Poundbury is home to a pretty epic play park, most likely the largest public kids play area in Dorset!  The Great Field is easily accessed by public transport or there’s free parking on the surrounding roads.*

The playground equipment uses natural and sustainable materials and the bespoke structures reflect the architecture within Poundbury itself.

There’s plenty for children to climb on and explore with rope structures, platforms, suspended bridges, climbing walls, bouncy tyres, balance beams, short slides and big tunnel slides, swings, bouncy platforms and more.

Another low level play frame for younger children can be found near the Cafe and a water play feature with pumps and damns however the water was not on when we visited which was a shame.

Close by you’ll also find sports pitches, a multi-use games area, outdoor gym equipment, a zip line and further climbing frames.

Another benefit to The Great Field is PIP (Pavilion in the Park) and I can say first hand that their cream teas are excellent.  The menu also includes breakfasts and mains like quiche, lasagne and jacket potatoes plus soup, salads, baguettes, toasties and sandwiches.  Kids meals include a choice of sandwiches, jacket potato, mac and cheese and beans on toast.  You can also purchase drinks, cakes, waffles and other sweet treats.  Outside of the Café there are toilets and these are open when the Café is open.

The Great Field really is a fantastic place to visit and our children absolutely loved it there.  The only down sides are that the play area is not fenced so you’ll need to watch for kids who like to run off and the tiny stones which surround the main play area.  If like me you’re wearing sandals, you’ll be constantly reminded about the stones and the temptation for kids to throw them is a nightmare.  It looks very pretty but it’s not practical and I don’t think I’m the only parent that thought it would have been better with an alternative flooring.  I also noted that even though I no longer need to use a pushchair, it would be hard to navigate around the play area and this also applies to wheelchairs.

*Always check for signs re parking restrictions in case of changes.

If you can recommend any more brilliant play areas for kids then please do comment and let us know!

Need more ideas for places to take the children for free?  Please see further blog posts below.

Free & Low Cost Places to go in Dorset with kids

ByTheWay Park in Wimborne

Hamworthy Park in Poole

King George V Playing Fields in Ferndown

Slades Park in Bournemouth

Margaret Green Animal Rescue in Church Knowle

Tout Quarry Sculpture Park on Portland

Tyneham Village and Worborrow Bay

Bowleaze Cove is one of my happy places, it’s just impossible to be miserable there!

We’ve only ever visited on a hot summers day and it’s generally buzzing with locals and happy holiday makers.  We normally start in the Spar over the road to grab some drinks and this time we also bought a bottle of ketchup to accompany our dinner and some cupcakes and treats for after.

Near the car park you’ll find a shop selling everything from gifts to beach essentials and next door there’s a fish and chip shop take away, an ice cream parlour and a restaurant which is linked to the chip shop so you can have a sit down meal inside if you prefer.  We have eaten in the restaurant before which was very nice but as the sun was shining we opted for food from the take away.  Everything we ordered was really nice and the kids burger and chips kids meal was woofed down in minutes.

The beach is pebbly so I’d highly recommend water shoes or good sandals that you don’t mind getting wet, neither of which my kids had as we weren’t planning to visit after a day in Weymouth.  They still had great fun though in the little river and shallow pool which runs down towards the sea and probably changes in size depending on the weather.

At Bowleaze Cove you’ll also find Fantasy Island Fun Park which has rides suitable for younger children and these include tea cups, trampolines, helter skelter, crazy car ride, small ferris wheel, carousel and flying dumbo.  For the older kids they’ll enjoy the bumper cars and the ghost train!  They also have a fab soft play which our children have enjoyed in the past, especially the awesome slides.

If the children enjoy playing games then the arcade should keep them entertained for a long time.  We’d never previously noticed the eatery to the side of the arcade and they sell reasonably priced ice creams and sweet treats.  Upstairs you’ll find the Sunset Café which has a varied menu or have a drink outside in the Beach Bar which has incredible views of the sea.  Fantasy Island also run birthday parties and fun seasonal events like a Santa’s Grotto.

Good to know:

• Wristband prices are £6.99 for 1.5 hours (3 yrs and under) and £15.99 for 3 hours (over 3 yrs).*  This includes use of rides and the soft play.  Please note, wristbands do not include the bumper cars or ghost train.  For soft play entry only, prices are £3.99 for 1 hour (over 3 yrs) and £5.99 for 2 hours (over 3 years).  You are also able to buy tokens if you don’t have a lot of time and 1 token is £1, 12 tokens is £10 and 25 tokens is £20.

• There’s a large car park at Bowleaze Cove with prices being much cheaper than Weymouth Town.  There is also on street parking however please do check that there are no restrictions.

• Buses run regularly from Weymouth to Bowleaze Cove.

• The location of public toilets is still a mystery to me but as we were dining there we were told it would be ok to use the downstairs restaurant toilets.  Sunset Café and the Beach Bar have toilets for customers too.

For more information on the fun park and to buy tickets, please visit Fantasy Island Fun Park.

*Prices and details were correct at the time of writing in August 2024.