Make the most of the school holidays with five brilliant Bournemouth family days out, from sharks and penguins at the Oceanarium to climbing challenges and the PierZip at RockReef. Discover mini golf in the Lower Gardens, ride the land train across Hengistbury Head or turn Boscombe Beach into an action-packed family sports day. With ideas for toddlers, teenagers, sunny days and rainy weather, Bournemouth offers summer holiday activities for every kind of family.
24th July 2026
Bournemouth Family Days Out | Summer Holiday Activities in Dorset | Dorset Lifestyle
Six weeks can feel like a very long time when the children need entertaining, but Bournemouth gives families far more to work with than buckets, spades and a day on the sand.
We can meet penguins, race across the sea on a zip wire, catch a little land train through a nature reserve or challenge the family to beach volleyball. Whether we are planning around toddlers, energetic older children or an unpredictable weather forecast, these five Bournemouth days out deserve a place on the summer holiday list.
Some of the best family days begin in Bournemouth’s Lower Gardens, where shady paths and colourful flowerbeds lead directly from the town centre towards the sea.
Start with a round at Bournemouth Lower Gardens Mini Golf. The traditional 18-hole course is simple enough for younger children but still capable of producing serious family rivalry. Twelve of its holes are accessible to wheelchair users and visitors with reduced mobility.
Afterwards, wander past the aviary and summer art displays before choosing a picnic spot beneath the trees. The gardens offer a calm beginning to the day, especially before the busiest crowds gather around Pier Approach.
From here, follow the gardens towards Bournemouth Beach. Families can add a round at the nearby Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf, spend a few coins in the pier amusements or walk to the end of Bournemouth Pier for views across the bay.
Finish with paddling, sandcastles and ice cream on the beach. It is a traditional seaside day, but the combination of gardens, games and coast keeps it interesting long after everyone has shaken the sand from their shoes.
Best for: A lower-cost day with plenty of variety
Rainy-day option: Head into the nearby BH2 complex for indoor adventure golf, a film and something to eat.
When the clouds appear, or everybody needs a break from the midday heat, the Oceanarium becomes one of Bournemouth’s most dependable family attractions.
Located beside Bournemouth Pier, the aquarium takes visitors through underwater habitats from around the world. Children can watch playful otters, see Humboldt penguins gathering around their pool and peer through the water for sharks, rays and a loggerhead turtle.
The underwater tunnel is likely to produce the biggest reaction. Fish pass beside us while larger creatures glide overhead, creating the impression that we have stepped beneath the surface without getting wet.
Daily talks and feeding presentations add more than another circuit of tanks. They give children the chance to discover how the animals behave, what they eat and why many wild species need protection.
Tickets permit same-day re-entry, so families can usually divide the visit around lunch or time on the beach. Explore the aquarium in the morning, head outside when the sun appears and return later for a favourite feeding session.
Best for: Animal lovers, younger children and changeable weather
Do not miss: Checking the day’s presentation times on arrival.
For children who prefer climbing walls to quiet sightseeing, RockReef transforms Bournemouth Pier into an all-weather adventure playground.
Its indoor Clip ’n Climb arena contains 28 themed climbing walls with different shapes, routes and levels of difficulty. Some reward speed; others demand balance, patience or a willingness to keep trying after the first attempt. Children aged four and over can take part, making it an activity that parents and older siblings can enjoy alongside them.
Families looking for another challenge can tackle the HighLine aerial obstacle course or squeeze through the 65-metre Pier Cave, where three routes wind through tunnels inside the attraction.
The bravest visitors can finish outside on PierZip. The world’s first pier-to-shore zip wire launches from a platform above the sea and carries riders for 250 metres over the waves before they land on Bournemouth Beach. Two parallel lines mean family members can race one another back to shore.
Even those who remain safely on the ground get a good view of the action from the beach below.
Best for: Energetic children, teenagers and adventurous parents
Good to know: Activities have individual age, height or weight requirements, so check these and book ahead.
At Bournemouth’s eastern edge, Hengistbury Head offers a completely different kind of summer holiday adventure.
Begin at the visitor centre, where children can learn about the wildlife, geology and thousands of years of human history hidden across the headland. Then set out on foot or climb aboard the little land train towards Mudeford Sandbank.
The train follows a largely traffic-free route between heathland and Christchurch Harbour, turning the journey into one of the highlights. It eventually arrives beside a narrow sweep of land lined with some of Britain’s most coveted beach huts.
Mudeford Sandbank has the harbour on one side and the open sea on the other. Families can paddle, collect shells, watch boats passing through the harbour entrance or settle down for a picnic with views across the water.
For an extra adventure, take the small passenger ferry across to Mudeford Quay when it is operating. Children can then go crabbing or watch the fishing boats before returning.
The Hengistbury Head land train usually operates from April to October, weather permitting. Its status should be checked before setting out.
Best for: Families who love trains, nature and quieter beaches
Bring: A picnic, sun protection and binoculars for spotting wildlife.
A beach day does not have to mean sitting beside a windbreak for six hours. Around Boscombe Pier, the seafront becomes a ready-made family activity zone.
Bring a ball or hire equipment locally and create a miniature tournament involving volleyball, table tennis or other beach games. The area also has purpose-built climbing boulders and opportunities to try slacklining, giving older children something different to attempt between swims.
Families wanting to get onto the water can investigate lessons and equipment hire from local watersports providers. Conditions and age restrictions vary, but activities may include surfing, paddleboarding and bodyboarding.
Afterwards, walk along Boscombe Pier, which is free to enter and offers excellent views back towards the coastline. Nearby cafés and takeaways make lunch straightforward, while the sand provides plenty of space for a slower afternoon once everyone runs out of energy.
For a greener extension, follow the chine inland towards Boscombe Chine Gardens, where families will find another play area and seasonal activities.
Best for: Active families and children who become restless on ordinary beach days
Good to know: RNLI lifeguards patrol designated sections of Boscombe Beach during the main season; always swim between the flags.
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