Best Things to Do in Southampton with Children

Getting food sorted early avoids the inevitable mid-afternoon meltdown, and Westquay's lunch options lean firmly towards the kind of food children choose for themselves instead of food parents have to negotiate them into.

Slim Chickens

Westquay North, Level 4, SO15 1QF

Slim Chickens is a safe bet for fussier eaters, with hand-breaded chicken tenders that come without any of the sauce or seasoning complications that can put younger children off. The kids' meal comes with fries, Texas toast, cucumber and carrot sticks and a drink, which covers most bases without anyone having to compromise. The booth-style seating also makes it easy to settle a family in without much fuss.

Nando's

Location 1: Westquay South, Level 3, SO15 1DE

Location 2: Westquay, Food Terrace, SO15 1QF

Nando's started life as a single restaurant in Johannesburg in 1987, and that South African heritage still shows in the Portuguese-style flame-grilled chicken and peri-peri sauce the brand built its name on. Westquay actually has two Nando's locations, one in Westquay North and one in Westquay South, so there's rarely a wait even when the centre is busy. It also understands that children like to feel involved in their own order, and the build-your-own approach to spice levels (lemon and herb for the cautious, anything hotter for braver older kids) gives them a bit of ownership over the meal. The relaxed, communal atmosphere means nobody feels rushed, and the colouring activities sometimes available at the table are a useful few minutes of distraction while the food is on its way.

Franco Manca

Westquay South, Level 1, SO15 1DE

Franco Manca's sourdough pizzas are a strong option for groups with mixed tastes, since a simple margherita keeps younger children happy while the rest of the table can go for something more adventurous. The open kitchen is often a point of interest in itself, with children able to watch the pizzas go in and out of the oven, which can buy a surprising amount of patience while waiting for food to arrive.

Wingstop

Westquay South, Level 2 Esplanade side, SO15 1QF

Wingstop's pick-your-own-flavour approach to wings and tenders works in much the same way as Nando's, giving children a say in what lands on their plate. It's a louder, more energetic kind of lunch spot, which suits children who've already spent the morning on the move and aren't quite ready to sit still and quiet just yet.

Westquay, South, Level 0, SO15 1DE

Hollywood Bowl at Westquay is built with families in mind from the ground up. Every lane has ramps available for younger bowlers, which can be raised or lowered depending on each player, so even the smallest member of the group gets a fair shot at knocking down a pin or two. Velcro-fastening shoes are available for tiny feet, and staff are generally happy to talk through the setup before you start.

Once a month, Hollywood Bowl also runs Family Fun Mornings between 10am and 12pm on a selected weekend, adding treasure hunts around the centre, colouring activities and stickers and balloons to take home on top of the usual bowling and arcade games. It's worth timing a visit around one of these mornings if the schedule allows, since they're aimed squarely at younger children and tend to make a bowling trip feel like more of an event. 

The arcade alongside the lanes is often where children want to spend just as much time as on the lanes themselves, with a tap-to-play system covering everything from racing games to claw machines with soft toy prizes. The on-site diner serves up burgers, hot dogs and meals sized for younger appetites, making it easy to turn a quick game into a longer visit without needing to leave the building.

Westquay, South, Level 2, SO15 1QD

Locked in a Room at Westquay offers two different escape room experiences, and for families with older children or a confident group of pre-teens and teens, it's a different way to spend an hour to the usual shopping centre activities. The Parallax room, an abandoned military bunker storyline built around electronic puzzles and a slightly eerie atmosphere, is the more challenging of the two on offer, with a difficulty rating that sits above its sister room, Timelock. 

It's recommended for ages seven and up, though players aged 14 and under need an adult in the room with them, so it works best as a family activity and not one to drop the kids into alone. For families who enjoy puzzles and don't mind a bit of suspense, Parallax is the one to pick if everyone fancies a proper challenge rather than an easier introduction to escape rooms.

Westquay South, Level 4, SO15 1DE

Showcase Cinema de Lux at Westquay runs a family ticket offer that makes a cinema trip considerably more straightforward to plan for: £25 covers either two adult and two child tickets, or one adult and three child tickets, in standard seating. It applies specifically to family film screenings, and booking online avoids the admin charge that can otherwise apply. 

The cinema's ten screens carry a broad mix of the latest family releases, and the recliner seating upgrade is available for a small additional cost if anyone in the group wants extra comfort. Checking the current family film listings before booking is worthwhile, since the offer applies to specific screenings and not every showing.

Shopping with children works best when there's something for them to actually look forward to, and Westquay has built up a strong run of stores that do exactly that.

Flying Tiger Copenhagen

Westquay, Level 3, SO15 1QE

Flying Tiger Copenhagen is the kind of shop children can happily lose half an hour in. The stock changes constantly and ranges from toys and games to colourful stationery and quirky gadgets, all at pocket-money-friendly prices, which makes it a natural stop for picking up a small treat without it turning into a major purchase.

POP MART

Westquay, Southampton, SO15 1QE

POP MART has recently opened at Westquay and brings its designer collectible blind boxes and figures to the centre for the first time. The appeal for children and collectors alike is partly the surprise of not knowing exactly what's inside each box until it's opened, and the store's bright, colourful displays make it an easy one to spot and an easy one to want to go inside.

Waterstones

Westquay, Level 2 & Level 1, Esplanade Side, SO15 1QE

Beyond the usual children's book sections, Waterstones at Westquay has been stocking NeeDoh squishy toys, which have become one of the most in-demand sensory toys among children this year. Demand has consistently outstripped supply nationally, so there's no guarantee of stock on any given day, and it's worth treating a NeeDoh find as a bonus instead of the main reason for the visit.

MenKind

Westquay, Level 2, SO15 1QD

MenKind also carries NeeDoh squishies alongside its usual range of gadgets and novelty gifts, giving families a second chance at tracking one down if Waterstones happens to be sold out. Given how quickly they've been selling, checking both stores on the same visit is a sensible approach if a NeeDoh is high on the wish list.

Scribbler

Westquay North, Level 3, SO15 1QD

Scribbler is worth a stop for its Jellycat range, the soft, characterful plush toys that have built up a loyal following well beyond their original appeal to younger children. Cards, wrapping paper and gifts round out the rest of the store, making it a useful one-stop shop if a birthday happens to fall during the visit.

A short walk from Westquay, Mayflower Park gives children a genuinely different kind of entertainment: watching some of the largest cruise ships and container vessels in the country glide past at close range. The scale of the ships tends to make a real impression on younger visitors, and the park's children's play area sits right near the water's edge, so there's somewhere to burn off energy between sightings. 

During the warmer months, an interactive water fountain is a popular spot for children to cool off. Checking online for expected ship departures before heading down can turn a casual visit into a more exciting one, particularly for children who are into anything big and loud.

Southampton Common gives children a really large space to run around in, with 365 acres of woodland, grassland and lakes to explore well beyond the central play area. The nature play zone includes a climbing tower, zip wires and traditional swings and roundabouts, built with adventurous play in mind, going well beyond the smaller-scale equipment found in many town parks. 

The Common's water play features have been undergoing some repair work recently, so it's worth checking ahead if that's the specific draw, though the rest of the play area remains fully open. The Hawthorns Urban Wildlife Centre, a short walk further in, is a worthwhile add-on for children with any interest in local wildlife.

A little further out but well worth the trip, Royal Victoria Country Park gives children space to really stretch their legs across 200 acres of woodland, open fields and a small beach on Southampton Water. The play area near the café includes a large climbing frame, slide, zip wire and swings, with several pieces of fully accessible equipment included. 

A miniature steam train runs a roughly one-mile route around the park's woodland and playground on certain days, which tends to be a highlight for younger children in particular, though there's a charge to ride it. Sophie's Pond, a small sensory garden just outside the park's white gates, is a calmer stop for younger children who need a break from the more energetic parts of the visit.

Southampton City Art Gallery is free to enter and runs a strong programme aimed at younger visitors, including gallery trails that turn a walk through the exhibitions into something closer to a treasure hunt, monthly art clubs and seasonal craft activities during school holidays. 

The collection spans the Renaissance through to contemporary work, which gives older children with a budding interest in art plenty to engage with, while the trails and activities keep younger children occupied without needing to understand the finer details of what's on the walls. It sits right next to SeaCity Museum, making it easy to combine the two if the day has room for a second stop.

Southampton's medieval town walls are one of the best-preserved stretches of defensive wall in England, and the walk begins right outside Westquay on Western Esplanade, near the Arundel Tower, which means it's right on the doorstep and not something requiring a special trip. 

Children tend to respond well to the physical, climbable nature of the walls themselves: head to the top of Arundel Tower for a view over the wall and surrounding area, which gives the visit a sense of achievement that a flat walking trail alone wouldn't manage. Information boards along the route cover the walls' history in digestible chunks, and the roughly one-kilometre circuit is short enough to manage with younger legs without anyone losing interest halfway round.

Westquay does the heavy lifting on a family day out, covering food, bowling, an escape room challenge and a cinema trip without anyone needing to leave the building. Step outside and Southampton adds the ships, the parks, the gallery and nearly a thousand years of wall to climb, all within a short walk and all built around what keeps children interested instead of what looks good on a brochure. Few towns make it this easy to fill a full day out and see it from a child’s eyes.

Southampton is a city that suits a budget-conscious visit well. The combination of affordable retail, food and entertainment at Westquay with the free parks, galleries, historic walks and waterfront spaces that surround it creates a day that feels complete and varied without requiring significant spend.

The range of affordable things to do in Southampton in 2026 is wide enough to suit different groups, different interests and different budgets, and the fact that so much of it sits within easy reach of Westquay makes the city one of the more rewarding and accessible options for a day out in the south of England.