Super Summer Activities for Kids ☀️
The summer holidays are on the horizon, so we've rounded up all of the activities that will be taking place in Southampton and beyond for some fantastic family fun!
Wild World Heroes: Summer Reading Challenge 2021
The Reading Agency has teamed up with WWF for a very special nature-themed Challenge that will inspire you to stand up for the planet. Through taking part in the Challenge, children will be able to join the Wild World Heroes to help solve some of these threats, learning about the importance of the environment while helping to restore nature levels in the neighbourhood of ‘Wilderville’. This event will be running across lots of libraries in England so there are a few options for taking part!
To find out more about the Challenge at Southampton Libraries, click here.
To find out more about the Challenge at Hampshire Libraries, click here.
To take part online or to find out more about the Reading Agency, click here.
Ali’s Summer Art Club - Part II: Six Week Course
Wednesdays from 9 June to 14 July, 4:30pm, £7.50 each or £36 for all six sessions.
Budding artists can explore a fantastic range of artists and artworks through games, drawing challenges and projects in this after school club. Sessions are designed for 6-12yrs.
This club is run by Southampton City Art Gallery - for more info, click here.
Learning in Libraries - Let's Get Ready for School!
The course is for any parent, guardian or carer who has a child starting primary school in September; to help prepare you and your child for a successful start in Year R in September. Free to attend, 13 July - 17 August.
This event is run by Hampshire Libraries - for more info, click here.
Learning in Libraries - Starting Secondary School
The course is for any parent, guardian or carer who has a child starting Year 7 in September 2021. It will help you acquire a range of information and skills to help prepare your child for attending a new school. Free to attend, 22 July - 12 August.
This event is run by Hampshire Libraries - for more info, click here.
Senses in the Gardens
Sir Harold Hillier Gardens have got a new activity booklet for children to explore 'Senses in the Gardens'. This is available until 31 July for £1.
This event is run by Sir Harold Hillier Gardens - for more info, click here.
Pond Dipping in August
Head over to Sir Harold Hillier Gardens for a quick dip and swish in their Education Ponds. Equipment is provided and staff will be on hand to help. £3 per child for a 25 minute session, running between 3 August - 14 August.
This event is run by Sir Harold Hillier Gardens - for more info, click here.
Southampton Mela Festival
The Southampton Mela Festival will fill Hoglands Park with a fusion of music, dance and family activities, all of an international flavour. It's a great family day out with plenty of entertainment and activities for the whole family. Free entrance - 21 August.
For more info, click here.
Portsmouth International Kite Festival
The festival has stunning and colourful demonstrations of the art of kite flying and kite making, with many kites in the sky and on the ground for visitors to enjoy and admire. There are a host of other activities to meet every person's needs. These include craft stalls, refreshments, free children’s kite making workshop and local amusements. Free to attend, 7-8 August.
This event is run by Portsmouth City Council and The Kite Society of Great Britain - for more info, click here.
Summer Fete
Traditional church Summer Fete at St Christopher's Church in Thornhill - draw, tombola, homemade cakes, sweets & jams etc. plus much more. Refreshments available on site. Saturday 3 July (subject to Covid restrictions).
For more info, click here.
Southampton Thai Festival
Want to feel like you’re in Thailand for the weekend? Come along to the Southampton Thai Festival 2021! It’s an annual family-friendly culture festival involving delicious Thai food, incredible Thai Dancing, Thai boxing and so much more. Tickets £3 for children ages 5-15 and £5 for adults, 17 July.
For more info and to book, click here.
Mayflower 400: Future Cargo
Future Cargo is a sci-fi dance show performed in a 40-foot haulage truck delivering the delicate integrity of a deeply intimate experience within a large-scale dance spectacle. A truck arrives from an unknown location loaded with a mystery shipment. As the sides roll up a strange and unstoppable process is set into motion. Pay what you can, 15 - 17 July.
This event is part of the Mayflower 400 commemorations. For more info and to book, click here.
Southampton Culture Club for Kids
A day of investigation, imagination and discovery for children aged 6 to 11yrs who love being creative and learning through fun activities. Led by the experienced cultural services learning team, at Kids’ Club children will explore the past, experience SeaCity Museum and Gallery and make really cool things inspired by the City’s arts and heritage collections. £35 per session or £150 for all sessions, every Monday from 26 July - 23 August.
This is run by Southampton Cultural Services - for more info and to book, click here.
Summer Lanterns - Children's Workshops
Upcycling fun turning a plain glass jar into a stunning summer lantern. Different materials will be available allowing little hands to get involved as well as older children to be as creative as they like! If you like making personalised items then this is for you. Various session time available, £7 per child, 27 July.
This workshop is run by Southampton City Art Gallery - for more info and to book, click here.
Family Old Town Walk: Pirates, Plunder & Plague
Join Tudor House's resident historian Andy Skinner in exploring the hidden histories of Southampton by venturing into vaults and scale the town’s ancient walls while discovering tales of plunder, plague and villainy! £6 per person, 28 July.
This event is run by Southampton Cultural Services - for more info and to book, click here.
Family Workshop: Rampaging Romans (6+)
Travel back 2,000 years to Roman Southampton, Clausentum in this fun-filled, action-packed family session! Discover real artefacts, enjoy a mini-tour, play games and create a Roman craft. £7.50 per person, 29 July.
This event is run by Southampton Cultural Services - for more info and to book, click here.
Family Workshop: Sea Creatures Sculptures (4+)
Join SeaCity Museum as they go to the depths of your imaginations to make amazing sea creature sculptures of epic proportions during this fun creative workshop. Will you take home tentacles or fins? They can’t wait to see the amazing things you create! £7.50 per person, 3 August.
This event is run by SeaCity Museum - for more info and to book, click here.
Family Workshop: Play with Clay
Discover the immensely satisfying experience of working with clay to design and create a 3D decorative clay tile, inspired by the stunning patterns and designs on display in Southampton City Art Gallery's new exhibition, Manifesting the Unseen. £7.50 per person, 5 August.
This event is run by Southampton City Art Gallery - for more info and to book, click here.
Children's Workshop: Make a Miniature Art Gallery
Discover the joy of all things miniature at this creative and accessible workshop in the main hall of our art gallery. How will you decorate your walls? What tiny pictures will you create? Where will you hang them and will they need a frame? And what about a sculpture hall...? For children ages 6-13, £8.50 per child, 6 August.
This event is run by Southampton City Art Gallery - for more info and to book, click here.
Online Family Workshop: Explore Titanic
Join SeaCity Museum this summer to explore the story of the Titanic, from being built to sinking in the Atlantic ocean. Sessions can be booked individually or book all three for a 20% discount. £7.50 for one session or £18 for all sessions, 28 July - 10 August.
This event is run by SeaCity Museum - for more info and to book, click here.
Family Old Town Walk: The Southampton Blitz
Join Tudor House's resident historian Andy Skinner in travelling back to the dark days of the Second World war. Delve into Air-raid shelters, hear tales of heroism and tragedy and discover more about the city during World War 2. £6 per person, 11 August.
This event is run by Tudor House and Garden - for more info and to book, click here.
Online Family Workshop: Crafty Castles
What were castles for? Who built them? And was there really a castle in Southampton? Investigate all this and more in this fun interactive session with plenty of stories, quizzes and activities. For children aged 6+, £7.50, 17 August.
This event is run by Southampton Cultural Services - for more info and to book, click here.
Family Workshop: Merpeople of Atlantis (6+)
Join SeaCity Museum and make your own merperson to take home as they explore the amazing mermaids and mermen of Atlantis. £7.50 per person, 18 August.
Event run by SeaCity Museum - for more info and to book, click here.
Family Walking Tour: Walking the Titanic
Join Titanic expert and museums learning officer Andy Skinner in walking the sites and places of the Titanic story, including Oxford Street, South Western House and Canute Chambers. £6 per person, 18 August.
This event is run by Tudor House and Garden - for more info and to book, click here.
Family Workshop: Play with Printing
Join Southampton City Art Gallery to design and create your very own printing block, inspired by the stunning designs on display in their new exhibition, Manifesting the Unseen. £7.50 per person, 19 August.
This event is run by Southampton City Art Gallery - for more info and to book, click here.
Family Workshop: Play with Plaster
Experiment with plaster casting in clay and master new techniques to design and create your own plaster wall plaque. Fun for adults and children alike, this workshop is suitable for both absolute beginners who like getting messy or those looking to develop and hone their art skills. Recommended for children aged 6+. £7.50 per person, 20 August.
This event is run by Southampton City Art Gallery - for more info and to book, click here.
Online Family Workshop: Ingenious Inventors
Join SeaCity Museum for this fun interactive session as they step into the wild world of inventors. They’ll be using stories, quizzes and activities to explore some ingenious inventors who changed the way we live and some who just made things a bit more interesting! Recommended for children aged 6+. £7.50 per device, 24 August.
This event is run by SeaCity Museum - for more info and to book, click here.
Family Workshop: Awesome Egyptians (6+)
Join SeaCity Museum for a fun-filled history session exploring the wonderful world of the Ancient Egyptians! The session will finish by mummifying your very own orange using ancient techniques! This session is designed for children aged six and older. £7.50 per person, 25 August.
This event is run by SeaCity Museum - for more info and to book, click here.
Family Workshop: Titanic Science (6+)
Join SeaCity Museum for a mind-bogglingly sciency session exploring the technology of the RMS Titanic. Discover what made the Titanic 'unsinkable', experiment with wireless technology and use their super microscopes to look at Titanic artefacts REALLY close up! This session is suitable for children aged 6 plus. £7.50 per person, 26 August.
This event is run by SeaCity Museum - for more info and to book, click here.
Family Workshop: Play with Wire Sculpture
Just how much can you do with a piece of wire? Discover the possibilities at this family workshop with impressive results. You will work together on the same basic structure of a tree, then develop and personalise it using different techniques. £7.50 per person, 31 August.
This event is run by Southampton City Art Gallery - for more info and to book, click here.
Online Family Workshop: Great Fire!
Join SeaCity Museum for this fun interactive session where you’ll explore one of the most famous events in English history – the Great Fire of London through stories, quizzes and activities. £7.50 per device, 1 September.
This event is run by Southampton SeaCity Museum - for more info and to book, click here.
Family Workshop: Play with Watercolour
Experiment and explore with colour combinations and different techniques to discover magical results. This session is equally enjoyable for adults and children; for absolute beginners or experienced painters looking to make time to create something together as family. This sessions is recommended for children aged 6+. £7.50 per person, 1 September.
This event is run by Southampton City Art Gallery - for more info and to book, click here.
Family Bushcraft: Colourful Plants
Have fun making art in the woods using natural colour! After foraging a selection of plant materials in the Gardens, we will move up to our bushcraft site in the woods. Here, around a fire, we will explore how plants can be used to create different colours. You will dye a piece of fabric to take home and some cotton string to create your very own bracelet or stick person. Suitable for children aged 4-12. £15 per child, 6 August.
This event is run by Sir Harold Hillier Gardens - for more info and to book, click here.
Down in the Meadow
How diverse are our meadows? Investigate the plants, use nets to explore our meadow insects, and take home seed balls you have made yourself! Suitable for ages 3+. £5 per child, 4 - 27 August.
These sessions are run by Sir Harold Hillier Gardens - for more info and to book, click here.
Butterfly Walk
Take the morning to explore areas of the park where you’re most likely to spot our fluttery friends. Find out which flowers attract certain butterflies and the plants that caterpillars like to munch on! Free to attend, 10 July.
This event is run by Lepe Country Park - for more info and to book, click here.
Make & Create
God's House Tower have some online workshops led by local artists. Create your own natural dyes, build towers, and recreate the stones of GHT all from the comfort of your own home!
To access the workshops, click here.
Southampton Museums & Cultural Learning
Southampton Museums & Cultural learning have put together a whole bunch of 'how to make' videos on their YouTube channel, as well as lots of other educational videos about Southampton's heritage. You can find all of their videos here.
