20 Fabulous Things To Do in the Test Valley with Kids, Hampshire

Earlier in June, we spent a few days in the Test Valley and we had such fun. It is definitely an area we fell in love with. It feels like you are in the depths of the countryside but then it is only a 10 or 15-minute drive to a major town or the motorway. I'd highly recommend the area for a short break, either as a couple or with your family.

Here is just a taster of some of the many, many wonderful things you can get up to in the Test Valley when you have your kids with you (and of course, many of them are suitable without kids too)

1.  Walk the Test Way. This runs alongside the Test River for 44 miles and it is divided up into eight sections so you can navigate it easily. Many parts pass through gorgeous market towns and villages, where you can stop for a nice drink.

2.  Stop off at Paultons Park/ Peppa Pig World. Depending on how big your kids are will dictate which part of the park you visit and if you have kids of both ages, don't worry as the entrance fee covers both parts. We have visited a number of times but not for a few years and the girls are keen to go back and experience the new Tornado Springs area.

3.  You're sure to have a great day if you visit Marwell Zoo, as there are 140 acres filled with hundreds of animals and five adventure play parks to enjoy and explore. We last visited in 2015 and the giraffes were a highlight for us. 

Staying at Michelmersh Manor Farm Cottages, Romsey, Hampshire - 10 Things I love!

{Discosure: We received one night's accommodation free of charge in exchange for an honest review. We paid for two nights ourselves}

Earlier this week we spent a few nights in the Test Valley at Michelmersh Manor Farm self-catering holiday accommodation and we had a fabulous time. The Farm is near the town of Romsey, in the Test Valley, Hampshire and there are a selection of self-catering cottages and a shepherds hut that you can book to stay in. We had a really wonderful time staying in Bluebells Cottage on this working farm and we would happily go back again.

I want to share with you ten things I loved about staying at Michelmersh Manor Farm -

1.  Accessibility of the Location 

The Farm is situated under 4 miles from the town of Romsey and it is very accessible from the A3057. I was super pleased that you don't have to go down too many tiny lanes to access it, just the one small road that the farm was on and in the four days we stayed we never came across another vehicle on the road, so no dreaded reversing for me! lol. 

It is 18 miles from Southampton, about 8 miles to access the M27 and 14 miles from Winchester, it really is very easy to get to towns, shops, cinemas and days out attractions but still be in the heart of the beautiful Test Valley countryside with the stunning River Test running through the area. You can also access the major attractions locally like Paultons Park/ Peppa Pig World which is just 8 miles away and Marwell Zoo is 13 miles. Whilst you can get to the heart of the New Forest in just 16 miles and the beautiful coast at Bournemouth is only around 45 minutes drive away. It is a perfect location.

Planning a Short Break in Hampshire - The Test Valley or South Downs National Park?

Image by Engin Akyurt from Pixabay 

I absolutely love going away for the weekend, or any other time to be truthful; a short break is my idea of heaven. I don't even mind who I'm away with - my husband, mum, daughter or a friend. As long as there is great food to eat, new places to explore and a cheeky Baileys in the bar before bed I'm a happy girl.

When I go away for the weekend I like to head somewhere new but to be honest, I don't particularly like travelling too far, so anywhere within about a 150-mile radius works for me. For some reason, I have been conditioned to believe that you either go to the coast or to a big city like London or Bath for your short break, but in recent times I've been questioning this.

I think the last year and the lockdowns particularly, have taught us all there is so much beauty and unexplored places on our doorsteps and as such, I am keen to explore some new places closer to my home, rather than spending lots of time in a car or on a train. Hampshire isn't a county I have explored much before and having lived in Surrey all my childhood/ teen years and now Sussex for the last seven years I'm not sure why, as it is pretty close-by.

I'm trying not to dwell too much on how much we have missed out on in the last year or so, but instead, focusing on the future and the excitement of new trips away. Last April I was chatting to a PR Manager acting on behalf of two areas of Hampshire - The Test Valley and the Hampshire area of the South Downs National Park and we were planning that I'd take a couple of short breaks to try out what these areas have to offer.

Of course, the trips didn't happen, but I am feeling much more positive that short breaks will be back on the agenda later on this year. As such I've been having a virtual search to see which area might suit me best to go and visit. My Mum and I will have our annual London trip this year and therefore this trip will be for my husband and me.

Birthday Party Fun at Go Ape (Moors Valley, Dorset/ Hampshire)

It was my twins 10th birthday last week and they enjoyed an evening out with my husband and I but due to school and all sorts of end of term commitments there wasn't a big fun birthday adventure. So to rectify this gaping hole Go Ape stepped forward with a Tree Top Junior adventure for the girls and their brother to enjoy whilst we were on holiday in Dorset.

We tried out Go Ape at Bedgebury in Kent back in April and all three of them loved it, so they were super keen to go back and had we been home rather than on holiday I'd have happily booked a Go Ape party for the girls and some of their friends.

Family visit to Marwell Zoo, Hamphire

On the way to our Devon break we stopped in Winchester and spent the day at Marwell Zoo. Well actually we arrived about 1pm and stayed there until it closed at 6pm, so we spent a fun five hours looking around.

I'd been here before with my parents years ago when JJ was a toddler but I found it had changed quite a bit in the last ten years. Marwell is not the biggest zoo but I was very surprised when I was told on entry that we would not be given a map/leaflet to help us get about but luckily there were some large maps in the zoo so we could plan our route. Truth be told, as it is not that big you can get around it all very easily especially when you have older children like us.

If we had wanted a guide, we had to buy one which was £3 and then as we came through the gates there was a table with spotter booklets that we could buy for £1 each. This is where you can stamp (or emboss more accurately) your book in six places around the zoo, but I've never had to pay for one of these before, they have always been part of the entry price. I don't like lots of extras when we go for a day out, I prefer one price with no surprises.

When we arrived the car park was really full and we worried how busy the zoo would be and if we might actually find it uncomfortable with the amount of cars there but I have no idea where all the people were hidden, it never felt too busy, not like London Zoo. At every enclosure, we could get to the glass/ fence easily enough if we waited just a few moments and as soon as we arrived we were able to secure a picnic table to enjoy our lunch.

After our lunch, the kids spotted a nice sit-on model train and they asked us for a go. Upon investigating we found this was another thing you had to pay separately for and the cost for the 5 of us would have been £12.50, a bit too steep in my opinion for a few minute journey. Thankfully there was a land train/ tractor ride which we could ride for free and you can go on as many times as you like (people permitting of course). We found this quieter as the day went on and better to board at the Rhinos than anywhere else as at other stops often no-one got off and thus there was not any room. The main first stop by the entrance/ gift shop was always the busiest place.

Probably the thing I liked best about Marwell was how well we could see the animals. I don't know if we just had a lucky day or because it is not too big the animals can be seen but whatever it was we managed to spot everything we wanted to - giraffes, tigers, meerkats, lions, rhino, hippos, otters, owls, penguins and so many more.

The girls really enjoyed the play parks, of which there are two. One has a bucket swing, climbing frames, massive slides and smaller equipment and the other has a sandpit, monkey bars and other fun equipment. JJ at age 11 years and 5ft tall felt that both parks were a bit young for him. In fact, he wasn't too impressed with the whole zoo as the parts he normally likes are the interactive and learning ones and there was very few interactive learning opportunities for the kids and no fun activities for them to get involved with. At other zoos, the kids have been able to race against the clock, test their strength, record their roar etc.

There are some opportunities to watch the animals being fed but we didn't pay too much attention to these and just managed to stumble upon the giraffes and the otters being fed which the girls found very interesting. There is a programme of planned talks and feeds though and you can check those out here. 

About halfway round there is a small gift shop selling sweets and a few souvenirs and then at the end there is a massive shop which my kids all fell in love with and came away with a stuffed toy each. There were some amazing pieces of art there but the £10,000 price tag is beyond my means.

The price for our family of 5 to gain entry to Marwell Zoo is £74.00 and comparable to other similar zoo venues. There were plenty of catering outlets on-site and the food in the Cafe Graze looked really good quality and very tempting. Of course, the prices are not cheap but they never are at attractions like this, w just enjoyed some lollies and a cuppa, which were fairly priced

Personally, I think Marwell Zoo will suit those with younger children best as it will feel enormous to them. They will really enjoy the land train and the parks are aimed at them too..

  

Disclosure: I was sent complimentary tickets for entrance to Marwell Zoo but I could not use them last year and thus our recent visit. I was not instructed what to write and I remain honest.