AD – Press Trip with Visit Southampton
Looking for things to do in Southampton with kids? We recently spent 48 hours in the city on a family press trip with Visit Southampton, and I was genuinely surprised by just how much we managed to fit into two days.
Southampton makes a great option for a family city break. It’s also really easy to explore, with many of the main attractions within walking distance of one another. Here’s how we spent 48 hours in Southampton with kids.
Day One: BOOM BATTLE BAR Southampton
Our first stop was BOOM BATTLE BAR Southampton, which is a brilliant option if you’re visiting Southampton with older children or teenagers.
We had a BOOM Bundle, which included a game, two drinks and some light bites. We chose shuffleboard because it’s already a family favourite of ours and, as always, things quickly got competitive!
There are plenty of other activities available too, including pool, darts and karaoke, so this would be a particularly good option for families trying to find something that appeals to older children.
It’s also indoors, making it worth keeping in mind if you’re searching for rainy-day things to do in Southampton with kids.
Back-to-School Shopping at Westquay
Next, we headed to Westquay for a little back-to-school shopping.
I love shopping at Westquay because there’s so much in one place. We managed to find Elsie a new school bag, lunch box and pencil case, although a few completely non-essential purchases inevitably found their way into our bags too!
With more than 100 shops, Westquay is a really handy addition to a Southampton city break, particularly if you want to combine sightseeing with shopping.
A Picnic and Play at Houndwell Park
We picked up lunch from The Bagel Factory before heading to Houndwell Park.
The picnic deal was £8 and included a bagel, snack and drink, which I thought was great value – and the bagels were delicious.
We took everything down to Houndwell Park, where Elsie could have a good play while we sat in the sunshine and ate our lunch.
It was a lovely way to add some downtime into a busy city break. When you’re travelling with children, I always think having somewhere they can simply run around and play between organised activities makes such a difference.
Where to Stay in Southampton with Kids
After a busy first day, we checked into VOCO Southampton.
We stayed in a family room, which was lovely and spacious with plenty of room for us all to get comfortable.
Location is one of the biggest selling points if you’re planning a family weekend in Southampton. The hotel is around a five-minute walk from Westquay, so we could leave the car behind and explore much of the city on foot. There’s also parking at the hotel, which made arriving with children and all their accompanying luggage much easier!
We had some time to relax in our room before heading downstairs for dinner.
Dinner at Atlantic Gate
Atlantic Gate is the restaurant within VOCO Southampton and is particularly well known for its seafood and cocktails. There’s also a good children’s menu.
After a very food-filled day, we all fancied something a little lighter. I chose the chicken Caesar salad, which was delicious.
Then it was upstairs for a good night’s sleep – for everyone except Nancy, who apparently decided sleep wasn’t part of her Southampton itinerary!
The following morning, we enjoyed the hotel breakfast before heading out. There was a really good selection, and I particularly loved how many different ways you could order your eggs.
Fed, caffeinated and mostly rested, we were ready for day two.
Southampton City Art Gallery with Kids
Our first stop was Southampton City Art Gallery.
The gallery is running creative workshops for families during the summer holidays, and we took part in a surrealism workshop.
We started by exploring the surrealism exhibition to gather some inspiration before sitting down to create our own artwork.
It was something a little different from our usual family activities and we all really enjoyed getting creative together. Our workshop cost £6 per person, which I thought represented great value for a summer holiday activity.
It’s definitely worth checking what’s on at the gallery before your visit, particularly during the school holidays.
Discovering the Titanic Story at SeaCity Museum
Next we headed to SeaCity Museum to explore Southampton’s Titanic Story.
We’ve visited before, but it’s one of those museums where you seem to discover something new every time.
Southampton has such an important connection with the Titanic, and the exhibition does a brilliant job of bringing the stories of the ship, its passengers and crew to life.
What makes SeaCity particularly good for families is how interactive it is. There are exhibits to explore, activities to try and even opportunities for the kids to dress up.
It makes learning about such an important part of Southampton’s history much more accessible for younger visitors.
Lunch at Maki & Ramen, Westquay
All that exploring had worked up an appetite, so we headed back towards Westquay for lunch at Maki & Ramen.
Elsie was extremely excited to have a go at using chopsticks and, by the end of lunch, she’d actually got pretty good!
The children’s bento boxes were brilliant. I opted for the Thai green ramen while Maisy chose the chicken katsu, and everything we tried was delicious.
I’d definitely recommend adding it to your list if your family enjoys Japanese food.
Is Southampton Good for a Family City Break?
After squeezing in a little more shopping, our 48 hours in Southampton came to an end.
We had such a lovely couple of days and I think one of Southampton’s biggest strengths for families is the variety.
You can spend the morning learning about the Titanic, get creative at an art gallery, let the kids burn off some energy in a park, do some shopping and finish the day with a great meal — without constantly having to get back in the car.
If you’re searching for things to do in Southampton with kids, I’d definitely recommend considering an overnight stay rather than just visiting for the day. We fitted so much into our 2 days, while still feeling like there was plenty left for another trip.
A huge thank you to Visit Southampton for organising our family press trip and introducing us to even more of what the city has to offer.
