Southampton
From MyVacationsTo
Southampton [1] is a port city on England's South East coast.
Contents |
[edit] Understand
Southampton has been a settlement since Roman and Saxon times, in Roman times the town was known as Clausentum. The Roman Ruins are situated in a suburb called Bitterne Manor. In Saxon times the town was known as Hamwic. Its privileged position on England's south coast made it Britain's premier trading post. The town became walled in the medieval era, and some remnants of these defences remain throughout the city, most notably the Bargate in the middle of the city centre. Southampton was devastated by bombing during the Second World War, meaning that much of the city and its heritage was destroyed. As such the town and its architecture has quite a modern feel to it.
Southampton has grown rapidly in the past 30 years, becoming one of the twenty largest cities in England. The two Universities (Solent University and University of Southampton) mean that there is a large student population (in term time).
[edit] Get in
[edit] By plane
Southampton is serviced by Southampton International Airport, located a short distance outside the city in Eastleigh. It is a relatively small airport, and only flies to the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
The alternative is to use one of the London airports and travel on to Southampton by train, car or bus. The most convenient are:
- Heathrow Airport is about 60 miles drive from Southampton via the M4 (westbound), M25 (anti-clockwise) and the M3 (southbound). There is a RailAir coach service to Woking station, where mainline trains to Southampton can be boarded.
- Gatwick Airport is about 80 miles drive from Southampton via the M23 (northbound), M25 (clockwise) and M3 (southbound) motorways. There is an hourly through train service to Southampton from a rail station in the airport terminal complex, taking just under two hours.
[edit] By train
South West Trains run regular (at least one an hour) services to Southampton from London Waterloo via Winchester and Basingstoke as well as from Portsmouth and further east along the south coast. Many of these trains continue beyond Southampton to Bournemouth and Weymouth via the New Forest.
Southern Trains run services via a longer and slower route from London Victoria, but have the advantage of serving London Gatwick airport on the way. Virgin Trains run longer distance services from the north of England via Birmingham and Reading. Wessex Trains run services from Cardiff, Bristol and Swindon via Salisbury.
Megatrain is a new budget train company with services three times a day between London and Southampton. These services are operated by its sister company, South West Trains, and follow the same route. If booked some time in advance, tickets can be as cheap as £1 each way, but they are more restricted than the regular tickets, and can only be purchased online via its own website or by phone.
Train times can be found on the National Rail Planner or by calling 0845-748-4950 from anywhere in the UK.
[edit] By car
The M3 links Southampton with the M25 and London. The M27 leads west towards Bournemouth and the West Country, and east along the coast towards Brighton and the rest of the south of England.
Car parking is relatively easy with many pay and display places in the city centre. There are a number of free 2hr car parks too, and if you stray a little further away you can find free parking on the streets.
[edit] By bus
Megabus run a twice daily bus service from London Victoria Coach Station to Southampton from £3-£5 for the cost of a single ticket
National Express also run a regular coach service direct to Southampton from London Victoria Coach Station. Ticket prices are less than £20 for a scheduled return.
[edit] By boat
Southampton is a busy port city, and as such has numerous sea links to countries across the world.
[edit] Get around
[edit] By bus
[edit] See
- The Bargate - a medieval gatehouse sat slap bang in the middle of the shopping centre. The top floor is now a Heritage Visitor Centre
- The Central Parks - established in the 19th century and listed Grade II on English Heritage's Register of Historic Parks, they benefited in 2001 from a £4.5m Heritage Lottery grant
- The yearly Southampton Boat Show
[edit] Do
- Visit the one of the many Theatres.
- The Mayflower is the largest theatre is southern England, offering blockbusting West End musicals as well as ballet and operatic productions.
- The Nuffield Theatre, based on the university campus, hosts performances from Shakespeare to contemporary drama.
- the Turner Sims Concert Hall features internationally-renowned classical and jazz artists.
- Southampton Guildhall offers a multipurpose venue.
- The Jongleurs Comedy Club near Bargate hosts top comedians from across the country.
- Odeon at Leisureworld
- Cineworld Cinema at Ocean Village has a wide choice of films.
- The Harbour Lights Picture House overlooking the Ocean Village Marina, which shows independent and European films.
- Take a walk on Southampton Common - 326 acres of grass and woodland, including an Urban Wildlife Centre, paddling pool, play area and fishing lake. Very busy during summer months, and a popular afternoon hang out for students
- Walk the walls - follow the signposted original course of the historic town walls, gatehouses and towers, which are amongst the most complete in England. Around half of the original one mile circuit still survives, including the famous Bargate
- Watch a football match - Southampton FC play at the new St Marys Stadium. The derby matches with neighbouring Portsmouth have plenty of fire
- Take a ride on the Hythe Ferry from Town Quay to Hythe Pier, viewing the shipping in the docks
- There are a large number of sailing schools based in and around Southampton, particularly on The Hamble. Most if not all offer courses based around the Royal Yachting Association's certificates. A start sailing weekend costs in the region of GBP £200 for two nights and two days sailing.
- Visit the one of the many Art Gallerys
- City Art Gallery contains some 3,500 works of art covering six centuries.
- Millais Gallery contains the work of up and coming artists and designers.
- The Bargate Monument Gallery - The Bargate has been refurbished and given a new lease of life as a contemporary art gallery and home to the arts organisation A Space.
- The John Hansard Gallery was created in 1980 at the University of Southampton to combine the University's fine art and special photographic collection. Widely regarded as one of the best places in the country to see contemporary visual art, the gallery also hosts seminars, talks and workshops.
- Visit a one of the cities many Museums.
- The Museum of Archaeology - Home to one of the most outstanding archaeology collections in England and traces the history of the city from its origins as a Roman town to the age of empire under Victoria. The building - God's House Tower - is in itself noteworthy as the first purpose-built artillery fortification in England.
- The Maritime Museum - The Museum houses a series of special exhibits on the great liners will help you discover the history of the docks.
- Medieval Merchants House - One of the earliest surviving merchant's houses in England. It has been restored to its mid-14th century appearance and replica furnishings provide an insight into medieval life.
- Tudor House Museum and Garden - Built in 1495 for Sir John Dawtry, the Controller of Customs in Southampton. Currently closed for restoration but apparently guided tours can be arranged.
- Solent Sky (Hall of Aviation) - Located near Ocean Village, the museum is dedicated to telling the incredible story of aviation in the Solent area.
[edit] Learn
Southampton has two universities: the University of Southampton and Southampton Solent University.
[edit] Work
[edit] Buy
Southampton sells itself as the shopping capital of the South Coast and the West Quay shopping centre does nothing to dispel you of that opinion. John Lewis and Marks And Spencer are the major draws, but there are 97 other shops happy to separate you from your hard-earned.
The Bargate shopping centre appeals to a younger clientele than West Quay, providing fashion retailers, computer game stores and an excellent milkshake shop.
The Mall (formerly Marlands) is an even more generic shopping centre, if such a thing were possible, although the rent is lower than West Quay and hence the retailers are a little less salubrious.
For more generic shopping, Above Bar Street is the main pedestrial thoroughfare joining the shopping centres to each other therefore has even more retailers, large and small, just don't expect to be surprised that the same stores as are on most British high streets have made this their home.
The more discerning shopper can head towards East Street which is the home of 'Speciality Shopping' (it even says so on the street sign) but even this has very little to surpise a shopper on the hunt for a more interesting shopping experience.
Just don't confuse it with East Street Shopping Centre which is apparently the first shopping centre in Southampton, although it has been left behind by the developments on Above Bar Street and is now tucked away too far from the madding crowd and is looking more than a little tired (and also fast becoming the haunt of teenage groups from the nearby estate).
Above Bar Street is also the home of the German Market which runs in December, and the area around the Bargate has the Farmer's Market on the second Saturday of each month.
Southampton's planners have indicated that they don't want to encourage out-of-town shopping, but that hasn't stopped Eastleigh developing Hedge End Retail Park with its collection of typical out-of-town shops at junction 7 of the M27.
[edit] Eat
There are two main areas for eating out in Southampton; the first is Oxford Street (towards Ocean Village) and the second is around Bedford Place (just North of the city).
Oxford Street has a selection of higher class (and therefore more expensive) restaurants. Recommended are the White Star (English/Traditional), Kutis (Indian), Poppadom Express (Indian) and Pilgrim House (Chinese); but pretty much if a restaurant can afford to be in Oxford Street it can afford a good chef so you can't go far wrong with picking one off the street at random.
The choice in Bedford Place is rather more varied; ranging from Morroccan and Mexican at the Southern end of the road through student style curry houses and a chinese to some late night kebab and chip shops. In terms of value for money the Pride Of India is one of best Indians in the city, but most of the restaurants are good value, if not exactly awe-inspiring taste-wise.
Walking distance from Bedford Place is the area of town that used to be known as Hungry Hill; Commercial Road where the existence of the Mayflower Theatre has meant a thriving trade for various restaurants in pre- and post-theatre eating. Again the choice is varied although generally the quality to cost ratio is not as high as it might otherwise be; although Buon Gusto (Italian) and Cafe Pattaya (Thai) are particularly recommended.
There are obviously the usual range of fast food chains spread throughout the city; formerly Burger King and McDonalds faced each other across the Bargate like petulant children with the gate itself acting like a peace-making mother, but McDonalds gave up the fight and fled to the West Quay shopping centre.
[edit] Drink
As is to be expected of a large port with two universities, there are a lot of places to drink in Southampton.
Portswood is the drinking area of choice for students at the University, so keep away from places like The Hobbit, Clowns and Jesters ("Jesters"), The Gordon Arms and The Mitre if you want to avoid students.
The Polygon is a nice area near the city centre with some good new bars, including the Lizard Lounge.
The Marina area has a good (albeit expensive) selection of seafront bars.
There is a useful directory of the local pubs and bars at http://southampton-pubs.co.uk which includes maps to find the pub and a few featured pubs as well.
See also : http://www.wikipubs.org/index.php/Category:Southampton
[edit] Sleep
There is no doubt that whatever your budget you will be able to find somewhere to lay your head in Southampton. A the top end of the scale the De Vere Grand Harbour is the only 5* hotel in the city and an exceptional piece of archtitecture.
In the level below that the Hilton provides 4* luxury in a pleasant environment as well as being easy to get to from the M3.
3* hotels are much easier to come by, the Jurys Inn has recently opened in the middle of a city centre roundabout, the Novotel, Travelodge, Holiday Inn and Hotel Ibis are all perfectly adequate for providing a night's sleep.
If you feel the need for a less generic hotel experience, The Dophin hotel and The Star are both on the High Street in traditional coaching inn buildings and will make you feel less like you're just a commodity.
If you're on the cheap, or feel like a more personal stay, then there are plenty of Bed And Breakfasts; most cluster around the bottom end of Hill Lane which is close to the train station. Simply wander out from the station on the opposite side from Town (If you see Toys 'r' Us opposite you're on the wrong side) and head down the alley next to The Victory. Hill Lane leads up the, erm, hill. Keep going up the hill until you find one worth staying at; don't forget to check the side streets too.
Tourist Information will almost certainly be able to find you somewhere to stay if you're stuck (023 8083 3333).
[edit] Contact
Southampton Tourist Information Centre
[edit] Stay safe
There is a strong police presence in Southampton City Centre at night time. Especially around the clubs and pubs. Additionally there is a Night Bus Service that costs £2 for each time you travel and runs until 2-3am to allow people to get home safely.
It is advised not to wander in to Southampton Common at night time.
[edit] Cope
Samaritans
11 College Place
London Road
Southampton
Hampshire
SO15 2FE
Phone: 08457 90 90 90
No Limits is an Information, Advice and Counselling service for young people in Southampton aged 13-25.
No Limits City Centre
24a Bernard Street
Southampton
SO14 3AY
Phone: 023 8022 4224
[edit] Get out
- The New Forest
- Salisbury
- Winchester, a nearby ancient cathedral city with lots to see.