Southampton Hotels

Southampton has existed since Roman times, with its privileged position on the South coast of England making it a prime trading post. The city had medieval walls but nowadays only remnants remain, most of them within the Bargate area in the city centre. The rest, along with many of the other historical buildings were given an unwanted make-over courtesy of the Luftwaffe.

Southampton has two universities, Solent University and the University of Southampton, giving Southampton a lively nightlife during term time. But if you are a stick in the mud and want to steer clear of students then avoid the Portswood area and pubs like The Hobbit, Clowns and Jesters, The Gordon Arms and the Mitre.

Southampton port is still busy for freight, and cruises -passengers hop aboard the Queen Mary 2 here, the Cunard liner which travels to New York City.

SOUTHAMPTON’S TOP 10

SOUTHAMPTON’S EVENTS

Southampton’s Big Bike Celebration takes place at the end of June on Weston Shore with stunt displays, free bike checks and much more.

The Dragon Boat Festival is a June event which takes place in Mayflower Park, Southampton. Get the feel-good factor at this ultimate team event.

The Spring into Summer event takes place on Southampton Common at the end of June, free to all, a festival celebrating nature and the environment.

The Thai Food and Craft Festival is an annual Southampton July event and a Thai life celebration in Hoglands Park.

The Race for Life takes place on Southampton Common in mid July. Run, walk or jog the 5K event.

Southampton Mela Festival is a mixture of Asian dance, demonstrations and food stalls at Hogland Park during July.

The PSP Southampton Boat Show takes place in September each year, undoubtedly the key highlight on Southampton’s events calendar. Tickets cost £13 in advance, held at Mayflower Park, Western Esplanade.

Southampton Beer Festival in early June is held at the Guildhall with over 80 real ales, competitions, stalls and live music.

Power in the Park regularly attracts crowds of over 80,000, making it the biggest open-air concert in the south – and it’s free. The event takes over Southampton Common in late June.

The Southampton Christmas Festival and Market starts at the end of November until just before Christmas at the West Quay Shopping Centre.

WHEN TO GO

· Southampton features a temperate but changeable climate, with a climate influenced by its southern position which means plenty of sunny days and mild winters.

· Temperatures during the months of July and August regularly get up to 30 °C, with temps during January and February hovering around the 8 °C mark. Annual daytime temps in Southampton are 17 °C or thereabout.

· Like elsewhere in the UK, it can rain in Southampton at any time of year, so it pays to be prepared with a brolly and waterproof clothing.

GETTING THERE

· By road, Southampton is 75 miles from London and to the rest of the UK with the M3, M27 and A34 providing links to the centre of the city. National Express and Greyhound UK run a fast efficient coach service from London Victoria and all other intercity destinations – at a competitive cost.

· Southampton has good train links from London Waterloo, a journey which takes around 75 minutes, with trains leaving every hour. There are also direct links to Brighton, Oxford, Birmingham, Bath and Bristol as well as many other main cities.

· Southampton Airport is located on the outskirts of the city close to the M27 and M3 – the airport has its own railway station which runs five trains an hour into Southampton Central, a journey time of just seven minutes.

Southampton General Information

Attractions

Activities

Restaurant

Nightlife

Climate