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One Day in Southampton

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Got just one day to spend in Southampton? A large port city situated on England’s south coast, Southampton has a fascinating history to uncover and is an excellent location for a short break in the UK.

Southampton Ocean village

Home to both the City Cruise and Ocean Cruise terminals, Southampton is also an ideal stopover point before a cruise holiday! With its perfect location on the coast, you can find lots of park and cruise Southampton hotel deals to snap up, too.

Whether you’re enjoying a short city break or stopping over before your cruise to warmer climates, there’s so much to fit into one day in Southampton. To help you plan your visit, we’ve listed a few of our top recommendations for taking in all the city has to offer. 

Walk the old walls Southampton

1. Walk the old city walls
The medieval city walls encircling Southampton’s Old Town are one of the most fascinating and unique features of the city. Built over a period of 300 years and dating as far back as 1290, the walls are some of the oldest in the country.

The Old Town has more than 30 monuments and 90 grade-listed buildings to explore, with panel guides in significant locations, which can help you navigate your way around the walls and give you fascinating insight into the city’s history along the way! 
 

Once you’ve explored the city walls, make the next stop on your short break in Southampton Tudor House and Gardens, which situated in the heart of the Old Town. Built in 1491, the house is a Grade 1 listed building and an important historical feature of Southampton, offering valuable insight into the culture and history of the period. 

Now a museum, visitors can explore several galleries and exhibitions which cater to all ages – there’s interactive technology and fun activities for children, too!

SeaCity museum
SeaCity Museum, Civic Centre, Southampton. Image: Creative Commons License

Once you’ve seen the Old Town, we recommend you make your way over to the SeaCity Museum, which is in the heart of Southampton. Here, you can learn about the fascinating maritime history of the port city, get a feel for life on the docks and discover Southampton’s connection to the Titanic. 

With interactive experiences, alongside audio and visual shows throughout the museum, a visit here makes a captivating and informative experience – certainly one not to miss on your short break in Southampton. 

West Quay
The West Quay shopping centre, Southampton, Hampshire. Image: Editor5807 Creative Commons License

4. Do a spot of shopping
Now you’ve experienced some of Southampton’s best-known tourist spots, why not take in some of the city’s modern hustle and bustle with a spot of shopping? The city is home to two indoor shopping centres, both the West Quay and The Marlands shopping centres offer all you need for some retail therapy on your short break in Southampton. 

With such a plethora of things to see and do on a short break, Southampton makes a fantastic option for the whole family. From the captivating Old Town to Tudor history and maritime culture, there’s so much to explore in one day. 

Looking for a place to stop over? You can find Accor hotels right in the heart of the city. If you’re interested in booking a park and cruise deal Southampton hotel, check out our Novotel Southampton or ibis Southampton Centre, both of which are a stone’s throw from transport links and the city’s cruise ports. 

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