Houdini's Escape Room Experience - Southampton Tenpin

You'll find Houdini's Escape Room Experience tucked inside Southampton Tenpin, which sounds like an odd pairing until you realise it's actually rather clever. The escape room itself is the main draw here - you're locked in a themed space and given a set time to puzzle your way out, racing against the clock to solve riddles and find hidden clues. It's not a traditional theme park attraction, but it does scratch that problem-solving itch quite effectively.

Families with teenagers will get the most from this. Younger kids under ten might find the pressure of the countdown stressful, and the puzzles can be too abstract if they're not confident readers. Adults who enjoy a bit of lateral thinking and don't mind looking slightly daft while hunting for clues behind paintings will have a genuinely good time.

You're paying for the experience - it's not free - and you'll want to book ahead rather than just turning up. The whole thing typically runs between 45 minutes and an hour, depending on how quickly your group clicks with the puzzles. Some are easier than others, so don't be surprised if you breeze through one room only to get completely stumped in the next.

If you're staying at Ashurst Campsite or nearby Matley Wood Campsite, this works as a decent rainy afternoon option rather than a main attraction. It's three miles or so from Ashurst, making it a quick drive. Pair it with proper outdoor activity at one of the New Forest's walking routes or a visit to a proper theme park elsewhere, but don't make the journey from far away solely for this.