With term end and Christmas fast approaching, Louis Suffill looks at eight of the best ideas for wintry fun with the kids….

 

 

Skate Southampton

Photo by Benson Kua (Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic)

Go to Westquay’s first ever real ice rink: 740 square metres of real ice is available for you and your children to skate on over the festive period. There’s also a log cabin serving hot chocolate during the day – the perfect warm up after some serious skating!

Where: Esplanade West Quay South.
When: 10:30am-22:00pm. November 11 - January 2. Closed Christmas Day
Tickets: £7.50
https://www.west-quay.co.uk/skate

 

Where is Christmas?

Where is Christmas? is an immersive dance show for young people aged five and under. Commotion Dance explores the true meaning of the festive season in an imaginative tale that serves as a perfect introduction to the arts for young audiences.

Where: The Point, Eastleigh
When: December 15 - 17
Tickets: £8
https://www.thepointeastleigh.co.uk/whats-on/autumn-17/where-is-christmas/

Alien’s Crazy Christmas

Royal Victoria Country Park

Join Zobble on his home planet of Blip and watch as he tries to organise Christmas just like we have on earth. Will he succeed? Find out in the funny retelling of this festive story. Fancy dress encouraged!

Where: Royal Victoria Country Park, Netley
When: December 8 - 11
Tickets: Children £10. Adults £5
https://www.hants.gov.uk/thingstodo/countryparks/rvcp/whatson/eventdetails?id=370047

The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child

Go to Harbour lights and watch a double bill of the much loved children’s books The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child for the first time ever on the big screen in Southampton, exclusively for preschool children and their parents or carers.

Where: Harbour Lights, Ocean Village, Southampton
When: December 18
Tickets: £3.00
https://www.picturehouses.com/cinema/Harbour_Lights/film/the-gruffalo-the-gruffalos-child

 

Sleeping Beauty

The Point’s Youth Theatre Sleeping Beauty blends original music with performance and puppetry to tell a story of fairies, friendship and kings; “An enchanting adventure, suitable for the whole family”.

Where: The Point, Eastleigh
When: December 19 - 24
Tickets: £12 / £10 / £8
https://www.thepointeastleigh.co.uk/whats-on/autumn-17/sleeping-beauty/

Santa’s Snake Plate

Under 5s can “create a beautiful festive plate for serving Santa and Rudolph their Christmas treat”. Decorated ceramic plates can then be taken home and over baked.

Where: Southampton City Art Gallery
When: December 8, 10am-11am or 11.45am – 12.45pm
Tickets: £6
https://www.southamptoncityartgallery.com/learn/activities/

Hetty Feather

Photo: © Copyright Helen Murray 2015

This west end hit from best-selling author Jacqueline Wilson is described as “an unmissable adventure story about feisty Hetty’s search for her real mother and a true family of her own, featuring beautiful storytelling, spectacular circus skills, original songs and live music”. See our previous preview here.

Where: NST Campus
When: November 21 - January 7
Tickets: From £10
https://www.nstheatres.co.uk/whats-on/hetty-feather

Royal Academy of Arts

Photo: © Copyright Fraser Marr

If you’re planning a day out in London and have young artists in the family you may want to give the Royal Academy of Art a visit. With free drop-in workshops and intriguing detective trails, you’re sure to have a great time.

Where: Royal Academy of Art, London
Tickets: Free for under 16s.
https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/

Compiled by Louis Suffill
Louis is a multimedia journalism student at Southampton Solent University

All information believed to be correct at the time of publishing, but always check with individual venues before making a special journey.