School holidays in Southampton are the perfect time to explore a mix of family-friendly activities, cultural experiences, and interactive days out to keep all ages entertained. From hands-on workshops at the city's cultural venues to family-friendly experiences like retro gaming fun at High Score Arcade and seasonal events throughout the city, there’s plenty to spark creativity and curiosity.
Take a look below to see what’s on this May half-term and start planning a week full of memorable days out.
What's On this May half-term
From live music festivals and family-friendly entertainment to foodie events and outdoor activities, Southampton has plenty happening across the break. Below are some of the key events taking place over the May half-term.
Wanderlust Festival
23 – 24 May | Heartbreakers, The Joiners & The 1865
Older children aged 14+ can discover Southampton’s independent music scene at the returning Wanderlust Festival. One wristband gives access to live performances across three popular city venues, with a packed line-up of emerging artists, alternative sounds and headline acts including acclaimed art-rock band Squid. Learn more here.
Star Cars at Westquay
23 – 30 May | The Esplanade
Movie and TV fans can snap photos with a collection of famous vehicles arriving in Southampton this half-term. Keep an eye out for recognisable favourites including the Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine, Lightning McQueen and the legendary Batmobile. Below are some of the iconic vehicles that parked up on The Esplanade last year.
Fake Festival
23 May | Mayflower Park
Another great pick for music lovers is Fake Festival, bringing a line-up of tribute acts celebrating legendary artists including Fleetwood Mac, Bon Jovi and Red Hot Chili Peppers. The event welcomes all ages, with children aged 0–9 able to attend free of charge. For more information click here.
The Big Eat Festival
23 – 25 May | Royal Victoria Country Park
Take a trip just outside the city centre for a weekend packed with street food, sweet treats and festival favourites at The Big Eat Festival. From freshly brewed coffee and loaded burgers to international flavours and family-friendly entertainment, there is plenty to enjoy — and entry is free! Find out more here.
Playing The Field
23 – 24 May | Silverlake Stadium
This two-day festival combines live music, entertainment and activities for all ages. Saturday’s line-up is designed with families in mind, featuring fairground attractions and performances throughout the day, while Sunday transforms into an adults-only event with DJs, live sets and a late-night festival atmosphere. Find out more here.
Urban Wild Week
23 – 31 May | Various locations across Southampton
Celebrate Southampton’s outdoor spaces with a week long city-wide programme of nature-inspired events and activities. Join guided walks, wildlife sessions, creative workshops and family-friendly experiences taking place in parks and green spaces throughout the half-term holiday. Learn more here.
For more events taking place this May half-term, head to our events listings below!
Child-friendly activities
Free fun at IKEA Southampton
IKEA Southampton is hosting a range of free activities for families over the half-term break. This includes their Eco Explorers crossword challenge to learn fun facts about the world with the help from some of IKEA's most loved characters (23 - 31 May), along with eco pledges (26 May) where you can design your own leaf pledge to take small steps to a more sustainable world. For gardeners 13 and up, you'll love their crafty workshop held on 27 May where you can personalise your own plant pot.
Hungry? Every Wednesday in their Swedish Restaurant you can 50% off selected meals alongside some free games. Some events require registration. For more information, head to IKEA's events page here.
Space to Create! John Hansard Gallery
Every Saturday, John Hansard Gallery hosts their free Space to Create workshops, giving families a chance to make and build their own art inspired by the latest exhibitions on display. Drop-in times are between 11am – 1pm and suitable for ages four and up. Learn more here.
Storytime at Waterstones Southampton
Join the Waterstones team every Wednesday at 11am for their weekly children’s story time. Suitable for children aged two and over, your little ones will be read a different book every week, with colouring or crafting to follow after each session.
For parents and older children, Waterstones also hosts regular book clubs on Thursdays from 6pm – 8pm in their café, each set around a different genre including Sci-Fi and Fantasy, narrative non-fiction and fiction. Visit them instore to find out more about their latest meets.
Catch the latest blockbuster at Showcase Cinema
Families can enjoy a great-value cinema trip at Showcase Cinema de Lux Southampton with a special £25 family ticket, available exclusively at the Southampton venue. The ticket covers either two adults and two children, or one adult and three children, for screenings in standard seats. For an added treat, guests can also upgrade to luxury recliner seating for a small additional charge. When booked online, there’s no booking fee, making it an easy and affordable option for a family day out. The biggest film of the month is The Mandalorian and Grogu which arrives in cinemas on 22 May. Take a look at the latest screenings and showtimes here.
Retro gaming at High Score Arcade
Step back in time at High Score Arcades, where families can enjoy unlimited play on a wide range of retro arcade machines and classic consoles, all for one fixed entry price. From vintage favourites to well-known games from the 80s and 90s, it’s a great option for older children, teens and parents looking to share a bit of nostalgia.
High Score Arcade also runs SEN-friendly sessions at quieter times, offering a more relaxed environment for players who benefit from a smaller capacity setting with reduced noise and venue lights turned on.
Take the fun to the alley at Hollywood Bowl
Sometimes nothing beats a classic game of bowling! Book onto a lane at Hollywood Bowl for a friendly game - or two - of ten pin bowling and see who can get the highest score. For little ones, they offer bumpers and lightweight bowling balls so they can build their confidence, one pin at a time. Open Sunday - Thursday from 11am to 11pm and Fridays - Saturdays from 11am to midnight, you can fit a game in at any time of the day. Book your next game here.
Get creative at Southampton’s cultural venues
Over half-term, SeaCity Museum and Tudor House & Garden host a range of hands-on workshops designed to spark creativity and curiosity. Children can get creative with clay, painting, Hands on History sessions and more.
These workshops are a great way for children to learn new skills and take home something they’ve made themselves. For session times and booking details click here.
More events and activities on this half-term
