Summary
The county of Hampshire’s largest city, Southampton is a historic port where many of the world’s largest cruise liners continue to dock.
One such vessel, the Titanic, departed from Southampton on its ill-fated maiden voyage.
The city also possesses an aviation heritage, being the location where the Spitfire fighter plane was assembled in the 1930s.
Additionally, Southampton served as a pivotal hub during the D-Day landings in the Second World War and had earlier suffered significant damage from German bombing campaigns due to its strategic importance as a commercial port.
Remarkable remnants of the old town can still be found, including the imposing Bargate, lengthy sections of the 13th-century walls, and the elegant Tudor House and garden.
Let’s delve into the top attractions in Southampton:
1. SeaCity Museum
This multimillion-pound museum opened in 2012 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of RMS Titanic’s departure from Southampton.
SeaCity is housed in a renovated section of the Civic Centre complex that formerly accommodated the police station and magistrates’ court.
The exhibition, titled “Gateway to the World,” honors Southampton’s role as a key port in England, chronicling the people and goods that have traversed the city since the Middle Ages.
A standout feature is the one-ton replica of the ocean liner RMS Queen Mary, which operated between Southampton, Cherbourg, and New York until 1967. The “Titanic Story” offers a new perspective on the world’s most notorious maritime disaster, sharing the narrative from the viewpoint of the crew, many of whom were based in Southampton.
Visitors can observe re-enactments from the court inquiry into the sinking and listen to audio accounts from survivors.
2. Solent Sky Museum
In the early decades of the 20th century, Southampton was home to aviation manufacturer Supermarine, the designer of the revered Spitfire fighter plane.
This company gained acclaim for its achievements in the Schneider Trophy, a seaplane racing event that took place between 1913 and 1931. The history of Supermarine and the Schneider Trophy is central to this aviation museum.
Exhibits include the Spitfire F.24 and the Supermarine S.6, which won the Schneider Trophy in 1929, alongside various British-made aircraft such as the de Havilland Vampire, Slingsby Grasshopper training glider, Short Sandringham flying boat, and Folland Gnat.
The museum also showcases propeller and jet engines produced by renowned manufacturers including Bristol, Napier, Alvis, and Rolls-Royce.
3. Tudor House and Garden
This distinguished 15th-century residence on Bugle Street became the first museum in the city upon its opening to the public in 1912. The half-timbered Tudor House and Garden was restored during a nine-year closure that concluded in 2011, allowing visitors to explore the lives of those who inhabited and worked in this building throughout history.
Over the years, the house has hosted artist studios, a bonnet-makers shop, dyeworks, and a bookbinding shop. By the 19th century, it had gained notoriety as a slum, congested with unhealthy, outdated properties that lacked modern amenities.
Visitors can trace various chapters in the building’s history with the assistance of multimedia exhibitions and artifacts displayed in glass cases.
The Renaissance-style garden features King John’s Palace, a Norman structure from the 12th century, while the house additionally includes a stately Georgian wing available for functions.
4. Mayflower Theatre
One of Southampton’s premier cultural venues, this 2,300-seat theatre has undergone several transformations since its inaugural performance in 1928 as the Empire Theatre. The Mayflower Theatre is a Grade II listed building known for hosting legendary performers such as The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, and Queen during its time as the Gaumont from 1950 to 1986.
Today, the theatre’s programming predominantly features theatre productions and musicals, including adaptations of popular works such as The Kite Runner, War Horse, Blood Brothers, and The Full Monty.
Additionally, the venue hosts operatic performances, concerts featuring tribute acts, and comedic performances by some of Britain’s renowned stand-up comedians, including Bill Bailey and Sarah Millican.
5. Town Walls
Southampton’s old town is safeguarded by some of the most complete medieval defensive structures in the country.
The origin of these defenses dates back to the relocation of Southampton in the 10th century.
In 1338, Southampton experienced a raid by the French, prompting a subsequent renovation of the defenses which included a two-kilometer curtain wall, punctuated by eight gates and reinforced with 29 towers.
A preserved one-kilometer walking circuit exists along the north and west sides, including Bargate Street, Back of the Walls, Town Quay, and the Western Esplanade.
Informational panels describe the architecture and significant historical events that occurred in these locations, and guests can scale portions for picturesque views over the old town and New Forest.
6. Bargate
The most prominent remnant of the old walls is the Grade I listed Bargate, which overlooks Southampton’s primary shopping district.
Initially constructed from limestone and flint at the close of the 12th century, Bargate was remodeled in the following century with the addition of two turreted drum towers and arrow loops.
The south side was enhanced with ornamental features, including a row of four lancet windows above five Gothic arches.
A statue of King George III in Roman attire, dating from 1809 and replacing an earlier representation of Queen Anne, is positioned above the central portal.
This gate periodically hosts short-term exhibitions organized by Southampton Solent University.
7. Southampton City Art Gallery
Located within the Art Deco Civic Centre complex, Southampton City Art Gallery was founded in 1939. The gallery is home to a “Designated Collection,” which is regarded as one of the most significant in southern England, encompassing 5,000 works from eight centuries.
The collection predominantly features notable 20th-century and contemporary British artists, including members of the Camden Town Group and the London Group, along with works by Richard Long, Tony Cragg, and Richard Deacon.
Among the highlights are a 14th-century altarpiece by the Ancona painter Allegretto Nuzi, and sculptures by Edgar Degas, Auguste Rodin, and Henri Gaudier-Brzeska.
Younger visitors can engage with the “Please Do Touch” trail, and the gallery frequently hosts a variety of temporary exhibitions. In summer 2018, there was a prominent exhibition featuring 2011 Turner Prize nominee George Shaw.
8. Hythe Ferry
The optimal way to view Southampton Water is by traversing the brief crossing to the village of Hythe, situated on the west side of the estuary.
With ferries operating every 30 minutes, the journey takes approximately ten minutes, providing views of the large vessels at the harbor.
The experience continues upon disembarking, as Hythe Pier extends from the village center into the estuary for 640 meters, ranking among the ten longest piers in the British Isles.
The historic tramway along the pier is the oldest pier train globally, established in 1909. This location serves as a convenient starting point for those traveling on foot or by bicycle to the New Forest National Park.
9. Southampton Common
A spacious area located just north of the city center, Southampton Common spans 326 acres and has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to the diverse wildlife residing in its waterways, ponds, woods, and grasslands.
The ponds and streams within the Common habitat support a notably high population of great crested newts.
The Hawthorns Urban Wildlife Centre provides insights into the natural history of this area and the various species that inhabit the Common.
In addition to being a tranquil spot for walking or cycling, the Common also hosts outdoor events during the spring and summer months.
Notably, the Common People music festival occurs at the end of May, featuring acts like Lily Allen and The Jacksons in 2018, while seasonal fairs take place during Easter and in August.
10. Sir Harold Hillier Gardens
Located nearby in Romsey, this splendid 72-hectare arboretum was established in 1953 by horticulturist Harold Hillier.
The grounds of Jermyn’s House, Hillier’s former residence, now include a charming tearoom.
Meandering paths and formal avenues wind through the park, which features over 42,000 trees and shrubs, encompassing approximately 12,000 taxa. Noteworthy collections include rhododendrons, oaks, camellias, and magnolias.
Highlights of the gardens include the 250-meter Centenary Border, Winter Garden, Himalayan Valley, Azalea Woodland, and Hydrangea Walk.
Additionally, children can enjoy attractions such as the bamboo tunnel, tree house, wobbly bridge, and flying carpet swing.
11. SS Shieldhall
Moored at the port next to the King George V Graving Dock, SS Shieldhall is recognized as Europe’s largest functioning steamship.
Launched in 1955 as a “Clyde Sludge Boat,” her role was to transport treated sewage along Scotland’s River Clyde and discharge it at sea.
During summer months, SS Shieldhall served as a cruise boat, and in 1976, she was brought to Southampton to facilitate sludge removal, transporting it into the Channel.
In the 1980s, the vessel was slated for dismantling when a successful charity effort raised £80,000 to preserve it. SS Shieldhall is now operated by a team of dedicated volunteers.
Visitors can embark on guided tours of the deck, bridge, foredeck, engine room, boiler room, steering gear, saloon, and steam winch, or experience one of the many cruises offered between May and September.
12. Medieval Merchant’s House
The Medieval Merchant’s House is an English Heritage property located a short distance from Southampton’s city center.
Constructed in 1290 by merchant John Fortin, who traded with Aquitaine, the half-timbered house has undergone several changes over the centuries. Damage sustained during the Second World War ultimately revealed its medieval origins.
Subsequently acquired by the city council, it was restored to reflect its 14th-century appearance.
The proprietor would have conducted business from the open shopfront in the porch, with goods like wine stored in the vaulted undercroft, maintaining a consistently cool temperature throughout the year.
On the upper floor, visitors can explore the bed chambers furnished with replica medieval furniture, alongside timbers bearing manufacturers’ marks from centuries past.
13. Manor Farm Country Park
Adjacent to a nature reserve along the west bank of the River Hamble, Manor Farm Country Park offers a delightful rural experience at an idyllic Victorian farm.
Visitors can observe domestic animals such as sheep, chickens, draft horses, cows, donkeys, and pigs, while also learning about various farm activities, including milking, sheep shearing, and operating agricultural machinery.
In case of inclement weather, tours of the barns, historic farmhouse, blacksmith’s forge, Victorian schoolroom, church, and cottage are available.
The visitor center resides within an 18th-century timber and brick barn, once utilized for threshing corn.
14. New Forest National Park
Whether approaching by road or ferry across to Hythe, one of the UK’s most cherished national parks lies within ten miles of Southampton.
The park encompasses vast expanses of unenclosed pasture, heathland, and woodland in the southeast of England.
The landscape is predominantly flat, accompanied by an extensive network of clearly marked cycling paths and rental stations in villages such as Brockenhurst and Burley.
The ancient beech glades within the New Forest are awe-inspiring, and with some quiet observance, visitors may spot roe, fallow, and red deer.
On the heaths, semi-feral New Forest Ponies roam, having descended from equines that occupied the area prior to the last ice age, approximately 500,000 years ago.
15. Southampton Boat Show
The largest boating festival in Britain occurs at Mayflower Park for ten days each September.
The Southampton Boat Show takes place on floating jetties and represents a premier sales platform attracting over 100,000 attendees annually. Every aspect of the maritime industry is on display, from engine manufacturers and sail companies to a diverse array of vessels and products, appealing to both serious buyers and those captivated by the allure of state-of-the-art yachts.
