Things to Do in Waterlooville with Kids
From indoor soft play in the Wellington Way precinct to the South Downs and Portsmouth's naval attractions, here's a confirmed round-up of things to do with children in and around Waterlooville.
In Waterlooville, Mini Town at Wellington Way is the local soft play option. Nearby, Queen Elizabeth Country Park and Staunton Country Park both have dedicated children's play areas and farm/garden attractions, and a short drive brings you to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and the Explosion! Museum of Naval Firepower in Gosport.
Waterlooville itself has a small indoor play option, but the real strength of the area for families is what's within easy reach — two major country parks with dedicated children's areas, and Portsmouth's naval and maritime attractions just down the road.
In Waterlooville itself
Mini Town, inside the Wellington Way Shopping Centre, is a soft play and café venue aimed mainly at younger children, with a dedicated area for babies and toddlers as well as a broader play structure.
Queen Elizabeth Country Park
Just north of the town in Horndean, Queen Elizabeth Country Park has two dedicated play areas as well as a fun activity course for dogs, BBQ and picnic spots, and around 20 miles of trails for walking and cycling. Two all-terrain mobility scooters are available free to hire from the visitor centre for families who need them. It's free to enter, though car parking charges apply.
Staunton Country Park
South in Havant, Staunton Country Park combines a working farm with a walled sensory garden and maze, plus a café and accessible toilets with baby changing. It's a good half-day option for younger children in particular, and the parkland is free to enter.
Explosion! Museum of Naval Firepower, Gosport
A genuinely hands-on museum built into the former Priddy's Hard armaments depot, with exhibits ranging from small arms to full gun turrets and an underwater display of naval mines. Children can dress up as pirates or naval officers, play giant-scale versions of games like Snakes and Ladders and Jenga, and there's a multi-media film show inside an original 18th-century gunpowder vault. Check the museum's own site for current opening times and ticket prices, which vary seasonally.
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
A short drive away, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard brings together HMS Victory, HMS Warrior 1860 and the Mary Rose museum under one ticket. The Mary Rose has an interactive history trail and a 4D cinema experience, HMS Victory runs hands-on challenges and storytelling sessions, and a free waterbus crosses to Gosport for HMS Alliance, the UK's only surviving Second World War submarine. Family and annual tickets are available — check the dockyard's own site for current prices, since these change regularly.
Indoor soft play and trampoline parks nearby
Beyond Mini Town in Waterlooville itself, families have several indoor options within a few miles: Wonder World of Imagination and Super Games World in Havant, Playzone in Portsmouth, and Flip Out in Portsmouth for trampolining and inflatable obstacle courses. Paulsgrove Adventure Playground, run by PYC Portsmouth, is a free outdoor adventure playground with climbing structures, swings and a sand and water play area, aimed at ages 6–13 (younger children are welcome with an adult).
Planning your day
If the weather's good, Queen Elizabeth Country Park or Staunton Country Park give you the most space and the least need to book ahead. On a wet day, Mini Town in the Wellington Way precinct or one of the Portsmouth soft play venues is the easier option. For a proper day out that fills several hours, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard or the Explosion! Museum of Naval Firepower are the standout choices, both well within a 20–30 minute drive of Waterlooville.
Share this article