Things to Do with Kids in Aldershot: Lido, Museum, Shows
Swimming, play areas, a museum, library rhymetime and live shows for children, each confirmed from an official page.
Aldershot Lido is closed for autumn and winter, so for now try the Military Museum (open Thursday to Sunday), library rhymetime, the play areas at Manor Park and Municipal Gardens, or Princes Hall family shows from 18 October 2026. The Sleeping Beauty pantomime runs from 4 December 2026 to 3 January 2027.
Aldershot has a decent mix of outdoor play, swimming, history and shows for children. Each item below is checked against the venue's own site or an official council page. Where we could not confirm that something is open or still running, we have left it out.
Aldershot Lido and Aldershot Pools
Aldershot Lido (Guildford Road, GU12 4BP) is a seasonal outdoor pool. It is closed for autumn and winter, so it is shut now. In 2026 it reopened on Saturday 23 May and opened daily from 1 July to 31 August, 10am to 6pm with last entry at 5pm. Rushmoor lists three flumes and a diving platform (subject to availability), a toddler paddling pool and sandpit, a basketball area and a food kitchen. The council page says 168 car parking spaces. Everyone Active runs the lido for Rushmoor, from 1 April 2026, and you can book through the Everyone Active app or website. Dates for the 2027 season have not been published on the pages we checked.
Aldershot Pools is on the same site and has a 25-metre pool, a teaching pool, a swimming academy and a gym. Contact 01252 323 482 for current sessions.
Play areas and skate park
Rushmoor lists play areas across the town. Manor Park has a safari-themed play area for children up to 12 and a skate park. Municipal Gardens has a hill-fort climbing frame, pirate ship and rope swing, and Redan Hill Gardens has a wheelchair-accessible play unit and a you-and-me swing. Aldershot Park has play zones for different ages. See our parks guide and the council's parks and playgrounds page.
Aldershot Military Museum
The Aldershot Military Museum (Queens Avenue, GU11 2LG) is run by Hampshire Cultural Trust. It is open Thursday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm. Prices on its page: adult £11, child (5-15) £8, concession £10, under 5s free, family (up to 5) £36.75. It has military vehicles and tanks, a WWII-inspired assault course, reconstructed barracks, a café with board games, a covered picnic area, baby changing and 20 free parking spaces. Call 01252 314598.
Aldershot Library
Hampshire Libraries' Aldershot Library runs free rhymetime sessions: toddler rhymetime on Tuesdays at 10am, baby rhymetime on Tuesdays at 11am and rhymetime on Fridays at 10.30am. Parents and carers stay with their children. Check the page for current times, as the library opens limited hours.
Shows at Princes Hall and the West End Centre
Princes Hall (Princes Way, GU11 1NX; box office 01252 329155) lists these family shows: K-Pop Dance Heroes on Sunday 18 October 2026 at 3pm, There's a Monster in Your Show on 26-27 October 2026, Ministry of Science on Friday 30 October at 1.30pm and My First Concert on Saturday 31 October at 2.30pm. The Christmas pantomime for 2026 is Sleeping Beauty, from Friday 4 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027. Further family dates in 2027 include Dinosaur Adventure Live on 15 February, Amazing Animals on 25 April and Fun For Little Ones: A Tribute to Ms Rachel on 2 June.
The West End Centre (48 Queens Road, GU11 3JD; box office 01252 330040) says its programme includes children's activities alongside music, comedy, theatre and film. Look at its events page for current family shows.
Alpine Snowsports Centre
Rushmoor lists the Alpine Snowsports Centre among its sports and leisure facilities as an indoor snow sports venue run with Everyone Active. We did not confirm session times, so check with Rushmoor's sports and leisure page.
Soft play and trampolines
We could not confirm any indoor soft play or trampoline venue in Aldershot from a venue's own site, so none is listed. If you know of one, check its own website for opening times first.
Checked 5 October 2026. Details change, so follow the official links above before you travel.
| Activity | Where | Status or times (as checked) |
|---|---|---|
| Aldershot Lido | Guildford Road, GU12 4BP | Closed for autumn/winter; 2026 season ran 23 May-31 Aug |
| Aldershot Pools | Guildford Road, GU12 4BP | Call 01252 323 482 for sessions |
| Aldershot Military Museum | Queens Avenue, GU11 2LG | Thu-Sun 10am-4pm; child £8 (as of Oct 2026) |
| Library rhymetime | Aldershot Library | Tue and Fri mornings; check Hampshire page |
| Sleeping Beauty panto | Princes Hall, GU11 1NX | 4 Dec 2026-3 Jan 2027 |
| Skate park and play area | Manor Park, GU12 4JU | Open park; see Rushmoor page |
Frequently asked questions
- Is Aldershot Lido open in October?
- No. Rushmoor says the lido is closed for the autumn and winter. In 2026 it was open from 23 May, at weekends in June and daily from 1 July to 31 August.
- Who runs Aldershot Lido and Aldershot Pools?
- Everyone Active runs them on behalf of Rushmoor Borough Council, according to Rushmoor's pages.
- How much is Aldershot Military Museum for a family?
- £36.75 for a family ticket of up to five, with adults £11 and children aged 5-15 £8, according to the museum's page (as of October 2026). Under 5s are free.
- Which pantomime is at Princes Hall in 2026?
- Sleeping Beauty, from Friday 4 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027.
- Are there free toddler sessions in Aldershot?
- Aldershot Library runs free rhymetime sessions, according to Hampshire Libraries. Check the library page for current times.
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