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Things to see in Southampton

Tourist information: 

Southampton Tourist Information Centre
9 Civic Centre Road
Tel: (023) 8083 3333.
www.visit-southampton.co.uk

The city's tourist office is centrally located opposite the Civic Centre. The helpful staff offer advice on local attractions and events as well as a selection of free and saleable maps and guides. The tourist office also provides an accommodation-booking service and sells bus tickets.

Destination Southampton (tel: 0845 226 9944; www.destinationsouthampton.co.uk) is a conference and venue booking company. They offer a free booking service and can help visitors with group bookings, hotel reservations and booking conference venues.

Hawthorns Urban Wildlife Centre

The centre is set in over half a hectare (1.25 acres) of grounds to the north of the city centre. The grounds are planted and managed as different wildlife habitats and it is a great place to learn about the different ecosystems. This is good for family visits and the perfect place to get away from the city centre and get back to nature.

Opening Times: Mon-Fri 1000-1700, Sat-Sun 1200-1600.
Admission Fees: No.
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: Southampton Common, Southampton, United Kingdom
Telephone: (023) 8067 1921.
Maritime Museum

Opened in 1912, this was the city's first public museum. It is situated in a 14th-century warehouse that was originally built for the wool trade. The museum tells the stories of the city's maritime past including exhibitions on the Mayflower, the Queen Mary and the Titanic. Those who want to know more about the ill-fated ship can follow the Titanic Trail, with the aid of a free brochure available from the Tourist Information Centre.

Opening Times: Mon-Fri 1000-1600, Sat-Sun 1100-1600.
Admission Fees: Yes.
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: The Wool House, Southampton, United Kingdom
Telephone: (023) 8022 3941.
Medieval Merchants' House

Owned and run by English Heritage, this is one of the earliest surviving merchants' houses in England. All the furniture has been authentically recreated and visitors are able to get a glimpse of what life was like for a prosperous wine merchant, John Fortin, who lived in the house with his family over 700 years ago.

Admission Fees: Yes.
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: 58 French Street, Southampton, United Kingdom
Telephone: (023) 8022 1503.
Website: www.english-heritage.org.uk
Museum of Archaeology

This interesting museum tells Southampton's story through the ages with displays from prehistoric, Roman, Saxon and medieval times. There are other interesting exhibits, including some from ancient Egypt. Situated on the southeast corner of the walls that had once encircled medieval Southampton, the building alone arguably justifies a visit, with parts of it dating back to the 13th century.

Opening Times: Thurs-Fri 1000-1600, Sat-Sun 1100-1600. (From 7 April 2011, the museum will open at weekends).
Admission Fees: Yes.
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: Tower House, Southampton, United Kingdom
Telephone: (023) 8063 5904.
Solent Sky (Hall of Aviation)

Southampton and the Solent played a pioneering role in aviation development and it was here that the world's first seaplane was built. It was also the birthplace of the Spitfire fighter plane that has become so synonymous with WWII. This museum houses many historic planes and you can even sit at the controls of a jet fighter.

Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: Albert Road South, Southampton, United Kingdom
Telephone: (023) 8063 5830.
Website: www.spitfireonline.co.uk
Southampton City Art Gallery

The city's impressive art gallery is housed in an elegant art deco building in the heart of the Cultural Quarter and contains over 3,500 works of art spanning six centuries of European culture, with works from artists diverse as Gainsborough and Gilbert & George, and a particularly impressive exhibition of 20th-century British art.

Opening Times: Mon-Fri 1000-1600, Sat-Sun 1100-1600.
Admission Fees: No.
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: Civic Centre, Southampton, United Kingdom
Telephone: (023) 8083 2277.
St Mary's Football Stadium

After a 27-year run in the top divisions of English football, Southampton was relegated from the Premiership in 2005. Despite the setback, football remains a big passion in the city and visitors can take a tour of the ground.

Admission Fees: Yes.
Disabled Access: Yes
Unesco: No
Address: Britannia Road, Southampton, United Kingdom
Telephone: 0845 688 9448.
Website: www.saintsfc.co.uk

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