Your parents coming to visit is like getting a sense of home, even for a few hours, after you’ve been away for a little while. They might take you to the supermarket and buy you a weekly shop, they might want to meet your new friends in halls, or they might take you out for a meal, to the city centre or for a walk. If you need some inspiration for somewhere to take them, this article should help you.
Portswood High Street
This place is packed with loads of places to eat and drink. Depending on whether you want a coffee stop, a simple lunch or a full-blown meal, Portswood high street offers it all.
If you fancy a coffee and a piece of cake, then Coffee #1 is the perfect option for you. They have a great selection of food and drink and a spacious, comfy, almost homely environment for you to enjoy it in.
Perhaps you fancy brunch or lunch? Then you should definitely go to Trago Lounge. They offer a wide variety of food, including all day brunch, so if you’ve just woken up when your parents arrive, you can have breakfast out and they’ll be none the wiser!
Alternatively, if you want to have a larger meal, you must try Baboo Ji. It’s a vegetarian restaurant serving traditional Indian flavours. Here you can get a selection of sharing dishes so you can try out a variety of them together with your parents.
WestQuay
If you fancy a bit of retail therapy, then head into the city centre and visit WestQuay. This shopping centre is packed with all your favourite high streets stores and some designer favourites too! Plus, IKEA is next door, so if you’ve forgotten some kitchen essentials at home, you can buy some cheap replacements there.
WestQuay Watermark has lots of restaurants, a luxury showcase cinema and a bowling alley so if you want to make a day of it, that’s the place to check out! At Christmas, they normally have an ice rink down there too!
Southampton Common
If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and fancy a walk in nature, you should head to the Common. Nearby to Avenue Campus, this green space is perfect for walks, joggers and picnics and if you stay out long enough, you could even catch the beautiful sunsets.
Hopefully these suggestions will give you some inspiration for where to take your parents and show off your new city at the same time! But wherever you take them, enjoy the time with them and if you are feeling homesick when they leave, they are only a phone call away.
Megan Gaen
The Hysteria Collective