I used to be a teacher and I know the longing for the summer holidays that overwhelms most teachers from about the end of September onwards. Towards the end of August the familiar dread of returning to work makes its appearance, as you come back from your big adventure abroad; so how about staving off the dread by exploring your own home city?
Southampton has been regarded as a city that had its character ripped away by the devastation caused by World War 2, and it is true that almost all of the buildings Above Bar were destroyed. However, there is a lot of the old town left to explore as well as beautiful parks and gardens.
If you spend a weekend in Southampton, here are some things to do:
First, get the shopping out of the way. West Quay Shopping Centre has many excellent shops, although they are all a bit main stream. The entrance to the shopping centre can be marred by smokers, but if you get a bit tired you can always have a snooze in Waterstones.
Southampton has been regarded as a city that had its character ripped away by the devastation caused by World War 2, and it is true that almost all of the buildings Above Bar were destroyed. However, there is a lot of the old town left to explore as well as beautiful parks and gardens.
If you spend a weekend in Southampton, here are some things to do:
First, get the shopping out of the way. West Quay Shopping Centre has many excellent shops, although they are all a bit main stream. The entrance to the shopping centre can be marred by smokers, but if you get a bit tired you can always have a snooze in Waterstones.
The precinct outside West Quay often has market stalls offering a variety of tat for sale, but also tasty street food. If you have some spare change, maybe buy one of the beggars a coffee or a sandwich. Unfortunately beggars seem to be a fact of life in most city centres, which is a national disgrace.
There are so many places to eat in West Quay and in the Wave building that you will be spoilt for choice, but don't forget the restaurants and pubs in the Oxford Street area, and while you are there you can have a look at Queen's park
You will probably want to imbibe some culture during your stay, so a guided walk of the walls and vaults is a really good way of starting to learn something of the history of the city. Southampton has extensive medieval vaults, and the only way to see them is on a guided tour. You don't need to book, just look for the noticeboards that are outside the Bargate every weekend. Here is just a peek of the kind of thing you will see.
The guides are very knowledgeable and have many interesting stories. You can also explore the old town by yourself as there are information plaques that have recently been refurbished. The part of the walls known as the Arcades, and the West Gate are not to be missed.
This blog is not going to be a list of pubs and restaurants, but there are two pubs in Bugle Street that are of great note. The first is the Duke of Wellington, that dates back to 1220, so celebrating its 800th anniversary next year. The date is a little misleading as it was largely rebuilt after the war, but the Norman vaults are still there, and it is very picturesque.
At the bottom of Bugle Street is the Dancing Man. Originally the Wool House, built after the raid of 1338 (look it up or ask your guide), it has been a prison and the Maritime Museum. The building is authentic, the food is good and it has a microbrewery on site.
Now on to Southampton's museums and galleries. The Tudor House Museum, also in Bugle Street, is excellent. It has the remains of a Norman house in its grounds, and one of its vaults has been kitted out as a WW2 air raid shelter. It has a lovely garden and a tearoom. It was saved from demolition during the slum clearances of the early twentieth century, and has been operating as a museum since 1912.
Solent Sky Museum is in Albert Road South, so a little way from the city centre, but still less than a mile from Tudor House. It's a lovely quirky museum that covers the history of aviation including the Spitfire and the Schneider trophy. It even has a spacesuit on display that was used in the Apollo missions. There is plenty of parking available on the road, and I have never seen it busy. So you will be able to climb into the flying boat and have it all to yourself.
If you want to visit the Art gallery, don't leave it till Sunday as it is closed. Part of the imposing Art Deco Civic Centre building, it is the finest gallery in the south of England.
If you want to visit the Art gallery, don't leave it till Sunday as it is closed. Part of the imposing Art Deco Civic Centre building, it is the finest gallery in the south of England.
If you walk from the precinct to the Civic Centre you may catch sight of this chap:
He lives in a barber's on the QE2 mile.
You could also take the opportunity to walk up through the parks. In an amazing piece of foresight the corporation actually did not allow the parks to be destroyed when the railway came to the town. The parks are beautiful at all times of the year.
You could also take the opportunity to walk up through the parks. In an amazing piece of foresight the corporation actually did not allow the parks to be destroyed when the railway came to the town. The parks are beautiful at all times of the year.
Also in the Civic Centre building is the Sea City Museum. This is open every day of the year. It is a striking example of brand new architecture built on to the 1930s police station. The museum is very popular with German tourists from the cruise ships - they are extremely interested in the Titanic story, which is integral to the history of Southampton.
The lamps outside the entrance are part of the original building
There are two theatres for your evening entertainment - the Mayflower, in Commercial road, and Nuffield Southampton City theatre in Guildhall Square. There is also a Nuffield theatre on Southampton University campus, so don't get them mixed up.
The Mayflower theatre is so named because the Pilgrim Fathers sailed from Southampton in 1620. They had two ships, the Mayflower and the Speedwell, and it was only because the Speedwell developed a leak that they actually put in to Plymouth. There isn't a great deal commemorating the Mayflower in Southampton apart from Mayflower park and this monument.
If you like churches then there are two that you must see. The first is St. Michael's - situated opposite the Tudor House Museum. It is the oldest building in Southampton; some parts date back to 1070. It is absolutely fascinating inside, with the tomb of Sir Richard Lyster, and the Tournai font. There are information sheets inside the church that will tell you all about it, and the reason why they have two priceless lecterns.
The second church is also at this end of town and is a ruin. Holy Rood church was bombed in November 1940, and it was decided to leave it as a ruin rather than rebuild it. It is now preserved as a Merchant navy memorial. One of the most poignant monuments inside is the Titanic Crew memorial. It took three years for the crew families to save enough money to commission this modest piece of stone work. Of the 908 crew members, 724 came from Southampton, and 549 of those died. It was a disaster that shook the town.
Finally, you really should spend some time strolling on our iconic and unique piece of parkland known as the Common. The Common makes the approach to Southampton one of the most attractive entrances to a city in England, and it's not just me that thinks so - in 1849 Philip Brannon described the Avenue as "one of the greatest ornaments to the town...…" You can then stop at our historic alehouse - the Cowherds.