Family fun at the seaside

Think of a family daytrip or short break and chances are the image you conjure up is one of the seaside. Ice creams on the beach, rides on the funfair and paddling in the sea - summer staycations are all about the coast.

Head to Southsea this summer and you'll be sure of something the whole family can enjoy, with activities for all ages and any budget.

Free things to do

The joy of a seaside break is that plenty of activities are totally free. Whether it's walks along the promenade, days spent relaxing on the beach, or afternoons enjoyed playing on Southsea Common - all you have to do is get here!

Of course, that's not all there is to enjoy without spending a penny.

Bring a picnic and set up camp on Southsea Common for the afternoon. Though it may be situated right along the popular seafront, the common is so vast that you're certain to find somewhere to settle down even during the busiest summer months. Bring a blanket and some snacks then enjoy the fresh air. If you want warm food, there are designated BBQ zones where you can enjoy sausages, burgers and other flame-grilled delights.

The wind that often comes off the Solent makes Southsea Common a great place for kite flying (in fact, it welcomes some of the best kites from Britain and beyond every year for the International Kite Festival). If you have a kite, bring it along and take advantage of the prime flying conditions.

If the youngsters have energy to burn, the play parks will be high on the to-do list. Canoe Lake has a large playground, as well as a zipline and small splash area. It's also the place where families have gone crabbing for generations - trying to catch the inhabitants of the lake before safely returning them again.

After all that, you might enjoy a walk around the gardens. Southsea Rose Garden is in full bloom throughout summer, with a riot of colour to enjoy just off the seafront. Meanwhile, over towards the Pyramids you'll find Southsea Rock Gardens, with many different plants to see and walkways to explore (plus it's a great hide and seek location!).

Of course, there's always the option to paddle your feet in the sea - but remember to always swim between the red and yellow flags. The RNLI are operating three lifeguard stations along the seafront this summer; a new one at Eastney alongside the two usual sites in Southsea.

For more information about the things to do along the coast this summer, pick up our free Seafront Map leaflet from Visitor Information points at the Hard Interchange, The D-Day Story, and Portsmouth Museum & Art Gallery. It has a handy map, information on all the attractions and stickers for youngsters to tick off the things they've seen along the way.

As well as all these free things to do, there are plenty more that you can enjoy for a small cost.

Paid-for things to do

Get out onto Canoe Lake on one of the famous swan-shaped pedalos, but be warned, it's harder on the legs than it seems! Or, try your hand at some golf - whether it's the pirate-themed crazy golf at Clarence Pier, the grassy course near Canoe Lake or the pitch-and-putt links at the Tenth Hole.

There's more fun to be had at the fairs and arcades on Clarence and South Parade Piers. Roll back the years with the classic 2p nudgers, amass enough tokens to win a teddy, or brave the thrills and spills on the fairground rides.

Over at Exploria there's a different way to burn off the energy, at the enormous indoor soft play arena. The kids can safely explore all the different areas at the new attraction open inside the Pyramids Centre.

Afterwards you can hop on the open-top bus for a scenic ride along the seafront, looking out across the Solent. What's more, with the one ticket you can hop on and off as many times as you like that day, so it’s more than just a fun activity but a way to get around everywhere along the seafront.