40 + things to do in Surrey with kids

Looking for the best things to do in Surrey with kids?  This guide is packed with Surrey attractions and ideas for fun days out that the whole family will love.  All perfect for keeping your children entertained!

Whether it’s animal attractions, theme parks, historic houses, outdoor spaces, or museums, you’ll be spoilt for choice when planning your family day out in Surrey.  And our round-up is not just for little kids.  We have a bundle of suggestions for days out that will get even the grumpiest of teenagers out of bed!

Read on for the best things to do in Surrey from a family that’s tried them out!  And if that’s not enough, take a look at our ideas for things to do in London with kids.

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40+ things to do in Surrey with kids

With some of the best green spaces in the country, Surrey has plenty of places to get your kids outdoors.  Whether it’s an outdoor playground, forest or park, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to taking the children outside.

Here’s our pick of the best outdoor places in Surrey with kids.

After the adventure trails, head to the Visitor Centre where you can enjoy a picnic or go in the café.   Then let the kids go wild in the amazing adventure playground.   Complete with roundabouts, swings, play houses and a wooden pirate ship, there’s plenty to keep children busy.

What’s even better, admission to Alice Holt is free.  Parking charges do apply.

Wild Wood Adventure is a tree-top adventure course in Stoke Park, Guildford.  Children from the age of six can have fun navigating the obstacles in the trees.  They will have to cross bridges, climb cargo nets and fly through the sky on a zip wire.  And it’s not just for kids – adults can join the fun too!

One of our favourite family days out in Surrey is to Virginia Water Lake, on the southern edge of Great Windsor Park.  The walk around the lake is about 4.5 miles, but you can do a shorter walk to the Totem Pole.  You’ll find plenty to spot along the way, including the Roman ruins, waterfall, valley gardens, and totem pole.  Plus you might even spot a wild deer.

Alternatively, you can walk from the Visitor Centre to Savill Garden, a beautiful landscaped garden.  Here you’ll find a free toddler playground at Obelisk Lawn.  However, they’ve just opened an amazing new adventure playground at Savill Garden with treehouses, walkways, sculptures and slides.

Another of the best free outdoor things to do in Surrey with kids is visit Frimley Lodge Park.  This large recreational site near Frimley borders the Basingstoke Canal.  It has plenty of open space and playing fields where youngsters can run around and play ball games.

Frimley Lodge has facilities for all the family, including 2 playgrounds, one of which  has just had a major refurbishment.  Other family facilities at Frimley Park include the pitch and putt, a trim trail and plenty of areas for picnics and barbeques.

For toddlers, one of the best things to do at Frimley Lodge Park is ride on the steam railway.  The miniature railway runs on the first Sunday of every month and at special events, you can even take your teddy!

Well, me-hearties, why not try some mini-golf at Mr Mulligan’s Pirate Golf in Hoebridge, Woking?  The whole family can enjoy some swashbuckling pirate adventures at this 18-hole mini golf centre.

The mini-golf course is pirate-themed and there’s even a raft to pull yourself across the water.  Expect to lose some balls, as there’s plenty of water features!

Those that are adventurous will love a session at the Campaign Paintball Centre in Cobham.  Located in the heart of the Surrey countryside, kids will have a great time running around in the fresh air.  Visitors can choose from Paintballing, Airsoft, or Laser Tag.

The Campaign Paintball Centre is easy to get to by car, as it’s just off the M25/A3.

Top Golf is a fantastic all-weather venue in Addlestone, Surrey.  It’s suitable for all ages and you don’t even have to know how to play golf.

So what exactly is Top Golf?   From your own covered bay you hit mini-chipped golf balls onto targets on an outfield.  For each ball you hit, you will score points, depending on how close to the “bullseye” you get.

It’s open until late, and kids, teenagers and adults love it!

Lightwater Country Park is one of our favourite places to visit in Surrey with kids.  This large heathland park is a pretty, outdoor area, which is perfect for walking, cycling and playing.  There are several lakes, with plenty of wildlife.

One of the best things to do at Lightwater Country Park is follow one the waymarked nature trails.  The purple route leads to Curley Hill, the second highest point in Surrey.  Younger children will love the new natural playground, or families can enjoy the adventure golf course.

Admission to Lightwater Country Park is free.  Click here for more details about a day out at Lightwater Country Park.

RHS Wisley is one of the UK’s finest gardens and showcases a collection of plants and flowers from around the world.  Set over 240 acres, it offers a variety of plants, shrubs and trees, providing inspiration for gardeners of all levels.  Without a doubt, it is one of the best gardens in Surrey, but is also a fun place for a family day out.

In fact, if you’re looking for a Surrey garden to take children, RHS Wisley is a perfect choice.  It’s an ideal venue for meeting with friends and offers a fun day out for all the family.  Kids will love the Glasshouse, with its exotic species from around the world.  Wisley has a new play area and plenty of outdoor space where children can run and play.

• Location:  RHS Wisley, Woking, GU23 6QB
• Admission:  RHS Wisley (Admission is free for RHS members.  Click here for details of RHS membership.)

The Surrey Hills National Landscape is an area of outstanding natural beauty and covers some of the most spectacular countryside in South East England.  The beautiful landscape is ideal for family walking and enjoying nature in Surrey.  Choose from historic routes, such as the Lovelace Bridges Trail or family favourites, like the Devil’s Punchbowl and Newlands Corner.

Click here for some of our favourite family walks in the Surrey Hills.

One of the best family walks in the Surrey hills is at Box Hill, near Dorking.

If you want a challenge, take a steep walk from the bottom to the Box Hill Visitor Centre, where you can reward yourself with some delicious homemade cake.  You can cross the iconic stepping stones on the way.

Alternatively, an easier way to visit Box Hill is to drive and park in the National Trust car park at the top.  From here it is a short walk to the viewpoint, where you’ll have breathtaking views of the North Downs.

Kids will love Box Hill’s Natural Play Trail in the woods.  This two-mile family-friendly trail provides a choice of wooden structures and swing ropes to climb and play on.  Children can have fun den-making and climbing trees.  Admission is free, so it’s perfect for a free day out in Surrey.

Discover more:  Family walks at Box Hill, Surrey

Another of the top family-friendly walks in the Surrey Hills, is at Leith Hill near Dorking.

From the car park, it’s a short, steep walk up the wooded hill.

At the summit, you’ll find Leith Hill Tower, a gothic tower, owned by the National Trust.  Climb to the top of the historic tower, the highest point in south-east England, for spectacular views of the Surrey countryside.  On a clear day, you’ll be able to see for miles, even as far as the south coast!

You can tea and cakes at the servery or have a picnic on the hill.  If you want a more challenging walk with a pub lunch, try our circular walk at Leith Hill.

Owned by the National Trust, Winkworth Arboretum is a beautiful, natural area that is perfect for a nature walk with kids.  Enjoy the multi-colour trees, feed the ducks or have a play in the natural playground, all the family will enjoy Winkworth Arboretum.

If you are looking for somewhere to take the family on a rainy day in Surrey, Guildford Spectrum is an ideal choice.

The Spectrum is Guildford’s main public leisure complex and offers entertainment for all ages.  As well as the main pool, it has a leisure pool with slides and waves.  Alternatively, other family attractions at Guildford Spectrum are ice-skating, ten-pin bowling, karting and soft play.

There’s plenty of ways to burn off energy at Air Hop, one of Surrey’s best trampoline parks. Choose from 50 interconnected trampolines, an Obstacle course, AirHop Bag, Extreme Dodge Attack or Slam Dunk.

Teenagers love this Surrey trampoline park, but this family attraction is suitable for all ages.  MiniHoppers is a session for babies as young as 6 months.  For those who don’t want to bounce, there is a café overlooking the trampoline area.

*Ad – Please note that we were kindly gifted tickets for Air Hop.  All opinions are our own.

Another of the best trampoline parks in Surrey is Jump In, in Camberley.

Formerly known as Gravity Force, this giant indoor adventure park has play areas for everyone from tots to teens.  Try out the wall-to-wall trampolines, the giant airbags or extreme slides.

They offer sessions for different age groups and have a soft play area for toddlers.  Jump In is also a fun venue to hold a birthday party.

Little Street in Frimley is the perfect choice for toddlers and pre-schoolers who enjoy role-play and make-believe.

Situated next to Frimley station, Little Street offers a variety of themed rooms where toddlers can let their imagination run wild.  Each room provides a creative, educational play experience for the children.  Children can use props, dress-up clothes and ride-ons to enable imaginative play in a make-believe world of work(café,  hairdresser’s, construction site).

Little Street also has an imaginative play centre in West Byfleet.

Clip ‘n’ Climb is the new climbing centre at Places Leisure in Camberley.  The Clip ‘n’ Climb centre includes 25 interactive climbing walls, each with different design and challenges.  The fun climbing walls tower over 20 feet high, but are suitable for children from 5 years old.

Sessions at Clip ‘n’ Climb are 1 hr 15 minutes and include the safety briefing and equipment.

Another fabulous theme park for thrill-seekers is Chessington World of Adventures, which is just off the M25 and A3 near Kingston.

As well as being one of the biggest theme parks in Surrey, Chessington also has a zoo and Sea Life centre.

If it’s rides you’re looking for, Chessington has something for everyone.  From high-speed roller coasters to a family-friendly Gruffalo ride, Chessington is a fun-packed day for children of all ages.

However, if you’re more interested in wildlife, Chessington has animals galore.  Make sure to check the timetable, as there are regular animals talks and feeds throughout the day.

The best family theme park in Surrey for younger children is Hobbledown Adventure Park, near Epsom.

Hobbledown offers the perfect day out for kids  because it combines animals with play.  As well as its great selection of animals, Hobbledown has both an indoor play barn and outdoor play areas.

Children can burn off their energy with the jumping pillows, wooden climbing frames, high ropes and zorbing.  Hobbledown is one of Surrey’s best family attractions, as it has enough attractions to entertain the children all day.

Another fun theme park for younger children is Legoland® Windsor, which is just over the Surrey border.

With more than 55 rides,  Legoland® offers a fantastic choice of shows and attractions for kids aged 2-12 years.  Choose from roller coasters, pirate shows and interactive adventures.  You can ride a Dragon through a medieval castle or test your Ninja skills.  They even have a driving school and their own world built from 40 000 Lego bricks.

Legoland® is an awesome family day out and a fantastic attraction for Surrey families with little kids.

Click here for Legoland® tickets.

At the top of our list of things to do on a sunny day in Surrey with kids is visit a water park.

One of the best waterparks in Surrey is Thorpe Lakes Aqua Park, near Chertsey  Here you’ll find a giant inflatable obstacle course floating on the water.  Kids can run, climb and slide and occasionally fall in to the water.  It’s great fun for children and teenagers.

Thorpe Lakes is very accessible by car, as it’s just off the M25 at Chertsey.

If you’re on a day trip to Frimley Lodge Park, make sure you visit the Basingstoke Canal Centre.  You can take a scenic walk up the canal, which goes for 32 miles from Greywell Village to Woodham.  There is plenty of wildlife and children can learn the workings of a lock.

Basingstoke Canal Centre is only small, but it has a small café and playground and information about the canal’s history.  In summer, you can hire pedalos, canoes and kayaks.  It also has a small campsite, if you fancy staying overnight.

One of the best places for families to to cool down on a hot day in Surrey is Guildford Lido.  The Olympic-sized heated pool is set in landscaped gardens and has a flume too.

A brilliant place to take toddlers and younger children on a sunny day is the paddling pool at Stoke Park, Guildford.  This large, shallow paddling pool is open from May to September and is a fantastic family attraction.  You can take a picnic or cool off in the water.  Admission to Stoke Park swimming pool is free.

Not far from Stoke Park pool is a playground, with swings, slides, a roundabout and obstacle course.

Another of the best waterparks in Surrey is Shepperton Splash Aquapark.  This has a similar set up to Thorpe Aqua Park, with a large inflatable obstacle course on the water.

For water sports fans, Shepperton Splash has other options on the water, including stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking.

Whilst you are here, you could even do a tour of the lake on a banana bike.  If you’re not sure what this is, just imagine a bicycle with bananas instead of tyres!

Another perfect child-friendly day out in Surrey for animal encounters is Godstone Farm, just east of Reigate.  It’s another fabulous place for young children to see and interact with farm animals.

Did you know that their animals range from llamas, alpacas and horses, sheep, goats, pigs through to reptiles?  They also have other small animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas, so it’s ideal for little children. If you go in the summer, you can see the pigs compete in their very own hogstacle race!

As well as over 500 animals, Godstone Farm has an indoor play barn and extensive outside play facilities.  It really is great for a family day out in Surrey, whatever the weather.

Located in Bucks Horn Oak, near Farnham, Birdworld covers over 26 acres, making it the UK’s largest bird park.  As well as over 600 birds, Birdworld has a daily schedule of flying displays and feeding sessions to attend.

Whilst you are at Birdworld, keep an eye out for Jenny Wren Children’s Farm.  This small animal farm has a selection of small animals to pet and tractors to climb on.

And don’t forget you can also visit Birdworld’s Underwater World Aquarium.  Here, you’ll see a variety of marine life including crocodiles and piranhas.

Chobham Adventure Farm is a brilliant choice if you are searching for things to do in Surrey with younger kids.  Children can interact with farm animals, big and small and can even stroke some.  As well as animals, Chobham Adventure Farm has both indoor and outdoor play areas.

Inside they have two play zones, a soft play for under threes and a larger climbing frame for kids of 4 yrs +.  Outside, children can play on the toddler trim trail, sky trail or have fun on the bouncy pillows.  There’s an enormous sand pit, secret tunnels a zipline and new donut slide.

The British Wildlife Centre in the heart of East Surrey is a fantastic choice if you want to see wild animals in their natural habitat.  This environmental centre in Lingfield looks after over 40 species of British animals, including foxes, deer, badgers, wildcats, and otters.

All of the animals live in settings which reflect their natural environment.  Most of the British Wildlife Centre is outdoors, but they do have indoor, undercover areas such as the Barn and the Nocturnal House.  Children can learn more about the wildlife at the informative keeper talks, which take place every half hour.

The Sculpture Park is a unique place, where nature meets art.  Set on the outskirts of Farnham, the Sculpture Park has over 650 exhibits displayed in 10 acres of arboretum.  It’s very child-friendly and you don’t need to be an art-lover to enjoy a visit.

To see the art, you have to follow 4 coloured trails which lead up windy paths around trees and lakes.  The sculptures are everywhere, placed randomly at the sides.

The art is very contemporary and most will appeal to children.  There are sculptures of animals, skeletons and other obscure pieces that will catch their interest.  You can wander round the Sculpture Park at your own pace and there are plenty of scenic stopping places for a picnic.

One of the most child-friendly museums in Surrey is the Rural Life Living Museum, near Farnham.

It’s a fantastic option for children to step back in time and see what village life was like in days gone by.  This open-air museum houses over 40 000 artefacts, both inside and out. Visitors can wander in and out of the different buildings at their own speed and kids can discover what life was like in their grandparents’ era.

The Rural Life Living Museum has a small playground, a café, and a miniature railway which runs round the perimeter.

After a family visit to the Brooklands Museum, head next door to Mercedes Benz World .

As the name suggests, this is the ideal family attraction for children (and grown ups) who love cars.  Mercedes Benz World is set over 3 floors and will give you an insight into the company’s contributions to motor sport technology and racing throughout the decades.

If you have older children, sign them up for a driving experience on part of the original circuit.

Mrs Pott’s Place is a small, but delightful pottery shop at the edge of the Atrium shopping centre in Camberley.  It’s the perfect afternoon out in Surrey if your kids want to get creative or arty.

Children can pick their own pottery piece and then can decorate it as they choose.  The helpful staff will give guidance on painting techniques and give ideas to the not-so-arty amongst us!

If you have a newborn, you can capture your baby’s footprint onto ceramics, as the perfect keepsake.

Another of Surrey’s smaller museums is the Lightbox in Woking.  It has free exhibitions of local history and art, which change regularly.

Plan a visit to the Lightbox in the school holidays, when they offer a programme of creative activity days.

Surrey has a rich history and is home to one of the UK’s most famous castles, as well as an abundance of stately homes and fine gardens.

One of our favourite historic attractions in Surrey is Hampton Court Palace.  I went often as a child and was keen to return as an adult with my kids.

Hampton Court Palace was actually built in the the early 16th Century.  Queen Victoria opened the palace to the public in 1838.  Today, it is still a really magnificent royal house.  Children love it as it was the home of King Henry VIII and his 6 wives.

Nowadays, you can find more about life in Tudor times by exploring the inside of the palace.  Or you can go outside to take a tour of  the splendid gardens.  There is a brilliant playground called The Magic Garden.  However, for me, the best bit is getting lost in the 300 year old hedge maze.

Another of Surrey’s finest National Trust properties is Hatchlands Park, which is in East Clandon near Guildford.  The house itself is a Georgian mansion, built in the 1750’s.

You can visit the house, but kids will probably prefer the extensive parkland and outdoor space.  There are trails to follow and a natural play area near the house.

Don’t forget to take the children to the interactive children’s garden.  This is a massive play space where they can have fun, whilst learning about the growth of plants.  A visit to Kew Gardens really is one of the best things to do in Surrey with kids.

Claremont Landscape Garden is another of the beautiful National Trust gardens in Surrey and has lots for families to do.  After exploring the gardens and Serpentine lake, you can head for the ampitheatre, the Belvedere Tower or the grotto.

There are outside play areas for children and they can also enjoy dressing up and playing in the Victorian cottage.

You may also enjoy:

• A weekend in London with kids: a 2-day itinerary
• 20+ fun things to do with teenagers in London
• 7 fantastic outdoor places in Surrey to take kids
• 11 cool things to do in Surrey on a sunny day
• 10 best family days out in Farnham, Surrey

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