English Naturally Since 1999

05

Out-and-about Guides
A series of self-guided local excursions on foot or using public transport for English Naturally visitors.

Southampton by train
A train ride to the maritime city of
Southampton, famous for King Canute, The
Mayflower, RMS Titanic, Cruise Liners and, of
course, shopping.
Highlights SeaCity Museum, Bargate,
Town Walls, Tudor House,
Medieval Merchant’s House
Total distance Train: 12.5 miles (20 km), 17 mins
Walk: 2.5 miles (4km)

Time needed 4-6 hours

Starting point SeaCity Museum, Southampton

Civic Centre

Watering holes Tudor House Café (teas/coffees)

Duke of Wellington (pub)
The Red Lion (pub)
Directions

1. With SeaCity Museum in front of you, turn to your left

and walk around the building. Pass Southampton Art
Gallery (A) then cross Commercial Road and go into
Watts Park. Leave the park onto Cumberland Place
and turn right. Cross Above Bar Street at the traffic
lights, and you will find the Titanic Memorial (B) just
around the corner. Go into East Park and follow the
central path all the way through Palmerston Park and
Houndwell Park until you reach Hanover Buildings.
Leave the park and cross the road.
2. Turn right and you will arrive at the Bargate (C).
Southampton was badly bombed in WWII and not
much of the Old Town remains. Continue along
Bargate Street until you see the remains of the Town
Walls (D). Find the steps and climb up onto the wall
walkway. Continue along the town wall until forced to
descend, then turn left into the Old Town to reach
Bugle Street and turn right.
3. You will soon come across the Tudor House & Garden metres you will find the Red Lion (H).
(E) where you can take refreshments in the café 5. Continue up the High Street to Holyrood Church (I)
overlooking the Knot Garden. If you’d rather have a now a memorial to the lives lost in WWII.
drink at a pub, continue along Bugle Street to the
6. Continue straight up the High Street to reach the
corner with Vyse Lane and the Duke of Wellington (F).
Above Bar shopping area and the entrance to West
4. Follow Vyse Lane, through the passage to find the Quay Shopping Centre (J).
Medieval Merchant’s House. Cross French Street and
7. Time to ‘shop till you drop’ before finding the station
continue to the High Street. Turn left and after a few
and a train back to Winchester.

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Trains to Southampton from Winchester are fast and frequent. Ask for a day return ticket. The ticket should cost
about £7. Keep your ticket safe— you will need it to get back to Winchester.
Check train times and prices: www.nationalrail.co.uk
Leave Southampton station from the exit on Platform 1 into Blechynden Terrace. Turn right on leaving the station and
follow the footpath up the hill towards the Civic Centre with its tall white stone clock tower. The SeaCity Museum will
be just across the road in the Civic Centre complex.

The SeaCity Museum tells the story of the people of Southampton and its maritime history.

http://seacitymuseum.co.uk

In the 12th century King Canute reputedly demonstrated that only God and not a King could stop the incoming tide.
King Henry V sailed from Southampton to fight the French at Agincourt in 1415. In 1620 the Pilgrim Fathers set off for
the New World aboard The Mayflower. The ill-fated Titanic sailed from Southampton in 1912. As an important sea
port, Southampton was a target for bombing in WWII, and much of the city and its historical buildings were destroyed.

Southampton Art Gallery is free to enter and holds a permanent collection of around 3700 works, notably
A twentieth century and contemporary British art including works from the Camden Town Group.

The Titanic Memorial is dedicated to the memory of engineers who lost their lives when the ‘unsinkable’ ship RMS
B Titanic sank on her maiden voyage in 1912.

The Bargate was built circa 1180 as the northern gatehouse in the medieval town walls. In its time it has been used as
C the city’s guildhall, a prison, a police station and a museum. Today the area to the north of the Bargate, known as
Above Bar, is Southampton’s principal shopping area.

Southampton’s Town Walls were mostly built after Southampton was raided by the French in 1338 and the defences
D proved to be inadequate. From the end of the 17th century they were demolished or adapted to other purposes until
in the post-war years the historical significance of the remaining walls was recognised and conservation work was
undertaken. The section of wall that overlooks Western Esplanade would have originally been a sea wall.

One of the few historical building that survived the bombing of WWII, the timber-framed Tudor House & Garden
E was built in the late 15th century and reveals over 800 years of history in one fascinating location. The adjacent King
John’s Palace is Norman and dates back a further 300 years. There is a café overlooking the knot garden.

www.tudorhouseandgarden.com

The Duke of Wellington pub is a stunning 12th century building. Cask ales and excellent traditional pub meals
F including fish and chips.

The Medieval Merchant’s House was originally built in 1290. Over centuries of domestic and commercial use the
G original building was hidden until bomb damage in 1940 revealed the medieval interior and in the 1980s it was
restored to resemble its initial appearance.

www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/medieval-merchants-house

The Red Lion pub was built in the late 15th/early 16th century. It has a half-timbered room known as the court room,
H although it is doubtful that any trials took place here.

Holyrood Church was built in 1320 and one of the original five churches serving the walled town of Southampton.
I It was badly bombed during the blitz in 1940 and after the war the shell of the church was dedicated in memory of the
sailors of the merchant navy.

WestQuay Shopping Centre has over 150 shops and restaurants. It is heated by geothermal energy.
J
Rev: OA05-2015-307