Southampton City Guide
The largest city in Hampshire, Southampton is situated on the south coast of England and is one of the UK's major ports. Sometimes referred to as Soton, Southampton is home to two universities, BBC South, the NHS and has its own airport.
Southampton is a great place to explore, with a rich heritage, superb sea front, award winning art galleries and museums, and plenty of parks and gardens to enjoy. It is ideally situated for exploring some of England's most breathtaking coast and countryside. Southampton is also home to some of the world's most prestigious maritime events.
Southampton has entered the new Millennium as the region's leisure and cultural capital. It has recently secured funding in the form of a massive cash injection from the National Lottery to improve parks and sports facilities in the city. With key international events, countless new pubs, clubs and places to eat, and the region's principal arts and entertainments venues, Southampton is the South's leading leisure destination.
Southampton boasts two large shopping complexes - The Marlands and the West Quay - and has a selection of leisure, tourism and socialising facilities.
The City is conveniently accessible via road, rail, air and sea, and is relevantly easy to get around. If you are traveling by road, Southampton has a list of 42 car parks both covered and on street, with the main shopping complex providing car parking space for up to 4 thousand vehicles. Car parking charges vary depending on whether you use a council owned or a privately owned car parking facility.
