Southampton with 2 year old

[roomonbroom]

My partner and I are taking our nearly 2 year old to Southampton next week, staying Monday to Friday. We are doing Paultons Park/Peppa pig world on Tuesday and Wednesday, and Longdown Activity Farm on Thursday. Do you have any suggestions to do on Monday and Friday in Southampton city centre with our LO? Any nice areas to walk around, or a playground/park, anywhere close to the waterfront maybe? Also places to eat.
Any tips welcome, thank you all x

Southampton Common playground www.southampton.gov.uk/people-places/parks-open-spaces/parks/southampton-common/nature-play-area.aspx In the city centre, a walk around the old city walls, picnic in the park - Houndwell park has a playground. The City art gallery used to have a "please DO touch" activity trail for under 5s but not sure whether that has survived Covid.

www.southampton.gov.uk/people-places/parks-open-spaces/parks/central/
www.southampton.gov.uk/people-places/parks-open-spaces/parks/central/houndwell.aspx

tudorhouseandgarden.com/planning-your-visit/explore-old-town/

Lepe country park is good with preschoolers if you want to get out of Southampton and see the sea. www.hants.gov.uk/thingstodo/countryparks/lepe/familyfun

Take the foot passenger ferry to the Isle of Wight for the day. She'll love it as there's lots to do there and really easy to get around on public transport (you'll have to look up timetables in advance and have an idea of what you'd like to do though)

I'm just back from doing Peppa pig world this Monday, it was lovely. If you fancy not being in the city centre we did strawberry picking at West Green Fruits and had a lovely morning!

Pickwells are good for strawberry picking too, you are right by Netley and Hamble and the Royal Victoria Country Park.

Ocean Village is nice with a toddler to wander round and look at the boats. Lots of nice restaurants too.

My favourite restaurant in Southampton is Mango’s Thai Tapas. Family run, they have a couple of restaurants round the city. Their ribs are the best!

You also are not far from Marwell Zoo which is a nice day out (we have passes as live v close).

Another vote for Marwell Zoo. Spent many hours there with toddler.