Southampton is a historical yet modern city in the county of Hampshire, the southeast of the United Kingdom. This vibrant town, less famous than London or Brighton but no less charming, is resolutely turned towards the sea. Its history has always been linked to the sea as it is an important European cruise port. But beyond its quays, the city also offers many historical and cultural tourist attractions, trendy clubs, parks, and museums, making it a lively destination. The Titanic also set sail from here!
With endless possibilities, it is also ideal as a starting point to visit the surroundings. So if you’re planning to explore Southampton this winter, here are the 10 best things you can do!
1. Bargate
Start your tour of Southampton from the grand historic gate known as the Bargate, once the gateway to the ancient walled city of Southampton, located around 15 minutes from Central Station. This is a great place to start exploring the city.
From there, taking the High Street, you will sink into the city and discover many cafes where you can order your morning espresso. You will then be ready to admire the ancestral ramparts, medieval vaults, and historical monuments, such as the Church of Saint-Michel, from the Middle Ages.
For lunch, head to the Oxford Street area and look for a table at Carnicero Steakhouse Restaurant & Bar, a place that has excellent beef and pork.
2. The Historic Tudor House and Garden
From Bargate, drop by nearby Tudor House and Garden, a 15th-century mansion surrounded by beautiful English gardens (Mon-Thu 10:00-15:00, Sat-Sun 10:00-17:00).
You won’t want to miss this historic house that depicts when exploring Southampton’s old town. This beautifully restored property in proximity to St Michael’s Church illustrates the history of domestic life in Southampton since the 14th century. However, parts of the house and estate are even older.
The Tudor House has a vast collection of interesting objects, including decorated glass tiles. The ornamental garden is fantastic, and you can enjoy the view while sipping cream tea in the on-site cafe.
3. SeaCity Museum
Plan your first stop on your next day’s itinerary at the SeaCity Museum.
SeaCity is the perfect place to teach your children and immerse yourself in the city’s history and your hometown (and learn some new things that you didn’t already know about Southampton). They offer insight into the Gateway to the World, the history of Southampton’s Titanic, and the Pavilion’s special exhibition (every day from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.).
From there, in a few minutes on foot, you can reach the Titanic Musicians Memorial and the Titanic Engineers’ Memorial, bronze statues and monuments that commemorate this tragedy.
The Galley Café is the perfect place to relax after exploring the variety of exhibits. Serving light lunches, hot and cold drinks, cakes, and pastries, it has everything you need to provide your little ones with an afternoon out.
For lunch, you can also stop at Nando’s Southampton, where you can sample plenty of chicken dishes and sip a good beer.
4. Southampton City Art Gallery
The same day, in the afternoon, visit the Southampton City Art Gallery, one of the city’s most important museums. Here, in about two hours, you can contemplate various works, paintings by English painters, ceramics, and objects of all kinds (10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Saturday until 5:00 p.m.).
The Southampton City Art Gallery houses one of the finest art collections in southern England, comprising over 5,300 works of art from the Renaissance to the present day. It’s one of the most iconic things to do in Southampton.
In December, the Southampton City Art Gallery also organizes a ‘Mini Monets – Art Club’ for 4 to 6-year-olds. Children can experiment with different artistic styles, techniques, and materials in a fun and accessible way. It’s a fantastic way to encourage your child’s creativity!
5. Ocean Village
After the City Art Gallery, stroll through Palmerston Park to reach the Ocean Village, the modern shopping and entertainment centre built around the marina to indulge in shopping and relaxation.
Ocean Village has a chic atmosphere with a large selection of restaurants and high-end shops. You will also find two cinemas here, one dedicated to modern blockbusters and the other reserved for foreign films and arthouse. You can also enjoy boat trips from the marina and the Solent Sky Aviation Museum.
In the evening, stay in this area, which is full of clubs and restaurants. We suggest The Jetty, where you can eat oysters and fresh fish with a beautiful view of the harbor and the sea.
6. God’s House Tower
The next morning, start your day with a visit to the God’s House Tower, a 13th-century gatehouse, the first structure in England built for military purposes, which now houses a museum on the culture and historical heritage of the city (Tue-Sun 10:00-17:00).
A short walk away, at the Oxford Street stop (Stop QD), take the green line 6 City Red bus, which takes you to Netley Abbey in 20 minutes. It is an abbey dating back to 1239 inspired by writers, poets, and artists for centuries (from October to March only on weekends from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.). You can have lunch near the ruins at Jolly Friar, a fish & chip shop!
7. Highclere Castle
We suggest hiring a private taxi in Southampton to get to Highclere Castle smoothly and comfortably.
In 45 minutes, following the A27 or the most appropriate route, your Southampton taxi driver will get you to Highclere Castle, the famous castle from the TV series Downton Abbey where events and tastings are held. The times and admission costs vary by program. You need to check the official website.
Then get back in your car and ask your driver to take you to Beaulieu, a town 14 miles from Southampton.
For lunch, you can stop at Beaulieu Restaurant & Catering.
8. Alpine Snowsports Southampton
Southampton trip in winter would be incomplete without visiting the Alpine Snowsports Centre, a great snow activities venue for new and experienced enthusiasts to try skiing, donutting, and partying.
The Centre also offers mini-activity camps for children aged 4-7, all on the learning track. The instructors will relieve you of the hard work and teach your children to slide and have fun on the skis.
It’s the perfect opportunity to watch your kids have fun as they learn a new skill in complete safety!
9. Westquay
If you’re interested in shopping, you would love to visit Westquay, the heart of Southampton’s shopping hub.
The Westquay Centre occupies a gigantic area of more than 7 hectares and contains a good hundred shops. It consists of two adjacent shopping malls located north of the historic centre. Westquay North is home to renowned brands’ stores like Marks & Spencer and John Lewis, while Westquay South offers many restaurants for food lovers and a cinema.
If you still need to find what you’re looking for, the famous West Quay Retail Park and Marlands Shopping Centre are nearby.
10. The Mayflower
Although built in 1928, the Mayflower is still one of the largest theatres in southern England (Monday to Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Sunday, one hour before the show). The auditorium can seat over 1,500 people to watch a West End musical, plays, dance performances, operas, ballets, and comedy shows.
In addition to the restaurant at your disposal on site, you will find many establishments where you can eat and drink nearby. The theatre has a strategic location just 10 minutes north of Southampton Central Station.
Wrapping Up!
Whether you are visiting the city for a day, a weekend, or taking a cruise here, there are plenty of things to do in Southampton to immerse yourself in this great city.
The southern area of the city has numerous accommodations and is close to the boarding terminals for cruise ships. The best way to get around the town comfortably, safely, and hassle-free is to hire a private Southampton taxi service.
Go Comfort is a Southampton taxi service offering its clients seamless trips throughout Southampton and Hampshire and from and to airports and cruise ports.
Call +447948426857 or visit the website to book an executive taxi in Southampton today.