Top 10 Things To Do In Southampton in the Summer

With great links to the New Forest and the Isle of Wight, Southampton is a fantastic base for a UK summer holiday on the south coast. Having lived there for a good year now, I’ve put together a list of my top 10 things to do in Southampton in the summer when the sun is shining.

But first, you might be wondering what’s so special about Southampton anyway?

Crammed full of history, with one of the best preserved medieval old towns in the country, Southampton is just an hour and a half drive from London, making it easily accessible for anyone living in the south-east of England. It’s also a green city, with lots of parks and open spaces, and is renowned for having one of the busiest ports in Europe.

I’ve lived here for just over a year now and I’ve never been happier! So, to help you navigate your way around the city like a local, here are my all-time favourite top 10 things to do in Southampton in the summer months:

Top 10 things to do in southampton in the summer

1. Walk the city’s medieval walls

Start your holiday in Southampton with a walk or guided tour along its miraculously preserved town walls, which date back to 1180! You can begin the walk at any point, but I’d recommend starting at The Bargate, the historic entrance to the medieval town. (Once you’re on the high street, you really can’t miss it.)

Get ready to step back in time as you walk past the Old Town’s listed buildings, ancient monuments, medieval wine vaults and churches and fine Georgian houses.

The best part is, you can climb the picturesque walls with the sun on your back, drinking in the fantastic views of the sea and Southampton port.

2. Learn about Southampton’s connection to the Titanic

Southampton is perhaps most famous for its connection to the Titanic, having been the first port on its disastrous journey in 1912. The city was also home to 724 of the 908 crew members on board, and hundreds of passengers.

This connection has made the SeaCity Museum one of the top 10 things to do in Southampton, a museum dedicated to Southampton’s maritime history and the Titanic.

There’s also a number of Titanic monuments and artefacts scattered around the city. The Titanic Engineers’ Memorial can be found in East Park, and the old Platform Tavern pub along the seafront was home to the Titanic’s last victim, pulled from the sea four weeks after the ship went down.

3. Take a stroll through Southampton common

Southampton’s biggest green space, known by locals as the ‘Common‘, is perfect for lazy summer strolls.

Here, you’ll find a gigantic children’s park, several duck ponds, an outdoor gym and plenty of huge open spaces for sunbathing, playing sports or enjoying a picnic.

Just a half-an-hour walk from the city centre, it’s a hot-spot for runners, cyclists and families looking to get back to nature. I’m fortunate enough to live right next to the Common and it’s definitely my favourite part of the city!

4. Sip cocktails by the sea at Ocean Village

If you want to get a glimpse of how the other half live, head to swanky Ocean Village. The yachts that fill the marina here are enough to make even landlubbers green with envy.

Steakhouses, brasseries and gourmet restaurants with terrace bars line the glittering waterfront. It’s also here that you’ll find some of the city’s most luxurious hotels.

I come here to sip cocktails and pick out my favourite yachts (a girl can dream), all while soaking up that fresh sea air. After dining on the waterfront, why not catch a film at the contemporary Harbour Lights Picture House?

5. Enjoy lunch at the Art House Cafe

The Art House Cafe is easily one of my favourite places to eat and drink in Southampton – especially as a vegan (the food is insanely good).

But it’s not just a cafe. This not-for-profit, community-run arts centre is also a great place to get involved with the local community, with book clubs, board game nights, gigs, poetry jams and art sessions all on the monthly calendar.

Sadly, the venue has been struggling in recent times, and has been fundraising to keep their doors open. Places like this are so hard to come by, especially in Southampton, so please pop in for a coffee on your trip to show your support!

6. Take a ferry to the Isle Of Wight

Another huge bonus of basing yourself in Southampton is having the Isle of Wight, literally, just across the pond.

Red Funnel Ferries can take you to the charming seaside town of Cowes in a mere half an hour, where shingle beaches, quirky little shops and some of the country’s best fish and chips await.

Head there for the day or stay overnight and explore more of the island by open-top bus.

7. Head out into the New Forest

If you ask many Sotonians why they’ve lived in Southampton for so long, the answer will probably be: The New Forest.

Southampton enjoys quick and easy access to the national park, offering Sotonian’s a perfect balance of rural and urban living.

I’ve recently discovered a cycle path that runs from the city centre all the way to Ashurst, the gateway to the Forest, which takes less than half an hour and is completely safe. There are also buses which can get you there even faster, if cycling’s not your thing.

Once you’re there, the village of Lyndhurst is a must-visit, mainly for the wild ponies and cows that reside just outside at Bolton’s Bench. It’s easy to get into the woods from here too, with plenty of pretty walking routes.

8. Gawp at the gigantic cruise ships

For someone like me, who’s never been on a cruise before, I find cruise ships pretty breathtaking. They’re just so big, like floating multi-storey car parks.

Being Europe’s leading turnaround port, there’s usually at least one cruise ship docked at Southampton Port at any given time.

Mayflower Park, which sits right opposite, is the perfect place to sit and take in their immensity. Or, you can walk out on to the pier to watch the comings and goings of the cargo ships and ferries, while feeling the sea breeze whip through your hair.

9. Sample a few of the city’s quirky pubs

No list of top 10 things to do in Southampton would be complete without a mention of the city’s fantastic pub scene. What Southampton lacks in clubs, it certainly makes up for in pubs and bars!

Some of the best are The Hobbit, which, you guessed it, is styled around the Lord of the Rings franchise, and The Cowherds, a country-style pub set on the corner of the Common.

There’s also the Dancing Man Brewery, which was a prison for French POWs during the Napoleonic wars, and Revolution in Bedford Place which is quite studenty but has a fantastic roof terrace. You’re really spoilt for choice!

10. Take a ferry to Hythe

Discover Southampton’s seafaring side on the Hythe ferry, which takes you to a stuck-in-time village on the west side of the estuary.

Upon arrival, you can either walk one of the 10 longest piers in the British Isles (it really does take forever) or take the oldest pier train in the world to reach Hythe. Hythe is the most convenient jumping off point for walkers or cyclists looking to explore the New Forest.