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Southampton is a
vibrant university city in southern Hampshire. Its
mild climate, proximity to the coast and wealth of
natural attractions makes Southampton one of the
most appealing places in the UK to live and work.
Historical Importance
Southampton is a
vibrant, modern city with a rich archaeological,
architectural and maritime heritage. The city has
Roman and Saxon origins, and in the medieval period
became one of England's most important seaports. The
14th-century Bargate and city walls are some of the
most impressive in the country, and the
fortifications on the Solent bear witness to the
continuing significance of the city in the era of
Henry VIII. Nearby at Netley, the remnants of the
Cistercian Abbey and the Victorian Royal Military
Hospital are reminders of the historical importance
of the area. The city played an important role in
the heyday of the ocean-going liners as shown by the
architecture of the dock areas; other important
twentieth century historical associations include
the Spitfire which was designed and built here and
the RMS Titanic, whose home port was Southampton.
For many decades Southampton was England's 'gateway
to the empire' and it remains a thriving and
fascinating city.
Heritage
Walking Tours There are free, guided
heritage tours every Sunday and Bank Holiday
Monday. The 90-minute tours of the old Norman
Town start from the historic Bargate and include
the gates, walls and unique medieval vaults.
Alternatively, you can follow the Walk the Walls
sign posts and panels and give yourself a guided
tour of Medieval Southampton.
Beautiful Countryside
The New Forest,
just a short drive away, provides excellent walking,
cycling, horse riding and camping. The south’s
magnificent coastline provides walking and safe
bathing along with water sports such as windsurfing,
sailing and powerboat racing. The Southampton
International Boat Show and Cowes Week
are just two of the many attractions for sailors.
Country Parks
Royal Victoria
Country Park The Royal Victoria Country Park
comprises some 200 acres of mature woods and
grassy parkland overlooking Southampton Water.
This popular park provides ideal facilities for
children and peace of mind for parents to enjoy
a safe environment. The park has a heritage
centre, miniature railway, tearooms, large
barbecues for hire, plus trails and woodland
walks throughout the site.
Queen
Elizabeth Country Park QECP is Hampshire's
biggest country park with 20 miles of trails for
walkers, cyclists and horse ridersset in 1,400
acres of open access woodland and downland
within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Manor Farm
Country Park A working farm of a bygone age
set in a scenic landscape of farmland and
ancient woodland on the banks of the River
Hamble. The park entrance is 1/2 mile from
junction 8 of the M27 between Portsmouth and
Southampton.
Lakeside
Country Park Lakeside Country Park covers 60
acres of lakes, meadow and young woodland
situated between Eastleigh and Southampton.
These restored gravel workings provide
opportunities for a wide range of outdoor
activities including watersports and fishing.
Lepe
Country Park Lepe is a coastal Country Park
in the New Forest. There are stunning views
across the Solent to the Isle of Wight. With
over a mile of beach, pine fringed cliffs,
historic D-Day remains and wild flower meadows,
the park is popular for walking, swimming,
fishing, windsurfing and bird or boat watching.
There is a childrens play area, picnic areas,
barbecues for hire, toilets, ample parking and a
cafe.
A City of Culture
Southampton has five
art galleries and the City Art Gallery is
recognised as one of the best in the country. There
are two theatres in the city: The Mayflower
stages top West End shows, musicals and ballet and
The Nuffield Theatre often previews plays destined
for London’s West End. Southampton Guildhall
is the South's largest multipurpose entertainment
venue combining comedy, classical music, family
entertainment and rock/pop. The most popular events
still remain in rock & pop, with sell out shows from
some of the biggest names in the industry.
Museums and
Art Galleries
John Hansard
Gallery Southampton University, Southampton,
SO17 1BJ (0)23 8059 2158 The Hansard Gallery is
a leader in contemporary art, showcasing
photography, sculpture, painting, and crafts.
Lectures and seminars accompany their
exhibitions.
Maritime
Museum Wool House, Bugle St, Town Quay,
Southampton, SO14 2AR (0)23 8063 2493 Housed in
a 14th century wool warehouse, this museum tells
the story of Southampton's docks and the ocean
liners that sailed from the city. A special
display showcases artefacts from the Titanic
voyage. You may notice names carved on overhead
beams - French prisoners kept here during the
Napoleonic Wars etched them into the wood.
Medieval
Merchants House 58 French St, Southampton,
(0)23 8022 1503 Built in the 13th century as the
home and shop of a local merchant, this house
went through a number of uses before being
restored as a medieval museum. Its stone and
timber-framed exterior is authentic for the
period and an audio tour lets you experience
life in the Middle Ages.
Millais
Gallery East Park Terrace, Southampton
Institute, Southampton, SO14 OYN (0)23 8031 9916
Located on the Southampton Institute campus, the
Millais Gallery focuses on contemporary art that
is significant to the local community. It
highlights work by students and young artists
and encourages multimedia, installations, and
thematic shows.
Museum of
Archaeology Winkle St, God's House Tower,
Southampton, SO14 3AW (0)23 8063 2493 Set in
God's House Tower, a building constructed in the
15th century this museum details Southampton's
history from Roman times to the medieval era.
The museum was the former site of a gun
storehouse and a jail, and it was adapted to its
current use following World War II.
Southampton
City Art Gallery Civic Centre, Commercial
Rd, Southampton, SO14 7LP (0)23 8083 2769 This
striking museum has a wide collection of
landscapes, portraits, ceramics, sculpture, and
European works from the 17th to 19th centuries.
It is particularly well known for its 20th
century British paintings and for the Perseus
Series by Sir Edward Burne-Jones.
Southampton
Hall of Aviation Albert Rd South,
Southampton, SO14 3FR (0)23 8063 5830 Based in
an impressive metal hangar, this museum is
filled with a variety of planes, and follows the
history of aviation and Southampton's role in
the development of aircraft operations. Displays
on the R.J. Mitchell-designed Spitfire and tours
of the Sandringham Flying Boat are particularly
popular.
Tudor House
Museum Bugle St, St. Michael's Square,
Southampton, SO14 2AD (0)23 8033 2513 Built in
the 15th century, this stately gabled home
sparkles with leaded glass windows. First
restored more than a century ago, it is
currently undergoing additional renovations. It
has a magnificent staircase and Elizabethan
rooms in the front with a Victorian kitchen and
Georgian interiors to the rear.
National Motor
Museum at Beaulieu Few car museums can match
the unique collection of the world-renowned
National Motor Museum at Beaulieu. The
Collection now comprises some 250 vehicles
including cars, motorbikes, commercial vehicles,
motoring eccentricities and memorabilia.
Displays include everything from early examples
of motoring to legendary World Record Breakers
like Bluebird and Golden Arrow.
A Mecca for Sports
For sports fans,
the 32,000 seat St Mary’s Football Stadium is
home to “The Saints”, and The Rose Bowl
(Hampshire Cricket Club’s new ground) is located on
the edge of the city. Southampton and the
surrounding area provide excellent golf courses
and the city’s public golf course has been voted
one of the top five in the UK.
Travel and Tourism
There are numerous
ferries from Portsmouth to France and Spain,
plus cruises including the QE2 and QM2 from
Southampton which is now the UK’s premier cruise
port. Southampton airport is the main hub
for FlyBe with flights to many holiday destinations
including Malaga, Palma, Faro and La Rochelle. For
more exotic destinations, Heathrow and
Gatwick airports are both around an hour away.
For those who like shopping, Southampton’s Westquay
is one of the largest city-centre shopping complexes
in Europe.
Family Activities
Marwell Zoo
is a zoological park set in 100 acres of
delightful Hampshire countryside, six miles
south-east of Winchester. The park was founded
in 1972 by John Knowles, a conservationist who
recognised the need to save animals from
extinction. One of the zoo’s main purposes is
the conservation of endangered species. There
are animals from almost every continent at
Marwell - white rhinos, Amur tigers, cheetah,
zebra, giraffe, tamarins, macaques, gibbons, and
leopards to name a few of the 200 species at the
zoo.
Paultons
Family Theme Park in Hampshire, on the edge
of the New Forest, offers a great family day out
with over 50 different attractions and rides
included in the price. The park includes
thrilling and gentle rides, dinosaurs, museums,
animated shows, play areas, exotic birds and
other fun activities for all ages in a garden
setting.
Housing
There is housing to suit every requirement nearby,
including rural villages and small towns,
such as Romsey as well as larger conurbations such
as Chandlers Ford and Southampton.
Nearby Chilworth village is probably the most
prestigious area within the greater Southampton
region. There are many excellent schools and
colleges including Winchester College, Barton
Peveril, Thornden School, King Edward VI School, and Peter Symonds
College.
The Southampton area
offers an exceptional quality of life for people of
all ages and interests. |
