Southampton Travel Guide
Travel guide to Southampton, England with comprehensive information about events, shopping, and major Southampton sporting events to help you enjoy your visit more.
Southampton Overview
Situated on the south coast of England, Southampton is a long established port with a population of around 200,000 people.
The city's historical importance as a port cannot be underestimated. It was from here that the original Pilrim Fathers set sail for the New Land in the Mayflower, as well as the ill-fated Titanic. Even today cruise ships are regularly seen as they depart for various global destinations, carrying on a long tradition for seafaring. Southampton is also a busy industrial port, with container loaded ships delivering their cargos day and night.
Although primarily a seafaring city, Southampton also has an aeronautical background, with the Spitfire, Hawk and Harrier all being developed here. There is now a museum celebrating these outstanding developments called the Southampton Hall of Aviation that should be on the to see list of anyone interested in the subject.
Culturally, Southampton offers so much. The Mayflower theatre, the largest in Southern England is a venue for the very best exponents of the performing arts - theatre, opera, dance, comedy - all are showcased here. There is also the City Art Gallery, where over 3,500 works from all around Europe are exhibited. For a very special experience go to the John Hansard Gallery at the citys University, considered to be one of the best sites in the country to experience contemporary visual art.
Back to the maritime theme, a particularly important places to visit is the Maritime Museum where visitors learn how the city has developed and grown and its importance as a port. Also here is an exhibition dedicated to the Titanic, a dramatic story that everyone is familiar with and that really comes to life here in Southampton.
Top Southampton Attractions
In addition to visiting the attractive harbour in Southampton there are some lovely historic buildings to see. The medieval city walls that still stand are the second longest in the country behind those at York; and the Bargate, where the old entrance to the city is still standing as a reminder of days gone by.
Shopping in Southampton
Southampton is one of the smaller English cities but it is not left behind when it comes to shopping. In addition to the local markets there are major shopping centres where all the major brand names can be found. The city also welcomes international traders with their continental markets where overseas products are offered, often from nearby France.
Southampton Sporting Events
Sailing is a very popular activity here, with the city's location and long maritime history ensuring the sports popularity. Southampton Football Club, until recently a long standing member of the Premiership, now ply their trade in the Championship, though they do aspire to return immediately to the top flight.