As the UK’s biggest cruise port, as well as being one place to catch the ferry on to the Isle of Wight, it’s easy to forget that you’ll find plenty of things to do in Southampton with kids for a family city break.
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But whether you are looking for a short break on the UK’s south coast, or ideas to start or end a cruise holiday, there’s some fantastic history, great outdoor space and plenty of Southampton attractions for families.
Discover more about the Titanic and the Mayflower, plus wartime aircraft and medieval walls, as well as some great activities for all ages in Southampton for kids.
SeaCity Museum
The SeaCity Museum tells the fascinating story of the city’s maritime history and is one of the top Southampton attractions for families.
Children can explore the museum’s many immersive galleries and learn about the Titanic, Southampton’s most famous ship, through a range of multimedia experiences.
You can navigate an interactive model of the ship, featuring a working engine room and passenger costumes, listen to the stories of survivors, and see items rescued from the wreckage, to experience what it was like to be on board during the fateful voyage of 1912.
And don’t miss the huge Lego Titanic, which is the second-largest set ever produced by Lego. The museum also offers a range of activities for kids, including fun workshops, craft sessions, and family-friendly guided tours, which are sure to keep children engaged and entertained.
Solent Sky Museum
Between 1910 and 1960, Southampton and the wider Solent region were a world hub for aviation research and development. The city was home to the very first flying boats (a type of seaplane) and the legendary Supermarine Spitfire.
Solent Sky Museum is a great place for the whole family to learn about the region’s leading role in the Golden Age of Aviation, with over 20 historic aircraft on display. It’s a must-visit for aeroplane enthusiasts of all ages.
Kids (and kids at heart) can climb inside some of the cockpits and play with the controls, while knowledgeable volunteers talk you through the history of each aircraft.
Solent Sky is also home to the Hampshire Police and Fire Heritage Collection, so you can visit two family friendly Southampton museums for the price of one.
The Town Walls and The Bargate
Dating back to the 12th century, Southampton’s historic town walls are one of the longest stretches of unbroken medieval wall in the entire country.
You can climb to the top of many sections of the walls for free and enjoy beautiful panoramic views of the city. There are also plenty of information plaques along the walls for kids to learn about the various battles and sieges that have taken place throughout Southampton’s history.
The Bargate, an impressive gateway dating back to around 1880, once served as the main entrance to the city and is another must-visit spot. Located in the heart of the old city, the Bargate is a great place to start a self-guided tour of the walls and historic old town too.
Tudor House and Garden, Southampton
Despite its name, Southampton’s most important historic building dates back to well before Tudor times and you can trace the history from some of its earliest owners – a perfect snapshot of how life changed over the centuries from early medieval origins through plague and war.
As well as family events and activities, there are plenty of opportunities for kids to get hands on as you explore. The Tudor House and Garden is also a great point to start a walking tour of Southampton’s Old Town.
Southampton City Art Gallery
For a free family activity in Southampton, head to the City Art Gallery. The gallery offers a wide range of exhibitions, with works by both local and international artists spanning more than 800 years.
The gallery is extremely family-friendly, with interactive displays designed to engage and educate young visitors and knowledgeable staff on hand to answer questions and guide you through the exhibitions.
Kids can also take part in the gallery’s family events, which include regular art clubs for all ages, themed craft activities, talks by local artists, and special gallery trails. Ideal if you’re looking for free things to do in Southampton with kids or ideas for a rainy day.
Mayflower Park
Mayflower Park in Southampton is a lovely spot to relax in Southampton with kids.
The park takes its name from The Mayflower, which stopped at Southampton (as well as Dartmouth and Plymouth) before setting sail on its 66-day voyage to America in 1620, transporting more than 100 pilgrims to ‘the New World’.
The popular waterfront park has a great view of the port, so you can sit and watch some of the world’s largest cruise ships pulling in too.
There’s also a lovely children’s play area, a small cafe, public toilets, and plenty of open green space for little ones to stretch their legs or for you to enjoy a peaceful picnic.
If you’re looking for more of Southampton’s parks to get outdoors, Southampton Common is the largest, with 365 acres of green space just to the north of the city centre
Itchen Valley Country Park
Located in the north-east of Southampton, close to the city’s small airport, Itchen Valley Country Park is 440 acres of beautiful meadows, woodland, and water meadows.
And the park itself is packed with activities for kids of all ages, including interactive family trails, two large outdoor play areas, an indoor play space (The Holt), and the award-winning tree-top adventure Go Ape!
You can even download a family activity sheet to print and bring to the park as a fun way to get the kids more engaged with nature, featuring scavenger hunts, easy crafts, and games.
Keep an eye out for the special family events taking place regularly within the park too, such as storytelling, themed crafts, and young explorer sessions.
Take the Hythe Ferry
The historic Hythe Ferry links Southampton with the village of Hythe, with a boat crossing on this stretch of water since 1880.
While it only takes 20 minutes to cross, it’s a lovely way to take in the views of the ferries, cruise ships and other boats at the port, as well as giving great views of local landmarks including the Spinnaker Tower.
When you arrive at Hythe Pier, the world’s oldest pier train – a small gauge electric pier train dating back to the First World War – takes you 640 metres along one of the 10 longest piers in the British Isles.
Watch a show at the Mayflower Theatre
For a fun evening activity in Southampton with the family, head to the luxurious Mayflower Theatre in the city centre.
A few years off celebrating its 100th birthday, the Grade II-listed Mayflower Theatre is a Southampton institution and the biggest theatre on England’s south coast.
The theatre hosts a variety of performances suitable for all ages, ranging from sing-a-longs and classic fairy tales to touring West End musicals and more.
During school holidays, the theatre also hosts many special family events, such as creative art and drama workshops.
Alpine Snowsports Centre
Located within Southampton’s Outdoor Sports Center, the Alpine Snowsports Centre is a cool spot where families can enjoy winter sports all year round, including a chance to try skiing, snowboarding, or donutting down the dry ski slopes.
Beginners and those looking to brush up their skills can book a group or private class with one of the experienced instructors, while more experienced skiers can hit the slopes on their own for a fun practice session.
So whether you want to get your children practising before your first family ski holiday, or you’re simply looking for a fun thing to do in Southampton with kids, the Snowsports Center makes for a great family day out.
Injoy Activity Center
One of the best things to do in Southampton with kids on a rainy day is to visit the Injoy Activity Center, the city’s biggest indoor children’s adventure park.
There’s an impressive variety of activities, including soft play areas for those aged four months to 12 years old, as well as trampolines, climbing walls, slides, and a ninja warrior course, which are suitable for kids (and adults) of all ages.
It’s also home to the UK’s first “Interactive Zone”, which uses state-of-the-art digital technology to create an augmented reality for kids to immerse themselves in.
And for parents, the onsite restaurant and bar is a great spot to relax with a coffee or slice of pizza while the kids enjoy running around the exciting play centre.
If you’re visiting Southampton with toddlers and younger kids and looking for more soft play ideas, check out Jungle Jeans, not far from the cruise terminal, or Monkey Bizness, a big indoor play area around 10 minutes from the city centre by car
Days out near Southampton for kids
It’s not hard to fill a weekend in Southampton with kids (or longer) but the city also makes a good base for exploring in Hampshire, including these fun days out near Southampton for families.
The New Forest
One of the loveliest spots in England, the New Forest is packed with pretty villages, picturesque walks and most excitingly for younger kids, ponies which roam freely – not to mention a few donkeys.
If you’re exploring the New Forest, the chances are you’ll see some along the way but a good place to spot them is near Brockenhurst, around Beachern Wood. And it’s always a good motivator to head out on a walk, a cycle ride on one of the off-road trails or even canoeing.
Check out our day cycling from nearby Beaulieu to Bucklers Hard and canoeing in the New Forest.
There are also some lovely animal attractions, from the New Forest Wildlife Park which specialises in British wildlife to the toddler-friendly Longdown Activity Farm.
Portsmouth
Home to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and the Mary Rose, Southampton’s neighbouring city also has plenty to tempt families – and it’s just half an hour away.
In fact, it’s easy to fill a day discovering some of the area’s naval history, from the famous Tudor wreck to The HMS Victory, Nelson’s flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar, HMS Warrior, the world’s first iron-hulled warship, as well as others from the First and Second World Wars, not least a submarine.
There’s also Portchester Castle on the outskirts, the best-preserved of the Roman forts along what’s known as the Saxon Shore, or soak up the views from the Spinnaker Tower.
Winchester
The city of Winchester was England’s first capital but there’s plenty to discover here beyond history, including the recently revamped Winchester Science Centre, which is fantastic for kids.
If you do fancy travelling back to the past, you can discover more than one thousand years of history from the Romans onwards in the Winchester City museum, spot the legendary Round Table in the city’s Great Hall (not actually King Arthur’s but it does date back to the 13th century), follow the family trail through the cathedral and see the ruins of a 12th century castle.
For more ideas of things to do in Winchester with kids, check out my top picks
Marwell Zoo
The 140-acre Marwell Zoo just outside Winchester has over 1,200 animals to discover, as well as a stamp trail for kids to follow along the way.
There are often extra family attractions and exhibitions if you need an added reason to visit (or return) – such as Brickosaurs at Marwell Zoo, a string Lego dinosaurs amongst the real-life inhabitants.
The zoo is also home to four adventure playgrounds, little road and rail trains, as well as the animals themselves – from amur tigers to zebras, not to mention cheetah, red pandas, penguins and more.
Paultons Park & Peppa Pig World
If you’re a parent, chances are you’ll already know of Hampshire’s top theme park – as Paulton’s Park is the home of Peppa Pig World. But as well as the gentle rides and chance for toddlers and preschoolers to meet Peppa and George, there’s plenty more heart-racing fun.
There are over 70 rides, acres of grounds and animals to spot, as well as several themed areas: Lost Kingdom is all about dinosaurs, while Critter Creek is great for younger ones, so there’s something for older and taller kids who want some adrenaline thrills as well as less scary options.
Check out my tips for visiting Peppa Pig World and Paultons Park.
Mottisfont
One of the prettiest National Trust properties we’ve visited – and there’s stiff competition – Mottisfont’s grounds are a gorgeous mix of formal gardens, including the rose garden, wide open lawns for kids to scamper across, and woodland with a stream running through.
They also have regular family-friendly exhibitions (including one on Charlie & Lola author Lauren Child when we visited) as well as a few other highlights for children in the house, from the old nursery to the snappy surprise in the bathroom on the servants’ floor.
For more ideas of family days out near Southampton, check out my pick of the best things to do in Hampshire with kids
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New Forest/Portsmouth/Peppa Pig World copyright MummyTravels/all other images courtesy of Depositphotos & Picfair
