With its range of family-friendly hotels, Southampton is the perfect base for a short family holiday. Start your trip at Peppa Pig World at Paultons Park, just half an hour away, and then stay on to explore the town. Enjoy interactive museums, indoor activity parks for all ages and a huge choice of family dining experiences. You could even stay another night and discover the beautiful New Forest or the Isle of Wight - just a stone’s throw away!
After an action-packed day at Peppa Pig World, you’ll probably be looking for something easy in the evening. In Westquay shopping centre there is a huge choice of restaurants including many well-known brands. Burgers, pizza, pasta, Mexican, Thai, Japanese and Brazilian food are all available and most restaurants stay open till 8pm. The majority offer a children’s menu and you don’t need to book in advance. During the school holidays there are often events or activities for families too with many places offering free discounted meals for children during the holidays.
Children will enjoy the SeaCity Museum, an inter active exhibition which tells the story of the ‘unsinkable’ Titanic which set off on its final voyage from Southampton. Step back in time and listen to the stories of the people who were there and the impact the disaster had on the entire town. To enhance the visit there are resources for children which can be downloaded in advance and there are often events and activities going on specifically for children. More information is available on the SeaCity Museum website. There are also exhibitions about Southampton’s role as a Gateway to the World and an exploration of Southampton’s rich and diverse history. For older children or those studying the disaster, there is also a Titanic Trail to guide you around the town, which starts at the museum.
For younger children who need to keep busy there are several activity and soft play areas. Why not visit Injoy at Ocean Village which has a trampoline park, soft play, climbing walls and an interactive zone? There’s a café onsite for lunch but there is also plenty of choice in Ocean Village with Banana Wharf, Ocean Grill Italiano and the Olive Tree all offering a children’s menu.
Many children learn about the Tudors at school so in the afternoon why not bring this period of history to life with a visit to the Tudor House and Garden. There is an excellent audio guide so different family members can choose what they want to focus on. The Tudor House and Garden is situated in the old town along the Southampton Town Walls walk so enjoy some fresh air and spend some time following the fascinating walls exploring Southampton’s history from medieval times to the present day.
If you are visiting at the weekend, the Southampton City Farm would be fun. Open 11 to 4pm, the farm’s animals include Pygmy Goats, Kune Kune Pigs, Shetland Sheep, rabbits, guinea pigs and reptiles. If you book in advance the children could help to care for some of the animals by joining a Small Animal Workshop.
For teens or those looking for something more active, the city and surrounding area has a wide range of leisure facilities including Ninja Warrior UK, 1st Base Baseball Centre, Axe throwing, Climbing facilities, escape rooms, bowling, cinemas, Treetop adventures, activity centres and The Quays Swimming and Diving Complex
which has family sessions in the Lagoon.
If you’ve booked to stay another night take in one of the family shows at the Mayflower Theatre which is often the first point of call for West End productions. The Theatre features family favourites such as The Wizard of Oz, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Shrek.
Photo by Mark Senior, Dad Bluey and Bingo - UK Ireland Tour
Southampton is only 20 minutes’ drive from the heart of the New Forest National Park, a magical place where ponies, cattle, donkeys and deer roam free. Take a picnic and explore the forest or, during the summer, leave the car behind and take the Hythe Ferry from Town Quay to Hythe and join an open top bus to travel round the Forest. Combining a ferry ride, the pier train and bus is a fun day out and great way to have a bird’s eye view of the forest. Hop on and off at villages, attractions and for forest walks enroute.
For more adventure, take the Red Funnel Ferry from the Town Quay for a day trip to the Isle of Wight. There is always plenty to see from the ferry as you travel up Southampton Water and across the Solent. The ferry terminal is in East Cowes from where there are regular buses to Osborne House – Queen Victoria’s family home. There are plenty of activities for children here including Victoria Fort play area and a children’s trail.
Alternatively take a day trip to Portsmouth, just half an hour away by car or a short train ride. Children will love exploring the famous historic ships HMS Victory and HMS Warrior and learn about Henry VIII’s Mary Rose at
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. You can take a boat trip around the harbour and go up the Spinnaker Tower for amazing views across the Solent.
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