Looking for a family day out that doesn’t cost a fortune can sometimes feel like a challenge, but for one local mum, a simple trip to Hilsea Lines became a full day of play, fresh air and unexpected discoveries, all without needing a car.
With children to entertain and a budget to keep in mind, she decided to try somewhere new. The family travelled by bus, bringing scooters with them to make the walking easier for little legs.
They had never properly explored Hilsea Lines before, but from the moment they arrived it was clear they had found somewhere children could play freely and the whole family could happily spend hours.
She had heard people talking about the reopening of Hilsea Lido and knew there was a splash park nearby, but beyond that, Hilsea Lines was still a bit of a mystery. That sense of not quite knowing what to expect soon became part of the fun.
After getting off the bus, the family headed towards the lido for a quick look through the gates. But almost straight away, the children spotted the nearby play park and of course, that became the first stop.
The play area looked freshly done up and had plenty to keep them busy, especially the sand play area with buckets they could fill and lift again and again. While the children played, mum was able to spread out a picnic blanket and enjoy a rare chance to sit back for a while.
Not far from the park was the splash park, which quickly became one of the highlights of the day. Free to use and much bigger than expected, it gave the children another long stretch of energetic fun while she watched from the picnic blanket. With sunshine overhead and space to run around, it had that lovely holiday feeling that sometimes appears when a day out turns out even better than planned.
They had packed their own food and drinks, which helped keep the day affordable, but there was also a kiosk nearby selling snacks and refreshments. It was the kind of place where it would have been easy to settle in for the whole afternoon.
Later, they made it back to the lido gates for that promised peek inside. Even without going in, it looked like a place worth returning to in summer, especially for families wanting to make a whole day of it.
From there, the family carried on along the paths, which turned out to be ideal for scooters and felt easy and safe for children. They soon came across a café beside the wake park, where people were gathered watching wakeboarders skim across the water, leap over jumps and occasionally tumble in.
As they kept exploring, Hilsea Lines revealed more and more. There were steps leading up into the trees that felt like the entrance to a secret hideaway, and before long they had found a pump track where the children could race around on their scooters, climbing and dipping over the ramps with huge smiles on their faces.
While chatting to another parent, she discovered there was even more to see beyond the first part of the site. A bridge over the road led to another area, and with the children still full of energy, they decided to keep going.
On the other side, the scenery changed again. Suddenly they were surrounded by trees, with water running alongside the path and ducks, swans and coots all around them. It felt hard to believe they were still in the city.
There were more surprises too, including an old tunnel that was just creepy enough to be exciting for the children, and then another café with music, people, dogs and a relaxed atmosphere that made it hard to leave. They shared a pizza, sat outside for a while and enjoyed the feeling that they had discovered somewhere special almost by accident.
What makes Hilsea Lines so special is that it offers more than just a park or a play area. It brings together history, nature and family-friendly spaces in a way that makes the whole day feel varied and full of little discoveries.
By the end of the day, it had become exactly the kind of family outing many people hope to find: low cost, easy to reach, full of variety and genuinely enjoyable for both children and adults.
From the playground and pump track to the splash park, lido, wake park, woodland paths, wildlife, cafés and hidden corners to explore, Hilsea Lines delivered far more than expected. For this family, it was proof that one of Portsmouth’s best days out might be closer and cheaper than many people realise.
Plan your visit to Hilsea Lines – find out what’s on offer, what other people think and how to get there.
