The Springfield country hotel and spa
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About

Family Attractions

The Springfield is nestled in the heart of The Purbecks and close to Poole Harbour and Corfe Castle.

We hope that these pages will be useful in helping you plan your stay.

Family Fun

No matter whether you are young in years or young at heart, there is plenty to keep you and your family amused during your stay at The Springfield. We are ideally situated for you to take full advantage of what The Purbecks have to offer as we are within an hours drive of most of these amazing venues!

Abbotsbury Swannery Sub-Tropical Gardens & Childrens Farm

Abbotsbury Swannery, Sub-Tropical Gardens & Childrens Farm - The Swannery was previously voted Best Dorset Attraction by The Good Guide to Britain. Do not miss the mass feeding of up to 600 swans at 12 noon and 4.00pm every day. The Subtropical Gardens Voted “Our Favouite Garden” by the readers of The Daily Telegraph in 2006. Runner-up in the peoples vote for the best major display garden at The Chelsea Flower Show, May 2006 & the Childrens Farm is a great place for the under 11s. Bottle feed the baby goats am and pm, cuddle the guinea pigs, ride the ponies, race the toy tractors and have endless fun in the undercover soft play area.
Abbotsbury is less than an hour from The Springfield driving through some of the best Dorset Countryside.

Brownsea Island

As seen on Autumnwatch and Silver Award Winner in South West Tourism Experience of the year category.

Escape the hustle and bustle of daily life and take a harbour cruise to an island rich in wildlife and history. Enjoy wonderful walks along the sea shore, search for rare red squirrels in the woods and learn about the birthplace of Scouting and Guiding.

Ferry available from Swanage or Sandbanks.

Corfe Castle

Explore one of Britains most romantic and historic ruins with breathtaking views over the surrounding countryside.

Discover tales of treachery and treason from the past 1000 years in the interactive exhibition and follow several way-marked walks across Corfe Common.

Family fun days and regular living history demonstrations. Visit The National Trust Website for up to date news and events.

Farmer Palmer

Farmer Palmers Farm – Phillip & Sandra Palmer (Brother & sister team) and their staff welcome you to their award winning family visitor attraction near Poole. Free parking, easy access and great family day out means great value for money for you. Theres Indoor soft play, straw mountain with slides and tunnels, pedal tractors, bouncy castles and so much more! Fun and games in the fresh air.

We aim to send your children home tired but happy!

Falmer palmer is just a 15 minute drive away.

Lulworth Castle and Park

Set in the very heart of Dorset, Lulworth Castle stands a few miles from the World Heritage Jurassic Coast where the unique landforms of Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door, with their abundant and diverse wildlife, are studied by geologists and naturalists from around the world.

Lulworth Castle, built in the early 17th Century as a hunting lodge, became a country house at the heart of a large estate. Thomas Howard, 3rd Lord Bindon, built the Castle in order to entertain hunting parties for the King and Court. The Castle and Estate of some 12 000 acres of rolling parkland, woods and farmland was subsequently purchased by Humphrey Weld in 1641 and has remained in the Weld family until the present day.

In 1929, a disastrous fire swept through the building. Burning out of control for 3 days, the interior was completely gutted, leaving the building a virtual ruin. Exposed to the elements after the fire, the Castle decayed rapidly. Stonework eroded and unburnt timbers rotted until the whole structure was in danger of collapse.

Restoration work was undertaken by English Heritage, returning the exterior to its original glory and consolidating the interior to provide a most remarkable venue revealing many stories about its past. It was reopened to the public in 1998.

Lulworth Castle was originally built as a place of entertainment, and so it is again today. It is an outstanding visitor attraction with interpretative displays bringing history to life and many special events taking place during the year. It continues to entertain many families, has played host to seven British monarchs and many celebratory occasions. Today, weddings, parties, corporate events and balls regularly take place within its impressive walls and extensive parkland.

For further details regarding public opening and private functions please visit www.lulworth.com or telephone O845 450 1054.

Monkey World – Ape Rescue Centre

This internationally-acclaimed ape rescue centre, in 65 acres of beautiful Dorset woodland, is home to over 230 primates – including the largest group of chimps outside Africa. Many have been neglected, kept in unnatural conditions, or experienced unbelievable cruelty. At Monkey World, they can all enjoy the company of their own kind in a safe and natural environment, and some are now part of international breeding programmes for endangered species.

Monkey World was set up in 1987 by Jim Cronin to provide a permanent, stable home for abused Spanish chimpanzees. Today, his wife, Dr Alison Cronin, continues to work with foreign governments worldwide to stop the illegal smuggling of primates from Africa, Asia and South America.

Combining fun with conservation and animal education, guided tours and half-hourly talks at the park explain all about man’s closest living relative. Visitors can meet the stars of TV’s ‘Monkey Business’ and the new series ‘Monkey Life’, then ‘monkey around’ in the south’s largest play area. Also, to support the worldwide rescue and rehabilitation of primates, visitors can make an adoption or donation.

Monkey World is also now licensed as a Wedding Venue and offers meeting and conference facilities with full catering services.

Open every day (except Christmas Day) 10am to 5pm (July and August 10am to 6pm). Last admission is 1 hour before closing.

For more details, please go to: www.monkeyworld.org or call the free information line on 0800 456 600.

Monkey World is just a 10 to 15 minute drive from The Springfield.

Swanage Steam Railway

Trains on the award-winning standard gauge preserved steam railway operate over the six miles of track between the south coast seaside resort of Swanage and our convenient station at Norden, in the beautiful Isle of Purbeck, passing the magnificent ruins of Corfe Castle.

The Swanage Railway offers a more intensive heritage steam and diesel timetable train service than virtually any other preserved railway. Steam and diesel galas, Family Fun Day events, plus regular Evening Dining services complement themed events such as our highly popular Santa Special trains during the run up to Christmas. Easy parking at Norden Station for visitors with cars enhances the experience of a unique journey through six miles of beautiful Dorset scenery in the South of England.

Visit the Swanage Railway website for up to date events and full information.

Bovington Tank Museum

Welcome to the biggest day out in history!

The Tank Museum brings the story of tanks and tank crew to life, supported by the world’s best collection of tanks & boasting action packed live displays during school holidays.

As you explore the Museums 6 large halls, you will come face to face with vehicles that have seen action in all the major wars of the 20th Century. This unique collection of over 200 vehicles includes the world’s first ever tank, the feared German Tiger tank, and the modern Challenger 2.

Fresh from a £16m redevelopment project, new features include a cutting edge exhibition in a 50,000 sq ft display hall, a new tank arena, shop, restaurant, and upgraded visitor facilities.

Explore the trenches of World War One, find out what life is like for a tank crewman and get closer to the action with our explosive Tank Action Displays. It’s Tonnes of Fun at The Tank Museum!

See our website for more information on upcoming events and tank displays in our arena.

Open daily 10am – 5pm.

The Tank Museum, Bovington, Dorset, BH20 6JG (just a ten minute drive from The Springfield)

T: 01929 405096 | E: info@tankmuseum.org | W: www.tankmuseum.org

Putlake Adventure Farm

Putlake Adventure Farm – Why not visit a family run adventure farm set in the beautiful purbeck countryside, at Langton Matravers only 2 miles from Swanage town centre.
Putlake is a 20 minute drive from The Springfield and just 5 minutes from Swanage Beach and Swanage Steam Railway.

many animals to see

Enjoy the