Recommendations from Secret Sussex for great family days out in the South East

Guest post from Gillian from Secret Sussex.

Are you looking for your next great family day out in South East England? Great, because I have just the places!

South East England stretches from Berkshire to Kent, encompassing Surrey, Sussex and the Isle of Wight. This is a great area to explore with family, as there are a range of coastal towns, vibrant cities and historical landmarks. 

These are my top three great family days out in South East England, which I hope you will love too.

3 Family Days Out South East England

Brighton Palace Pier

Brighton is such a great family day out in South East England. Brighton Palace Pier is one of many great things to do in Brighton with kids. There are a range of rides and amusements along the iconic pier, with opportunities to grab a tasty ice cream, warm waffles or a delicious salty bag of chips.

There are restaurants and café's on the pier if you fancy grabbing a meal with beautiful views of the surrounding English Channel. Enjoy exploring the pebble beach below the pier, where you can set-up for the day and enjoy the weather (if it is sunny!)

From October-May, the beautiful starlings create vivid shapes in their winter murmurations in the evening time around Brighton Palace Pier and this is always so magical to witness.

Taking a walk along Brighton's Promenade, there are many independent gift shops and things to do. My kids love coming to Brighton for this reason.

Where: Brighton Palace Pier, Madeira Drive, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 1TW

Hampton Court Palace

Hampton Court Palace is such a beautiful place to visit for your family day out in South East England. Nestled by the river Thames in Hampton Court, this salubrious palace has lots to entertain all ages, from kids to grandparents! 

The gardens in Hampton Court Gardens are magnificent and beautifully tended to. They are lovely for a peaceful stroll. The Palace itself offers a snippet into the former Tudor lifestyle, a place where the infamous Henry VIII once resided. 

The Magic Garden a multi-sensory play area for children to run wild and let their curiosities and imagination take over. My boy loved this play area when we visited. 

There are many seasonal events run at Hampton Court Palace throughout the year too. The Christmas Markets at Hampton Court Palace are renowned and their Christmas light show is immersive and magical.

Where: Hampton Court Palace, Hampton Court Way, Molesey, East Molesey KT8 9AU

The Magic Garden at Hampton Court Palace

Winchester Science Centre

Winchester Science Centre is a great family day out, with interactive activities for all to enjoy. This is a particularly great day out for children aged 3-12 years old.

There is so much to explore here, with two whole floors of a range of engaging exhibits. Science really comes to life here, with explosive shoes and hair raising demonstrations.

The Planetarium offers an incredible journey through space that will captivate the imagination of the whole family. Set amongst the South Downs National Park, there are many trails to explore in this historic woodland.

The sound, hearing and vibration area is a huge hit, where children can climb into a giant ear or ramble through Europe's biggest guitar!

There are many great events on at Winchester Science Centre all year round, making it the perfect family day out in South East England. Keep your eyes peeled for the after dark planetarium show, the starlight cinema, British Sign Language events and home educator workshops.

Where: Winchester Science Centre, Telegraph Way, Winchester, Hampshire, SO21 1HZ

Bio: Gillian is the writer and creator of Secret Sussex, a multimedia platform showcasing the best that Sussex has to offer. She has a passion for independent businesses, a delicious matcha latte and getting lost in nature with her kids. If she is not heading for a quick sunset sea swim, she is at home developing recipes for her vegan food blog or working as a senior mental health nurse.