University of Southampton
About Southampton, Guide and Top Tourist Attractions
(Southampton, England)
Southampton is one Southern England's key cities, formerly the main launch point of ocean going liners during the era of sea travel, and has a strong maritime past. Located at the end of the Solent - a broad estaury, the city is busy centre with a large student population and well developed infrastructure. It is also a good base for exploring the south coast and is in easy reach of the New Forest, and Isle of Wight, making it popular in the summer.
What to do in Southampton
First-time visitors to Southampton can get to know the city through one of the many guided tours offered to tourists. Walking tours are offered free by the Southampton Tourist Guides Association and can be conducted in French, Spanish, and German. You can also map out your own itinerary for a taxi tour. If you want to enjoy the city's rich marine environment, you can also take a short cruise or water tour.
Southampton also has a bustling nightlife, combining history with contemporary culture in its many historic pubs, bars, and music venues. A good place to start is Leisure World, a multipurpose entertainment centre offering two dance floors, six bars, and four large video projectors. It also contains a sports bar, night clubs and the Grosvenor Casino.
Tourist Attractions
Southampton is the greenest city in southern England, thanks to its many beautiful parks. Seven of them are located close to the Old Town and hold much historical value as they once served as grazing lands for early Southampton inhabitants. The most striking of these is The Common, a 326-acre stretch of flowery landscape just a short walk from the city centre. The common also features a Victorian lake, an abandoned racecourse, and Britain's deepest artesian well.
Southampton is also home to many impressive art galleries and museums celebrating the city's rich cultural heritage. Art and history buffs will certainly enjoy the City Art Gallery, with its extensive collection of over 3,500 paintings dating back to the Italian Renaissance and French Impressionism, as well as more contemporary British pieces from the 20th century. Also worth seeing is the 800-year-old Bargate monument, which has recently been transformed into a contemporary art gallery. Admission is free, although the gallery is closed in between exhibits for setting up new displays.
