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| The Best Parks & Playgrounds
in West Sussex |
Which park or country outing do you enjoy taking
the kids to? Please tell us!
Recommend a park
now >> |
 Adur
Recreation Ground Shoreham-By-Sea
Huge open space, great for football, cricket,
kite flying plus there is a brand new playground.
It's near the river Adur and Shoreham airport,
so great for plane spotting.
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Beech
Hurst Gardens Haywards Heath
A popular local heritage park situated on the western
edge of Haywards Heath. Take a ride on a steam-powered,
miniature locomotive on a half mile journey around the
gardens with views across Mid-Sussex's beautiful countryside.
(small charge). The Family Restaurant offers a place
to grab a bite to eat with good food, views out across
the gardens, toilet
facilities and free parking. There is a well equipped,
easily accessible and safe play area suitable for young
children. Also, pitch and putt, tennis courts, croquet
lawn, wildflower meadow, rock garden and picnic lawn.
"I would strongly recommend Beech Hurst Gardens as being
one of West Sussex's best kept secrets. Tucked away
behind a harvester restaurant off Butlers Green Road
leading into the town is a miniature railway, small toddler
playground, tennis courts, bowling and petanque, plenty
of space for picnics and a beautifully planted pergola.
In addition there are also views out towards the south
downs. I take my whole family here particularily around
Easter/Summer holidays when the trains are running."
01444 477439
Borde
Hill Gardens & Playground Balcombe
Road, Haywards Heath RH16 1XP Tel 01444 450326
Woodland walks, formal gardens, parkland, fishing lakes, adventure playground.
The adventure playground features a large 'Wild West' Fort, swings, slides,
sand pits, a 'Pirates' aerial walkway and obstacle course. Take a picnic and
kick back in the purpose-built picnic area which allows parents to relax while
watching the kids enjoy themselves. There are lots of 'secret' pathways
that are fun and enchanting for the children. Cafe and shop also available and
toilets with baby change. |
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"Superb gardens and lovely walks. There is a lovely fish
pond and gorgeous scenery. Great for the kids -
the playground has lots for everyone and there are picnic
tables dotted around so don't forget your picnic lunch!
Highly recommend."
Please ring for entrance fees. Family ticket available.
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Open daily 10am - 6pm.
See
Map
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Brooklands
Playground Western Road, Worthing Tel 01903
239999
Entry to the park is free, the playground and paddling
pool are also free. Parking is pay & display and other
attractions such as the ball play, bouncy castle, trampolines,
pedalos and boats, and the mini train require a small fee.
"It has a boating lake train ride around the lake
pony rides and many more attractions. The cafe is open
every day of the week. The entrance is off Western Road
Lancing."
Please click here for
more information about Brooklands Pleasure Park.
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Buchan
Country Park Horsham Road, near Crawley RH11 9HQ
Tel: 01293 542088
A great place
for country walks - let the kids run free. Watch out for
the owls, fish and giant deer statues. The Countryside
Centre has information about the park and toilet facilities.
There is no cafe so don't forget your picnic!
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From the M23, leave at Junction 11, Pease Pottage, and follow
the A264 for Horsham. At the second roundabout the park is
signposted. Turn right onto the A2220, continue to the next
roundabout and follow the signs to the park entrance.
See
Map
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Buckingham
Park Upper Shoreham Road, Shoreham-by-Sea
Excellent playground equipment for all ages. Loads of
slides and swings for babies/toddlers and older children.
Really good climbing frame for the 4-8 year old age group
and a chunky climbing frame with slide for really little
ones.
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The park has a massive green with clumps of trees dotted around
giving the park a lovely country feel to it. Bring a picnic
and stay the afternoon! Older children will love this park
too. There are tennis courts a basketball court and climbing
wall plus there's a cafe with a small indoor
seating area and outdoor table and chairs. Toilets are located
behind the cafe, but no baby changing facilities.
Easily accessible from the A27, follow signs to Shoreham and
turn off onto the Upper Shoreham Road. The park is on the left
a few blocks before the big Tesco roundabout. |
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Chanctonbury
Ring Off Chanctonbury Ring Road
Nr Buncton,
Washington
Chanctonbury Ring is a hill
fort based ring of trees atop Chanctonbury
Hill on the South
Downs. An excellent place to walk.
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There are two car parks. The first is just south of the Washington
roundabout on the A24. The second, larger car park is off the
A283 Steyning Road. If heading from Worthing, turn right at
the Washington roundabout and follow the A283. When you reach
the first crossroads turn right (signposted Chanctonbury Ring)
and follow the narrow road for about a mile. You'll find the
car park on your left before the end of the road.
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Cissbury
Ring Findon, West Sussex
Cissbury Ring is the second largest hill fort
in the country. With views of Beachy Head and
the Isle of Wight, the area is also rich in wildlife
and was the site of Neolithic flint mining. Excellent
walking.
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There is a car park at Storrington Rise, Findon Valley, off A24, three miles
north of Worthing.
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Devil's
Dyke Devil's Dyke Road, Poynings Tel 01273 857712
Stunning views from top of the hill overlooking Poynings
and Ditchling villages. Great pub/restaurant - very child
friendly serving excellent food. Can be reached by Bus,
Number 77 service, from Brighton Pier - travelling up Dyke
Road.
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Halewick
Lane Playground Just off the A27, Sompting
A very good children's playground - great climbing
equipment. Ideal play area for the active 3-7 yr
olds. There are also swings for toddlers and two
slides. You can walk up to Lancing Ring from here
and there is a small car park. All FREE.
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If heading from Worthing, turn left onto Halewick
Lane at the traffic lights at the bottom of the hill, at Sompting.
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These famous chalk gardens developed by Sir Frederick & Lady Stern, house
a unique National collection of rare plants and trees. Owned by Worthing Borough
Council, admission is FREE.
Open every day from 10am - 6pm throughout the summer.
Toilets
FREE car park
No Dogs (except guide dogs)
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Highdown
Hill Signposted on the A259 Littlehampton to Worthing
Road
Just above Highdown Gardens. Great place to walk. Discover
the famous Miller's Tomb and then walk on and see if you
can find the trig point. Spectacular views!
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Homefield
Park Newland Road, Worthing
Contact tel:(01903) 239999
Large open space, located just behind Worthing hospital.
The playground has two play areas to suit different
age groups, baby & toddler swings, child swings and
a large climbing rope pyramid. There's a basketball net
and lots of open grassy space for other ball games. There's
a cycle lane that goes all around the park that is generally
flat with a few small gentle slopes so great for beginners!
There is also a fantastic skateboarding ramp area on the
other side of the park which can accomodate skateboarders,
rollerbladers and also bikes. It's self-contained and is
very popular with older children. The tennis courts and
toilets are located here as well. |
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Horsham
Park Hurst Road, Horsham
Contact tel:(01403) 215256
Fabulous playground with separate areas for each type of
play equipment. Toddlers play area, climbing equipment
for 4+, an adventure playground with obstacle course including
a huge rope pyramid climbing frame. Don't forget your bucket
and spade either, for the lovely sand pit with small-sized
play equipment. This playground will keep children of all
ages occupied for hours. Picnic tables are dotted about
and there's plenty of grass to sit and relax on whilst
children are playing.
The playground is set amongst some really pretty
open green spaces so bring a picnic and ball
games and make it a day out. There is also a lake, lots
of trees and there's a cafe as well. Lots of events take
place in Horsham Park during the summer months.
The park
is right by Pavilions in the Park leisure centre as well
so there's lots to do if the weather is wet. (there is
a fee for Pavilions in the park).
Parking is pay and display (only 50p for 3 hours) and the
park is well-kept and very attractive. If you're coming
from Worthing, take the A24 to Horsham and as you enter
Horsham follow signs for the train station then signs for
Pavilions in the Park.
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Hotham
Park Hotham Way,
Bognor Regis,
West Sussex
This lovely leafy park has a play area with swings, jungle
gym, climbing frame with slide, tire swings, mini assault
course and picnic tables. It's ideal for an alternative
to the beach front and even has a miniature train running
around it.
After years of planning and more than a year of hard
work in the park the £2.2 million restoration funded
by Heritage Lottery Fund is complete! You'll find plenty
of shady places (and plenty of squirrels) for picnics
and ball games. There is also a small putting green,
crazy golf, boating lake, conservation lake, a cafe,
and a bandstand, and also toilets.
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Lancing
Manor Playground Next to Lancing Leisure Centre, just
off the A27
Plenty of exciting and challenging play
equipment that will delight children from toddlers up
to their early teens. "For
children aged 7 and up the playground has some cool equipment." You
can walk up onto Lancing Ring from here - just follow
the path behind the leisure centre.
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Lyons
Farm Park Sompting Road, Worthing
Recently refurbed with some new play equipment, this
little local playground is ideal for a quick stop off
when the kids need a run-around. Baby and toddler swings,
rope pryamid and climbing frame for older toddlers and
children. Also has a basketball pad and a small grassy
area.
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Mewsbrook
Park Hendon Avenue,
Littlehampton
West Sussex
BN16 2LX Tel: 01903 737960
"Just off the seafront
in Littlehampton, next to the Swimming Centre.
The park has a boating lake where you can
hire pedlows or feed the ducks, two large
open grassy areas for football etc, a kiosk
serving hot and cold food and drinks and
ice creams, an excellent playground catering
from crawlers upwards and, best of all, a
miniature railway linking the park with the
next door Norlfolk Gardens which also has
a kiosk plus crazy golf, putting and tennis.
Both a great, inexpensive morning or afternoon
out."
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Mill
Road Playground Opposite Arundel castle on
Mill Road, Arundel
Quite a nice little local park. Small and medium
sized climbing frames, swings, and a big slide.
There are benches dotted around the grassy area,
so bring a picnic and spend the day in Arundel
- a lovely village town. There is lots of parking
along the road and a large car park close by (pay
though). Also riverside cafe, pitch n putt and
riverside walks nearby.
"Arundel offers something
for both adults and children and is a fun day out.
Antique and specialty shops, lovely public garden
along the river, plenty of eateries and pubs and
not to mention the castle! Lots of ice cream kiosks,
ducks, playground, lakeside walks and sweet/fudge
shops for the children."
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Pond
Lane Recreation Ground & Playground Pond
Lane, Durrington, Worthing
Fab army tank climbing frame, highly recommended for
role play and climbing skills. There is also a fun
long slide and swings for older children and baby
and toddler swings too. The entrance to the playground
from Pond Lane has some steps so pushchairs please take
note. There is another flat entrance to the rec ground
by the toilets on Durrington lane where there is also
free parking on the road.
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The rec ground is a large open grassy area great for ball games,
plus there's a small basketball court for older children. |
Southwater
Country Park Cripplegate Lane
Southwater RH13 7UN Tel: (01403) 731218
Superb outdoor playground facilities including
an adventure play area and an orienteering course.
New play equipment! Canoeing, sailing and windsurfing
activities are also available. Look out for the
beautiful wildlife area, 'The Quarry', which
is managed for nature conservation and has wildlife
such as lizards, Kingfishers, Nightingales and
various butterflies and dragonflies.
The park is also a gateway to the Downs via the
Downs Link Bridleway.
There is a Visitor's Centre which has information,
toilets and a cafe.
"Kids loved paddling
around in the water at the beach area, which is
also ideal for picnics - a great day out!" |
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See Map
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Steyne
Gardens Steyne Road, Worthing
Garden and open grassy area in the town centre
located off the beach front. Surprisingly entertaining
for Little ones! The sunken garden is a fun place for hide
and seek and running around and the open space is good
for picnics and ball games. The garden is often used for
summer events including the summer Worthing festival.
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Sullington
Warren Water Lane, nr Storrington
Sullington, which lies just outside of Storrington, hides
a small secret ... well quite a big one actually - Sullington
Warren! This is a fantastic place to take the kids, great
for picnics, but if you're not picnicking, you'll still
need to take plenty to drink and a snack for the kids too.
The scenery is simply stunning and there's plenty of shade
for those very hot summer days.
There are plenty of paths around the Warren, but these
are only really suitable for 3 wheeler off-road pushchairs.
There is a fairly steep climb leading up from the car park.
Once up the top, you can go left or right along the woodland
paths, or straight ahead which will bring you out towards
the grassy area (down another steep path!). |
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On the way up to the top, there are rope swings for older children
and one small one suitable for 5 year olds (with help!). There
is also an extraordinary tree root (pictured above) that children
can play among. But be careful you don't trip up!
Located along Water Lane, take A283 from the Washington Roundabout
and turn right into Water Lane. Turn left into the car park.
The entrance to the small car park is unmarked and easily missed
- it is right opposite Sandgate Quarry.
See
Map
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Swanbourne
Lake Mill Lane, Arundel
Lies in the shadow of Arundel Castle. Lovely walks around
the lake, feed the ducks, duck food for sale at the kiosk,
row boats for hire (charge for these), cafe.
"Around the lake there are some fantastic trees with large
winding roots, great for children to play amongst - some
can be on steep hills though so be careful!"
Go to the centre one-way system in arundel, and then
follow the river northwards past the castle for about
1/2 mile. Swanbourne Lake is on the left just after
the small humb-bridge. Free parking is located on
the right just after the entrance. |
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Tilgate
Forest Country Park Crawley
RH10 5PQ Tel 01293 521168
This large area of natural forest land comprises
parkland with lawns, lakes, trees and shrubs and
ormamental gardens. Look out for White
Park cattle, Exmoor ponies, pigs, sheep, goats,
deer, red squirrels, pheasants, cranes and ibises.
A walled garden adjoins the Nature Centre wich
houses craft units. There are also themed gardens,
a maze, Shire horses and stables. A great way to
get away from it all!
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Tilgate Forest Country Park is less than 1 mile from M23 Junction
10A, West Sussex.
See Map |
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Victoria
Playground St Mathew's Rd and Norfolk Street,
Worthing
Victoria playground has some fabulous play equipment which
will keep kids entertained for ages. Swings, baby swings,
round abouts, jungle gyms, rock climbing and more. There
is also an open grassy area for football, frisbee and other
games.
"Since it's been re-vamped, my kids
love it and ask to go there time and time again! There
is something for my 9 year old as well as my 1 year old
- it's very good."
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Warnham
Nature Reserve Horsham, West Sussex RH12
2RA
Tel 01403 256890
"You will find Warnham Nature Reserve
just off of the A24 on the west side of Horsham. parking
is free and there is a small area with tables for picnics
as well as a small shop. The reserve itself is very big
and the paths around it are all good. There is a lake
in the middle full of ducks, swans and herons etc.
Lots for children to see
that you won't see in a normal park. You
are not allowed to take picnics inside the reserve
itself but tables are available outside the gate
by the office/shop. Well worth a
visit!"
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Children are FREE and adults are only
50p each. The visitor Centre is free. Disabled access toilets
with baby changing facilities.
Located North West of Horsham on the B2237 (just off the A24).
See
Map
Woods
Mill Nature Reserve Shoreham Road,
Henfield,
West Sussex BN5 9SD
Tel 01273 492 630
"Lovely walk , all weather surfaced
foot path, open all year round, free"
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Woods Mill is the headquarters of Sussex Wildlife Trust
and an environmental education centre. The nature reserve
provides a peaceful setting, comprising coppice woodland,
meadows and a reed-fringed lake. Wildlife highlights at Woods
Mill include nightingales, woodpeckers, warblers, turtle
doves, dragonflies and a wide range of woodland, water and
meadow plants. A circular nature trail guides you around
the various habitats on the reserve on an all-weather, wheelchair
friendly path. The reserve is FREE to visit, with disabled
access, a large car park and toilets. Dogs are not permitted.
See
Map
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Which park or country outing do
you enjoy taking the kids to? Please tell us!
Recommend a park now >> |
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