjoy any slices of bread thrown in! If you look carefully you can often spot turtles in the water and there is a bridge where you can enjoy a game of pooh sticks - though the sticks do take a long time to get going. It is a very large lake with stepping stones on one side to get over some water - exciting for the kids and worrying for the parents - its a great place to let the kids run off steam and climb trees / play hide and seek - it is also relatively quiet as there are no swings etc so a peaceful walk is normally manageable.

I've been visiting California Country Park since I was a small child, and I still find it as…read morebreathtaking as I ever did. The forest is enchanting, with ferns and moss clearings, the nature trails are incredible, winding through the hidden bogs and woodland, and the lake is beautiful, teeming with fish and birds. Bring the children to feed the swans, meet the baby ducklings and play in the log themed playground, complete with zip line and a paddling pool in the summer. Have a cup of coffee, slice of cake or ice cream at Jackson's Cafe, and wander the park, breathing in the fresh air of true nature. It is one of my favourite places in the world, I hope you enjoy it just as much.

Alice Holt is an amazing and large place for long walks, adventure play park for the kids, Go-Ape,…read morecycle hire and large lake and cafe area...great to go on a sunny day! Lots of different walks can be taken with a Stick Man walk for the little ones! Play park is great and can be difficult getting the younger members of the family out! There are picnic benches along the way, with some great view points too...as its large you don't feel on top of everyone on a busy day...although parking can take a while, so be aware!

A forest owned by the Forestry Commission I had to add a positive review for this place becuase…read morethey were the last place in Farnham to have Christmas trees when I left it too late. It is a lovely day out with paths and walks to suit all ages and abilities - including wheelchair friendly. It also has a cafe and plentiful parking. There are climbing frames for kids in addition to the Go Ape centre within the forest which is for big kids (death slides, assult courses etc). A good picnic location as well as a place to get Christmas trees.

Really lovely place to go for a walk, take children along as there's an activity park (two) along…read morewith a barn which holds a small museum, gift shop and cafe. Beautiful walks and plenty of parking - more expensive at the weekend, but fairly reasonable throughout the week. Lots of people take dogs there for walks, and it's fairly easy to spend a couple of hours there. Fishing nets for children can be hired from the barn to fish in a small pond nearby. There's also a river running through but to do fishing there you need a permit.

Fantastic place for my toddler, love the climbing things shaped like animals in the woods…read more Its nice and big, and the parking is more expensive at weekends but they're are no other costs, so seems pretty good value really.

A nice place with a lovely open scenery for walking but several including one of my children have…read morealmost drowned in the lake after falling over face first into it.... Going to this location I would suggest keeping your kids well away from the lake Also a while back a murderer used the woodland as a hiding place and wasn't found by the police until six days after he was sleeping there... It's s great place but is it a safe place?

The Five Arches is an area of woodland and open grassland so names because of the five arches that…read moremake up the bridge across the river that runs through it. In the summer, children often paddle in the water and throw stones into the water from the bridge. There's also a park for children to play in which has been modernised to include some exciting looking playground toys. The wooded area provides a fun alternative for youngsters wanting to climb amongst the trees and play hide and seek and a local pub, The White Cross, is a great place for a drink and snack afterwards.