Southampton

Since Roman times, Southampton has been an important port on England's southern coast. After the Norman Conquest in 1066, it was the major port of transit between Winchester and Normandy. Today, it is one of the premier venues for sailing and watersports, with some of the best marina facilities on the south coast. It is an ideal location to explore the south coast, the New Forest and the Isle of Wight. You'll find an interesting mix of old and new, with superb shops, beautiful parks and gardens.

While much of Southampton's historic buildings were destroyed during World War II, there are still many historic places to explore. You can walk the ancient city walls and view towers from the 14th and 15th century. Also, you'll want to visit God's House Tower, a museum of local archeology. Perhaps the best known of the city's gates along the wall is Bargate, which was built by the Normans, and is now a symbol of the city of Southampton.

Other historic monuments include St. Michael's Church which dates back to Norman times, and contains a rare font of black marble imported from Tourni. The nearby Tudor House, built in 1495, is now a museum, and contains a banquet hall and reconstructed Tudor knot garden. You can see exhibits from the Victorian and Edwardian eras, as well as periodic exhibitions about local history. Nearby, the Civic Centre, with its clock tower, is home to the City Arts Gallery which is internationally renowned for its art collection that spans six centuries of European art history. The Gallery is housed within a beautiful example of 1930's municipal architecture. Admission to both venues is free.

The history of the area's contribution to aviation is celebrated at the Southampton Hall of Aviation, near Itchen Bridge, and opposite the erstwhile site of the Woolston Supermarine factory. One of the biggest displays in the museum is of the Spitfire, designed by the local aviation pioneer R.J. Mitchell. Interactive hands on displays and audio visuals show how the Spitfire was developed.

Southampton was also the original point of departure for the Pilgrim who boarded the Mayflower for the New World in 1623. A memorial can be found on Town Quay. Since that time it has been the last port of call for literally millions of imigrants who left the Old World to start a new life in the USA, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and other parts of the world.

Southampton also has many green spaces and parks. The largest is Southampton Common where many festivals, circuses and fairs are held during the summer. The Common includes a Wildlife Centre on the former site of Southampton Zoo, a swimming pool and several lakes and ponds.

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See a Map of Southampton