Explore Autumn Events and Activities in Southampton
Welcome to our guide to exciting autumn and winter events and activities for all ages! This season, our cultural venues – SeaCity Museum, Tudor House and Garden, and Southampton City Art Gallery – invite you to immerse yourself in a variety of programs that celebrate the beauty of autumn and the joy of the festive season.
About Our Venues
SeaCity Museum
From Southampton to the sea – Explore the Titanic legacy at SeaCity Museum! Discover the story of RMS Titanic and how the tragedy affected the city and people of Southampton. It features an interactive model of the Titanic, recorded messages of its passengers of the fateful night, original objects from on board the world-famous ship, and more.
Tudor House and Garden
Tudor House is Southampton’s most important historic building, revealing over 800 years of history in one fascinating location at the heart of the Old Town. The timber-framed building gives a unique and atmospheric insight into the lives and times of both its residents through the years, and of Southampton itself. It appeals to visitors of all ages and interests, who find the family-friendly activities, interactive technology and fascinating displays a winning combination.
Southampton City Art Gallery
Explore Southampton City Art Gallery’s diverse collection of fine art, which tells the story of European art from the Renaissance to the present day. Regularly rotating displays feature works from the collection, national touring exhibitions and work by local artists. Free to visit – You’ll find us in the heart of Southampton’s cultural quarter.
From engaging children’s activities and kids’ arts and crafts to enriching workshops for adults, our cultural venues have something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for things to do with kids in Southampton, or planning a cosy day indoors with things to do on a rainy day, our packed programme has you covered. Join us for these events filled with fun and creativity, and for a chance to meet like-minded people! Below, you’ll find a detailed list of our upcoming events and activities.
Events
- Sun 3 Nov – Tour and Tudor House | 10.30am – 11.30am
- Discover the secrets and most amazing parts of Tudor House with one of our fantastic guides! Learn about the house’s links to royalty, tales of murder and intrigue.
- Tue 12 Nov – The Ghosts of Tudor House: Echoes of the Past – Online Talk | 7.30pm – 8.30pm
- Join historian and paranormal enthusiast Emily Pierce to find out about the ghosts wandering Tudor House and the stories they can tell us in this special online talk.
- Thu 21 Nov – Thinking Thursdays Talk: Lady Katherine Grey | 11am – 12.30pm
- An incredible Tudor story of secret marriage, imprisonment, and which may just have changed the future of the English monarchy…
- Sat 23 Nov – Christmas Makers Market | 10am – 4pm
- Come along to our wonderful makers market and find a huge array of unique gift options including textiles, ceramics, print, candles, cosmetics, clothing, jewellery and so much more!
- Sat 30 Nov – Southampton Blitz – Walking Tour | 11am – 12.30pm
- During the anniversary period of the worst bombing raids, join historian and guide Andy Skinner for a special guided tour of Southampton’s Old Town with a specific focus on the story of the Southampton Blitz.
- Sat 7 Dec – Mon 23 Dec – Visit Father Christmas at Tudor House | Various Times Available
- Meet Father Christmas and enjoy festive crafts this year at Tudor House! Get creative with a craft activity then relax with a sweet treat and a hot drink in our café before exploring the museum with our Christmas Tudor House Mouse trail.
- Sat 21 Dec – Christmas Table Decorations for All Ages with Victoria Goss | 10am – 11am and 11.30am – 12.30pm
- Come and join in the festivities at this family friendly workshop. It’s a great chance for you to create a homemade decoration to take centre stage on the dining room table which you can be proud you have made.
- Sat 21 Dec – Christmas Lantern Walking Tour | 5pm – 6.30pm and 7pm – 8.30pm
- How did Jane Austen celebrate Christmas? What festive songs herald from our fine city and why was the Christmas of 1945 one to forget? Unlock the secrets of Southampton’s merry history with this lantern-lit tour!
Children’s Activities
- Sat 23 Nov – The Young Ones | 10.30am – 12.30pm and 1.30pm – 3.30pm
- Join us to experiment with different art materials and ideas and have some fun! These monthly sessions are led by local artists, who will take their inspiration from the artwork on display.
- Sat 30 Nov – Mini Monets | 10am – 11am
- Join artist Debra Marsh to experiment with different art styles, techniques and materials in a fun and accessible way. A great way to encourage your child’s creativity (without making a mess at home)!
- Sat 30 Nov – Art for All: Watercolour Advent Calendars | 10.30am – 1pm and 2pm – 4.30pm
- Create your very own magical advent calendar, just in time for the 1st of December! Create a large watercolour winter scene with 24 Christmassy pictures hiding behind it.
- Sat 14 Dec – The Young Ones | 10.30am – 12.30pm and 1.30pm – 3.30pm
- Join us to experiment with different art materials and ideas and have some fun! These monthly sessions are led by local artists, who will take their inspiration from the artwork on display.
- Thu 21 Dec – Mini Monets | 10am – 11am
- Join artist Debra Marsh to experiment with different art styles, techniques and materials in a fun and accessible way. A great way to encourage your child’s creativity (without making a mess at home)!
- Mon 23 Dec – Culture Club for Kids | 9am – 4pm
- Join in on the fun with this workshop to create some beautiful Traditional Christmas Decorations with our cultural services team and fellow art enthusiasts!
- Mon 23 Dec – Art for All: Print Your Own Wrapping Paper | 10.30am – 12pm, 12.30pm – 2pm and 2.30pm – 4pm
- This popular workshop always gets us in the mood for Christmas! Join us to design and print your own beautiful wrapping paper for those last minute gifts. Be warned though, you may love your gift wrap too much to give it away!
- Mon 30 Dec – Discover Titanic Family Session | 10.30am – 12pm, 12.30pm – 2pm and 2.30pm – 4pm
- Join a member of the SeaCity team to discover more about the RMS Titanic. Try your hand at Morse Code, handle objects from ocean liners, sink the Titanic and see how an iceberg floats! You’ll also be taken on a mini-tour of our Titanic exhibition!
- Thu 2 Jan and Fri 3 Jan – Culture Club for Kids | 9am – 4pm
- Who’s ready for New Year Film Club? We know we are! Join us for a day (or two!) of fun at SeaCity Museum and get lost in the magic of films before returning to the real world.
- Thu 2 Jan – Print Your Own Thank You Cards and More! | 10.30am – 12pm, 12.30pm – 2pm and 2.30pm – 4pm
- Turn a chore into a treat at this hands on holiday workshop for all ages. We will be working with polytiles to create relief prints on a range of exciting backgrounds.
- Fri 3 Jan – Woodland Animal Snow Scenes with Clay | 10.30am – 12pm, 12.30pm – 2pm and 2.30pm – 4pm
- We might not have had a white Christmas but we can look forward to creating a magical snow scene from clay at this fulfilling and creative workshop.
Adult Workshops
- Sat 9 Nov – Mixed Media Magic with Sandra Health | 11am – 4pm
- Explore a variety of mixed media materials and enjoy the unadulterated pleasure of spending a few hours immersed in your own creative expression.
- Sat 30 Nov – Art Club for Adults with Sarah L Goy | 12.30pm – 2.30pm and 2.45pm – 4.45pm
- Take time out for yourself, switch your phone off and slow down at this creative group for grown-ups. Artist and teacher Sarah L Goy will help you discover different media in a relaxing and exploratory way.
- Sun 1 Dec – Hand Painted Christmas Decorations with Elisa Orchard | 1.30pm – 4pm
- Back by popular demand for the third year in a row, Elisa will guide you to make beautiful wooden Christmas decorations using acrylic paints and taking inspiration from nature.
- Fri 6 Dec and Sat 7 Dec – Friday and Saturday Life Drawing Workshop with Brian Reynolds | 11am – 4pm
- If Saturday Life Drawing leaves you with more work to do, this two day workshop is perfect for creating an extended piece of work.
- Sun 8 Dec – Watercolour Poinsettias with Viktoriia Bezuga | 10.30am – 1pm
- Join Ukranian artist and tutor Viktoria Bezugla to create a beautiful Christmassy painting using vibrant colours and a range of watercolour techniques.
- Sat 21 Dec – Art Club for Adults with Sarah L Goy | 12.30pm – 2.30pm and 2.45pm – 4.45pm
- Take time out for yourself, switch your phone off and slow down at this creative group for grown-ups. Artist and teacher Sarah L Goy will help you discover different media in a relaxing and exploratory way.
- Sat 4 Jan – Saturday Life Drawing Workshop with Brian Reynolds | 11am – 4pm
- Meet like-minded people and work on your art at your own pace with individual feedback from tutor Brian Reynolds at this relaxed and friendly session!