10 Best Things To Do in Southampton with Kids 2026

I often get asked about the best ways to keep the little ones busy, and there are so many fantastic things to do in Southampton with kids that it can be hard to know where to start. I have spent a great deal of time exploring the city’s parks, farms, and indoor play centres to find the most engaging activities for families. It is a city that truly caters to all ages, whether you are looking for high-octane racing or a quiet afternoon surrounded by nature in the forest. I have personally visited these locations to ensure they provide a safe and exciting experience, and I am delighted to share these recommendations with you. Finding what’s on for the family has never been easier with such a diverse range of local attractions in 2026.

Things to Do in Southampton for Families

Finding the perfect balance of entertainment for different age groups can be a challenge, but the city offers an incredible variety of options. From high-energy indoor arenas to sprawling outdoor spaces, there are plenty of things to do in Southampton with kids that cater to every interest. These recommendations are based on personal experiences of what makes a truly memorable day out, ensuring that parents and children alike have a fantastic time. It is a city that truly comes alive when exploring these diverse family attractions.

1. Calshot Activities Centre

I find that visiting this massive activity hub on the edge of the water is one of the most exciting ways to spend an active day with the family. Housed within historic flying boat hangars, it is one of the largest outdoor adventure centres in the country. It offers an incredible variety of sports for children to try, featuring massive indoor climbing walls, a specialized indoor ski slope, and a banked velodrome track. It is a fantastic destination to challenge older kids and teenagers while learning high-energy new skills under expert supervision.

• Location: Calshot Road, Calshot, SO45 1BR
• Cost: Activity prices vary (Individual sessions from £12.00)
• Best for: Active teenagers, indoor climbing, and water sports
• Opening Times: Open daily 09:00 am – 10:00 pm
• Local Tip: I highly recommend exploring the historic Henry VIII castle located right on the spit after your session; it provides a great outdoor space for the kids to run around while you watch the giant container ships pass.
• Key Highlight: The massive indoor bouldering and high-climbing wall arenas

2. High Score Arcades Southampton

For a brilliant dose of nostalgia blended with modern gaming culture, this venue on East Street is a fantastic pick for families. The concept utilizes a simple “free-play” mechanic where you pay for a single 60-minute time slot to access over 60 arcade machines without needing physical coins. It is an incredibly fun and budget-friendly way to entertain the kids, allowing them to sample everything from retro 80s arcade classics to immersive driving simulators without any hidden costs or extra change required.

• Location: 103 East Street, Southampton, SO14 3HH
• Cost: From £12.00 for a 60-minute free-play session
• Best for: Gaming enthusiasts, rainy day entertainment, and family tournaments
• Opening Times: Monday to Thursday 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm, Friday 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm, Saturday 10:00 am – 9:00 pm, Sunday 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
• Local Tip: I recommend checking out their family weekend packages online; booking a group slot in advance guarantees your entry and gives you a much better rate than buying separate individual passes at the desk.
• Key Highlight: A massive library of retro cabinets and immersive pinball tables that require zero coins

3. Hollywood Bowl Southampton

This central venue provides a stylish, American-themed destination for bowling enthusiasts right in the heart of Westquay. I find it to be an excellent option for a family afternoon out, offering state-of-the-art lanes complete with child-friendly bumpers and ramps. It is one of the most accessible things to do in Southampton with kids, making it exceptionally easy to combine a casual game of bowls with a family meal at the surrounding dining terrace or a shopping trip down the high street.

• Location: Westquay South, Southampton, SO15 1RE
• Cost: From £6.63 per game
• Best for: Family socialising, central entertainment, and birthday gatherings
• Opening Times: Monday to Thursday 10:00 am – 11:00 pm, Friday 10:00 am – 12:00 am, Saturday 09:00 am – 12:00 am, Sunday 09:00 am – 11:00 pm
• Local Tip: I recommend ordering a quick bite directly to your lane from their classic American diner menu; it saves time and keeps the competitive family energy flowing between frames.
• Key Highlight: Upgraded VIP lanes and a fully stocked modern arcade zone

4. Marwell Zoo

Exploring this sprawling 140-acre wildlife sanctuary provides an absolute dream of a day out for animal-loving children. The beautifully landscaped park is home to hundreds of exotic and endangered animals, including magnificent snow leopards, towering giraffes, rhinos, and majestic tigers. Walking along the spacious paths and raised boardwalks offers a brilliant blend of fresh-air exercise and close-up wildlife encounters that will captivate young minds.

• Location: Thompson’s Lane, Colden Common, Winchester, SO21 1JH
• Cost: Adult from £25.00, Child from £21.00 (Under 3s are free)
• Best for: Wildlife education, full-day outdoor family walking, and animal lovers
• Opening Times: Open daily 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (Seasonal extensions apply)
• Local Tip: I recommend downloading the official Marwell app before entering the gates; it contains a live map tracker and provides push notifications for scheduled animal feeding times across the paddocks.
• Key Highlight: The immersive Energy for Life tropical house featuring free-flying birds and a lush canopy trail

5. Monkey Bizness Southampton

When the weather turns grey and you need a dedicated, safe space for younger children to burn off steam, this premium indoor soft play arena is a lifesaver. The expansive facility features multi-level climbing frames, massive wavy slides, intricate crawl tunnels, and hidden ball pits. It is expertly partitioned into distinct zones, ensuring that toddlers have a quiet space to explore away from the more boisterous play of older children.

• Location: Unit 1, Centurion Park, Bitterne Road West, SO18 1UB
• Cost: From £6.50 per child (Prices vary based on age and peak times)
• Best for: Toddlers, soft play for younger children, and rainy day escapes
• Opening Times: Open daily 09:30 am – 5:30 pm
• Local Tip: I suggest taking advantage of their cheaper midweek toddler term-time sessions; they are much quieter and include a complimentary hot drink for the parents.
• Key Highlight: The massive multi-level climbing structure and dedicated toddler sensory frames

6. Paultons Park Southampton

Widely celebrated as the top family theme park in the United Kingdom, this magnificent attraction is a cornerstone of family entertainment. It is famously home to the world-exclusive Peppa Pig World, which provides a genuinely magical wonderland of themed rides, indoor playzones, and muddy puddles for toddlers. Older children are equally looked after with the high-speed rollercoasters inside Tornado Springs and the animatronic dinosaur trails of the Lost Kingdom.

• Location: Ower, Romsey, SO51 6AL
• Cost: From £43.50 per person (Children under 1 metre are free)
• Best for: A world-class full day out, toddlers, and thrilling rollercoasters
• Opening Times: Open daily 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (Seasonal variations apply)
• Local Tip: I suggest arriving 30 minutes before the official opening time; this allows you to clear security smoothly and be at the front of the queue for the most popular rides in Peppa Pig World.
• Key Highlight: The world-famous Peppa Pig World and the thrilling Storm Chaser coaster

7. Tenpin Southampton

I frequently recommend this venue when families want a classic afternoon of entertainment packed with variety. Beyond the high-tech cosmic bowling alleys, the building houses a massive arcade arena, laser tag battles, and immersive escape scenarios. It remains a deeply reliable spot that provides a fun social environment for families of all generations, regardless of their skill behind the bowling ball.

• Location: Auckland Road, Millbrook, SO15 0SD
• Cost: From £8.50 per game
• Best for: Midweek family deals, friendly competition, and multi-activity indoor afternoons
• Opening Times: Monday to Thursday 10:00 am – 12:00 am, Friday and Saturday 10:00 am – 1:00 am, Sunday 10:00 am – 12:00 am
• Local Tip: I recommend booking your lane online in advance to take advantage of the ‘Family of 4’ discounts, which are significantly cheaper than paying at the door.
• Key Highlight: The vibrant neon-lit hyper-bowling tracks with integrated digital screens

8. Longdown Activity Farm Southampton

For an authentic and highly tactile rural experience, this wonderful working farm provides hands-on animal encounters that children will remember for years. It is a highly educational space where kids can get up close to traditional farmyard animals. The daily schedule is packed with interactive activities, including bottle-feeding calves, holding tiny fluffy chicks, and meeting friendly goats, making it a brilliant rustic escape.

• Location: Deerleap Lane, Ashurst, SO40 7EH
• Cost: From £12.00 per person
• Best for: Interactive animal feeding, toddlers, and hands-on farm education
• Opening Times: Open daily 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (Seasonal opening dates apply)
• Local Tip: I suggest bringing a spare change of clothes and sturdy footwear for the children; it is an authentic working farmyard with fantastic muddy outdoor tractor rides and play spaces.
• Key Highlight: The heartwarming daily goat and calf bottle-feeding workshops

9. New Forest Wildlife Park

Nestled beautifully into ancient woodland borders, this specialized park offers a peaceful look at native international wildlife. The winding trails take families past large natural enclosures housing playful otters, majestic deer, wolves, and a magnificent collection of owls. Walking beneath the dense forest canopy provides a wonderfully calm, educational contrast to high-energy theme parks, allowing kids to learn about woodland conservation up close.

• Location: Deerleap Lane, near Ashurst, SO40 7GZ
• Cost: Adult £14.50, Child £11.50
• Best for: Nature trails, wildlife photography, and peaceful forest walks
• Opening Times: Open daily 10:00 am – 5:30 pm (Closes at dusk in winter)
• Local Tip: I recommend timing your route to catch the giant otter feeding demonstration; the keepers are incredibly friendly and share fantastic facts about the animals’ habits.
• Key Highlight: The incredible network of forest adventure play zones with wooden zip lines

10. The Quays Southampton

This premium swimming complex in the heart of the city centre offers a fantastic aquatic day out for water-loving families. It features a brilliant leisure pool equipped with exciting water slides, a massive interactive splash zone, and a slow-moving lazy river that younger kids love. For older children and serious swimmers, the venue also boasts an Olympic-sized swimming arena and world-class diving platforms.

• Location: 27 Harbour Parade, Southampton, SO15 1BA
• Cost: Family swimming passes from £16.00
• Best for: Indoor pool fun, diving, and burning off energy on rainy days
• Opening Times: Monday to Friday 06:00 am – 10:00 pm, Saturday and Sunday 07:00 am – 08:00 pm
• Local Tip: I highly recommend checking their public swim calendars online before leaving the house, as peak holiday hours feature the massive fun inflatable obstacle courses across the main pool.
• Key Highlight: The dedicated family leisure pool with integrated slides and lazy river flows

Final Thoughts on Things to Do in Southampton with Kids

I have always found that the best days out are the ones where the whole family can engage with their surroundings, and Southampton provides that in abundance. Whether you are looking for the adrenaline of a race track or the simple joy of feeding a goat on a farm, the variety of things to do in Southampton with kids ensures that no two weekends ever feel the same. I believe that balancing high-energy indoor play with the natural beauty of our local parks is the secret to a successful family itinerary. It is a city that continues to surprise me with its family-friendly spirit, and I hope these recommendations help you create wonderful memories with your children in 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best indoor activity for kids in Southampton when it is raining?

I highly recommend High Score Arcades or Tenpin for rainy days. Both venues offer large, engaging indoor spaces where children can stay active, play interactive games, and be entertained regardless of the weather outside.

Is Paultons Park suitable for toddlers and younger children?

Yes, it is widely considered to be one of the best theme parks in the United Kingdom for toddlers because of Peppa Pig World. Most of the rides in that specific section are designed with low height requirements so that younger children and infants can ride safely.

Are there free things to do in Southampton with kids that involve nature?

Absolutely. Exploring the open trails, walking paths, and expansive natural playgrounds across the surrounding New Forest National Park or inside the central city parks costs nothing and offers a fantastic day out in the fresh air.

What age group is suitable for the activities at Calshot Activities Centre?

Calshot has options for all ages, but it is particularly fantastic for older children, teenagers, and active adults. They feature specialized indoor climbing, snow sports, and water sports sessions that cater to both beginners and advanced skill levels.

Do I need to book my family swim session at The Quays in advance?

While you can occasionally walk in, I highly recommend checking their online public timetables and booking in advance. This is especially important during school holiday periods when they host special sessions featuring massive inflatable obstacle courses.