10 of the best days out near Woking

2. The Lightbox

An interesting gallery space, which not only hosts a large range of exhibitions, but offers many activities for children. Great for the older child (most activities you need to be four years plus to take part), they have regular story time and different art and crafts sessions.

3. Woking Park and Leisure Centre

This lovely park is very big, it has crazy golf, a pond to feed the ducks, a climbing net and very nice gardens. The actual play area is nice too, and with the Pool in the Park and the Leisure Centre within the same location, people could combine their visits or stop off for refreshments after.

Woking Leisure Centre has softplay called the Pick n Mix Playstore, but this is only open during school holidays and weekends (much to our disappointment!). The leisure centre has lots of activities for all age groups, not to mention 'Sensations', a multi-sensory suite which boasts an array of equipment designed to enthral adults and children alike. There are two distinct areas - the 'white room', complete with water-bed, bubble tubes, interactive multi-coloured ceiling, fibre optics, image projectors, vibrating bench, tactile panel and infinity tunnel, and the 'dark room', which has an ever-changing fibre-optic ceiling, interactive lights, and a fascinating touch-sensitive light panel. You must book in advance if you wish to use the suite.

4. Goldsworth Park Lake & Play area

This is a nice recreation area, with a playground in the centre of Goldsworth Park. It has a fun zip wire, somewhere to climb, swings, slides and rockers, and a skateboard ramp, with plenty of space for bikes and scooters. We like going around the lake which is about a mile long. Located by the lake with ample parking and toilet facilities (payment is required to use these).

5. Chessington World Of Adventures

This is a brilliant theme park, great for all ages with a small sealife centre, farm & zoo. It currently has 27 rides including four rollercoasters and two water rides. The park is split into 10 lands, including the zoo and a Sea Life Centre, and features rides such as Rameses Revenge; a twisting thrill ride, a 4D haunted house, a runaway train rollercoaster, and the popular Bubbleworks water ride. The park is open seasonally from March to November.

6. The Wendyhouse

This has a small but faboulous soft play area for small children. They have trampolines, a ball pit, and even a dressing-up box for little ones, as well as somewhere for mums to sit and have their drink right next to where the children are playing. Suitable for under-fives, generally I see crawlers in there. 7. Kidszone Soft Play This is a small softplay area, not too busy usually, brilliant for childrens birthday parties, always ring ahead to check they are not shut for a private party.

8. Big Apple

Kids love this place. You can go bowling here, there's soft play and Laser quest (age restrictions apply). There are refreshments available, plus arcade games, games to win tickets to collect a prize - so suitable for younger children and things like air hockey - loads to do under one roof and it is in woking town centre.

9. Wisley Gardens

Definitely worth considering if you want to go for a nice walk with your kids. There's lots of space, reasonably safe, in February they have the butterflies in the green house. I enjoyed visiting when my son Harry was a baby with my NCT buddies, going for a walk then enjoying tea & cake afterwards!

10. Mizens Farm Minature Railway

Lovely little minature railway with a replica platform, set in a beautiful wooded location. Visitors can visit the tea room and little shop. They also do seasonal specials at Halloweeen, Christmas etc, although its mainly open in the summer and not generally in the winter, so do check for details.