Because the UK’s largest cruise port, in addition to being one place to catch the ferry on to the Isle of Wight, it’s straightforward to overlook that you simply’ll discover loads of issues to do in Southampton with youngsters for a household metropolis break.
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However whether or not you’re in search of a brief break on the UK’s south coast, or concepts to begin or finish a cruise vacation, there’s some implausible historical past, nice outside house and loads of Southampton sights for households.
Uncover extra concerning the Titanic and the Mayflower, plus wartime plane and medieval partitions, in addition to some nice actions for all ages in Southampton for teenagers.
SeaCity Museum
The SeaCity Museum tells the fascinating story of the town’s maritime historical past and is likely one of the prime Southampton sights for households.
Kids can discover the museum’s many immersive galleries and be taught concerning the Titanic, Southampton’s most well-known ship, via a spread of multimedia experiences.
You possibly can navigate an interactive mannequin of the ship, that includes a working engine room and passenger costumes, hearken to the tales of survivors, and see gadgets rescued from the wreckage, to expertise what it was wish to be on board through the fateful voyage of 1912.
And don’t miss the massive Lego Titanic, which is the second-largest set ever produced by Lego. The museum additionally provides a spread of actions for teenagers, together with enjoyable workshops, craft periods, and family-friendly guided excursions, that are positive to maintain youngsters engaged and entertained.
Solent Sky Museum
Between 1910 and 1960, Southampton and the broader Solent area have been a world hub for aviation analysis and improvement. The town was residence to the very first flying boats (a sort of seaplane) and the legendary Supermarine Spitfire.
Solent Sky Museum is a good place for the entire household to be taught concerning the area’s main function within the Golden Age of Aviation, with over 20 historic plane on show. It’s a must-visit for aeroplane fanatics of all ages.
Youngsters (and youngsters at coronary heart) can climb inside a few of the cockpits and play with the controls, whereas educated volunteers speak you thru the historical past of every plane.
Solent Sky can also be residence to the Hampshire Police and Hearth Heritage Assortment, so you possibly can go to two household pleasant Southampton museums for the worth of 1.
The City Partitions and The Bargate
Courting again to the twelfth century, Southampton’s historic city partitions are one of many longest stretches of unbroken medieval wall in all the nation.
You possibly can climb to the highest of many sections of the partitions totally free and luxuriate in stunning panoramic views of the town. There are additionally loads of data plaques alongside the partitions for teenagers to be taught concerning the numerous battles and sieges which have taken place all through Southampton’s historical past.
The Bargate, a formidable gateway relationship again to round 1880, as soon as served as the principle entrance to the town and is one other must-visit spot. Situated within the coronary heart of the previous metropolis, the Bargate is a good place to begin a self-guided tour of the partitions and historic previous city too.
Tudor Home and Backyard, Southampton
Regardless of its identify, Southampton’s most essential historic constructing dates again to effectively earlier than Tudor instances and you’ll hint the historical past from a few of its earliest homeowners – an ideal snapshot of how life modified over the centuries from early medieval origins via plague and struggle.
In addition to household occasions and actions, there are many alternatives for teenagers to get fingers on as you discover. The Tudor Home and Backyard can also be an incredible level to begin a strolling tour of Southampton’s Previous City.
Southampton Metropolis Artwork Gallery
For a free household exercise in Southampton, head to the Metropolis Artwork Gallery. The gallery provides a variety of exhibitions, with works by each native and worldwide artists spanning greater than 800 years.
The gallery is extraordinarily family-friendly, with interactive shows designed to interact and educate younger guests and educated employees readily available to reply questions and information you thru the exhibitions.
Youngsters may participate within the gallery’s household occasions, which embody common artwork golf equipment for all ages, themed craft actions, talks by native artists, and particular gallery trails. Ultimate should you’re in search of free issues to do in Southampton with youngsters or concepts for a wet day.
Mayflower Park
Mayflower Park in Southampton is a stunning spot to loosen up in Southampton with youngsters.
The park takes its identify from The Mayflower, which stopped at Southampton (in addition to Dartmouth and Plymouth) earlier than setting sail on its 66-day voyage to America in 1620, transporting greater than 100 pilgrims to ‘the New World’.
The favored waterfront park has an incredible view of the port, so you possibly can sit and watch a few of the world’s largest cruise ships pulling in too.
There’s additionally a stunning youngsters’s play space, a small cafe, public bathrooms, and loads of open inexperienced house for little ones to stretch their legs or so that you can get pleasure from a peaceable picnic.
In the event you’re in search of extra of Southampton’s parks to get outdoor, Southampton Frequent is the biggest, with 365 acres of inexperienced house simply to the north of the town centre
Itchen Valley Nation Park
Situated within the north-east of Southampton, near the town’s small airport, Itchen Valley Nation Park is 440 acres of gorgeous meadows, woodland, and water meadows.
And the park itself is filled with actions for teenagers of all ages, together with interactive household trails, two giant outside play areas, an indoor play house (The Holt), and the award-winning tree-top journey Go Ape!
You possibly can even obtain a household exercise sheet to print and produce to the park as a enjoyable option to get the youngsters extra engaged with nature, that includes scavenger hunts, straightforward crafts, and video games.
Preserve a watch out for the particular household occasions going down usually inside the park too, corresponding to storytelling, themed crafts, and younger explorer periods.
Take the Hythe Ferry
The historic Hythe Ferry hyperlinks Southampton with the village of Hythe, with a ship crossing on this stretch of water since 1880.
Whereas it solely takes 20 minutes to cross, it’s a stunning means to absorb the views of the ferries, cruise ships and different boats on the port, in addition to giving nice views of native landmarks together with the Spinnaker Tower.
Whenever you arrive at Hythe Pier, the world’s oldest pier prepare – a small gauge electrical pier prepare relationship again to the First World Battle – takes you 640 metres alongside one of many 10 longest piers within the British Isles.
Watch a present on the Mayflower Theatre
For a enjoyable night exercise in Southampton with the household, head to the luxurious Mayflower Theatre within the metropolis centre.
A number of years off celebrating its a hundredth birthday, the Grade II-listed Mayflower Theatre is a Southampton establishment and the largest theatre on England’s south coast.
The theatre hosts a number of performances appropriate for all ages, starting from sing-a-longs and basic fairy tales to touring West Finish musicals and extra.
Throughout faculty holidays, the theatre additionally hosts many particular household occasions, corresponding to inventive artwork and drama workshops.
Alpine Snowsports Centre
Situated inside Southampton’s Outside Sports activities Heart, the Alpine Snowsports Centre is a cool spot the place households can get pleasure from winter sports activities all 12 months spherical, together with an opportunity to strive snowboarding, snowboarding, or donutting down the dry ski slopes.
Freshmen and people seeking to brush up their abilities can e-book a gaggle or personal class with one of many skilled instructors, whereas extra skilled skiers can hit the slopes on their very own for a enjoyable follow session.
So whether or not you wish to get your youngsters practising earlier than your first household ski vacation, otherwise you’re merely in search of a enjoyable factor to do in Southampton with youngsters, the Snowsports Heart makes for an incredible household time out.
Injoy Exercise Heart
Probably the greatest issues to do in Southampton with youngsters on a wet day is to go to the Injoy Exercise Heart, the town’s largest indoor youngsters’s journey park.
There’s a formidable number of actions, together with smooth play areas for these aged 4 months to 12 years previous, in addition to trampolines, climbing partitions, slides, and a ninja warrior course, that are appropriate for teenagers (and adults) of all ages.
It’s additionally residence to the UK’s first “Interactive Zone”, which makes use of state-of-the-art digital know-how to create an augmented actuality for teenagers to immerse themselves in.
And for folks, the onsite restaurant and bar is a good spot to loosen up with a espresso or slice of pizza whereas the youngsters get pleasure from operating across the thrilling play centre.
In the event you’re visiting Southampton with toddlers and youthful youngsters and in search of extra smooth play concepts, try Jungle Denims, not removed from the cruise terminal, or Monkey Bizness, an enormous indoor play space round 10 minutes from the town centre by automobile
Days out close to Southampton for teenagers
It’s not onerous to fill a weekend in Southampton with youngsters (or longer) however the metropolis additionally makes base for exploring in Hampshire, together with these enjoyable days out close to Southampton for households.
The New Forest
One of many loveliest spots in England, the New Forest is filled with fairly villages, picturesque walks and most excitingly for youthful youngsters, ponies which roam freely – to not point out a number of donkeys.
In the event you’re exploring the New Forest, the possibilities are you’ll see some alongside the way in which however place to identify them is close to Brockenhurst, round Beachern Wooden. And it’s at all times motivator to go out on a stroll, a cycle journey on one of many off-road trails and even canoeing.
Take a look at our day biking from close by Beaulieu to Bucklers Arduous and canoeing within the New Forest.
There are additionally some pretty animal sights, from the New Forest Wildlife Park which specialises in British wildlife to the toddler-friendly Longdown Exercise Farm.
Portsmouth
Residence to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and the Mary Rose, Southampton’s neighbouring metropolis additionally has loads to tempt households – and it’s simply half an hour away.
The truth is, it’s straightforward to fill a day discovering a few of the space’s naval historical past, from the well-known Tudor wreck to The HMS Victory, Nelson’s flagship on the Battle of Trafalgar, HMS Warrior, the world’s first iron-hulled warship, in addition to others from the First and Second World Wars, not least a submarine.
There’s additionally Portchester Fort on the outskirts, the best-preserved of the Roman forts alongside what’s often called the Saxon Shore, or take in the views from the Spinnaker Tower.
Winchester
The town of Winchester was England’s first capital however there’s loads to find right here past historical past, together with the just lately revamped Winchester Science Centre, which is implausible for teenagers.
In the event you do fancy travelling again to the previous, you possibly can uncover a couple of thousand years of historical past from the Romans onwards within the Winchester Metropolis museum, spot the legendary Spherical Desk within the metropolis’s Nice Corridor (not really King Arthur’s but it surely does date again to the thirteenth century), observe the household path via the cathedral and see the ruins of a twelfth century citadel.
For extra concepts of issues to do in Winchester with youngsters, try my prime picks
Marwell Zoo
The 140-acre Marwell Zoo simply outdoors Winchester has over 1,200 animals to find, in addition to a stamp path for teenagers to observe alongside the way in which.
There are sometimes further household sights and exhibitions should you want an added motive to go to (or return) – corresponding to Brickosaurs at Marwell Zoo, a string Lego dinosaurs amongst the real-life inhabitants.
The zoo can also be residence to 4 journey playgrounds, little highway and rail trains, in addition to the animals themselves – from amur tigers to zebras, to not point out cheetah, purple pandas, penguins and extra.
Paultons Park & Peppa Pig World
In the event you’re a mum or dad, chances are high you’ll already know of Hampshire’s prime theme park – as Paulton’s Park is the house of Peppa Pig World. However in addition to the light rides and probability for toddlers and preschoolers to satisfy Peppa and George, there’s loads extra heart-racing enjoyable.
There are over 70 rides, acres of grounds and animals to identify, in addition to a number of themed areas: Misplaced Kingdom is all about dinosaurs, whereas Critter Creek is nice for youthful ones, so there’s one thing for older and taller youngsters who need some adrenaline thrills in addition to much less scary choices.
Take a look at my ideas for visiting Peppa Pig World and Paultons Park.
Mottisfont
One of many prettiest Nationwide Belief properties we’ve visited – and there’s stiff competitors – Mottisfont’s grounds are a stunning mixture of formal gardens, together with the rose backyard, huge open lawns for teenagers to scamper throughout, and woodland with a stream operating via.
In addition they have common family-friendly exhibitions (together with one on Charlie & Lola writer Lauren Little one after we visited) in addition to a number of different highlights for youngsters in the home, from the previous nursery to the snappy shock within the rest room on the servants’ flooring.
For extra concepts of household days out close to Southampton, try my choose of the finest issues to do in Hampshire with youngsters
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New Forest/Portsmouth/Peppa Pig World copyright MummyTravels/all different photos courtesy of Depositphotos & Picfair
