BH Live’s 10th annual free-to-attend Family Fun Day returns to Littledown Park on Sunday 27 July 2025 from 11am-4pm, an event packed with attractions, activities, and entertainment.
More than 100,000 people are estimated to have attended Littledown’s Family Fun Day since the community event was launched.
This year’s event has been made possible thanks to additional support from sponsors Greatest Hits Radio, Absolute Music, Raring 2 Go, Shadow Design, Compass Building Services, and Snows Toyota.
Whatever the weather, there is something for families with children of all ages to see and do.
General admission to the park and family fun day is free, however charges apply for some activities and rides. Where activities are chargeable, prices will be displayed on the day.
There are stalls, vendors, and attractions, including a 300m inflatable obstacle course (courtesy of Tuff Nutterz), an under-the-sea themed 360-science dome, The Lovely Bubbly bubble show, Charles Cole’s Family Fun Fair, and more than 50 costumed characters walking around the parkland courtesy of C-star Cosplay group. For the little ones, Minky Moos and Little Gizmos will be providing costume characters for the main stage.
Entertainment providers Rent A Dinosaur will be delivering two 40-minute ‘roar-some’ performances on the main stage, inviting participants to join them on two walkarounds of Littledown Park with their giant brontosaurus.
Additional highlights include static and aerial birds of prey displays, puppet shows, a silent disco, free kids’ music sessions (courtesy of Absolute Music), an urban bike show, and much more. Dorset Police’s neighbourhood policing team will be in attendance to answer any questions visitors may have, meet and greet visitors, and ensure the event remains safe and enjoyable for all.
Football tournaments, organised by PlayFootball, will be taking place on Littledown’s 3G rubber crumb outdoor football pitches. Visitors interested in getting involved can register their interest online at playfootball.net.
Lookout at Littledown, the centre’s eating and drinking hotspot, will be open, selling cocktails, beers, soft drinks, and food. There will be live band performances on its outdoor terrace overlooking the park. Other pop-up stalls and vendors will be in the park selling refreshments and food throughout the day.
Littledown’s play park and paddling pool will be open (weather-dependent) to visitors on the day and throughout the summer season*. A mermaid visitor (courtesy of Mermaid Experience Dorset) will be in attendance to interact and play with visitors throughout the day.
Littledown Centre and Littledown Park are operated by registered charity BH Live in partnership with BCP Council.
On behalf of BH Live, Rob Cunningham, Director of Leisure and Business Development, said;
“We’re so excited to welcome everyone back for the 10th annual Littledown Family Fun Day! It’s a free to attend event that brings thousands of people together each year, and we love being able to offer a fun, low-cost day out for families in our community. It’s a great chance to explore the leisure centre, explore the park, try something new, and just enjoy the day together.
Since BH Live is a registered charity, any money we make from events like this goes right back into supporting and improving local facilities and services. So by joining us, you’re not only having a fantastic time—you’re also helping make a real difference in the community. We can’t wait to see you there!”
Visitors are advised to walk, cycle or take public transport to the event where possible. Limited car parking, including space for blue badge holders, is available on a first-come, first-served basis. It is free for up to three hours. Parking charges apply after – see car park signage for details.
Free overflow parking is available in Royal Bournemouth Hospital’s multi-storey car park. Parking restrictions apply to other public car parks – see car park signage for details.
Littledown Park is a dog free area. With the exception of service and assistance animals, people are asked to please leave their pets at home.
In addition to Family Fun Day, a diverse programme of fantastic community events will return to Littledown and its parkland throughout the spring and summer. See our notes to editors for more information.
More information about updates about Littledown Family Fun Day, visit Littledown’s Facebook event page.
Littledown Centre and its swim, gym, and group exercise facilities will be open and running as usual throughout the day – visitors are advised to plan their visit as accessing the centre and parking will be busier than usual.
More information on opening hours and timetables can be found at bhliveactive.org.uk/littledown.
-ENDS-
Notes to Editors:
*Under 18s to Littledown Park, Littledown paddling pool, and Littledown Family Fun Day must be supervised at all times by a parent or guardian.
The following public events and attractions are scheduled to take place at Littledown Centre – all information correct at the time of writing.
Lookout at Littledown
A funky bar with outdoor live music and dining, opened in May 2023.
Already a firm favourite with regulars, the monthly quiz night – Flamingo Quingo (run by Punch Entertainments) – will return on the following dates:
Thursday 29 May 2025 | 7:30pm
£2 entry per person. Tables can be reserved by contacting felicia.drodge@bhlive.org.uk.
Live music nights, serving cocktails and BBQs (available at additional cost), will take place on the following dates:
Friday 13 June 2025
Friday 27 June 2025
Friday 25 July 2025
Little Pickles Market
Sunday 11 May | 2pm
Sunday 13 July | 2pm
£1.50 entry (no charge for children)
Little Pickles Market provides customers with the opportunity to buy or sell second-hand maternity wear, nursery furniture, bikes, books, DVDs, games, clothes, toys and much more.
Bournemouth Bug Show
Sunday 1 June 2025
Bigger and better than before, Bournemouth’s premier bug show returns for 2025, packed with traders; rare insects and reptiles on exhibit. More information can be found at bournemouthbugshow.co.uk.
Littledown Silent Disco
Saturday 28 June 2025 | 7:30pm
£10 Member | £12 Non-member
Tickets must be purchased from Littledown reception or online in advance
18+ only
Enjoy a feel good night of non-stop partying to your favourite hits with LED headphones! With three different playlists, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you dance to the same songs as your friends or tune in to a different channel, the choice is yours!
Hungry for more? If all that dancing makes you hungry, then why not grab something from the Lookout at Littledown menu. Special offers on selected items including pizzas, classic burgers, fish and chips, and more.
Tuff Nutterz
Thursday 24 July 2025 – Monday 28 July 2025
Each session is 1 hour and 45 minutes. Age restrictions apply.
For ticketing and further information, visit tuffnutterz.co.uk/our-eventsuk
Measuring 300 metres long, this supersize inflatable maze comes to Littledown packed with 30 fun and challenging obstacles to complete, including huge slides, climbing walls, hanging rails, balance balls and more!
For more information about BH Live please contact:
Daisy Saunders, PR & Communications Executive
E: press.office@bhlive.org.uk
About BH Live
Champions of community engagement, health and wellness across Dorset, Hampshire, and London
BH Live, a registered charity and social enterprise, is a leading operator of sports and leisure centres, theatres, and event venues. Our vision is to create sustainable and inspiring opportunities, deliver great experiences for our communities, and improve health and well-being.
With a strong commitment to accessibility and community engagement, BH Live continues to enhance the quality of people’s lives, health and wellbeing in the communities it serves.
BH Live was established in 2010. Local authority partners include BCP Council, Portsmouth City Council and Croydon Council.
We are at the heart of the UK’s growing social economy. Together with our partners we are helping to change lives and make a positive impact in the community.
For more visit bhlive.org.uk.
Get social with us: LinkedIn, X – @BHLIVE_UK | Facebook @SocialEnterpriseBHLive | Instagram @bhliveuk
BH Live is a leisure and cultural trust, established in 2010 as a ‘non profit distributing organisation’ (NPDO) for public benefit to promote participation in leisure and cultural events. BH Live is a Company Limited by Guarantee and Registered Charity. Charity No: 1138311. Company No: 07092112. VAT Reg No: 108 2248 37. BH Live (Enterprises) Ltd, is a Private Company Limited by Shares and a wholly owned subsidiary of BH Live. Company No: 07175626. VAT Reg No: 108 2248 37. Registered Office: Bournemouth International Centre, Exeter Road, Bournemouth, BH2 5BH. Registered in England and Wales.
About Littledown Centre
Littledown is operated by the registered charity BH Live in partnership with BCP Council.
Set in 47 acres of parkland, Littledown has some of the finest leisure, swimming, football and gym facilities in the country.
It is ranked among the top performing leisure centres in the UK, is accredited by quality scheme QUEST and is a National Fitness Award winner for the Local Authority/Leisure Trust Gym of the Year and finalist for the Best Group Exercise Gym of the Year.
It has more than 1.2 million attendances a year and is home to clubs including BH Live’s Swimming Academy, Swim Bournemouth, Littledown Juniors Football Club and Play Football. Indoor facilities include 25-metre and 17-metre swimming pools for lane swimming, public swimming sessions, pool-based classes and lessons. There is also a splash pool, steam room and sauna.
The venue has one of the largest gyms in the region complete with activity programmes for young people, and support for people recovering from an illness, injury or who are living with a long-term health condition. There are multiple training zones with ground level and lift access. There is something to suit every activity preference and level of fitness with cardio equipment, free weights and functional fitness training space. Hundreds of group exercise classes run seven days a week such as Group Cycle sessions, circuits, yoga, Pilates, HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training) and Les Mills™ classes including BodyBalance, BodyPump, BodyCombat, BodyAttack, Sprint and more.
There is a large sports hall for events and multi-sport activities including trampolining, badminton, table tennis, football and gymnastics. Open to members and non members is Littledown’s Terrace Café (with soft play for under 5s) and Lookout at Littledown Bar (18+ only), each with free customer WiFi. Here you can buy all sorts of snacks, meals and drinks to enjoy indoors or outdoors for al fresco refueling, eating, drinking and socialising.
Outdoor features include six floodlit 3G rubber crumb training pitches, grass football pitches, parkland for recreation and events, a cricket pitch and pavilion, lake, children’s playground, a paddling pool (open summer months only), outdoor catering and free customer parking for up to three hours seven days a week. Littledown Park is also home to Littledown Miniature Railway.
ANPR is in operation at BH Live Active, Littledown. Customers get free customer parking for up to 3 hours seven days a week. Charges apply for longer stays.
For more visit bhliveactive.org.uk/littledown
Get social with us: X and Instagram @bhliveactive | Facebook @littledowncentre