Itineraries for Your Trip to Southampton
3 Days in Southampton for Families
With my brother living just outside the city, Southampton has long been my adopted home base for return trips to the UK. As the Auntie who lives overseas and only sees her nephews a couple of times a year, I’ve always made sure to pack my visits with fun activities and day outs (and yes, probably a few too many visits to Sprinkles—more about that below!).
Traveling with kids is all about new discoveries, creating lasting memories, and bringing the family together through shared experiences. With that in mind, this three-day itinerary has a bit of everything: kid-friendly sights, outdoor explorations, and urban entertainment.
If you only have time for one thing, make it a day trip to the New Forest National Park.
English weather is notoriously changeable, so pack sunscreen and raincoats for the little ones.
Inject some fun and games into a sightseeing tour with a scavenger hunt around Southampton. Along the way, walk along part of the atmospheric old Town Walls, admire the imposing medieval Bargate, and step back in time at the half-timbered Tudor House, filled with quirky exhibits.
Dive into Southampton’s maritime history with a visit to the SeaCity Museum. Kids will enjoy the interactive exhibitions that tell the story of the RMS Titanic and its fateful maiden voyage that set sail from Southampton. Or, if they are more interested in planes than ships, head to the Solent Sky Museum, where the star attraction is a WWII fighter plane, the Supermarine Spitfire.
The New Forest National Park lies just north of Southampton, making it easy to leave city life behind and escape to the forest trails and country villages. Follow one of the nature trails through the forest, take the kids to one of the park’s Go Wild! playgrounds, or enjoy a scenic ride on the Exbury Steam Railway. Keep a lookout for the park’s most famous residents, a free-roaming herd of native New Forest ponies that can often be spotted grazing by the roadsides.
Let off some steam with a fun activity in the afternoon. Perhaps take to the water for a scenic kayak or paddleboard excursion along the Kennet and Avon Canal, try tree climbing in the Bursledon forest, or tackle the Go Ape treetop adventure course at Itchen Valley Country Park. For little ones, there’s also the Peppa Pig World theme park, just a 20-minute drive from the city.
Neighboring Portsmouth is a half-hour drive from Southampton and makes an easy choice for a day trip. Head down to the historic dockyard to marvel at some of the world’s most famous ships. Interactive tours allow you to explore onboard the HMS Victory warship, see the remains of Henry VII’s Mary Rose, and stand on the deck of the HMS Warrior 1860.
Back in Southampton, spend the afternoon at the city’s renowned West Quay shopping mall, where there are options to entertain all ages. Browse the shops, catch a movie, go bowling, or play a Virtual Reality game, then treat the whole family to a dessert at Sprinkles Gelato on nearby Above Bar street. The popular chain hails from Southampton and serves up decadent waffles, sundaes, and gelato with every topping imaginable.
