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Southampton Hotels
Stay in a Southampton hotel to enjoy an international maritime city that waved off the Pilgrim Fathers, hosts one of the country's best modern art collections and has the dubious pleasure of nurturing the comedy talents of Benny Hill.
Southampton neighbourhoods
Southampton’s Above Bar area, so named as it sits north of the 12th-century city wall entrance Bargate, is the shopping hub of the city. Leave your Southampton hotel and head north of the major shopping area to enjoy the greenery of Houndwell Park and Hoglands Park with its play area and skate park. Head south of Bargate down the high street to Below Bar and the city’s Old Town where you’ll find most of the city’s museums. Go west for Mayflower Park, Mayflower Memorial, the Tudor House and Tudor Merchants Hall. Spot the big cruise ships gliding in from the Solent at Town Quay which has a sparkling new marina with bars, restaurants and shops.
Shopping in Southampton
Southampton’s shopping opportunities focus on mainstream, big brands most of which can be found in and around East Street. Hundreds of stalls selling continental foods and leather crafts gather at Bargate market in the same area on Fridays, and on Saturdays local farmers and growers sell their produce. Beatnik Emporium on Above Bar Street sells offbeat clothes and shoes while Southampton’s boho set loves Oxfam Retro on Portswood Road.
Eating and drinking in Southampton
The city’s main restaurant scene centres on Oxford Street where modern British and Mediterranean set the tone. Watch the moneyed locals sail into Royal Southampton Yacht Club as you dine at the Ocean Village complex. As you’d expect from a city whose roots lie firmly in its marine history, there’s no shortage of traditional taverns, once the scenes of seadog tales. Try the Red Lion and the Duke of Wellington in the centre for pubs with character. For a late-night snifter, stumble to the Hobbit which stays open until 2am.
Culture and nightlife in Southampton
The 1,749-capacity Southampton Guildhall in the town centre has welcomed everyone from Pink Floyd and Bowie to the Kaiser Chiefs and the Killers and is the city’s major venue. For opera, ballet, touring musicals and comedy, the Mayflower Theatre fits the bill. With two unis here, the city also has a strong music scene whether you watch big band at the Concorde Club or indie rock at theJoiners. The Harbour Lights Picture House brings art-house cinema to Southampton as well as mainstream films.
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