A city in the county of Hampshire, south-east of the United Kingdom and facing the Isle of Wight, Southampton may be less well known than other English cities, but it certainly has nothing to envy in terms of beauty. It is rich in facinity and history: it was the birthplace of important people such as Isaac Watts, and it was from its harbour that the Titanic, the huge liner that sank on its maiden voyage, sailed.
It is certainly a peculiar city, but one that deserves to be visited with special attention. Here are the things to see in Southampton, the best attractions and things to do!
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1 - Old Town
Photo by Michael Coppins. The first thing to visit is the historic centre of Southampton, which has seen important figures such as Henry V, Shakespeare and Jane Austen pass through its streets.
Welcoming you is Bargate, an imposing gateway, once the main entrance to the city, built in 1180. This building is unfortunately closed to the public today, but in the past it housed first a prison, then a courthouse, police headquarters, a museum and a gallery.
After passing the Bargate you will encounter High Street with several bars and cafes and continuing along the old city walls you will come across medieval mansions and historical sites such as the Medieval Merchant's House. This building, built in 1290 by a wealthy merchant, was destroyed during the bombings of 1940. But in 1980 it was restored and a real medieval shop was reconstructed inside.
Takea photo in front of the Hamtun Street Mural: located on Hamtun St, this mosaic represents the history of Southampton.
Practical info: directions, times and prices
How to get there: It's a 15-minute walk from Central Station. Alternatively, bus line U1A stop "Holyrood Church", or buses 7, 8, 9, 13 stop nearby - Get directions
Hours: centre and door always accessible / Medieval Merchant's House 12:00-17:00
Ticket price: free / Medieval Merchant's House full price £5.00 (€5.50), concessions £4.50 (€5.00)
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2 - Sea City Museum
Photo by hahnchen. Southampton was one of the UK's major ports for many years, so the city's history is very much linked to the sea and shipping. For this reason, a major museum dedicated to this world was opened in 2012: the Sea City Museum.
Here, two permanent exhibitions can be admired: the first entitled'Gateway to the World', dedicated to the city's role as a gateway to the world. The other, 'Southampton Titanic Story' is about the tragic story of the Titanic that sailed from here. The exhibition tells the whole story through the eyes of the crew, through period audio recordings and survivor testimonies. There is an interactive model of the ship on a scale of 1:25, and it is also possible to enter the'Disaster Room' and immerse oneself in the courtroom where the enquiry into the disaster was held.
Practical info: directions, times and prices
How to get there: on Havelock Rd. Can be reached from the city centre in 11 min or alternatively with the bluestar lines 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12 and 17, stop SeaCity Museum - Get directions
Hours: daily 10am-5pm
Ticket price: full price £8.50 (€9.30), concessions £6.00 (€6.60)
3 - Southampton City Art Gallery
Photo by Geni. Considered one of the city's most important museums and housed within an elegant 1930s building, the Southampton City Art Gallery displays a rich collection of works and paintings by British artists from 1750 to the present day.
The gallery comes from the bequests of Robert Chipperfield and Frederick William Smith and contains 5,300 works including drawings, paintings, ceramics and artefacts. Highlights include the 14th century altarpiece by Allegretto Nuzi, the Perseus series by Burne-Jones, paintings by the Camden Town Group, sculpture by Richard Deacon and Tony Cragg and photographs by Richard Long. In addition to the permanent collection , the museum holds temporary exhibitions and offers various educational activities for all ages.
Plan your visit: the Gallery offers brilliant'Please Do Touch' tours for children and some extremely well planned and attractive events, and being close to the Sea Museum you could arrange visits on the same day.
Practical info: directions, times and prices
How to get there: at the Civic Centre on Commercial Rd, an 11 min walk from the city centre. Alternatively, by bus on the bluestar lines 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12 and 17, stop Art Gallery or SeaCity Museum - Get directions
Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-3pm, Sat 10am-4pm, Sun closed
Ticket price: free
4 - Titanic Trail
Southampton will always be associated with the tragic fate of the Titanic, which set sail from here in 1912 with many of the English city's residents on board as crew. This is why, after the disaster, several monuments were built to commemorate the many people who lost their lives.
There are many points of interest to discover: the Titanic Engineer's Memorial, in East Park, a bronze and granite monument unveiled by Sir Archibald Denny, president of the Institute of Marine Engineers in April 1914. The bronze Goddess Nike stands out, seemingly protecting under her wings two sculptors symbolising the Titanic's staff engineers, all of whom died during the sinking. The route then includes a stop at the nearby Titanic Musicians Memorial, dedicated to the ship's musicians, the local office of the White Star Line company, owner of Titanic, the crew's favourite pub and the memorial plaque at Pier Gate 4.
You can follow the route at any time. The recommended starting point is the Titanic Engineer's Memorial, which can be reached on foot from the city centre in 10 min or by bus U1A or U1E Cenotaph stop - Get directions
Plan your visit: the best way to visit the trail is to join the tour organised by the tourist office, which will take you to the various points of interest.
5 - Solent Sky - Aviation Museum
Photo by Alan Wilson. Formerly known as the Southampton Hall of Aviation, the Solent Sky is a museum dedicated to the British aviation history of the Solent and Hampshire area, regions that were the centre of the world for aviation research and development between 1910 and 1960. For this reason it was decided to build a museum to tell this piece of history through panels and original specimens.
Particular attention is paid to the'Supermarine' company and it is possible to see more than 20 biplanes, aircraft and spacecraft. The best known are the Gnat, the Sandringham seaplane, the Schneider Trophy S6 Seaplane and the highlight, the famous Spitfire, the single-seat fighter used during the First and Second World Wars. Temporary exhibitions on war stories and the military uniforms used during that period are sometimes held in the museum.
Family visit: This is a place suitable for families and children who can also sit inside the giant seaplane or enter the cockpits of the jet fighters.
Practical info: directions, times and prices
How to get there: on Albert Rd. It is a 15 min walk from the centre or by taking the red 'The Three' bus, stop Ocean Village - Get directions
Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 12pm-5pm
Ticket price: Full Ticket £10.00 (€11.00), Concessions £6.00 (€6.60), Family Ticket £20.00 (€22.00)
6 - Ocean Village
Photo by Ralf Prien. Southampton's new vibrant and modern district is called Ocean Village and is built around the marina, where yachts are docked on the River Itchen. Here you will find steakhouses, brasseries, international restaurants and trendy hotels with open-air venues where you can spend time sipping a beer or watching a movie inside one of the cinemas.
Not only that, at Ocean Village you will also find the National Oceanography Centre, the UK's largest institution for integrated sea-level science, coastal and ocean research and technology development. This large centre, being a place of research, unfortunately does not always open to the public, but some days of the year it does organise events to publicise the research and discoveries that are being made (for all updates see the official website).
Ocean Village is located south of the old town, on the marina. It is a 15-minute walk from the old town and Tudor House. Alternatively by The Three bus to the Ocean Village stop - Get directions
Enjoya sunset aperitif at HarBAR on 6th: the venue has a beautiful terrace overlooking the sea, ideal for enjoying an aperitif or a drink at sunset!
7 - St Michael's Church
Photo by Paul Gillett. St Michael's Church is the only remaining medieval religious building in Southampton; it stands in the square of the same name in the heart of the old town, where the fish market was held in the Middle Ages. Dating back to the 11th century, the initial parish structure was smaller than what can be seen today because over the years a number of side chapels were added and one part was totally rebuilt.
The north and south chapels open to the presbytery from slender arches of two chamfered orders. The north chapel was originally known as the Mayor' s or Guild Chapel because, until 1835, the mayor was 'sworn in' there. Inside the church you can also see Norman relics and admire a baptismal font made of Tournai marble, while the tower, which can be seen from the outside, is the oldest in Southampton and dates back to 1070.
It is located in the square of the same name, St.Michael Square. It can be reached on foot from the city centre or from Central Station on the Quayconnect or U1C line - get directions
Listen to St Michael's choir: the Cantores Michaelis, specialises in unaccompanied repertoire composed for the Christian liturgy. It sings every Sunday and on feast days during the academic year. If you have the opportunity, we recommend attending one of their performances.
8 - Tudor House & Garden
Photo by Christophe.Finot. You can't miss a visit to this half-timbered mansion in St. Michael Square, one of the oldest in Southampton, built in 1180 during the Norman period by a wealthy merchant family. Today the building is a house-museum and has retained quite a few of its original features, although some rooms have been reconstructed, such as the kitchen.
During the tour at the Tudor House you can admire various everyday objects used in the Victorian and Edwardian times, wear clothes from the period and admire some antique jewellery. In addition, temporary exhibitions are often held in the museum and there is a café where visitors can enjoy a classic tea and pastries that will take you back in time.
Practical information: directions, opening times and prices
How to get there: St Michael's Square in the old town. 2 min walk from Medieval Merchant's House. From Central Station, Quayconnect or U1C line to Holyrood St - Get directions
Hours: Mon-Thu 10am-3pm, Sat-Sun 10am-5pm, Fri closed
Ticket price: full £5.00 (€5.50), concessions £4.00 (€4.40)
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9 - Shieldhall
Photo by Dave souza. Another attraction not to be missed in Southampton is the Shieldhall, the largest steamship in Europe. Built in 1954 by Lobnitz&Co to transport sea-treated sludge throughout the year and for people to travel on in the summer, in 1976 it was bought by the Southern Water Authority which used it exclusively to transport sludge from Marchwood, Millbrook and Woolston to an area south of the Isle of Wight. In July 1985, however, due to rising fuel prices, it was withdrawn and became a sort of floating museum.
Today, this 'memorial' allows us to understand and see how steamships operated in a past that is actually quite recent. The ship is regularly exhibited during the Southampton Maritime Festival, a two-day event that takes place every summer and from May to August several 2/4 hour cruises are organised during which you can sail and discover the Shieldhall.
Attend the Southampton Maritime Festival: an event with numerous shows, events and activities related to the sea, the main theme around which the whole festival revolves. All the city's attractions are involved, with special displays and exhibitions.
Practical info: directions, times and prices
How to get there: usually located in Southampton Harbour, which is a 40 min walk from the centre via W Bay Rd and Herbert Walker Avenue - Get directions
Timetable: during the Southampton Maritime Festival, see official website
Ticket cost: depending on activities chosen, full price from £36.50 (€40.00), concessions from £13.00 (€14.30)
10 - Netley Abbey
5 km from Southampton is this late medieval monastery founded in 1239 as a home for Catholic monks of the Cistercian order. Despite being a royal abbey, Netley was never wealthy or the birthplace of famous people; rather, the monks who lived there were famous for their generosity and hospitality towards travellers. In 1536, it was conquered by Henry VIII of England and given to a wealthy Tudor politician who converted it into a palace; it was then used as a country house until the early 1700s and later abandoned and partly demolished to become a quarry from which to extract material.
Today it is possible to visit the ruins, with their unquestionable charm, which over the years have inspired writers, poets and artists, one of whom was the iconic Romanticist painter John Constable. During the visit you will see the church shell and the monastic buildings around the cloister, as well as the abbot's house, set in wooded parkland to the west of the village of Netley.
Discover this legendary place: legend has it that Walter Taylor, the builder in charge of demolishing the church, had a dream before starting work in which he saw that he would be punished if he pulled the building down. He decided not to heed the premonition and started the work, but at one point, while witnessing the demolition, the arch of one of the windows fell on his head, cracking his skull.
Practical info: directions, times and prices
How to get there: in Abbey Hill, 5 km from Southampton. Can be reached by direct bus line 6 City Red from Pound Tree Road (Southampton) to New Road (3 mins) - Get directions
Hours: generally 10am-3.30pm, times vary widely, depending on season and day. Check official website
Ticket price: free
11 - National Motor Museum
Photo by sv1ambo. Another attraction for those in Southampton, dedicated not only to motor enthusiasts but also to families with children, is the National Motor Museum, housed in Beaulieau, a village about 13 km from the city centre. The Museum, opened in 1952, is now one of the largest of its kind in the world, with an exhibition of more than 250 internationally renowned vehicles telling the story of motoring in Britain from its origins to the present day.
There areclassic, sports and modern cars from relly and F1, as well as some of the most famous cars from the movies, such as the original James Bond cars. Inside you can also find books, magazines, photographs and films with a car theme. Initially the museum consisted of only five cars, but in 1972 the collection exceeded 300 pieces and it was decided to move it to a new building constructed in the park surrounding Palace House, where it still stands today.
Not to be missed if you love Harry Potter: all fans of the famous Harry Potter saga cannot fail to pay a visit to this museum. The reason? On display here is the Ford Anglia, the car that Harry Potter and Ron Weasley drive to Hogwarts in 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets'.
Practical information: directions, times and prices
How to get there: at Brockenhurst in Beaulieu, 13 km from Southampton. Can be reached by car in 30 min or from Central Station by bus 9 bluestar to The Heath and from there by bus 112 to Beaulieau Garage (1 h 10 min) - Get directions
Hours: daily 10am-5pm, late May to mid-September until 6pm
Ticket price: full price £24.75 (€27.00), concessions £12.50 (€13.70)
12 - Highclere Castle
About 45 min drive from Southampton you will findHighclere Castle. If you're a fan of TV series you'll certainly recognise it: it's the castle from the famous BBC seriesDownton Abbey. When it is not the filming set, the castle remains open so that it can be visited. During guided tours, you can discover different rooms, such as the Monk's Garden, the White Border, the Secret Garden and the Goodwill Wood, as well as some of the residence's rooms such as the drawing room, the library, the dining room, the music room, the drawing room, the smoking room and some of the bedrooms.
The castle has been inhabited by the Carnarvon family since 1679. In 1838, the Third Earl of Carnarvon commissioned Sir Charles Barry to turn the castle into a beautiful estate, then it was used as a hospital during the Great War and returned to royalty in 1922. The present Earl and his wife, the Countess of Carnarvon, only live in the castle at certain times of the year.
Experiencea day like a true royal: today the castle is known to be the venue for numerous public and private events, including an afternoon tea tasting that will make you feel like a real'royals' and tours specially designed to satisfy your every curiosity. Info on the official website.
Practical info: directions, times and prices
How to get there: at Highclere, Newbury, about 52 km from Southampton. It can be reached by car via the M3 and A34 northbound. There is no public transport covering the route - Get directions
Timetable: times vary depending on days, season and possible events. Check the official website
Ticket price: depending on events and packages. See official website
Other attractions to visit
Photos of geniuses. Although of minor importance, you can also visit other attractions in Southampton. But already walking through its streets is a real experience, as the old town centre is a veritable open-air museum: old buildings from different eras, green spaces and lots of shops.
If you are anart lover, we recommend a visit to the John Hansard Gallery, the gallery of contemporary visual art (free of charge), while if you want to enjoy some relaxation in the green, you can stroll through the parks of Royal Victoria Country Park and Palmerston Park. Finally, still in the historic centre, you can come across the ancient ruins of Holyrood Church (free), dating back to 1320 and severely damaged by bombing.
If you're looking for fun activities and maybe you're travelling with the family, we recommend going high to theAlpine Sniwsports Cente, a place where winter sports are simulated in the city (see official website). Also nearby is the Children's Pleasure Park, an amusement park where you can spend a few hours of fun.
7 things to do in Southampton
Oxford Street Southampton
Westquay Shopping Centre
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Lunch break on Oxford Street: the best street to discover the city's gastronomy, influenced by so many cultures. Also on this street, the Oxford Street Farmers' Market is held every first Saturday of the month. In short, a journey within a journey
Sunset from the harbour: if you want to see a beautiful sunset, make sure you get to the harbour area in time, the spectacle will be unique
Show at The Mayflower: has a capacity of over 1,500 and is one of the largest theatres in the south of England; offers musicals, plays, dance performances, operas, ballets and cabaret shows
Shoppingin Westquay: a shopping centre covering over 70,000 square metres and housing more than 100 shops, ideal for a bit of shopping. Westquay North is the realm of shopping, while in Westquay South you will find a wide choice of restaurants
Nightlife in Bedford Place: Southampton is a university town, so it follows that it has a vibrant nightlife, which is mainly concentrated around Bedford Place. Mingle with the locals, one of the most popular venues is Orange Rooms
Ocean Villageand boat tour: after visiting Ocean Village far and wide, we recommend taking part in one of the boat trips to see the city from a different perspective. A unique experience, perhaps to be enjoyed at sunset
Sea sports: if you want to enjoy sports as well as culture during your stay, you can try your hand at windsurfing, sailing and rowing in the waves under the guidance of the Water Activities Centre's experienced instructors.
Plan your stay in Southampton: flights and hotels
Visit in the months between June and September, when there is less rain and pleasant temperatures. You can reach the English resort with flights that land at the international airport, 6 km from the city.
To stay, we suggest accommodation in the southern area(compare accommodation on booking), close to the cruise terminal because it is the quietest but also the best connected and offers various possibilities. If, on the other hand, you are looking for nightlife, this is mainly concentrated around Bedford Place. For getting around, we recommend mainly walking. Alternatively, use the bus lines that connect all areas and also the surrounding area.
If you're travelling with children, don't miss the Titanic-related activities and the Shieldhall excursion, as well as the ancient abbeys and castles that make children and adults alike dream. You could also carve out half a day of fun at the Children's Pleasure Park. Finally, if you are travelling cheap, Southampton is not an overpriced city, it is about average for many English cities, not at the level of London
