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SeaCity Museum, City Centre

Companionship careSouthampton

Days out in Southampton for an older parent

Eight places in Southampton that make a good day out for an older parent, from SeaCity Museum to Mayflower Theatre. For each one: what its own access information confirms, what it costs, how long to allow, and the carers nearby who drive and could take them.

Researched by PrimeCarers from each place’s own website and access information  ·  Updated September 2026

SeaCity Museum. Photo: hahnchen at Wikimedia Commons (must include link if medium allows), CC BY-SA 3.0

Eight days out across four towns

The best places to take an older parent in Southampton

Three of them are free to visit or to walk around. The access information for one describes a step-free route, and two confirm an accessible toilet. Where a place does not publish its access, we say so.

SeaCity Museum, City Centre

Photo: hahnchen at Wikimedia Commons (must include link if medium allows), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · City Centre

SeaCity Museum

SeaCity Museum in the Civic Centre tells the story of Southampton as a port, with a large gallery on the Titanic and the city's crew, and another on Southampton as a gateway to the world. There is a café and shop.

All areas except the clock tower are step-free with a lift to the first floor, wheelchairs can be borrowed at the front desk, and carers go free.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Carers free

What their access information confirms

  • Step-free route
  • Accessible toilet
  • Wheelchairs to borrow
  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near City Centre

Tudor House and Garden, Old Town

Photo: Peter Trimming from Croydon, England, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · Old Town

Tudor House and Garden

Tudor House and Garden is a timber framed merchant's house in Southampton's Old Town, with over 800 years of history and a recreated Tudor garden. The ruins of the Norman King John's Palace stand behind it, and there is a café.

There are accessible toilets through the café and a Changing Places toilet, but the basement, attic and King John's Palace are reached by steep steps, so plan around the main rooms and garden.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Paid entry

What their access information confirms

  • Accessible toilet
  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Old Town

Southampton City Art Gallery, City Centre

Photo: Paul Gillett, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Gallery · City Centre

Southampton City Art Gallery

Southampton City Art Gallery in the Civic Centre holds one of the finest public art collections in the south of England, from Old Masters to the Pre-Raphaelites and modern British art. It sits on the Cultural Quarter beside Guildhall Square.

It shares the Civic Centre with SeaCity Museum, so the two can be combined in one short trip into the city centre.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Check prices

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near City Centre

Solent Sky Museum, Ocean Village

Photo: Alan Wilson, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · Ocean Village

Solent Sky Museum

Solent Sky is an aviation museum celebrating the Solent's flying history, including the Supermarine Spitfire designed in Southampton. The hangar holds aircraft such as a Spitfire and a large Sandringham flying boat that visitors can go aboard.

The aircraft are displayed in a single hangar, and there is on-street parking outside the museum, so the walking involved is modest.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Paid entry

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Ocean Village

God's House Tower, Old Town

Photo: Geni, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Castle · Old Town

God's House Tower

God's House Tower is a 15th century gatehouse and gun tower in the Old Town walls, now an arts and heritage venue with exhibitions, a library corner and a café and bar. A tower exhibition tells the stories behind the stones.

Blue Badge holders can park free about 10 metres from the entrance, the café is step-free with a lift to the upper floor, and VR headsets let visitors see the tower levels without the stairs.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free outside, paid inside

What their access information confirms

  • Partly step-free
  • Blue Badge parking
  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near Old Town

Southampton Common, Portswood

Photo: The original uploader was AlanFord at English Wikipedia., CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

Nature reserve · Portswood

Southampton Common

Southampton Common is a large open space of woodland, grassland, ponds and lakes on the north side of the city centre, and a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The Cemetery Lake and the Ornamental Lake draw ducks and swans.

The Common is free and close to the city, so the carer can plan a short walk from The Avenue side to one of the lakes and a bench.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Portswood

Southampton Medieval Town Walls, Old Town

Photo: Christophe.Finot, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

Castle · Old Town

Southampton Medieval Town Walls

Southampton's medieval town walls are among the most complete in England, running around the Old Town from the Bargate past towers, gates and vaults. A walk along them passes Tudor House, God's House Tower and the old quays.

The walls can be seen from street level, so the carer can pick a short stretch around the Bargate or Western Esplanade without climbing onto the walkways.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Carers who drive, based near Old Town

Mayflower Theatre, City Centre

Photo: Waggers, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Day out · City Centre

Mayflower Theatre

The Mayflower is the largest theatre in the south of England, staging touring West End musicals, ballet, opera and pantomime. It is on Commercial Road close to the Cultural Quarter.

Visitors with limited mobility can enter the stalls through a door at the front by arrangement, and there is a drop-off lay-by beside the accessible entrance.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Paid entry

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their websiteAccess information

Carers who drive, based near City Centre

Regular groups and events in Southampton

Something to go back to every week or every year, from our research into what older people enjoy doing in Southampton.

  • Gardening · SouthamptonSouthampton Allotment and Gardens AssociationA long standing city wide association that supports allotment holders and home gardeners in Southampton. A carer can help with getting to a plot, carrying tools and watering cans, and doing the kneeling and lifting so the gardening itself stays possible.Details
  • Cooking & Baking · SouthamptonSouthampton Farmers' MarketA monthly Hampshire Farmers' Market held in Bedford Place, where the stallholders are the producers selling meat, fish, bread, vegetables and honey. A carer could drive over, carry the bags and then help turn the shopping into a batch of baking or a proper Sunday dinner at home.Details
  • Music · SouthamptonSouthampton Philharmonic ChoirA long established choral society that rehearses and performs large scale choral works in the city. A carer could take someone to hear a concert, or make it possible to keep singing with the group by arranging lifts to rehearsals.Details
  • Photography · SouthamptonWoolston Camera ClubA local camera club that meets weekly on the east side of the city for talks, competitions and print evenings. A carer could check the current meeting night, provide the lift and help with printing or loading images before a competition.Details
  • Painting · SouthamptonSouthampton Art SocietyA local society of amateur and semi professional artists whose members show their work in exhibitions at the city art gallery. A carer could take someone to see a members' show, or help carry materials and framed work if they want to paint and exhibit themselves.Details
  • Volunteering · SouthamptonVolunteering at SeaCity MuseumThe city's maritime and Titanic museum takes volunteers for roles such as helping visitors and supporting workshops and events. A carer can sort the travel and timing so a shift stays manageable, and stay nearby for longer sessions.Details

Hobbies and carers who share them in Southampton

At a glance

The eight places side by side

What each place’s own access information confirms. “Ask” means it does not say, not that it is missing.

PlaceTimeCostStep-freeToiletCafé
SeaCity MuseumCity Centrean hour or twoPaid entryYesYesYes
Tudor House and GardenOld Townan hour or twoPaid entryAskYesYes
Southampton City Art GalleryCity Centrean hour or twoCheck pricesAskAskAsk
Solent Sky MuseumOcean Villagean hour or twoPaid entryAskAskAsk
God's House TowerOld Townan hour or twoFree outside, paid insidePartlyAskYes
Southampton CommonPortswoodan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
Southampton Medieval Town WallsOld Townan hour or twoFreeAskAskAsk
Mayflower TheatreCity Centrean hour or twoPaid entryAskAskAsk

Where the places are in Southampton

The county’s boundary, numbered as on this page, with the main towns for reference.

12345678
  1. 1SeaCity Museum, City Centre
  2. 2Tudor House and Garden, Old Town
  3. 3Southampton City Art Gallery, City Centre
  4. 4Solent Sky Museum, Ocean Village
  5. 5God's House Tower, Old Town
  6. 6Southampton Common, Portswood
  7. 7Southampton Medieval Town Walls, Old Town
  8. 8Mayflower Theatre, City Centre

What it costs

What a day out with a carer costs in Southampton

Carers in Southampton charge £19 to £22 an hour through PrimeCarers, typically £20, with our fee included. A four-hour outing is about £80 for the carer’s time. Entry, food and parking are extra, and travel costs are only payable if you agree them with the carer in advance, in writing. The cost of home care in Southampton has the full figures.

Photographs on this page are from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each one.

Questions

Questions families ask about days out in Southampton

SeaCity Museum in City Centre, Tudor House and Garden in Old Town, Southampton City Art Gallery in City Centre, Solent Sky Museum in Ocean Village, God's House Tower in Old Town, Southampton Common in Portswood, Southampton Medieval Town Walls in Old Town and Mayflower Theatre in City Centre. Each has its own section on this page with what its access information confirms, the cost and how long to allow.

The access information for SeaCity Museum describes a step-free route. SeaCity Museum and Tudor House and Garden have an accessible toilet. SeaCity Museum lends wheelchairs. Access changes, so ring ahead about anything your parent depends on.

God's House Tower (outside free, inside paid), Southampton Common and Southampton Medieval Town Walls. Parking is often charged even where entry is free.

Yes. A companion carer can drive your parent there, walk at their pace, help with the toilet and meals, and bring them home. 28 of the carers with a rate near Southampton drive. Visits are booked by the hour, typically £20 an hour here with our fee included. Companionship care in Southampton shows who is available.

Often. Many attractions let a carer or companion in free, or at a reduced price, with a disabled visitor, and some ask for proof such as a letter or a benefit award. It varies, so check each place’s access or prices page before you go.

Where the nearest carers live

From the profiles of the carers based within about 45 minutes of Southampton

Where the nearest carers live. A carer close to home can manage a longer day out.

Companionship care in the counties around Southampton

Days out in the areas around Southampton

Find a carer who could take them out in Southampton

See carers near Southampton who drive, with their photos, interests, rates and reviews. Talking to them is free and nothing is booked until you say so.

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