Finding the perfect balance of engaging activities, physical exercise, and creative learning for children during the long school summer holidays can be a challenge for any parent. Fortunately, Southampton boasts an incredible selection of holiday camps and activity courses designed to keep kids of all ages fully entertained, safe, and inspired. Whether your child is an aspiring football star, a gymnastics enthusiast, a tech-loving programmer, or an outdoor adventurer, the local region provides exceptional options to suit every interest.
This guide highlights the top summer holiday camps in Southampton, spanning premium sports programs, outdoor survival clubs, tech workshops, and multi-activity schemes. Each featured camp ensures fully accredited leadership, structured safety protocols, and an environment focused on building confidence and making lifelong memories.
The Best Summer Holiday Camps for Kids in Southampton
Please note that to read precise schedules, check venue details, or secure required online bookings, you can simply click on the name of the organization in the headers below. It is always highly recommended to verify the offer directly with your chosen camp provider before booking, as terms and spaces can change quickly.
Bookmark This Page for the Latest Holiday Activities: We recommend bookmarking this page on your browser right now. Our local team is constantly tracking fresh seasonal activities across Hampshire, and we will continue to add and update new holiday camps here as soon as they are announced throughout the summer months.
1. Saints Summer Soccer Schools
Run by Southampton FC, these incredibly popular football camps provide children with the ultimate opportunity to train like their heroes. Young players receive professional coaching, participate in skill-building drills, and take part in exciting mini-tournaments throughout the week.
- Location: Various community hubs across Southampton, including exclusive courses held directly at the Southampton FC Staplewood Training Ground.
- Best For: Aspiring football players wanting FA-accredited coaching and a pathway into player progression programs.
Saints Summer Soccer Schools Camp Details
Age Range: Children aged 5 to 13 years old (with specialized residential performance camps available for ages 9 to 15).
Availability: Scheduled blocks running Monday through Friday throughout the school summer holidays.
Key Condition: All sessions are delivered by FA-accredited coaches. Spaces are strictly limited and must be booked in advance online; options include mixed and girls-only training environments.
2. University of Southampton Holiday Camps
Hosted at the excellent indoor and outdoor facilities of the Jubilee Sports Centre, the University of Southampton delivers action-packed multi-activity camps. These sessions are perfect for keeping children physically active and socially engaged during the long summer break.
- Location: Jubilee Sport and Recreation Centre, University Road, Highfield, Southampton, SO17 1BJ
- Best For: A diverse mix of traditional sports, team games, and recreational swimming sessions in a university-grade setting.
University of Southampton Holiday Camps Camp Details
Age Range: Children aged 5 to 14 years old.
Availability: Full-day activity camps running throughout the Easter and summer holiday blocks.
Key Condition: Open to both university staff/students and the general public community. Pre-booking via the Sport and Wellbeing LoveAdmin system or via phone is mandatory.
3. Superstar Sports Holiday Courses
Superstar Sports delivers high-energy, exceptionally fun holiday schemes that cover everything from football and basketball to gymnastics and performing arts. Their highly inclusive courses are structured to build confidence and help children of all abilities stay active.
- Location: Multiple primary school locations across Southampton, including Bitterne Park Primary, Mansel Park Primary, Springhill Catholic Primary, Holy Family Primary, Harefield Primary, and Hightown Primary.
- Best For: Affordable, high-energy multi-sports care with robust support for government funding schemes.
Superstar Sports Holiday Courses Camp Details
Age Range: Children aged 2 to 14 years old.
Availability: Standard daily courses run from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, with flexible early breakfast clubs (8:00 am start) and extended out-of-hours care options up to 6:00 pm.
Key Condition: Standard daily rate is £20 per child. Crucially, they offer free, fully funded spaces via the Department for Education Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) program for eligible children who receive benefits-related free school meals.
4. YMCA Fairthorne Manor Holiday Club
Set across a spectacular 95-acre outdoor activity site just on the outskirts of the city, YMCA Fairthorne Manor provides an incredible, immersive nature experience. Children spend their days exploring the woodlands, making friends, and participating in classic outdoor camp adventures.
- Location: YMCA Fairthorne Manor, Curdridge, Southampton, SO30 2GH
- Best For: Traditional wilderness adventures, outdoor camp games, and dedicated day-camp experiences that feel independent and grown-up.
YMCA Fairthorne Manor Holiday Club Camp Details
Age Range: Dedicated split brackets for Infant Club (ages 6 to 7) and Junior Club (ages 8 to 11), with half-day configurations available for age 5.
Availability: Full-day club sessions run from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, featuring optional early breakfast club add-ons from 7:30 am.
Key Condition: Fully SEND-friendly with adaptable activities and accessible facilities. Payments are accepted via multiple tax-free childcare vouchers and Edenred schemes.
5. Youth Options Woodland Holiday Club
Youth Options delivers exceptional, nature-immersive outdoor experiences that encourage children to explore the natural world and learn practical wilderness skills. Following a strong Forest School philosophy, these active clubs focus on boosting personal resilience, confidence, and environmental awareness.
- Location: Itchen Valley Country Park, Allington Lane, West End, Southampton, SO30 3HQ (plus dedicated Outdoor Learning Centres)
- Best For: Creative outdoor adventures, campfire cooking, shelter building, and woodworking under direct expert supervision
Youth Options Woodland Holiday Club Camp Details
Age Range: Ofsted-registered Woodland Holiday Club for ages 5 to 11 years old; advanced Bushcraft Holiday Club for teenagers aged 11 to 15.
Availability: Runs Monday through Friday throughout the school holidays, with daily timetables operating from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm.
Key Condition: Daily rate is £35.65 for the Woodland club and £37 for the advanced Bushcraft sessions. A 5% sibling discount and specific multi-day block booking savings are fully accessible online.
6. Southampton Gymnastics Club Workshops
Operating out of a highly specialized, purpose-built athletic facility, Southampton Gymnastics Club delivers outstanding skill-based workshops. Children can explore a spectacular indoor layout complete with sprung floors, air tracks, a sunken trampoline, and a dedicated foam dismount pit.
- Location: Southampton Gymnastics Centre, Cuckmere Lane, Redbridge, Southampton, SO16 9AR (located within the Redbridge Community School grounds)
- Best For: High-energy tumbling, rhythmic routines, trampolining skills, and structured, coach-led gymnastics games
Southampton Gymnastics Club Workshops Camp Details
Age Range: Children aged 5 years old and upwards (must be currently attending primary school).
Availability: Specialized morning and afternoon skill workshops alongside comprehensive all-day holiday camps operating from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm.
Key Condition: Standard half-day workshops are priced at £25 per child, while all-day camp sessions cost £45. All sessions are open to both existing club members and external visitors, and bookings must be processed electronically via the LoveAdmin portal.
7. ComputerXplorers Southampton
ComputerXplorers provides brilliant, cutting-edge STEM and computing workshops that turn screen time into an educational, creative milestone. Children get hands-on experience using state-of-the-art tech hardware and software systems to build real digital creations in a highly social environment.
- Location: Local academic hubs across the region, including Swaythling Primary School (Southampton) and Itchen College (Bitterne).
- Best For: Innovative video game design, mobile app creation, stop-motion animation, robotics, and interactive digital graphics
ComputerXplorers Southampton Camp Details
Age Range: Tailored curriculum options supporting children and teenagers aged 4 to 15 years old.
Availability: Standard daily workshops run from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm throughout the summer holiday months.
Key Condition: Standard session rates start from £32.50 per day with all digital hardware, laptops, and specialized software fully provided on-site. The team works closely with local councils to support the fully funded HAF program, which includes a nutritious hot lunch for eligible families.
Choosing the Right Summer Holiday Camp in Southampton
Selecting the ideal holiday scheme depends entirely on your child’s primary interests and your daily family logistics. For high-energy football fanatics who dream of training like the professionals, the Saints Summer Soccer Schools deliver elite, coach-led environments with direct pathways into progression programs. If you require maximum schedule flexibility or qualify for free government funding support, Superstar Sports provides an outstanding network of local school venues with early drop-off and late pick-up extensions that adapt perfectly to working hours.
For children who thrive in nature and want to learn wilderness survival skills, heading slightly into the woodland borders for YMCA Fairthorne Manor or the Forest School sessions at Youth Options offers an unforgettable adventure. Meanwhile, creative tech enthusiasts looking to master digital game design are perfectly suited to the modern workspaces at ComputerXplorers, while aspiring gymnasts can build serious physical tumbling skills at the purpose-built Southampton Gymnastics Club facility.
Hungry After a Busy Day at Camp?
If you want to save money on family meals out after a long day of activities, explore our complete city guide to where kids eat free in Southampton to discover incredible budget-friendly restaurant deals and supermarket café promotions running near you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) program, and who qualifies?
The HAF program is a government-funded initiative designed to provide free holiday camp spaces for children who receive benefits-related free school meals. Providers like Superstar Sports and ComputerXplorers work closely with the local council to offer these funded spaces, which always include a fully nutritious hot meal on-site.
Can I pay for Southampton summer camps using Childcare Vouchers?
Yes, many major providers across the region are fully Ofsted-registered and accept payments via Tax-Free Childcare accounts, Edenred, and various corporate childcare voucher schemes. It is recommended to check the specific payment configuration during the checkout phase on portals like LoveAdmin.
What should my child bring with them to a full-day summer holiday camp?
For active and outdoor camps, children should arrive wearing comfortable sportswear and sturdy trainers. You should pack a healthy packed lunch (unless meals are explicitly provided), a refillable water bottle, a waterproof jacket for unpredictable weather, and labeled sun cream.
Are these summer camps suitable for children with special educational needs (SEND)?
Many prominent local organizations, including the outdoor camps at YMCA Fairthorne Manor, feature fully trained staff and accessible facilities designed to support children with diverse learning and physical needs. It is always highly advisable to contact the camp management team directly prior to booking to discuss specific requirements.
Do I need to book the entire summer block, or can I book individual days?
Most local schemes offer exceptional flexibility, allowing parents to book single days, morning/afternoon half-day workshops, or complete weekly blocks depending on your summer childcare coverage needs. Multi-day bookings and sibling allocations frequently unlock additional discounts online.
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