Discover, explore and enjoy Southampton!

Tread medieval town walls, uncover true stories of Titanic passengers and, new for 2024, discover why the city was so important to Jane Austen.

The buzzing port city of Southampton is one of the most vibrant and creative cities on the coast.  Thanks to its large student population, this city is young-at-heart with a music and entertainment scene to match. 

Couple that with a history dating back to around 43AD and a maritime heritage that encompasses the Mayflower, the Titanic and also birthplace of the Spitfire and you have the ideal must-visit destination. 

Get a flavour of this city’s impressive history with a walk around the wonderfully-preserved medieval Old Town Walls, a series of panels bring key events and people to life. Entering at the Bargate you’ll follow in the steps of townspeople, traders and sailors.  

En route you’ll come across the 800 year-old Tudor House and Garden, tread its creaking wooden floors and explore its displays before visiting the pretty Tudor knot garden and café, a peaceful oasis in the centre of this bustling city.   

If you’re here at the weekend, continue around the walls and pop into God’s House Tower for changing art exhibitions and fabulous seascape views. 

This is the port of the Pilgrim Fathers and feted Titanic - uncover true stories of Titanic passengers at the state-of-the-art SeaCity Musuem, a must for any visitor to the city.  It sets the stage for the sailing of the ‘unsinkable’ Titanic in 1912 and the impact this ship had on almost every home in the town at the time. 

The City Art Gallery is considered one of the best outside London, check out its programme of themed talks and workshops for a deeper dive. Modern art-lovers should head to the John Hansard Gallery, part of the University of Southampton, while Southampton’s Art Trail showcases a series of artworks punctuating the city’s parks and gardens. 

With colourful festivals, live music and cuisine from almost every corner of the globe, this young-at-heart city is worth a visit year-round.

Launching in November 2024, Southampton is celebrating its strong connections with former resident Jane Austen. While the writer’s links with Bath and north Hampshire are well documented, less is known about her time in Southampton.  Yet this is where she attended school and resided between 1806 and 1809. 

A programme of events to mark the 250th anniversary of her birth in 1775 kickstarts with an exhibition at God’s House Tower featuring Austen’s travelling writing desk alongside an interpretation of her life and works.  

A Jane Austen Walking Trail tracing her connections in the city including Castle Square where she lived and The Dolphin Hotel, venue for winter balls where Austen danced.  Among the programme of celebratory events will be theatrical performances of her work – a year not to be missed by her literary fans. 

Today Southampton is home to more than 150 languages, making it one of the most culturally diverse places in the UK, it’s been welcoming visitors for centuries! 

Reflecting its rich cultural mix, the city’s cafes, restaurants and bars offer a truly global menu to suit almost every palate. Check out Bedford Place or Oxford Street for excellent cosmopolitan cuisine. 

Make a date for Southampton Mela Festival, a highlight of the city’s calendar, this free event in July attracts around 30k visitors for a fusion of dance, music and family fun, an international event from world-class artists.  

Celebrate Chinese New Year at the end of January with live music, dragon parade and tradition lion dance as well as free Chinese children’s games from the Bargate to Guildhall Square. And for some of the best beers and live entertainment, grab your lederhosen and enjoy Bavarian food and drink at Octoberfest in Guildhall Square. 

West Quay and walls For night owls there’s jazz, blues or rock at one of the many independent venues. 

Find classical concerts at the O2 Guildhall or Turner Sims Concert Hall and a superb line-up of shows at The Mayflower Theatre, appearing here often before they hit the stages of the West End. Then there’s Premier League football and top-class cricket, diving, axe-throwing and more. 

Looking to shop? Hundreds of retail outlets and upscale brands await at Westquay and The Marlands. 

Visit theatres, music venues, festivals, boutiques and an emerging waterfront boasting two rivers and the ocean, in this forward-thinking, diverse city – prepare to be surprised, pack your bags and explore! 

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Image Credits:

Top 3 images
Tudor House and Garden Museum © Southampton City Council
Tudor House and Garden Museum © Southampton City Council
Southampton Bargate  ©  Southampton City Council

Bottom 3 images
Southampton Pride © Southampton City Council
Ice Skating  © Southampton City Council
Southampton Guildhall Aerial © Southampton City Council