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Visiting Southampton

Southampton is steeped in maritime heritage and today is known as the cruise capital of Europe. The city has a vibrant atmosphere with an impressive cultural and retail offering - featuring in the UK's top ten shopping destinations.

Outstanding art galleries in the city include some of the finest collections outside of London and there are many local artists and creatives too, showcasing and selling their work. For evening entertainment the Mayflower theatre regularly shows West End musicals and ballets, Turner Sims offers world class jazz concerts and spoken word and Nuffield Southampton Theatres is a leading producing theatre company.

Southampton’s heritage reaches far beyond the Mayflower. The Bargate in the centre of the High Street was built as the main entrance to the medieval walled town circa 1180 AD.

Much of the medieval city walls also still survive, together with the vaults where the merchants stored their wine. The novelist Jane Austen lived in the city from 1806-1809. Years before the Pilgrims left Southampton through the Westgate Henry V marched his troops through to sail for France and the battle of Agincourt. The Titanic set sail from White Start dock in 1912. Walking Tours are available exploring each of these stories and The SeaCity museum tells the story of the tragic Titanic journey and maritime history of this great port city.

The New Forest National Park, historic Winchester and naval Portsmouth are also all easily accessible from Southampton. London is also only just over an hour by train.

Southampton's Mayflower programme

Southampton’s Mayflower 400 project is led by Southampton City Council and is delivered with cultural, corporate and community partners all across the city. The year will focus on the themes of journeys, migration, maritime heritage and innovation.

It seeks to celebrate the city and those who live and work here, it will explore the stories of all the people of the world, including the Mayflower passengers, who have come to, or through, Southampton in search of a new life.

Matching grassroots activity with major cultural projects, the city’s creativity and extraordinary maritime heritage will be showcased through projects such as:

A special anniversary weekend of family activities all over Southampton, 14 to 16 August, including the reveal of the newly-restored Mayflower Monument; Parade of Sail; Mayflower themed musical and dance productions at the Mayflower Theatre; historical events at God’s House Tower; and activities at SeaCity Museum as part of Wampum Stories from the Shells of Native America.
Inspired by one of the most influential poems in the English language, The Rime of The Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834), Mariner: A Painted Ship Upon a Painted Ocean looks at what connects us across history and the present, from the desire to travel – to journey out and back again – to the role of intuition and imagination, the making of mistakes and the process of recovery and redemption through knowledge and understanding. Mariner showcases a series of new commissions and artworks at the John Hansard Gallery that consider the contemporary resonance of the poem. Also, at the John Hansard Gallery, new works by Larry Achiampong and a City of Sanctuary Community Takeover.
A Light Art Festival at West Quay in February will start off the anniversary’s arts programme, followed by a series of dance, street art, visual arts, music and carnival art commissions running through to November. Including a new forest planted within the city centre and an Urban Arts Festival. Culminating at the end of the year with a new exhibition in the City Art Gallery, Shadows and Light.
Commemorating Mayflower exhibition at SeaCity Museum focuses on both the nature of commemoration and how previous Mayflower anniversaries have been marked. This is supported by an exhibition at Tudor House & Garden telling the Mayflower story.
A Giving Thanks festival running through the summer and autumn, encouraging communities to share their food and stories together.

Local Information
- Visit Southampton
Planning Your Trip
- By Air Southampton Airport is a regional airport owned by AGS Airports Ltd. It serves around 40 direct European destinations with great onward connections to the world via Amsterdam with KLM. The airport benefits from fantastic transport links located just off the M27 and M3 and with Southampton Airport Parkway train station only 99 steps from the main terminal. Southampton Airport
- By Rail Southampton Central rail station is served by direct trains from many cities across the country including: South Western Railway services from: London Waterloo, Bournemouth and Winchester. Great Western Railway services from: Bristol, Portsmouth, Brighton and Salisbury. Cross Country Train services from: Birmingham, Oxford and Manchester
- By Road Southampton has excellent road links, with access from both the M3 and M27 motorways Parking map
- By Sea Southampton is accessible by sea for more than just cruise passengers. Red Funnel ferry services to and from the Isle of Wight depart from Town Quay; a high speed service for foot passengers and a ferry for vehicles, cyclists and foot passengers. A half hourly ferry service for foot passengers to Hythe also leaves from Town Quay.

Mayflower Memorial

Medieval Merchants House

Bargate North

Westgate Hall

Southampton and the Mayflower story

The Mayflower arrived in Southampton in late July 1620 and several days later was joined by the Speedwell, carrying the Pilgrims from Leiden. Their intention was to prepare both vessels and sail in company directly to America.

Southampton was a thriving seaport offering all the commercial facilities to provision and equip for the long sea voyage. Many of the buildings and streets familiar to the Pilgrims then still exist.

The town had established trading links with Virginia and Newfoundland, so there was an experienced pool of seamen who had previously made the dangerous Atlantic crossing. John Alden, a cooper, joined the Mayflower and it is thought William Brewster also slipped aboard here, having been in hiding after publishing material that angered King James.

Stephen Hopkins from Hampshire also joined here and is known as the only Mayflower passenger with prior New World experience, having been shipwrecked in Bermuda in 1609.

There were already concerns about the Speedwell, which required repairs after developing a leak. But on 15 August the two ships weighed anchor and set sail.

Southampton was an ideal place to start the voyage for many reasons. The water is one of the world’s largest natural harbours and offers a safe anchorage, plus its unique double tide provides easy access for 16 hours out of every 24.

Southampton was a true Sea Town (now Sea City since 1964) with all requirements for the preparation of a maritime adventure. Extensive quays and wharfs provided easy access to the commercial facilities in what was and still is a very successful trading port.

Although there was much local trade from the surrounding counties; Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire, Sussex as well as France and the Channel Isles, there were also trading links with Virginia and Newfoundland. This meant that there was an experienced pool of seamen who had previously made the difficult and dangerous Atlantic crossing.

John Alden, a cooper, joined Mayflower here and a George Alden who could well have been his father lived in the high street. The town records show that the Council were ordered to press 100 seamen and mariners for the Royal Navy in July perhaps a good enough reason to sign on to the Mayflower’s crew.

The Speedwell was found to be leaking and it was thought at the time that she may have had too large a mast and sail area. The extensive ship building and repair facilities near West Quay were very useful in expediting repairs.

According to Southampton’s Book of Instruments records, a ship called Speedwell was built locally in 1606 and this may have been the vessel that returned to her home port.

However, the most important benefit to the expedition was the availability of all the supplies required, not only for the voyage but to establish a permanent community in the New World. It is thought that the Pilgrims and settlers shopped during the day and slept back on board both ships. These were supposedly anchored just off West Quay.

In 1620, there were 153 Merchants in the Town of whom 118 were engaged partially or wholly in the wool trade but the balance would have been able to provide all the other items required for self-sufficiency.

When the Mayflower and Speedwell left together on that fateful Saturday 15 August after a fraught and hectic stay they could not have imagined that their persistence would lead to the founding of New England.

Southampton has extensive records pertaining to the Pilgrims which can be found in the city archives.

Supported by our national sponsors and funding partners

And our Southampton founder partners

Southampton Mayflower Highlights

Events
Attractions
Accommodation

01 Jan-30 Jun 21

The Southampton Mayflower Maritime Festival (Date TBC)

Southampton

05-07 Aug 20

Mayflower 400: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to America

Southampton

01-16 Aug 20

In the footsteps of the Pilgrim Fathers

Southampton

10 Aug 20

Talking through history: Voyages and Pilgrimages

Southampton

01 Jan-30 Jun 21

Mayflower Musicals (Date TBC)

Southampton

15 Aug 20

Commemoration of the 400th Anniversary of the Sailing of the Mayflower

Southampton

01-16 Aug 20

Navigating a New World

Southampton

15 Aug 20

In Search of a New World

Southampton

15 Aug-18 Oct 20

Wampum: Stories from the Shells of Native America

Southampton

12-20 Sep 20

A Mile in My Shoes

Southampton

10 Oct 20

Southampton Archaeology Society Study Day

Southampton

Tudor House Museum

Visitor Attraction

Southampton’s most important historic building, Tudor House reveals over 800 years of history.

Sea City Museum

Visitor Attraction

Tells the story of Southampton and its historic connections with Titanic and the sea.

City Art Gallery

Visitor Attraction

Internationally renowned for its permanent collection which features around 5,000 works.

Buckler’s Hard

Visitor Attraction

Step back in time on the banks of the Beaulieu River at the peaceful haven of Buckler's Hard.

Beaulieu

Visitor Attraction

Delve into more than 800 years of heritage at Beaulieu, the award-winning family attraction in the heart of the New Forest with a surprising connection to the Mayflower.

Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway

Visitor Attraction

Exbury Gardens is a famous garden in Hampshire which belongs to a branch of the Rothschild family.

Medieval Merchants House

Visitor Attraction

The Medieval Merchant's House is a restored late-13th-century building in Southampton, Hampshire, England.

SS Shieldhall

Visitor Attraction

Marwell Zoo

Visitor Attraction

Marwell’s 140-acre park is home to an incredible range of exotic and endangered species

Avington Park

Historic Site

Avington Park is a beautiful privately-owned stately home set in its own parkland

Winchester Cathedral

Historic Site

£5.50-£18

Solent Sky Museum

Museum

Solent Sky Aviation Museum depicts the story of 26 aircraft manufacturers producing everything from biplanes to space rockets

Pear Tree Church

Grand Harbour Hotel

Hotel

The 173 room Grand Harbour Hotel is located close to the shopping centre and cruise terminals.

Dolphin Hotel

Hotel

The 99 room Mercure Southampton Centre Dolphin Hotel is the oldest hotel in Southampton dating back over 500 years.

Careys Manor Hotel & SenSpa

Hotel

The magic of water and its therapeutic benefits with the world class luxury spa facilities.

The Montagu Arms Hotel

Hotel

The Montagu Arms Hotel dates back to 1742. It has a cosy, homely character and picturesque gardens.

The Holiday Inn

Hotel

A modern Southampton hotel near the city's cruise terminals with an indoor pool and gym.

Southampton Harbour Hotel

Hotel

Featuring stunning contemporary design with a restaurant and rooftop bar.

The Clock Tower

The Grange Estate

Hotel

The Grange Estate's holiday accommodations in Hampshire provide a perfect base from which to visit the Estate and the surrounding area.

room2

Hotel

The world's first hometel brand, is a unique offering combining the comforts of home with the service of hotels

Jurys Inn

Hotel

Located right at the heart of the city overlooking East Park and just a 15 minute walk from the Central Station

Holiday Inn Express

Hotel

Holiday Inn Express Southampton is a contemporary hotel with free Wi-Fi, Parking and breakfast included next to the Ageas Bowl

DoubleTree by Hilton

Hotel

Located just outside the city centre, minutes from the M3 and M27 motorways, DoubleTree by Hilton Southampton offers easy access to plenty of activities

New Place Hotel