October half-term is just weeks away and understandably, parents are struggling to find ways to keep the kids entertained.

It's always a daunting thought for parents as the holiday season kicks off, and while parents are looking for ideas to keep the kids entertained, we have seven adventure-packed ideas to make your week a little easier.

From sandy beaches, forest walks, shopping centres and play parks, Hampshire is full of great places to visit. Here are seven places to visit that will keep the kids entertained

New Forest

As one of the largest remaining tracts and forest in Southern England, the New Forest is one of the most fascinating and peaceful plots of land Hampshire has to offer. It houses otters. wild boar, foxes, horses, pigs and wolves and hosts an array of activities from Tree Top Trail, exploring the land and the wildlife it has to offer, bike riding and pumpkin picking.

Ashurst also offers a campsite with free wifi, showers and wash facilities. It's child friendly and smoke free, which is a great place to get away with the family for a week.

Hayling Island

Situated between Chichester and Portsmouth, Hayling Island is the perfect getaway with the family this October half-term. Filled with activities from golf, Hayling Island Donkey Sanctuary and Funland Amusement Park, Hayling Island also has an impressive beach, perfect for dog walking and paddling in the sea. For a four-night stay at Hayling Island's caravan park, it will cost £649.

The Billy Trail is the perfect walk or cycle along the bed of an old railway line running from Havant to Hayling Island. The route offers spectacular views of Portsmouth and leads directly to the beach.

West Quay, Southampton

As the biggest shopping centre Hampshire has to offer, West Quay hosts enough to keep the family entertained for a couple of days. It offers a Showcase Cinema de Lux, Baseball Entertainment Centre, Hollywood Bowl and West Quays first ever Silent Disco, suitable for all ages. West Quay is also fitted with bars and restaurants such as: Five Guys, Taco Bell, Bill's, Pizza Hut, Nandos and a COSMO World Buffet.

Lee-On-The-Solent

Similar to Hayling Island, Lee-On-The-Solent has a beach that stretches out for miles, perfect for family walks. The beach also has a park, funfair rides and a skate park to keep the children entertained throughout the day. The Solent also offers various cafe's, a Subway, Tesco Express and a fish and chip shop for all those peckish needs.

Queen Elizabeth Country Park

With 2,000 acres of downland and woodland, Queen Elizabeth Country Park is the ideal place to keep the family entertained during the October half-term. Activities include: October Mountain Bike Camp for kids, Spooky Laser Tag, Magical Beasts Outdoor Trail and Queen Elizabeth Off-Road Half Marathon 2021.

There is also space for a venue hire, a outdoor adventure play park, a BBQ area and Beechwood Kitchen. The ground is always perfectly looked after, with groundskeepers working throughout the day to keep it tidy.

Go Ape!

Located in Itchen Valley Country Country Park, Go Ape! is the perfect place to keep the family entertained and active throughout October half-term. Adventures include: Treetop Challenge, Speed Climbing, Zip Trekking Adventure, Forest Segway, Nets Adventure, The Plummet, Zip Line Experience and Axe Throwing, with levels from easy, moderate and hard. Course length ranges from 20-minutes to three hours, with prices ranging from £5-£49 per person.