Activities in Southampton Activities

The first thing to mention for all 1^st – time visitors is Southampton’s Old Town, England’s 3^rd longest stretch of medieval town walling, encloses numerous interesting historic buildings and museums.

Relive the Tudor Series

Encompassing a little less than a millennium of history within its walls, Southampton’s most important historic building, the Tudor House, offers visitors the chance to feel what was like to live during these fascinating times by exploring the facilities and marveling the several displays.

A families’ favorite, probably its most interesting features are its wonderful gardens and the fully reconstructed Tudor and Victorian kitchens.

The SeaCity Museum

Southampton has a long and rich history in seafaring and the fascinating exhibits of the SeaCity Museum is a great place to discover it. Most visitors are lured particularly by Titanic’s heritage and by the numerous innovative and interactive activities designed for visitors of all ages.

Exploring the Sir H. Hillier Gardens

Just a little less than 8 miles from Southampton’s centre, the award-winning Sir Harold Hillier Gardens has gained worldwide fame for its unique collection of more than 40,000 different plants almost from any corner of planet earth. Almost 200 acres of rare beauty awaits you there, that will take a few hours to explore.

Get your Family out for a Picnic

Another great option for families who need some time together just to relax is the Royal Victoria Country Park, just 4 miles for the city’s centre. With almost 200 acres of unblemished natural beauty – ideal for family picnics – the park has also a railway train and several playing grounds for children.

The Manor Farm Country Park, less than 5 miles away from centre, in Pylands Lane, Bursledon offers a totally different experience to you and your family.

Home to many farmyard animals, it is designed to get you in on the action, using interactive games such as milking a cow, taking care of your roosters and chickens or feeding a newborn lamb! Kids will love it.

A Short Visit to the Marwell “Jungle”

Just a 20 minute drive from Southampton, in Winchester, you and your family and friends will find more… adventurous options. Home to almost 200 different species of wild animals, including, cute giraffes, cunning penguins and awe – inspiring tigers, snow leopards, rhinos and cheetahs, the Marwell Zoo guarantees an unforgettable day for children and grown-ups of all ages.

The adventure playgrounds, the rail trains and the picnic areas just make things even more exciting.

The New Forest Wildlife Centre

Closer than Marwell, the New Forest Wildlife Centre may sound similar, but it’s nothing of the sort.

There you will have the chance to wander through dense forests, teaming with shot-clawed otters, wisents, red deer, menacing grey wolfs, lynxes, wild boars and much more, like the unique tropical Butterfly house.

If you want to combine your visit with action, there are some great adventure playgrounds and quiz trails that will both educate and fascinate you and your family.

Fancy a Taste of Skies?

Ever dreamt of mastering the skies of Britain during WWII? The Solent Sky Museum, right in the heart of the city, gives you the chance to board the most successful fighter in world history, the “Spitfire”, along with several other great aircrafts, including the Supermarine S6b (N248), the Sandringham Flying Boat, or the Harrier Jump Jet. Tempting, isn’t it?

Whatever your mood, Southampton has an activity that will inspire your senses.

Walk the famous QE2 Mile…

QE2 Mile – a pedestrian route running through the heart of the city, all the way from the Cenotaph, to the waterfront at Town Quay, can take you to the city’s parks, to some of its most important sights (Holy Rood church, Titanic Trail) and to most of the Old City. The QE2 Mile attracts thousands of visitors every day and it’s a must for anyone visiting Southampton for the first time.

… & Join a Text Quest

Text Quest is the funniest way of exploring Southampton. It’s a game where players try to get clues by answering questions and finding certain spots, while competing against other players and… – well, enough said; join a Text Quest and you will surely enjoy it!

Alpine Snowsports Centre

Hidden in the woodland of the 150-acre Outdoor Sports Centre, the Alpine Snowsports Centre gives you the chance to enjoy your favorite winter sport any given time of the year, irrespective of your level and experience.

There you can learn or sharpen your skiing and snow-boarding skills and techniques in a great artificial snow with slopes for both beginners and winter – sports veterans. Instructors and all sorts of equipment are available in reasonable fees.

Outdoor Sports Centre!

A vast green haven close to the city’s centre, the Outdoor Sports is dedicated to all those who outdoor activities and sports, like cricket, hockey, tennis, table – tennis, cyclo-crossing (there is also a BMX track!), an assault course style trim trail and golf.

Go Ape!

Just 4 miles away from Southampton, in the Itchen Valley Country Park, you and your adventurous “gang” can conquer high trees, rope bridges, Tarzan swings and crossings before speeding down zip slides, more than 100 feet above the ground. Itchen Valley Park offers a couple of hours of intense adventure and great fun surrounded by stunning scenery.

Ambush Paintball & Laser Tag

Battle your friends amidst tens of acres of dense forest and enjoy a fascinating, adrenaline-filled experience.

Challenging game scenarios for several types of the game, including Airsoft, LaserTag and Low Impact Paintball, set the scene for a genuinely intense outdoor adventure.

Although widely known as a lively port, Southampton does not have a great nearby sandy beach as one would expect, except for Weston Shore, which is great for some leisurely walks and picnics, but that’s it.

Still, watersports buffs shouldn’t get disappointed, for they can enjoy their favorite sport without having to leave the city.

Southampton Water Activities Centre

In the heart of Southampton, the Water Activities Centre caters for almost all watersport activities, from sailing and rowing, to powerboating and stand up paddle boarding, no matter your experience and demands.

Picturing yourself sailing into the sunset or mastering the waves with your friends and family is all it takes to start packing.

Woodmill Watersports Centre

What distinguishes Woodmill from other watersports centres is the unique opportunity to enjoy activities in different types of water:

• A serene lake, ideal for sailing and boating,
• the River Itchen, which, in some points, poses challenges to white water seekers and is simply ideal for canoeing and kayaking.

Those who prefer dry land can also try archery or climbing there.

As expected for a city that’s home to such a great university, nightlife in Southampton has many faces, and it is next to impossible not to find something to meet your taste or expectations.

An array of traditional and historic pubs, scattered among funky bars and music scenes, stylish cocktail bars or elegant restaurants, theatres or wild night clubs – whatever your thing, Southampton’s got it.

With such a diverse and vibrant nightlife, Southampton easily stands out as a great Stag & Hen destination, especially for those who wish to avoid the hustle and bustle of bigger cities without sacrificing fun and luxuries.

In fact, the city offers the chance to escape the old-fashioned stags and Hens options and add originality to your last days as single man.

Stag weekends in Southampton often include powerboating, quad biking, paintball, go karting, clay pigeon shooting, boat parties and much more.

Hens, on the other hand, prefer cocktail masterclass & platters, booth hire & drinks packages, pizza making sessions, indoor go kart racing, naked life drawing classes, themed dance lessons, private boat charters and many more.

Southampton is much, much more than a major channel port and Titanic’s lore. Southampton is a city offering families the chance to spend quality time together and have fun by doing all sorts of interesting things without having to spend days in travelling.

Southampton is also an excellent destination for those of you who love watersports fans and groups of friends looking for a fun and friendly environment will just love the city.

Family–friendly, a great stag & hen destination, an inexhaustible range of indoor and outdoor activities – what more can one ask for?