New Century Park
ENTRY
Free
WHERE
Eastleigh
What it’s like
A free splashpad with a proper freshwater flow system, plus a playground, skate park and pond boardwalk to explore around it.
The splashpad is the reason you'd head here in summer: sensor-operated jets on a freshwater flow system, so it's not just sitting in the same treated puddle all day. It runs 10am to 6pm daily but only from 6 May to 8 September, so this isn't a year-round outing, and there's nothing to book, you just turn up.
Once the kids have had enough of getting soaked, there's a fair bit else on site. A playground and skate park sit nearby, there's a trim trail and muscle gym if anyone fancies a go, and a pond with a boardwalk and dipping platform for the sort of pond-life poking about that never gets old. The community orchard, with its fifty apple, pear and damson trees, and the wildflower meadows make this feel more like a proper park than a bolt-on splashpad, and it's worth the wander even outside splash season.
Parking is the genuine catch. The council is upfront that space is limited and pushes people towards walking or cycling instead, so if you're driving in on a hot Saturday, get there early or expect to circle. There's a small car park via Brookfield Road, open 9am to 6pm.
The Fountain Cafe covers ice-creams, cakes, toasted sandwiches and hot and cold drinks, though the hours change by day: 9am to 4.30pm on Thursday and Friday, 9am to 3pm on Saturday. There's a picnic area if you'd rather bring your own, and dogs are welcome, though they need to be kept under control when cattle are grazing on parts of the land between May and October.
Facilities
Need to know
- Parking
- Limited on-site via Brookfield Road, opens 9am-6pm
- Food
- Fountain Cafe open Thu-Fri 9:30am-4:30pm, Sat 9am-3pm, serving ice-creams, cakes, toasted sandwiches, hot and cold drinks
- Picnics
- Picnic areas available on-site
- Dogs
- Allowed but must be kept under strict control when cattle are grazing on site (May-October)
- The splashpad is sensor-operated, not constantly running, so it's a bit stop-start rather than a permanent spray
- Greywater from the splashpad gets reused on the living wall and plants around the village
- Cafe only opens Thursday, Friday and Saturday, so a midweek visit might mean bringing your own snacks
- Cattle graze the land May-October, so dogs need to stay close
Plan your visit
Is the splashpad free?
Yes, and there's no booking involved, you just turn up.
What months is the splashpad open?
6 May through to 8 September, daily from 10am to 6pm. Outside those dates it's switched off.
Is there parking on site?
A small car park off Brookfield Road, open 9am to 6pm, but the council is honest that space is limited and suggests walking or cycling if you can.
What's there to do besides the splashpad?
A playground, skate park, trim trail and muscle gym, plus a pond with a boardwalk and a community orchard with fifty fruit trees.
Can we bring the dog?
Dogs are allowed, but keep them under close control between May and October when cattle graze parts of the site.
Is there food on site?
The Fountain Cafe does ice-creams, cakes, toasted sandwiches and drinks. It's open Thursday and Friday 9am to 4.30pm and Saturday 9am to 3pm, so not every day of the week.
Are there toilets?
There's an accessible external toilet at the cafe plus two portable loos, though the cafe toilet only runs during splashpad season.
Can we bring a picnic?
There's a picnic area on site if you'd rather not rely on the cafe hours.
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