Editor's picks
A local's shortlist — the places worth your time first, each with a tip.
The Bargate & the medieval town walls
Landmark · City centre, between Above Bar and the Old Town
A Norman gatehouse of about 1180 standing on its own in the middle of the shopping street, at the head of one of the most complete circuits of medieval town walls surviving in England.
Local tip: Roughly half the original wall circuit and a large share of its towers survive, and you can walk most of it from the Bargate down through the Old Town to Town Quay in about forty minutes. Almost nobody does. Look for the Arcades on Western Esplanade, where the wall was built straight through the front of a row of merchants' houses after the French raid of 1338.
SeaCity Museum & the Titanic story
Culture · Civic Centre, city centre
The city's museum of its own maritime history, built around the fact that Titanic sailed from Berth 44 here on 10 April 1912 and that most of her crew were Sotonians.
Local tip: The point people from elsewhere miss is that Titanic is not a tourist story in Southampton, it is a family one — more than 500 households in the city lost someone, and whole streets in Northam and Chapel were affected. The museum's crew database lets you look up individuals by address. The dock itself is still working and is not open to the public.
Southampton Common & the Central Parks
Nature · North of the city centre, from the Civic Centre up to Bassett
A 326-acre common of woodland, ponds and rough grass, linked to the city centre by a chain of Victorian parks laid out as a continuous green spine.
Local tip: The five Central Parks — East, Houndwell, Palmerston, Hoglands and Watts — were laid out in the 1860s and connect the shopping streets to the Common on foot, so you can walk from the water to open woodland almost entirely through parkland. The Common has a wildlife centre, a boating lake and, in June, a very large fair.
Ocean Village, Town Quay & the waterfront
Neighborhood · South-east of the Old Town, on the Itchen
A marina and apartment quarter on the old Outer Dock, with the cruise terminals to the west and the Isle of Wight ferries leaving from Town Quay next door.
Local tip: The best free thing in Southampton is watching a cruise ship leave — they sail on the evening tide and the scale of them against the buildings does not translate to photographs. Mayflower Park and Weston Shore are the two vantage points locals use. Check a departure schedule; there are often several a week in season.
The New Forest & the Waterside
Nature · West of the city, across Southampton Water
A national park of open heath, ancient woodland and free-roaming ponies, cattle and pigs, whose boundary is about twenty minutes from the city centre.
Local tip: The New Forest is a national park where the animals have legal right of way and are genuinely on the roads at night — drive it slowly and expect ponies. Take the train to Ashurst or Brockenhurst rather than driving into it on a summer weekend, when the car parks fill by ten.
The Hythe Ferry & Hythe Pier Railway
Hidden gemCulture · Town Quay to Hythe, across Southampton Water
A passenger ferry across the water to Hythe, met at the end of a 640-metre Victorian pier by the oldest continuously operating public pier train in the world.
Local tip: The pier railway has run since 1922 using locomotives built in 1917, and it is a working commuter service rather than a heritage attraction — people take it to the office. The crossing gives you the best view of the docks, the cranes and the container ships that exists, for the price of a bus fare, and hardly anyone who lives in Southampton has done it.
Explore 131 places across Southampton
Museums, landmarks, monuments, heritage sites and parks — mapped, with photos. The most notable spots first.
Museums & galleries
(4)
Landmarks & architecture
(13)
LandmarkCalshot Castle
Artillery fort on the Calshot Spit, Hampshire, England, UK
LandmarkNetley Castle
Castle in Netley village on the border of Hampshire, England, UK
LandmarkSt Andrew's Castle
Artillery fort constructed by Henry VIII near Hamble-le-Rice, Hampshire, between 1542 and 1543
Landmark
LandmarkGod's House Gate and Tower
Tower in Southampton, UK
LandmarkLuttrell's Tower
Folly in Fawley, Hampshire, England, UK
LandmarkSouth Stoneham House
Former manor house and hall of residence in Southampton
LandmarkItchen Bridge
Bridge in United Kingdom
LandmarkRedbridge Bridge
Bridge in Hampshire, England, UK
LandmarkMans Bridge
Bridge in Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK
Coldeast
Historic manor.
Cranbury House
Otterbourne
Historic manor in Otterbourne.
Marwell Hall
Historic manor.
Monuments & memorials
(12)
MonumentTitanic Engineers' Memorial
Grade II listed sculpture in Southampton, United Kingdom
MonumentTitanic Musicians' Memorial
Public sculpture in Southampton, UK
MonumentWatt's Monument
Statue in Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK
MonumentMonument To Richard Andrews
Monument in Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK
MonumentPalmerston's Monument
Monument in Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK
MonumentPilgrim Fathers' Memorial
Memorial in Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK
MonumentMonument To General Gordon
Monument in Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK
MonumentMonument Situated In Centre Of The Green Near The Junction With Padwell Road
Monument in Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK
MonumentPearce Memorial At Southampton Old Cemetery
Memorial in Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK
Whitmoor Hill
Historic monument.
Braishfield War Memorial
Memorial.
Fox's Monument
Memorial.
Places of worship
(84)
ReligiousRomsey Abbey
Parish church in Romsey, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousChurch of St Julien, Southampton
Church in Southampton, UK
ReligiousSt Edmund Church, Southampton
Grade II listed church in Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousSt Joseph Church, Southampton
Grade II listed church in Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousAll Saints' Church
Former church building in Southampton, England
ReligiousHolyrood Church
Former church in Southampton, England
ReligiousSt Denys Priory
Priory in City of Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousSt. Mary's Church, South Stoneham
Church in Southampton, UK
ReligiousSt Mary's Church, Southampton
Church in Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousSt. Michael's Church, Southampton
Church in Southampton, UK
ReligiousSt Michael and All Angels Church, Bassett
Church in Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousAvenue St Andrew's United Reformed Church
Church in Southampton, UK
ReligiousCentral Baptist Church
Church in Southampton, UK
ReligiousChrist Church, Freemantle
Church in Southampton, UK
ReligiousShirley Parish Church
Church in Southampton, UK
ReligiousSt. Nicolas' Church, North Stoneham
Church in Eastleigh, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousSt Alban's Church, Southampton
Church in Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousSt Mary's Church, Bishopstoke
Grade II listed church in Bishopstoke, Eastleigh, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousHighfield Church
Grade II listed church in Highfield, Southampton, UK
ReligiousEmmanuel Baptist Church
Church in Eastleigh, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousChrist Church
Church building in Lyndhurst, New Forest, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousChurch of St James
Church building in West End, Eastleigh, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousChurch of All Saints
Church building in Botley, Eastleigh, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousChurch of St Peter, Titchfield
Grade I listed church in Titchfield, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom
ReligiousChurch of St Michael and All Angels, Lyndhurst
Historic church in Lyndhurst, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom
ReligiousChurch of All Saints
Grade I listed church in Minstead, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousChurch of the Blessed Virgin and Child
Church in Beaulieu, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousChurch of St Andrew
Church in Hamble-le-Rice, Hampshire, UK
ReligiousChurch of St Leonard, Bursledon
Church in Bursledon, Hampshire, England, UK
Religious(old) Church Of St Bartholomew
Church building in Botley, United Kingdom
ReligiousChurch of St Mary
Church in Hound, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousChurch of St Mary
Church in Eling, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousChurch of St John the Baptist
Church in North Baddesley, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousChurch of St Boniface
Church in Nursling, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousChurch of St Matthew
Church in Otterbourne, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousChurch of All Saints, Hursley
Church in Hursley, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousChurch of the Holy Cross
Church in Durley, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousJesus Chapel - St Mary Extra
Church building in City of Southampton, United Kingdom
ReligiousChurch of St Mark
Church in Woolston, Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousChurch of St Peter
Church building in Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousChurch of St John
Church building in Nursling and Rownhams, Test Valley, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousChurch of St John the Apostle
Church building in Marchwood, New Forest, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousColbury Christ Church
Church building in Colbury, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousChurch of St Winfred
Church building in Testwood, Hampshire, UK
ReligiousChurch of St Katherine
Church building in Exbury and Lepe, New Forest, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousChurch of St Mary, Copythorne
Church building in Copythorne, New Forest, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousChurch of St Peter
Church building in Curdridge, Winchester, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousChurch of the Holy Trinity
Church building in Colden Common, Winchester, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousChurch of St Edward the Confessor
Church building in Hound, Eastleigh, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousChurch of All Saints
Church building in Hythe and Dibden, New Forest, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousChurch of St Denys
Church building in Chilworth, Test Valley, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousChurch of Our Lady and St Edward
Church building in Lyndhurst, New Forest, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousChurch of St Matthew
Church building in Netley Marsh, New Forest, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousHoly Trinity Church, Weston
Church building in Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousThe Abbey United Reformed Church
Church building in Romsey, Test Valley, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousChurch of St Mary
Church building in Warsash, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousChurch of Ascension
Church building in Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousChurch of St Paul
Church building in Sarisbury Green, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousChurch of the Resurrection
Church building in Eastleigh, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousChurch of St John
Church building in Hythe, Hampshire, UK
ReligiousChurch of St Mark
Church building in Ampfield, Test Valley, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousChurch of the Holy Saviour
Church building in Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousChurch of the Holy Trinity
Church building in Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousChurch of St Paul
Church building in East Boldre, New Forest, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousRoman Catholic Church of St Boniface, including the boundary wall with railings
Church in Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousSt John
Church in Locks Heath, Hampshire
ReligiousSt Paul's
Church in Bishopstoke, Hampshire
ReligiousAll Saints Eastleigh
Church in Eastleigh, Hampshire
ReligiousSt Francis Church Hall
Church in Eastleigh, Hampshire
ReligiousSaint Thomas
Church in Fair Oak, Hampshire
ReligiousThe Good Shepherd
Church in Holbury, Hampshire
ReligiousSt Swithun's Church
Church in Romsey, Hampshire
ReligiousAll Saints, Redbridge
Church in Redbridge, Southampton
ReligiousSt John's Centre
Church in Shirley, Hampshire
ReligiousSt Christopher
Church in Thornhill, Hampshire
ReligiousSt Margaret Mary
Church in Park Gate, Fareham, Hampshire, England
Religious286
Church building in Swaythling, Southampton, England
ReligiousAbove Bar Church, Southampton
Church in Southampton, UK
ReligiousChurch of St Mary
Church building in Sholing, Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousChurch of St Denys
Church building in Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK
ReligiousChurch of St Augustine
Church building in Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK
Romsey Baptist Church
Place of worship.
St Peters Church
Place of worship.
Lord's Hill Church
Place of worship.
Heritage & archaeology
(5)
ArchaeologicalHamble Common Camp
Iron Age hillfort in Hampshire, England
ArchaeologicalMedieval merchant's house and associated deposits at 58 French Street
Archaeological site in City of Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK
Bursledon Windmill
Archaeological site.
Southampton Castle Garderobe Tower
Historic ruins.
Tumuli
Archaeological site.
Parks & nature
(11)
ParkExbury Gardens
Garden in Hampshire, England, UK
ParkSir Harold Hillier Gardens
Arboretum in Hampshire, England, UK
ParkSouthampton Common
Park in the United Kingdom
Park
ParkHamble Common
Park in Hamble-le-Rice, Eastleigh, Hampshire, England
ParkItchen Valley Country Park
Park in Hampshire, England
ParkLakeside Country Park
Railway park in the United Kingdom
ParkBlechynden Terrace Park
Park in Southampton, Hampshire, England
ParkEast Park
Park in Southampton, Hampshire, England
The Green
Public park.
Portswood Rec
Public park.
More to explore
(2)Boltons Bench
Viewpoint.
Titchfield Abbey
Visitor attraction.
Data from Wikidata (CC0) & OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Images via Wikimedia Commons — see each credit. Listings are community-maintained and may be incomplete or out of date — verify hours and access before visiting.
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