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Cruise Guide > Europe > England > Southampton | |
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Southampton Port website www.abports.co.uk/customer/ports.asp?portid=19 Time zone GMT (GMT + 1 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October). Currency Pound (£) = 100 pence. Language English. Nearest train station Millbrook Station. Nearest airport Southampton Airport. Airport website www.baa.co.uk/main/airports/southampton Hotels Southampton Park Hotel, Novotel Southampton, Hilton Southampton, Travelodge Southampton and Hotel Ibis Southampton are all located in the city. Sightseeing Southampton is the biggest cruise port on the south coast of England, and is a delight to lovers of the sea and open spaces. The county of Hampshire is one of great natural beauty and also enjoys the benefits of up-to-the-minute shopping, leisure facilities and nightlife. Southampton is one of the most rapidly expanding cities on the South Coast with exciting new marinas, leisure facilities and shopping malls including the Waterfront, Ocean Village and the new Bargate shopping centre. The city is also home to the Maritime Museum, telling the story of the doomed RMS Titanic which stuck an iceburg and sank in the Atlantic in 1912. There are also other cities nearby worth a visit – there is a wealth of maritime history in the neighbouring city of Portsmouth, whilst Winchester, in central Hampshire, and Romsey to the south are also worth visiting. Winchester has a magnificent 11th-century cathedral and is surrounded by lovely rolling countryside. Romsey is an attractive old market town proud to be associated with Broadlands, the 18th-century home of Lord Mountbatten. The county of Hampshire is famous for the New Forest, 376km (145 sq miles) of open heathland, where ponies, deer and cattle roam freely. The New Forest was decreed a Royal Hunting Preserve in 1079 and is a haven for riders and walkers; there are lots of lovely places to stay and campsites are plentiful. Beaulieu Motor Museum and Bucklers Hard are well worth a visit. Shopping The city’s main shopping street, Above Bar, is home to major high street chains, and Old Northam Road is the city’s thriving antiques quarter. Many visitors head for Ocean Village with its undercover shopping, marina and many restaurants. Alternatively, West Quay shopping centre with leading chains, such as John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, Warehouse, H & M Hennes and Waitrose, is a good place to spend an afternoon shopping. Eating out Local seafood is popular in Southampton at the many public houses and restaurants in the city. General British specialities are also popular and include favourites such as beef and ale pie, shepherds’ pie, steak and kidney pie, roast beef and Yorkshire pudding or fish and chips. International dishes such as lasagne, spaghetti bolognese, chicken madras, sweet and sour pork and chicken enchiladas are also served in international restaurants. Real ales are popular in local English pubs. Country UK (England) Region Europe and Mediterranean |