Family group looking at displays in a museum

7 Fun Things To Do in Southampton

Southampton is a bustling gem on the South Coast with the largest shopping centre for miles, direct links to the capital and of course a ferry ride away from the Isle of Wight but there’s so much more to our wonderful city than just shopping and cruise ships. We have a whole host of things to do right on our doorstep making it the ideal place for a day out with the children and parents alike.

Southampton FC Stadium Tours

St Marys Stadium packed with spectators on Saints FC home match day

Why not head straight to St. Marys and take a tour around the home of Premiership team Southampton FC? The 90 minute tour gives you an inside look at some of the most iconic areas of the ground as well as giving you an insight into the club’s history.

Cruise Ship Spotting

Cruise ship docked in Southampton port

The waters of Southampton are some of the busiest in the world, you’re bound to spot a cruise ship or two. On some of the busiest days, you can see four or five! Mayflower Park is great for spying some of the largest cruise ships in the world.

Book Exchange

Blue telephone box containing preloved books for a book exchange in Ocean Village

A really fun way to grab a new read is by heading down to Channel Way in Ocean Village where you’ll spot a blue telephone box filled with books. Just make sure you take one down so you can exchange it for a new read. You can even find children’s books too.

Photo by Colin Lee.

Mini Golf

Person playing mini golf

East Park in the city centre isn’t just luscious greens and beautiful flowers, there’s also mini golf which is fun for all ages. Head to The Nautical Mile Café where you can hire your clubs and golf balls for a couple of hours of fun which. The course is open from April during the café's operating hours.

Book a show

A cross-view of the Mayflower Theatre Auditorium

Mayflower Theatre has some brilliant shows running this year for children and adults. From "Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom" to "Kinky Boots" and the "English National Ballet". It’s the perfect way to while away an afternoon or evening in the city.

Check out a museum or three

Tudor House Gardens

Southampton really is bustling with history and there are a few different museums to choose from for a more educational time in the city. The Tudor House Museum & The SeaCity Museum also offer discounted tickets when visiting both on the same day.

Try a new dish

Group of people doing shots in a bar

We’re very lucky that we have a number of fabulous restaurants, bars and coffee houses within our fabulous city so there really is something to suit everyone. Ocean Village is great for sunshine soaked dinners, the city centre has lots of well known chains but if you head to the top of Above Bar and towards Bedford Place, you’ll find some wonderful independents such as Smugglers, Piecaramba and Nara all of which are child-friendly.

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