Skip to content
To Do in Sussex
OutdoorsWalksFamily days out

Southwater Country Park

Southwater, West Sussex

Still lake fringed with trees at Southwater Country ParkPhoto: Paul Gillett, CC BY-SA 2.0

Photo: Paul Gillett, CC BY-SA 2.0

A council-run country park on the edge of Southwater, south of Horsham. Families come for the lakeside paths, the Dinosaur Island play area and the cafe, and the lake is used for sailing, paddleboarding and kayaking.

Highlights

  • Lakeside walks and trails
  • Dinosaur Island play area
  • Cafe and visitor centre with toilets
  • Watersports on the lake

Good to know

  • Dogs must be on leads from March to September
  • Horsham District Council runs free family pop-up events in school holidays

Getting there

Southwater Country Park, Cripplegate Lane, Southwater, Horsham, RH13 9UNParking: Three pay car parks run by Horsham District Council.

Get directions

Checked on 16 October 2026 against horsham.gov.uk, horsham.gov.uk. Details change, so please confirm with the venue before you travel. How we check

Spotted something wrong or missing? Tell us

Nearby

Huxley's Birds of Prey Centre, from Huxley's Birds of Prey Centre and GardenImage: Huxley's Birds of Prey Centre and Garden
West SussexAnimals and wildlifeHorsham · 5 km

Huxley's Birds of Prey Centre

A charity-run birds of prey centre behind Hilliers Garden Centre on the edge of Horsham, home to more than 80 birds including falcons, hawks, eagles and owls, plus a family of meerkats. Free flying displays run twice a day, with handler talks in between, all set in landscaped gardens.

£10 to £25Directions
Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens, from Leonardslee Lakes and GardensImage: Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens
West SussexGardensLower Beeding · 6 km

Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens

A 240-acre Grade I listed woodland garden set around a chain of seven lakes in a steep valley. Free-roaming wallabies, a sculpture park and a dolls' house museum give children plenty to find as they explore.

£10 to £25Directions
Knepp Wildland, from Knepp WildlandImage: Knepp Wildland
West SussexOutdoorsDial Post · 6 km

Knepp Wildland

A pioneering rewilding project, where free-roaming herds, white storks and recovering wildlife have replaced intensive farming. Public footpaths, tree platforms and a lakeside hide let you explore for free, and the Wilding Kitchen is open all year.