I have lived in Surrey for my whole life and it’s a county I feel like I have explored pretty much from edge to edge. It will always feel like home to me and so I thought I’d put together some of our favourite Surrey day out ideas for family fun to help inspire you for your next trip:
National Trust Sites
When planning days out we always use our National Trust membership first and there are some fantastic National Trust sites in Surrey that are always so family friendly.
Winkworth Arboretum – Godalming
Winkworth Arboretum is one of our favourite places and it’s somewhere that we enjoy visiting in any season and even in any weather. With a beautiful lake to walk around, the boat house and so many different levels to explore it’s always an adventure.
You can read about our time at Winkworth here:
Claremont Landscape Gardens – Esher
Another beautiful National Trust, Claremont Landscape Gardens, has so many different trails to explore, so much to look at and just so much space to run around and burn off energy.
You can read more about our time at Claremont Gardens here:
- Claremont Landscape Gardens After Lockdown {National Trust}
- Claremont Landscape Gardens {National Trust}
Hatchlands Park – Guildford
We love the woodland play areas at Hatchlands Park and the house is so beautiful too. Set in a vast expanse of parkland it’s perfect for a picnic and enjoying time together as a family. It’s one of our favourite days out in Guildford.
You can read about our time at Hatchlands Park here:
Polesden Lacey – Dorking
Set in the Surrey Hills, Polesden Lacey gives fantastic views over the countryside towards the coast. There’s a lovely play area and so much outdoor space to explore as well as the beautiful house too.
You can read about our trip to Polesden Lacey here:
Morden Hall Park – Morden
Morden Hall Park is a beautiful green oasis in the city, giving you a taste of a country estate with a glimpse of its agricultural and industrial history but just a stone’s throw from London. Morden Hall Park is a former deer park, with the River Wandle running through it, creating a real haven for wildlife.
The estate is home to workshops run by local craftspeople and artisans plus there’s the Watermeads Nature Reserve and endless meadows, trees and the constant sound of running water. It’s a real gem and somewhere we love to visit.
You can read about our time at Morden Hall Park here:
Frensham Little Pond – Farnham
Frensham Little Pond is a medieval bishops’ fish pond, creating a tranquil wildlife haven in the middle of impressive heathland. Originally created in the 13th century, the area is now a sanctuary for wildlife and a fantastic family day out or beautiful place to walk the dog.
You can read about our time at Frensham here:
Outdoors Adventures
Aside from National Trust sites, there are so many other outside spaces to enjoy and explore in Surrey.
Kew Gardens – Richmond
I first went to The Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew on a school trip in my teens and it’s somewhere I have loved ever since. With huge glass houses to explore, beautiful gardens and pushchair friendly paths it’s a great day out for the whole family.
The Sculpture Park – Churt, near Farnham
The Sculpture Park is an outdoors day out like no other. Acres of land that feels like a forest combined with an engaging fairytale, it’s full of sculptures that span all genres, giving something to look at with every turn.
Gatton Park – Reigate
Gatton Park is a beautiful park and gardens overlooking the Surrey Hills. Designed by Capability Brown and steeped in history, it’s a great day out for the whole family.
Painshill Park – Cobham
Painshill Park is a beautiful 18th century garden that covers a huge area, all situated around the most beautiful lake. It has accesible routes, so much history and is a day out the whole family will enjoy – perfect for a picnic!
RHS Garden Wisley – Woking
I’ve only been to Wisley Gardens once that I can remember and I keep intending to go back. It’s such a beautiful place, like a smaller Kew Gardens, with so many things to look at and do – glass houses, vast gardens and play areas too. You can read more about it here and make sure when organising tickets that you book online before you visit to save on the admission fee.
Frimley Lodge Park – Frimley
We don’t go to Frimley Lodge often enough considering it’s one of our closest country parks. It’s such a nice day out with so much land to explore, plenty of space to have a picnic, a fantastic new play area and even a miniature railway. It’s a great place to visit on a nice day.
Alice Holt Forest – Farnham
Alice Holt is somewhere we have spent so much time and we love it as it’s a very cheap day out. As it’s part of the Forestry Commision you only have to pay car parking, it’s free entry and it’s a great place to walk the dog. With a Gruffalo Trail and immense playgrounds the children will love it. There’s also Go Ape there if you fancy it!
Virginia Water
I think Virginia Water is the place in Surrey that I spend most of my time. I go there to walk or run and we’ll often take the children to scoot or cycle. With the main lake, well kept paths and a lovely play area it’s a great day out.
Bocketts Farm Park – Leatherhead
Farms are always such a lovely day out. I was lucky enough to go on a school trip with Little Man to Bocketts Farm Park last year and it was such a nice day. So many animals, animal demonstrations and gardens combined with play areas both indoor and out and even pig racing. It’s such a nice day out and you can read about when we spent LP’s birthday at Bocketts Farm here.
Godstone Farm – Godstone
Godstone Farm is another fantastic place to get some fresh air and see animals at the same time. With so many different animals, a dino trail and the best play area we have ever seen at a farm it really is a wonderful day out for the whole family.
Educational Days Out
Hampton Court Palace – Molesey
There is so much history in Surrey and at the heart of that is Hampton Court Palace. I grew up just a few minutes from Hampton Court Palace and loved to learn about Henry VIII and all his wives who had lived just down the road. It’s such a great day out for the whole family and the addition of the Magic Garden play area makes it an even better day out for children too. It’s one of the main tourist attractions in surrey.
Brooklands Museum – Weybridge
If your children love to learn then they’ll love Brooklands Museum. The motoring and aviation museum where you can discover the pioneers of speed, flight and adventure at the birthplace of British motorsport and aviation. It’s also home of Concorde and always has special events held through the year.
You can read about our trip to Brooklands Museum here
Theme Parks
Being so close to London and having such high quality theme parks on our doorstep is something I’ve always appreciated whilst living in Surrey.
Chessington World of Adventures – Chessington
I spent so much of my teens at Chessington World of Adventures, going by bus with my friends. It’s changed so much over the years and is now very much a family theme park with rides to suit very young children as well as older ones. They always have special events and we love visiting to enjoy the zoo and sea life centre during the winter.
Thorpe Park – Chertsey
Thorpe Park is definitely aimed at slightly older children compared to Theme Park but the beach is something that the whole family will love when the weather’s nice. It’s a great day out – even as an adult.
Activities, Entertainment and Play Centres
There are so many great activities, play centres and entertainment venues in Surrey that are great for a rainy day. Here are some of our favourites.
Mrs Potts’ Place – Camberley
On our doorstep in Camberley is Mrs Potts’ Place, a really lovely pottery painting studio where you can get creative and paint pretty much anything. They also have a lot of different workshops on offer and many adult evening classes too.
Imagination – Camberley
You could combine a visit to Mrs Potts Place with a trip to Imagination, a play centre that lets the children be whatever they want to be. With rooms dedicated to different themes like an outdoor picnic room, a supermarket shopping room and an army cadet room there is something for everyone.
Craggy Island – Guildford/Sutton
I have heard great things about Craggy Island and it’s really the best place to go for indoor climbing adventures in the South East. With centres in Sutton and Guildford their both well located and have sessions available for every experience level.
Pirates Landing – Camberley
You’ll often find us at Pirates Landing in the holidays – with the children playing whilst I get some work done. It’s great fun for all ages with a really lovely pirate theme and a nice cafe menu too.
Hen House – Haslemere
A little further afield, the Hen House in Haslemere is compact but fun and has areas that are perfect for little children. With traditional soft play and a music disco room it’s somewhere children will love.
Little Street – Frimley/West Byfleet
Another of our children’s favourite places is Little Street – although they’re a bit big to visit now. Little Street has different rooms set up as different shops or services – a cafe, a hairdresser, a building area, a supermarket etc. It’s great fun and something all children will enjoy.
And there you have our favourite days out with the kids in Surrey. I’ll add more as we find new places and if there’s anywhere I haven’t mentioned, let me know and I’ll visit and add it in as soon as I can.
What are your favourite great days out in Surrey?
My inlaws live in Surrey so we visited fairly frequently, although the children spend more time there than me during the school holidays. I believe they’ve had a great time at both Hatchlands and Polsden Lacy.
I’ve only been to Wisley once to visit the butterfly house and it was lovely. I wanted to see their Christmas lights last year but didn’t get myself sorted. It is a certainty that during the Christmas week that we will go for a work around Frensham Pond, Sheepleas or Ranmore Common.
I’m an import as opposed to someone who has lived in Surrey all my life. I was ticking off all the places on your list I’ve been with the family. It’s about five. I’d possibly add Boxhill to it (maybe Denbies at the bottom of the hill too??). Very keen to explore Virginia Water ‘though.
Ah Box Hill! That was a regular day out for us as children – I don’t get over that way very often anymore as we’re the very other side of Surrey! Virginia Water is well worth the trip even if it’s just to see the Totem Pole! x