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Things to do in Southampton

Southampton has 271 places to visit mapped in and around the town, with options spanning country parks & forests, playgrounds and gardens. It sits in Hampshire, South East, and this page is the starting point for finding a family day out nearby.

Of these, 238 are free to visit, 36 are indoor options for a wet day, 235 are outdoors, 92 are geared towards younger children and 3 welcome dogs. The category pages and filters below help narrow things to the right sort of outing.

Better-known places near Southampton include Marwell Zoo, Eling Tide Mill Experience Visitor Centre, Royal Victoria Hospital Museum, Bursledon Brickworks and Solent Sky, each with its own page showing location and nearby alternatives.

Happy to travel a little further? Portsmouth, Havant, Petersfield and Basingstoke are close by with more to see.

What’s on offer in Southampton

  1. 01
    Country Parks & Forests
    Woodland trails and open countryside — including King George V Recreation Ground, and Crowdill Commerative development structure.
    144 places
  2. 02
    Playgrounds
    Outdoor play areas and swings — including Holbury Manor Wild Play Site and Sea Life Play Centre.
    70 places
  3. 03
    Gardens
    Planted grounds and glasshouses — including The Sunken Garden and Obelisk Rose Garden.
    19 places
  4. 04
    Museums
    Galleries and exhibitions — including Eling Tide Mill Experience Visitor Centre and Royal Victoria Hospital Museum.
    10 places
  5. 05
    Swimming Pools
    Lane swimming and family sessions — including Oaklands Swimming Pool and Hamble Swimming Pool.
    7 places
  6. 06
    Amusement Arcades
    Classic and modern arcade machines — including Jackpot 500 and The Race Centre.
    6 places

Browse categories

Days Out with Kids92Free Things to Do238Indoor Things to Do36

Good to know

How many things are there to do in Southampton?

This guide maps 271 places to visit in and around Southampton. Browse the categories on this page to narrow them down by the kind of day out you want.

What are the best-known attractions in Southampton?

Recognisable names near Southampton include Marwell Zoo, Eling Tide Mill Experience Visitor Centre, Royal Victoria Hospital Museum and Bursledon Brickworks. Each has its own page with location, attributes and nearby alternatives.

Where can I find free things to do in Southampton?

238 of the places listed for Southampton are free to enter, among them parks, beaches and nature spots. The "Free things to do" view gathers them together.

What is there to do in Southampton on a rainy day?

36 indoor options are recorded near Southampton — soft play, museums, bowling and the like — so a wet day need not stop a visit. The "Indoor" view lists them.

Is the information on Southampton kept up to date?

Listings are drawn from open mapping data and refreshed as places are added or change. Opening hours and prices are best confirmed with each venue before visiting.