If you are searching for family friendly activities in Southampton, you landed in the right place. We did the legwork for you. We picked places that fit your family depending on your children’s ages so you can choose faster and plan less. You will find what is inside, where to park, where to eat after, and a simple budget.
Jump to your child age range
- Families with toddlers ages 2 to 4
- Families with primary school children ages 5 to 10
- Families with teenagers ages 11 to 16
Families with toddlers ages 2 to 4
Toddlers do best with short, contained fun and an easy exit. These places are simple to manage and still feel like a proper outing. Prices, session times, and entry rules can change, so it is best to check the venue website before you go.
1. Kids2Day indoor soft play
Where: Renown Close, Chandler’s Ford, Eastleigh SO53 4HZ
What it is: Indoor soft play that suits toddlers because it is contained and easy to manage.
What you will find inside:
- Sensory style play
- Soft play areas that work well for short bursts and frequent breaks
Prices: Confirm on the Kids2Day website before you go
- Under 9 months: FREE
- 9 to 11 months: Off peak £2.50, Peak £2.50
- 1 to 3 years: Off peak £7.50, Peak £8.50
- 4 to 12 years: Off peak £9.50, Peak £10.50
- Over 13 years and adults: Off peak £2.50, Peak £2.50
Off peak: Term time weekdays
Peak: Weekends, bank holidays, school holidays
Where to park: On-site parking available. Check the location here and confirm parking details before you go.
Where to eat:
- Quick bites: On-site café snacks and drinks
- Proper lunch: On-site café meals if you want to keep it contained
How much will you spend: 1 adult plus 1 child aged 1 to 3, estimate only
- On a budget
- Entry: Off peak £10.00, Peak £11.00
- Where to park: £0
- Food: £6 to £12
- Total: Off peak £16.00 to £22.00
- Total: Peak £17.00 to £23.00
- Just right
- Entry: Off peak £10.00, Peak £11.00
- Where to park: £0
- Food: £18 to £30
- Total: Off peak £28.00 to £40.00
- Total: Peak £29.00 to £41.00
Parent tip: Aim for 60 to 90 minutes and leave while it is still going well.
2. Flip Out Southampton
Where: 1a School Lane, Chandler’s Ford, Eastleigh SO53 4DG
What it is: Indoor trampoline and adventure park that suits toddlers when you keep it short and structured.
What you will find inside:
- Soft play
- Trampolines
- Inflatable obstacle course
- Drop slides
- Save the bigger bits for confident kids
Prices: Confirm on the Flip Out website before you go
- Mid week 2 hours: from £5
- Aged 3 to 5: £8.50 includes 1 free adult
- Aged 0 to 2: £5 includes 1 free adult
Where to park: On-site parking available. Check the location here and confirm parking details before you go.
Where to eat:
- Quick bites: Keep it simple and fast
- Proper lunch: On-site cafe if you want to eat and leave without another stop
How much will you spend: 1 adult plus 1 toddler, estimate only
- On a budget
- Entry: £5.00 to £8.50
- Where to park: £0
- Food: £6 to £12
- Total: £11.00 to £20.50
- Just right
- Entry: £5.00 to £8.50
- Where to park: £0
- Food: £18 to £30
- Total: £23.00 to £38.50
Parent tip: Finish with a calm snack or drink before the car.
3. Paultons Park
Where: Ower, Romsey SO51 6AL
What it is: A full theme park day that works especially well for toddlers because Peppa Pig World is included with entry.
What you will find inside:
- Theme park rides and attractions for families
- Peppa Pig World included with entry
Tickets: Confirm on the official tickets page before you book
- 1 day entry: £46.75 per person
Where to park: Free parking on site. Check the location here and confirm parking details before you go.
Where to eat:
- Quick bites: Plan to feed early rather than late
- Proper lunch: Multiple on site food spots, the best choice is usually the shortest queue
How much will you spend: Family of 4, estimate only
- On a budget
- Tickets: £187.00
- Where to park: £0
- Food: £35 to £60
- Total: £222.00 to £247.00
- Just right
- Tickets: £187.00
- Where to park: £0
- Food: £70 to £110
- Total: £257.00 to £297.00
Parent tip: Pick 2 to 3 must dos and protect nap and snack breaks.
Families with primary school children ages 5 to 10
Primary school children want movement, novelty, and something they can do again and again. These places are reliable for a proper day out without needing too much planning. If you are going at weekends or during school holidays, booking ahead is usually a safer option.
1. The Quays
Where: 27 Harbour Parade, Southampton SO15 1BA
What it is: A swim session that feels like an activity, with waterslides feeding into a lagoon pool with interactive water features.
What you will find inside:
- Main pool
- Lagoon pool with interactive features
- Waterslides
- Check the timetable so you do not promise slides on a session that does not include them
Prices: Confirm on BH Live Active before you go
- Pay as you go sessions bookable online or via the app
- One day pass: £10
- Double check what your chosen swim session includes
Where to park: Two council car parks next to the centre. Check the location here and confirm parking details before you go.
- Harbour Parade reference: 3 hours £6.40, 4 hours £7.00
Where to eat:
- Quick bites: Plenty of grab and go nearby
- Proper lunch: Westquay is an easy follow on
How much will you spend: Family of 4, estimate only
- On a budget
- Swim: £40.00 day pass at £10.00 times 4
- Where to park: £6.40 for 3 hours
- Food: £20 to £32
- Total: £66.40 to £78.40
- Just right
- Swim: £40.00 day pass at £10.00 times 4
- Where to park: £7.00 for 4 hours
- Food: £48 to £72
- Total: £95.00 to £119.00
Parent tip: Pack a towel and a dry hoodie per child for the post swim slump.
2. High Score Arcades Southampton
Where: 103 East Street, Southampton SO14 3HH
What it is: Pay once free play arcade with 60 plus games and no feeding coins into machines.
What you will find inside:
- Retro classics
- Pinball
- Racing and sports games
Prices: Confirm on their website before you go
- 60 mins: £12.50 per person
- 90 mins: £16.50 per person
- Family of 4 60 mins: £40
- 3 years and under: Free with a paying adult
Where to park: Eastgate Street multi storey nearby from £2.00 for 1 hour
Where to eat:
- Quick bites: Greggs or Subway style no drama food
- Proper lunch: Westquay is an easy choice when everyone wants something different
How much will you spend: Family of 4, estimate only
- On a budget
- Entry: £40.00
- Where to park: £2 to £5
- Food: £20 to £32
- Total: £62.00 to £77.00
- Just right
- Entry: £66.00 90 mins at £16.50 times 4
- Where to park: £2 to £5
- Food: £48 to £72
- Total: £116.00 to £143.00
Parent tip: Agree the rule early, last game then we leave.
Families with teenagers ages 11 to 16
Teenagers usually want something that feels grown up, competitive, and social. These places are easy wins because they keep everyone engaged without feeling childish. Some activities have height or age requirements, so it is worth checking the venue details before you set expectations.
1. TeamSport Karting
Where: TeamSport Southampton track in the Eastleigh area
What it is: Indoor karting that feels competitive and grown up, so it works well for teenagers.
What you will find inside:
- Multi level indoor e kart track
- Kids and adult karting options
- Age and leg length rules apply
Prices: Confirm on the TeamSport website before you go
- Pricing varies by day and package
- Many main race experiences tend to be around £30 to £40 per person
Where to park: Free parking on site. Check the location here.
Where to eat:
- Quick bites: Snack first, it helps
- Proper lunch: Stay local after, or keep it simple and head back into Southampton
How much will you spend: Group of 4, estimate only
- On a budget
- Entry: £120.00 4 times £30.00
- Where to park: £0
- Food: £20 to £32
- Total: £140.00 to £152.00
- Just right
- Entry: £160.00 4 times £40.00
- Where to park: £0
- Food: £48 to £72
- Total: £208.00 to £232.00
Parent tip: Plan food after, it makes the drive home easier.
2. Hollywood Bowl Southampton
Where: Westquay, Harbour Parade, Southampton SO15 1DE
What it is: Bowling that feels social and competitive without being childish.
What you will find inside:
- Bowling lanes
- Extra amusements on site if you want to extend the outing
Prices: Confirm on the Hollywood Bowl website before you go
- Adults from £7.70 per game
- Under 16s from £6.70 per game
- Time planning: allow 10 minutes per person per game
Where to park: Westquay car parks including Podium and Multi Storey
- 1 to 2 hours £3.50
- 2 to 3 hours £4.50
- Check the location here
Where to eat:
- Quick bites: Westquay food court style choose your own
- Proper lunch: Book a sit down if it is a weekend
How much will you spend: Family of 4, estimate only
- On a budget
- Bowling: £28.80 1 game
- Where to park: £3.50 to £4.50
- Food: £20 to £32
- Total: £52.30 to £65.30
- Just right
- Bowling: £57.60 2 games
- Where to park: £4.50
- Food: £48 to £72
- Total: £110.10 to £134.10
Parent tip: Give teenagers the final say on the last game.
If your children are in different age ranges
If you have a toddler and a teenager
- Paultons Park
- Works as a full day because toddlers get Peppa Pig World and teenagers still have enough to do
- Hollywood Bowl Southampton
- Easy group activity where nobody feels left out
- High Score Arcades Southampton
- Best when you keep it short and let the toddler dip in and out
If you have a primary school child and a teenager
- High Score Arcades Southampton
- Competitive for teenagers and exciting for primary school children
- The Quays
- Swimming works for both and does not feel childish
- Hollywood Bowl Southampton
- Reliable option for mixed ages and mixed energy levels
If you have a toddler and a primary school child
- Flip Out Southampton
- Start with the softer areas then let the older one do more
- Kids2Day indoor soft play
- Simple and contained when you want an easy outing
- Paultons Park
- Best when you want a full day out and everyone gets something
FAQ family friendly activities in Southampton
What are the most reliable indoor family friendly activities in Southampton?
Soft play and toddler sessions, trampoline and adventure parks, swimming with slides and features, arcades, bowling, and karting are the most weather proof options.
Which option is easiest when you do not want to do loads of planning?
High Score is simple to book, bowling is easy to turn up and play, and The Quays is a straightforward session when you check the timetable first.
Any universal parent cheat codes?
Time box the activity, snack before hunger hits, and do not stack too much into one day.
Are there free family friendly things to do in Southampton
Yes. If you want free options as well, see our full list here free things to do in Southampton with kids.
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