Parks and the outdoors in Eastleigh

12 parks, gardens, beaches and walks in and around Eastleigh.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

Do
Itchen Valley Country Park
Woodlands and meadows with a play trail, a café and a Go Ape assault course.
Do
Itchen Way
Ramblers can use to reach other locations along the valley of the river Itchen including Allbrook (home of Mary Beale, the artist, during the late 1660s) Brambridge (home of Maria Fitzherbert in the mid 1700s), Shawford, St Cross & Winchester.
Do
Lakeside Country Park
An area of land left behind by the gravel extraction for the M27 Motorway. The three large holes are now flooded and provide a very pleasant green belt between Southampton and Eastleigh. Fishing, walking and birdwatching are all possible at the site, and there is a miniature railway that runs March-September.
Do
Marwell Activity Centre
Marwell Resort
A range of fun guided woodland activities: an aerial obstacle course with tight-ropes and a zip-wire; archery; clay-pigeon shooting; quad biking. All sessions last 90 min with qualified instructors, and all are for adults and children aged 8 and over, unless otherwise stated. You can also purchase day passes for fishing on the resort's lake.
9:30AM–5:30PMAerial adventure £25, archery £18, shooting £48 (people aged 16+ only); quad biking £27 (children aged 8-15); fishing £15 per day
See
Marwell Zoological Park
The park has over 200 rare and endangered species of animals. The Marwell Preservation Trust is dedicated to conservation and increased knowledge of all living creatures. Marwell Hall is located here.
Apr-Oct: daily 10AM–6PM; Nov-Mar: daily 10AM–4PM; last admission 90 minutes before close; closed Dec 25th£11.50 adult; £9.50 senior or student; £8 child
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Places Leisure
formerly Fleming Park
Leisure centre with indoor pools, a gym, tennis and squash courts and a large park. The park contains a large playground and a paddling pool (open May-September). The Pavilion on the Park on the corner of Kingfisher Rd is a community venue with halls, suites and the Blackbird Café.
Eat
The Hiltonbury Farmhouse
Stylish pub with large beer garden serving classics such as steaks, salads and sea bass. They also have a decent pizza menu, baked in their gas-fired pizza oven. Drinks-wise, they're particularly known for their impressive gin selection: no fewer than 11 locally-distilled, and many more from all over.
Mon–Thu 11AM–11PM, Fri Sat 11AM–midnight, Sun noon–10:30PMMains £10-£26, pizzas £14, Sunday roast £16/£20 for two/three courses
Do
The Hub
Sports and recreation facility with large green area. The River Itchen runs alongside it.
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Leigh Road Park
Park with bandstand, war memorial and children's playground.
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Stoke Park Wood
Woodland with a car park. Great for walking and cycling.
Drink
The Chamberlayne Arms
Privately-owned pub with beer garden. Built in 1887.
Mon–Sat 11AM–11PM, Sun noon–10PMMeal and dessert about £10
Do
The Pavilion on the Park
Community venue with halls, suites and the Blackbird Café.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Eastleigh (CC BY-SA 4.0).