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you won't find a beach at poole, but it has a wonderful harbour. for the beach try bournemouth or even better sandbanks (get there early tho). a trip to corfe castle is a must see, as is a look at the giant at cerne abbas. wimbourne is a lovelly town both by day and night, fav pub is coach and horses.fun for the family at tower park, splashdown and bowling alley.visit shaftesbury and have a walk up gold hill re-living what the young lad done on the hovis advert. if you feel energetic enough have a walk along lulworth cove to durdle door, a lovelly day out. list is endless, been to dorset many many times, still prob's just scratched the surface.                            sure you will enjoy it

Try a boat trip over to Brownsea Island from Poole Quay.

To expand on the beach options: Sandbanks beach on Poole side of the Ferry - Shell bay & Studland beach the other side of the Ferry - Swanage beach, further on from Studland - Bournemouth beach or any part of it along to Boscombe & Southbourns nearer to Christchurch.

We'll be going later this month if the weather improves too!

Enjoy!

You don't say what age your party is Joteddy but you are half an hour by car away from the Purbecks, the New Forest, the beaches of Bournemouth, Poole (the tourist people in Poole would love you Brin101) and Christchurch. There are child friendly attractions all around the area, although bizarrely not really in Bournemouth which has the beach and then the flesh pots, but like most places it really is so much better and nicer when the sun shines.

Have fun !

More beach options - try Branksome Chine too, we used to have a beach hut there and there is a lifeguard watched swimming area too.  Branksome Dene Chine - just next door, but to the East allows dogs if you have one.

Tower Park is a good option for rainy days - depending on childrens ages it ranges from indoor play area to lazer quest, cinema, bowling, splashdown (waterslide park) and loads of family restaurants.

You're just up the road from Honeybrook Farm at Wilksworth so worth a visit if you children are little.  Wimborne Model Town also a fav of my kids when they were younger.

Sharon

Mudeford is great too just outside Christchurch, car park next to quay and short 2min walk to good beach.  Buy the kids some crab lines and they can fish off the wall (there are railings!).

As other reviewers have said Bournemouth is good, park on East Cliff and either walk down the zig-zag or catch the cliff lift to the excellent beach.  I spent every Spring Bank holiday here when I was a kid, fab place.  Poole is excellent, busy quay and harbour and pottery on front.  Sandbanks has superb beach, catch the ferry across and go to Swanage.

could you please post a review on wilksworth farm when you get back? we always stayed at merley but due to extortionate prices and bad feedback since it got taken over we ain't been back down dorset, hoping to return next year.

cheers brin

Hi Jo

Went for a walk round a month or so ago at Wilksworth.  It looked very neat and tidy and the pool area had just been cleaned for the season.  Didn't check out the loos, as they have a PIN keypad to control access to little ones, but I would have thought they were fine judging by the rest of the site.  The cafe is open to all, my mum and dad are regular visitors, food always seems good value and good size portions.  Hope it helps!

Sharon

Went to Wilksworth last year for a long weekend - couldnt fault it. It was bh wkd but altho busy, the whole place was well looked after, clean and staff very friendly. Have a great time. When my kids were the same ages it was always Monkey world that was favourite with them - come to think of it with us too!!