by Victoria Pollitt | Feb 18, 2019 | Accommodation, Hampshire, Portsmouth
We take our children to review Solent Hotel & Spa in Fareham
Where is it?
The Solent Hotel & Spa is in Fareham, south east Hampshire.
It’s in a good location, near the M27, between Portsmouth and Southampton.
What is it?
The hotel is part of the House of Daniel Thwaites company.
It’s a four-star business and leisure hotel and spa with a swimming pool, AA Rosette restaurant, tennis court, gym and neighbouring pub owned by the same company.
Is it family friendly?
Yes, very much so, this hotel was a real find and very popular with all four of us. Our children are really keen to go back.
*There is a children’s room filled with a PlayStation, table tennis table, pool table, board games and more.
*The indoor swimming pool was large, with a separate, shallow baby pool and comfortable seating around it. Three times a week, there is a special splash time with floats and toys.
The changing rooms are lovely. Getting the children showered and changed after swimming feels easier, with extras such as a costume dryer and plastic bags for wet things.
*There are woods behind the hotel to explore which our children enjoyed.
The rooms
We had a signature family double – it was nicely decorated with a comfortable double bed and a sofa bed which our son and daughter shared. The sofa bed was great for our two but would be too small for a couple of teenagers.
The children were thrilled with little welcome packs for them on their bed, full of activities and treats. And two little dressing gowns (two bigger ones for us were in the wardrobe).
Our room at the Solent Hotel & Spa
Room amenities are good – a fridge held complimentary water and milk, plus there were biscuits, teas and coffee, a kettle and a desk.
If pushed to find anything to change I would say a step in our room next to the children’s sofa bed looked nice but could be a trip hazard at night.
Food and drink
The restaurant feels really nice to sit in, pleasingly designed and decorated. It has a choice of seating areas including a conservatory, an outdoor terrace and booths.
Breakfast was delicious with the most attentive, lovely staff, who specially made me pancakes one day when they found out how much I wanted some.
A sweet baked waffle special was lovely and brought to the table along with hot drinks.
Staff help you to a cooked breakfast while you help yourself to pastries, cereal, fruit, yoghurt etc, more than enough to keep everyone happy.
At night you can also eat at the hotel.
We ate at the Parson’s Collar pub next door, run by the same company, and also finished nicely with televisions and an ice cream bar. The menu was great and portions are generous.
Nearby
The hotel is close to Whiteley shopping centre and leisure complex so there are plenty of places to eat.
It is about 15 minutes drive from the nearest beach, Lee-on-Solent.
It is also 20 minutes from Peppa Pig World and Paultons Park.
Our highlights
*The hotel is beautifully designed and our room was also nicely decorated.
*The fabulous breakfast and attentive breakfast staff.
*The games room and woodland are great extra entertainment.
*The swimming pool and changing rooms.
*There is lots of parking.
*Staff on reception were very helpful providing something I’d forgotten to pack.
Address
Solent Hotel & Spa, Rookery Avenue, Whiteley, Fareham, Hampshire, PO15 7AJ
RELATED CONTENT: Our full holiday review of Portsmouth
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We stayed as guests of the hotel for this review. All views are our own. For prices and information visit the hotel website.
by Victoria Pollitt | Feb 18, 2019 | Hampshire, Portsmouth, UK days out
Museums, ships and a boat ride make this a must for sea lovers or young history fans.
What is it?
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is a huge tourist site where families and other visitors can explore the UK’s naval past.
It includes museums and some of the most famous ships in British history including the star attraction HMS Victory.
It is part of the Royal Naval Dockyard and is run by the National Museum of the Royal Navy.
Where is it?
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is on the waterfront in the centre of Portsmouth, Hampshire.
What did we think?
It is massive! To get around everything is more than a full day out and it has some of the most important living history in the country.
Highlights
*HMS Victory – stand in the spot where Nelson fell on the top deck of this famous warship during the successful Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.
The plaque showing where Nelson fell
The ship he sailed is beautifully restored with a simple, clever route through the different decks. She has sat in a dry dock on the site since 1922. There is a free audio guide to carry around.
We also enjoyed seeing how the 800 sailors on board lived.
A word of warning though, there are steep steps and low ceilings throughout so keep a close eye on children.
*Harbour tour – a 45-minute ride on the Solent Cat boat – it takes you around Portsmouth’s waters with an on-board commentary, seeing existing navy warships and getting a sense of the scale of the dockyard. It is also a good chance to sit down after walking around the large site.
*Action Stations – an entire building with hands-on activities for children including rope courses, the tallest indoor climbing wall in the UK and a helicopter simulator. There is also a Laser Quest (for an extra charge).
*Other highlights include HMS Warrior, Mary Rose and the Royal Navy Museum.
Our top tips
*Cut down on walking by doing the harbour tour last and jumping off at Gunwharf Quays for food, shopping or the Spinnaker Tower (read more about the tower here).
*Tackle HMS Victory either early or late in the day, especially with younger children, so it isn’t too crowded walking around the narrow decks.
*Consider paying for a Full Navy ticket giving repeat entry for up to a year as there is enough to occupy a few separate visits if you want to do more than see just the Victory.
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard information
Food: There are four different options. Boathouse 7 offers full meals, Boathouse 4 sells sandwiches, snacks and a children’s menu, the Copper Kettle serves cake and coffee or there is a Costa Coffee as well. The site has three picnic areas too.
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 5.30pm in summer, 10am to 5pm in winter.
Cost: A ‘Full Navy’ ticket costs £31 per adult with children free in the summer holidays and allows a year’s access to all the naval attractions at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard – except for the Mary Rose, Mini Ports and Laser Quest.
You can also buy single attraction tickets for £18 per adult for one attraction, £25 for two attractions and £32 for three. Again children go free in the holidays.
Best for: Ages 5-10
Time needed: All day to see everything. Allow at least one hour per attraction.
Access and restrictions: There is a Special Access Route around the site with ramps for wheelchairs and buggies. There is also wheelchair access to the lower decks of HMS Victory.
Address: Victory Gate, HM Naval Base, Portsmouth, PO1 3LJ.
There is a nearby railway station, Portsmouth Harbour Station. Plus there is a large car park (£5 for four hours) 400 yards away.
Now read our full review of a break in Portsmouth here.
by Victoria Pollitt | Feb 18, 2019 | Hampshire, Portsmouth, UK days out
For amazing views of Portsmouth, take your children to the top of the Emirates Spinnaker Tower
What is it?
The 170-metre tall Emirates Spinnaker Tower offers panoramic views around Portsmouth harbour, The Solent and the Isle of Wight.
It’s the city’s most prominent landscape and can be seen from 23 miles away.
The tower was a millennium project but wasn’t opened until 2005. Portsmouth residents voted for the design – the Spinnaker sail shape reflecting the city’s maritime heritage.
Where is it?
The Spinnaker Tower is on the waterfront in Portsmouth, in the middle of the Gunwharf Quays shopping and leisure complex. You can’t miss it!
Spinnaker Tower
What did we think?
This gives spectacular views and is a great experience for children. It’s only a quick trip but there is an animated video and quiz sheet to keep youngsters entertained, as well as two cafes.
What exactly is there to do?
*An animated video at the start.
*A lift which takes you up 100 metres to the main viewing level in 30 seconds – travelling at 4 metres per second.
*The main viewing platform has a 350 degree view out of the windows. There is a Sky Walk on this level – a glass floor section in the middle of the room to walk over, which is good fun for those who don’t mind heights.
The glass floor
*Also on the main level, for £4 per person you can have a go at a virtual reality game called Altitude for aged nine and over, which makes you feel like you are navigating your way around the outside of the tower with the harbour below.
*On the next floor up there is a small cafe called The Clouds, with a great view, which serves cakes and drinks.
*Above that, on the top floor, is the Sky Garden – this level is open to the elements and has deck chairs and a green artificial grass floor.
*There is another bigger cafe on the ground floor with much more choice.
Also available for the adventurous:
*Abseiling 100 metres down the side of the tower.
*The Drop – jump from a platform 25 metres high (weekends only).
Our top tips
*Don’t skip the animated video before the lift as it is good for children and tells the story of Portsmouth.
*If your child is upset by the height, there isn’t much need to take them up the stairs to levels 2 and 3. The main level is bigger and the stairs can get busy.
*Book in advance for cheaper entry and also check out special events during the school holidays such as character visits.
Don’t miss our review of a family holiday to Portsmouth by clicking here!
Emirates Spinnaker Tower information
Food: Drinks and cakes on the second floor cafe 105 metres up and a bigger cafe on the ground floor.
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 5.30pm.
Cost: Family ticket £35 on the day. Adult entry £11.50, children (aged four to 15) £8.50. Under-fours free. A ticket is valid all day and booking online saves 10 per cent.
Best for: All ages
Time needed: 45 minutes.
Access and restrictions: The first two viewing levels (the main floor and the cafe) are available via a lift to wheelchair users. There are three disabled toilets on site.
Address: Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth, PO1 3TT. There is a large car park at Gunwharf Quays.
(Main picture credit: Stefan and Sara Venter)
by Victoria Pollitt | Feb 18, 2019 | Hampshire, Portsmouth, Reviews, Top Story
Read our review of a family break to Portsmouth where we try out some of the best attractions for children
We’re standing on the top deck of Britain’s most famous warship, looking out over a bustling harbour.
Suddenly there’s a bang and my son is clutching his chest – he’s recreating the final moments of the country’s greatest naval hero Nelson.
We’re all aboard HMS Victory – at the exact spot where Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson fell.
Getting close to Britain’s naval history is a must in Portsmouth after all – even on a family holiday.
Spinnaker Tower
Portsmouth is known as the great maritime city and we begin by taking it all in more than 105 metres above its harbour at the Emirates Spinnaker Tower.
Spinnaker Tower
It takes just 25 seconds to reach the top in a lift and from the viewing gallery you can enjoy the entire Portsmouth panorama as well as views of the Isle of Wight.
One of our children loved the glass floor you can walk over – the other isn’t keen on heights! And both liked finding letters to complete a word search around the tower.
There are three viewing levels and two cafes (read a full review of the tower here).
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
If you want to see some of Britain’s best known ships up close then it’s a short walk from the tower to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.
This huge site, which is still home to the Royal Navy, has enough attractions to occupy an entire day.
Out first stop was HMS Victory, Nelson’s flagship from the Battle of Trafalgar.
It is amazingly well preserved with a well thought-through route that takes you right down into the bowels of the boat.
Where they slept on HMS Victory
You can follow in Nelson’s footsteps and also experience life below deck where the sailors had to eat, sleep and be treated for war wounds.
Also at the dockyard we sampled the Action Stations hanger which has a climbing wall, rope course and a helicopter simulator giving children the chance to act like Royal Marines.
The site also has HMS Warrior, the biggest ship in the world when it was built in 1860, Henry VIII’s famous Mary Rose and plenty more.
Perhaps the best way to appreciate its scale is to go on the museum’s 45-minute harbour tour. This takes you around the Royal Navy’s current warships and onto The Solent. You can hop on and off at Gunwharf Quays near the Spinnaker Tower to cut down on walking (and enjoy a shop if you have time).
Read our full review of Portsmouth’s Historic Dockland here.
Beaches
Being so close to the sea means there are beaches aplenty around Portsmouth at places like Lee-on-Solent and Hayling Island.
Nearby Southsea and its pebbly beach is the closest but if you want soft sand then you have to head for the Isle of Wight.
Hovercraft
Fortunately there is a quick way to the Isle of Wight – on a Hovertravel hovercraft.
It is the last remaining passenger hovercraft in the country and is a great experience.
The Hovertravel hovercraft
You can get from Southsea to Ryde in 10 minutes and the journey is smoother and quieter than we imagined.
At Ryde, it is just a short walk to a lovely sandy beach with views back across the water to Portsmouth.
Read a full review of the hovercraft here.
Accommodation
After a busy day, we continued the nautical theme at our base – the family-friendly Solent Hotel & Spa, midway between Portsmouth and Southampton.
The Solent Hotel & Spa
Pictures of yachts and boats adorn some of the walls and if you fancy a dip in something warmer than the sea then there’s a 13 metre pool with plenty of space for children.
In fact, little ones are well looked after at The Solent with a goodybag in the room, mini dressing gowns, a games room with Xbox and table tennis plus a large woodland to explore.
There’s a relaxed restaurant and a modern pub on site and the fabulous breakfast certainly filled us up for a day’s exploring.
It’s also only 20 minutes from Peppa Pig World at Paultons Park.
Read our full report of the hotel here.
Marwell Zoo
You don’t have to be near the sea to have a good time in this part of the country. We spent a full day at Marwell Zoo on the outskirts of Winchester, on our way home.
This wildlife park is certainly large and the spacious habitats for giraffes, zebras, hippos and tigers mean plenty of walking to see everything.
It was a busy day but didn’t feel crowded and you can pack it all in with the help of a road train and a miniature railway around the site.
For a full review of the zoo, click here.
Conclusion
Naturally, the sea and Portsmouth’s role in our naval history is a big draw to holiday here with your children.
But you don’t have to be on the top deck of HMS Victory to discover a family break in this part of the world can be a real winner.
by Stuart | May 10, 2018 | Brittany, Hampshire, Portsmouth, Transport
Read our report on a Brittany Ferries trip to France
A ferry can be a great way to travel with children – it breaks up a long journey, is (fairly) relaxing, you get to keep your own car on holiday plus you can pack loads into it.
The four of us have used ferries to cross the Channel for holidays to France and Denmark.
Here we review a crossing with Brittany Ferries, which operates between the UK and France, the UK and Spain and Ireland and France. We travelled between Portsmouth and St Malo.
Boarding
Boarding was smooth and quick at both ports. Yes there are a lot of cars on board – our ship, the Bretagne holds 2,000 passengers and 580 cars – but it didn’t take more than 20 minutes to disembark in a well drilled operation.
One word or warning, there can be a lot of steps to climb up from the car park to the higher decks if you have small children.
A four-berth cabin on board Brittany Ferries
The cabins
We booked a four-berth club cabin and our children loved it, it was a real adventure for them.
There were bunk beds on either side (the top one folds back when not in use to give more space), a small television on the wall and an en-suite with shower and toilet.
We found it cosy and very well soundproofed and both children slept well.
Cabins are not just for night times though, it is also worth booking a cabin for a day trip if you have small children. It is good to have a base and somewhere to relax (for parents as well if you have been chasing them around the ferry). Plus they are great if your child still naps.
The food
There was plenty of choice for all budgets. There is an à la carte restaurant, self-service restaurant, cafe, and a bar.
We ate at the self-service La Baule – breakfast on the outward leg and a dinner coming home to England.
The price is reasonable and drinks at the bar aren’t bad value either.
The ferry has children’s entertainment
Children’s entertainment
Early evening shows for children kept ours entertained. There was a children’s entertainer with a good line in balloon animals, a mini disco and in high season they put on a panto.
There are also two cinema screens showing family films. The screens aren’t full size but it’s a nice way to while away a couple of hours.
There is also a video games room and soft play area.
The feeling
We were fortunate to enjoy good weather in both directions and it was fantastic to go out on the sundeck and watch Portsmouth harbour disappearing into the distance.
Our children loved seeing the wake caused by the huge engines, spotting the Channel Islands as we motored past and walking around the outside of the ferry.
The whole trip felt like an adventure for them and a memorable part of the holiday.
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We travelled as guests of Brittany Ferries for the purpose of this review. For more information and bookings visit their website.
