Children's activities

Activities - All year round

We run story-times once a week all year round at most of our libraries. Have a look at the story-time schedule below. Story-times are aimed at children aged under 5 and are sometimes followed by a craft activity. Story-time can be a fun way of introducing your child to books in a relaxed environment.

Some libraries also run rhyme-times for babies and toddlers. Rhyme-times are music and rhyme sessions where everyone can participate, why not give it a try and have some fun together!

All our sessions are absolutely FREE and there’s no need to book, just turn up. You and your child will be very welcome.

NB Children must be accompanied by a parent or carer at all times.

Story-times and Rhyme-times

Central Library
Rhyme-time - Thursdays 2.00-2.30pm - Baby changing facilities available.
Story-time - Tuesdays 10.00 - 10.30am
Contact: Children’s library for more information 023 8083 2598

Bitterne Library
Story-time and rhyme-time alternate Wednesdays 2.00-2.30pm
Contact: Bitterne library 023 8044 9909

Burgess Road
Rhyme-time - Fridays 11.15-11.45am
Contact: Burgess Road Library 023 8067 8873

Cobbett Road
Story-time - Mondays 2.00-2.30pm
Rhyme-time - third Monday of each month 2.00-2.30pm
Contact: Cobbett Road Library 023 8022 5555

Lordshill
Story-time and rhyme-time alternate Tuesdays 11.00-11.30
Story-time from 1st April
Rhyme-time - from 25 March
Contact: Lordshill Library 023 8073 2845

Millbrook
Combined story-time and Rhyme-time - Mondays 2.00-3.00pm
Contact: Millbrook 023 8078 1819

Portswood Library
Story-time - Mondays 2.15-2.45
Rhyme-time - fortnightly on Tuesdays 10.45-11.15am
Contact: Portswood Library 023 8055 4634

Shirley Library
Story-time - Mondays 2.15-2.45pm
Rhyme-time fortnightly on Fridays 10.15-10.45
Contact: Shirley Library 023 8077 2136

Thornhill Library
Story-time - Tuesdays 10.15-11.00am
Contact: Thornhill Library 023 8044 7245

Weston Library
Story-time - Wednesdays 11.00-11.30am
Contact: Weston Library 023 8044 4363

Woolston
Story-time - Tuesday 10.00-10.30am
Contact: 023 8044 8481

In the school holidays

When you're not at school, you could be having fun in the library! Believe it or not we run FUN activities for you in the library during school holidays and they're FREE. Activities usually involve glue, paper and lots of mess.

So if you like pirate parties, you’re dinosaur crazy, or you just love being arty and crafty you might want to pop in, give us your local library a ring or email us at childrens.library@southampton.gov.uk to find out what’s going on in the library before the holidays start. Our sessions are popular and can get booked up in advance so it is worth booking your place ahead.