Looking to keep the kids happy? We've got it all covered!
As the summer holidays approach we know that looking for things to keep the youngsters entertained can be every parent's nightmare.
Just trawling through huge lists of events could easily be enough to put some people off leaving the house altogether.
And the prospect of rainy days with hyperactive young ones to entertain can be a daunting one.
But here at The News we want to make sure our readers can make the best of the summer, with children entertained and adults enjoying doing things together as a family – minus the stress.
So every day for the rest of the holidays we'll be giving you our pick of what's on this sunny season, ranging from sports days to the cinema.
And we've even carved it up under 10 helpful headings just to make it easier.
So whether you're looking for free fun, active activities or theme park theatrics, we hope you will find what you are searching for.
Luckily, Portsmouth and the south-east Hampshire area can at times seem like the perfect destination for those with children to entertain.
With attractions galore, a massive events programme, and even a generous helping of history and culture, there's something for everyone.
So each day we will give you the best of what you can do on the following day, so even making plans at the last minute will work out fine.
Starting today, and for every day throughout the summer holidays until the kids go back in the first week of September, we will strive to keep readers in the know about what's going on all over the area.
From Portsmouth Historic Dockyard to Marwell Zoo, we will cover anything and everything you can do to enjoy the season. But if we've missed anything that you think would make a great addition to our listings, just email joe.nimmo.thenews.co.uk
TOMORROW AND MONDAY
BEST FREE EVENT: Alien Invasion at the City Museum and Records Office
The City Museum's one-off Alien Invasion exhibition brings together an army of famous - and infamous - aliens, monsters, props and costumes from some of Hollywood's biggest sci-fi blockbusters. Children can recognise their favourite heroes and villains from Dr Who to Star Wars, and you never know, they might even be up for taking a look at the rest of the museum. Open daily from 10am to 5.30pm.
WORTH PAYING FOR: Skull & Crossbones: Living under the Jolly Roger exhibition
Become a pirate in this special family exhibition at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum. Learn how to speak pirate, command your boat, discover treasure, hoist your Jolly Roger and set sail for a pirate tour of the museum. Open daily from 10am to 3.30pm
GO THE EXTRA MILE Paultons Family Theme Park
If you want to spend that bit more on a fun-packed family day out, you could do a lot worse than the biggest theme park in the area. And for this weekend only, Peppa Pig is coming back to Paultons to delight the little ones. Open from 10am to 5.30pm every day, go on Sunday to catch Peppa Pig.
OLD Favourites: The Spinnaker Tower
Come and enjoy all the fun of a good old British seaside holiday this summer as the Spinnaker Tower turns into a vertical pier. Enjoy Punch and Judy, Victorian bathers and even get the chance to build your own sandcastle 110 metres high up in the Crow's Nest. Open 10am to 6pm every day.
HAVE A WANDER: Queen Elizabeth Country Park
Hampshire's biggest country park has 20 miles of trails for walkers, cyclists and horse riders.
It has a children's nature trail, visitor centre, shop and caf which are open 10am till 4.30pm daily.
BE ACTIVE StreetSport Family Fun Weekend
Free family taster sessions of athletics, archery, fencing, boccia, football, fishing, dance, circus arts and many more.
Activities will run in conjunction with the annual Water Festival held at Staunton Country Park. Runs from 11am until 4pm on Sunday.
BE CLEVER: Diving into History! at the Mary Rose Museum
Part of the Festival of British Archaeology, this exhibit involves trowels, sandpits and buried treasure, and will provide fun activities for all ages.
Free with a ticket (children must be accompanied by an adult). Open daily from 11am to 12noon and 2pm to 4pm.
MOVIE MAGIC: Toy Story 3
See the new animated film from Disney Pixar at Gunwharf's Vue Cinema, Odeon at Port Solent, Unit L4 at Market Quay in Fareham, and Chichester Gate in Chichester. See it in 3D for an extra eye-popping thrill.
NOT GOING OUT: Make a rain stick
Tipping it down? Your kids can mimic the sounds of the weather by making their very own rain stick. You'll need a discarded kitchen roll tube, crayons, masking tape, some tin foil, a handful of uncooked rice and a pipe cleaner.
Firstly, the kids can decorate the kitchen roll tube with crayons. Next fasten tinfoil to one end with masking tape. Coil the pipe cleaner and fit inside the tube, along with the rice. Fasten the other end with foil and masking tape and it's all done.
LOOKING AHEAD
Book ahead at the Kings Theatre in Southsea for an afternoon of Tales from the Jungle Book on Wednesday July 28. It's a musical costume show for all the family, presented by Mowgli and friends.
Family tickets are 25 and are available online at
kings-southsea.com or by calling (023) 9282 8282.
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Weather for Portsmouth
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 14 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 15 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: East
