Days Out near Southampton

The maritime city of Southampton is famous for its ocean-going liners, popular shopping centres and lively nightlife, as well as attractions such as the SeaCity Museum and Tudor House and Garden. Overlooking the Solent and the Isle of Wight, it benefits from a magnificent location, the perfect blend of city, coast and country. Blessed with natural beauty and scenic coastlines, Hampshire holds history, heritage and thriving culture at its heart.

Hampshire also boasts two national parks, both within easy reach of Southampton: the South Downs and the New Forest, famous for its wild ponies, miles of off-road hiking and cycle trails, and traditional coaching inns. Whether visiting for a day trip or short break, you’ll find tons of things to do, plus plenty of arts, culture, festivals, music and sports events throughout the year. Whether you’re visiting with friends or family, looking for a relaxing or invigorating break on land or water, Southampton is the gateway to it all!

Go Ape Southampton

We like to take your breath away right from the start, so begin your Southampton adventure just 5 miles outside the city, against a backdrop of beautiful water meadows and woodland. Make no mistake, the courses here are on the upper level of the Go Ape height scale. Throw in some tricky tree-high crossings and super speedy zip wires for brilliant outdoor adventure. Prepare for lots of laughter on the treetop adventure course, perfect for children and young family groups, with confidence-building crossings, skill-testing wobbly bridges and zip wire. Adults and teens can take on the super-speedy treetop challenge, the ultimate in tree-high physical fun coupled with zip wire reward: a 200-metre flight where you’ll reach speeds of up to 25 mph!

Whether you’re a thrill seeker after your next adrenaline rush, a family looking to make special memories, or staying earth-bound waving and enjoying the play park and picnic benches, no one will get left behind at this site. Set within Itchen Valley Country Park’s 440 acres of beautiful woodland, riverside and water meadows there’s plenty to ‘branch’ out and explore, including play, nature, orienteering, sculpture and tree trails, plus onsite café and picnic site for those all-important refuel moments!

Paultons Family Theme Park

Regularly voted the UK's no.1 theme park, it’s definitely time you discovered this family theme park and best-kept secret! Located in the New Forest National Park, over 70 rides and attractions include dinosaur theme park Lost Kingdom, the Edge and Cobra roller coasters, the Water Kingdom splash park, adventure golf, 4D cinema, Raging River Ride, and many smaller rides for young children. New for 2022, and set in a midwest desert resort town in the American heyday of the 1950’s, Tornado Springs is a brand new world featuring 8 incredible rides and experiences including spinning coaster and gyro swing ride.

Make yourself the kids’ hero for the rest of the year, as Paultons is home to world first and UK exclusive, Peppa Pig World! Get the giggles going on 9 fun rides and attractions suitable for young children and toddlers, including Peppa's Big Balloon Ride, George's Dinosaur Adventure and indoor soft play zone. Peppa Pig, George, Mummy Pig, Daddy Pig, Zoe Zebra and Suzy Sheep make regular meet-and-greet appearances, perfect for capturing photographic memories to treasure- definitely not to be snorted at!

New Forest Activities

Providing awesome adventures since 2003, New Forest Adventures is now the biggest provider of outdoor land and water-based activities in the stunning New Forest National Park. Offering a variety of safe and enjoyable activities for families, couples, individuals and groups of all ages and abilities, led by passionate outdoor instructors, Woodland Adventure Days combine activities including foraging, den building and fire lighting, archery and treetop playground- just bring your best sense of adventure!

Or take to the water with guided canoeing kayaking tours on the Beaulieu River Nature Reserve. Guaranteed to put a smile on your face, explore hidden creeks and spot the variety of wildlife that calls the river home including birds, moon jellyfish and even Beaulieu's resident seal. Cycling is the classic way to explore the New Forest, so hire a bike and hit the road, with comprehensive maps and guides to get you on your way. With child seats, kids bikes, trailers and tag-a-longs, everyone can get involved in the fun. Combine your cycle hire with a paddle on the river for a full day of fun and fresh air!

Insight Activities New Forest

If you’ve got an appetite for adventure, head to Insight Activities for the ultimate in award winning, woodland based New Forest outdoor activities. Nestled in secluded, rustic woodland, you will find Insight Activities’ shooting and throwing ranges, where you can learn the ancient arts of archery, axe throwing and crossbow shooting. Shoot for balloons and play a variety of fun competitive games to make your archery experience even more engaging. Connect with your inner warrior and experience the medieval art of axe throwing with custom-designed weaponry, or enjoy a modern take on traditional archery with rifle crossbow shooting, with magnified scopes keeping everyone easily on target!

In every activity, targets can be adjusted to skill level to make it wholly enjoyable for all. Or immerse yourself in nature on a half-day woodland Bushcraft session, learning traditional fire-lighting by flint and steel and knife craft skills from friendly, experienced instructors, who are happy to adapt each course depending on participants’ interest. No previous experience is required, and everyone is made warmly welcome, what better way to have fun, learn a new skill and connect with family, friends and nature in a beautiful woodland setting.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

We have also put together a list of frequently asked questions at the link below, which include some Top Tips and Did you know information, which you can use to show off with your friends and family

• Read our frequently asked questions (FAQs) - Click Here

We hope that you have enjoyed reading our article called Days Out near Southampton and that you have found the information above include our FAQ page helpful in deciding on which venue you to choose for your Activities and Days Out