Knockhatch sits off the Hailsham bypass, eleven kilometres north of Eastbourne, and it is the local answer to the question of what to do with children of several different ages on the same day.
It is a mixed activity park rather than a theme park or a zoo: a large outdoor site with water slides, soft play, a small animal collection, rides, a climbing wall, a lake and a great deal of open ground.
Water slides — four of them, which are the headline in warm weather. Bring swimwear and towels.
Indoor soft play, in several areas across different age bands, which makes the site workable in rain.
Animals — a small collection including birds of prey, meerkats, reptiles and farm animals, with displays through the day.
Rides — go-karts, a toboggan run, boats on the lake and smaller fairground rides. Some carry extra charges or height restrictions, so check on arrival.
A climbing wall and outdoor adventure play.
The lake, with a walk round it and boats.
Open grass for picnics.
The breadth is the point: visitors consistently report spending a full day and still not covering everything, and the age range it serves is wider than most family attractions — roughly three to early teens.
It is regularly described as good value for money for a full day, particularly against the seaside alternatives, and the strong local advice is to take your own food. There are picnic areas and open ground, and families who bring lunch rate the day considerably better on cost.
It gets very busy in school holidays. The car park was reported as already filling at the 10am opening on a summer weekday, so arrive at opening rather than mid-morning.
Toilets are plentiful across the site, which with small children matters more than it sounds.
The animal section is small — this is not a zoo, and visitors expecting one say so. Likewise the number of mechanical rides is modest.
The site is at its best treated as an outdoor play day with extras attached: the slides, the soft play and the open space are what people actually use.
Weather matters more here than at an indoor attraction. The soft play covers a wet morning, but a full wet day is a different proposition.
Time: a full day.
Booking: online in advance is cheaper and advisable in holidays.
Parking: free and large, but fills early in season.
Facilities: food outlets, picnic areas, plenty of toilets.
Access: mostly level outdoor ground; grass and gravel in places.
Getting there: on the Hailsham bypass, about twenty minutes from Eastbourne by road. Buses to Hailsham run from the town.
Michelham Priory, a moated medieval house and watermill, is five minutes away.
Herstmonceux — the castle and the Observatory Science Centre — is fifteen minutes east.
Drusillas Park is fifteen minutes south, and is the better choice for children under about six.
Roughly three to early teens, which is a wider band than most family attractions manage.
A full day. Families regularly report not covering everything.
Yes, if the water slides are open — bring costumes and towels.
Yes, and it is the local advice. There are picnic areas and open ground.
At opening. The car park fills early in school holidays.