#Collaborative post
Southampton is a treasure trove of exciting experiences. Home to historical places, cultural delights and epic adventures, your family summer is going to be bursting with so much fun!
Take to the skies, soak up the city’s vibrant past and sink your teeth into sumptuous treats. Whether you’re an adrenaline junkie, history buff or little adventurer, there’s plenty for the whole family to enjoy.
But where should you start your family adventure in Southampton? Here are our favourite 7 top picks:
Manor Farm
Close-up encounters with farmyard animals, exciting playgrounds, den building and a fantastic Maize Maze, await you at Manor Farm.
Curious minds will love the hands-on interaction with baby animals and the exploring of the traditional farmyard. You can even give one of the farm’s Victorian-inspired school lessons a go! Later, blow off some steam in the indoor soft play, swing to your heart’s desire on the outdoor climbing frame, or sit in the driver’s seat in one of the play agricultural vehicles!
A visit to the Café is a must! They offer a fantastic array of food and drink ranging from hot food to ice creams! Before you go, make sure you pop into the farm shop for a delicious array of locally produced food, crafts and more.
Exciting Escapes
Southampton’s favourite escape room, Exciting Escapes, offers you an adrenaline-fuelled hour of unforgettable fun.
Can you uncover dark government secrets, topple organised crime or capture a spy? All while you search for clues, crack codes and take on challenging puzzles? With five unique, authentic games to choose from, such as A Hidden Past and Spies in Space, you’re in for a whirlwind of thrills, action and adventure.
Younger children (6 years +) will have the best birthday party ever at Exciting Escapes. Led by the game’s master, they get to be secret agents for a whole hour! They can either work in a team of six or go head to head with their friends. Older children (10 years+) and their parents can take on the trickier games.
For a truly unique, one-of-a-kind experience, make sure you visit Exciting Escapes this summer!
Solent Sky Museum
Southampton was once an aviation superpower. Due to the city’s geographical location, it became a world-leading hub for aircraft experiments and development between 1908 and the 1960s. And perhaps best known for the legendary WWII fighter plane, the Spitfire.
Today, you can visit the Solent Sky Museum – a celebration of all things aviation. There you can board aircraft spanning the golden age of air travel and the romantic era of the great flying boats.
Kids and grownups alike will get a kick out of sitting in the cockpits of the Supermarine Swift and Harrier Jump Jet. Surrounded by 18 complete airframes, you will get a real taste of the power lying deep within the design and engine of each plane.
Later, wander around the Scheider Trophy Exhibition and see the record-breaking S6a centrepiece on display. Then sit back, relax and watch stock footage of the fastest races in history and soak in all the drama and romance of a bygone age.
SeaCity Museum
Now that you’ve seen the epic romance of Southampton’s aviation past, it’s time to be transported through the city’s special connection to the sea.
Home to the spectacular Titanic Story exhibition, the whole family can learn about the crew and voyagers that were aboard the fateful ship. Through powerful oral testimonies from the survivors, you can follow the timeline of the Titanic’s successful departure from when she hit an iceberg to when she sank and the profound impact that fateful day left on Southampton’s locals.
Afterwards, wander around the fantastic Southampton: Gateway to the World exhibition. Discover what it was like for Roman traders, Saxon settlers and Victorian industrialists. Learn how travellers, residents, traders and refugees have shaped the city for thousands of years.
With a series of family-friendly workshops and events throughout the year, make sure you stop at the SeaCity Museum this summer!
Tudor House and Garden
Have you ever wondered what 800+ years of history looks like crammed into one spectacular building? Southampton’s most important historic building, Tudor House, invites you to travel through the ages and discover what life was like for the hundreds of people who have lived, worked and stayed in this remarkable home.
Built in the heart of Southampton’s Old Town, you will be delighted by its interactive displays, family-friendly activities, informative staff and wonderful well-preserved artefacts.
Step outside and delight in the stunning garden before making your way over to King John’s Palace (15th century) and even older Norman house.
With its unique and atmospheric insight into the past, Tudor House appeals to visitors of all ages.
Southampton Town Walls
Tour for All: Walk the Walls will take you back to the city’s Medieval past. Led by Vikki Phillips, Learning Officer, you will unlock city secrets right beneath your feet. Journey through underground vaults, walk along the ancient walls and follow in the footsteps of the eclectic mix of people who walked the streets.
Suitable for all ages, there are plenty of opportunities for youngsters to get involved. And questions are definitely encouraged from enthusiastic young (and older) minds!
Starting outside Tudor House and Garden, the tour lasts 90 minutes and is available at 11 am and 2 pm most days.
Pickwell Farm
Summer wouldn’t be complete without the nation’s favourite strawberry passing your lips! Pickwell Farm offers a lovely time out with the whole family. You can pick your own strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, rhubarb, french beans, sweetcorn and more until the season ends in late August.
Picking isn’t entirely weather dependent, but on those more drizzly days, welly boots are a must! Don’t forget, this is a working farm so pay close attention to any advice given during your visit.
Your next summer family adventure is sorted! With so many incredible things to see, do and explore, you’ll have an unforgettable time in Southampton, whatever you choose to do! Where will your adventure begin?