Southampton：A City Packed with History and Beauty

Southampton is a very famous port in the side of Rivers Test. It is special for being the largest natural harbors in the world. It was one of the busiest ports in England during 1930s as it was preferred by several transatlantic passengers and massive liners. Titanic sailed from here before it met its cold watery end. Well, that does not mean it is not a perfect place for your next vacation. The city provides ample places for sightseeing, relaxing and shopping. The city offers various cultural events all around the year. With its scenic beauty, perfectly maintained parks it provides many places to go biking or hiking and enjoy nature at its best.

1. Medieval City Walls

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These city walls are the third largest stretches of walls in Great Britain which are unbroken. They are magnificent and the best place to admire their beauty is Western Esplanade. Another great place to enjoy the beauty of Medieval city wall is the Wind Whistle Tower. This wall can lead you to the Mayflower Park which is opposite to the Mayflower Memorial and the Wool House, a warehouse from 14th Centaury. Nearby you can also find the 12th Century on Wrinkle Street by the name of God’s House Tower.

2. Tudor House & Garden

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The Tudor house is a beautiful house in the St. Michael’s square. It was built sometime in the 15th century and belong to a rich family of a merchant. This house has now been turned into a museum that exhibits items from the history of the local town. Visitors free audio guides and enjoy the vibe and environment of the years gone past. Various artifacts displaced in the museum include Victorian and Georgian jewelry and many other finds and trinkets many archaeologists find. Most of these items are from medieval as well as Tudor periods.

3. Beaulieu

Photo by Karen Roe

Beaulieu is among the largest locomotive museums in the world. It is at a distance of 14 miles from Southampton’s. Just journey southwest and go through the beautiful New Forest and you will find yourself facing the amazing museum full of ancient and historically significant cars. It has an impressive collection of James Bond cars. If you are Harry Potter fan, the sight of the famous Ford Anglia will drive you over the handle. There is also the majestic Palace House and Gardens which were formally known as The Great Gatehouse of Beaulieu Abbey back in the 13th Century.

4. Sea City Museum

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The famous sea city museum tells the story of how the people of Southampton played a part in the maritime history of Britain. It has all the stories of the people who came or left through the port over the centuries. There is also the entire tale of the well known Titanic which sailed from this port in 1912.

5. Titanic Trail

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As mentioned before Titanic departed from the Southampton port to New York. No one is unaware of the terrible fate this ship met. Its tragic crash and the loss of numerous lives has caused various sites associated with it to be of great importance. You can get the informative Titanic Trail, which is a map that points out to all the important Titanic-related things, and see as many Titanic-related relics as you like. You can also see the Titanic Engineers’ Memorial in The East Park. Close by is the Titanic Musicians’ Memorial as well.

6. SS Shieldhall

SS Shieldhall is known for being the largest streamer from Britain’s National Historic Fleet and is still in working condition. This steamer was built in the year 1954 and was among the sludge boats of Clyde. This is a very striking vessel still in its old glory because it has been very successfully restored with the parts that were typical to be found in the ships between the years the 1870s till 1960s.

7. Solent Sky

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This place is full of amazing photographs and models. In addition to that, they also have nineteen mesmerizing flying machines. These machines lay out the aviation history of Southampton for everyone to see. You can also see the gigantic Sandringham, the historic flying boat, as well as the Supermarine which was known to be the racing seaplane and the winner of Schneider Trophy in the early years of 1930. At Solent sky, you would also be able to lay your eyes on the iconic Spitfire.

8. Old Town

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Just around the south of the city center, you will find the majestic Old Town of Southampton. This consists of a collection of places that are attributed to famous people. For instance, in the old town you can find the places that are linked to William Shakespeare, Jane Austin, Pilgrim Fathers, William the Conqueror and Henry V. You can enter the city through the Bargate which is around 800 years old.

9. Ocean Village

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To the east of the Old town of Southampton, there is a very modern dock called Princess Alexandra Dock. This dock has been turned into a shopping center with designer boutiques, cinemas, and gourmet restaurants. You can also enjoy the boat rides and the sailing facilities along with the great view of the boats docked in East Harbor. The harbor houses some smart boats outside the Canute’s Pavilion.

10. Netley Abbey

These ruins were first found in 1239 and have been a source of inspiration to many British poets, writers, and artists for many years. One mention worthy personality is John Constable, a famous painter. This village is an important place to visit because it there are various relics associated with many important personalities. One such place is Royal Victoria Military Hospital whose foundation was laid by Queen Victoria.

◎ Closing

Southampton is a place which is a major tourist attraction because of its beauty and the historic relics on each corner. There are amazing malls to shop at, historic places to look at and tranquil places to hang out and think about life. The city is well equipped to handle its tourists with all sorts of hotels ranging from Luxury Hotels to budget hostels.

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