Car Hire Southampton - Mini guide to Southampton

Southampton is a busy port town on the south coast of England and in a lovely setting at the head of the Solent (inlet).

The Museum of Archaeology houses one of the top ten archaeological collections in Britain. It traces Southampton’s history from Roman times through to medieval times to the present day displaying a fascinating range of personal possessions such as pottery, glass and jewellery.

The Tudor House Museum is the city’s main museum, complete with a minstrels’ gallery, creaky floorboards, old kitchens, one of Henry VIII’s cannons and the ghost of Anne Boleyn! The Tudor building itself warrants a visit, but the museum also houses interesting exhibitions. The courtyard features a mulberry tree planted by Huguenots in 1570 and on sunny days the Tudor knot garden is full of scented herbs and flowers, making it perfect for some quiet contemplation.

Also of great historic interest, the Mayflower Memorial opposite Mayflower Park commemorates the departure of the Pilgrim Fathers in the Mayflower and Speedwell from Southampton in August 1620. There is a copper replica of the Mayflower on top of the memorial and plaques commemorating both the pilgrims and the US troops (two million) who left Southampton during World War II more than 300 years later. If you can trace your ancestry back (officially) to the pilgrims, you can have a plaque added to the memorial.

The major suburbs in Southampton are: Bassett, Bitterne, Hedge End, Northam, Regents Park, St.Marys, Swaythling, Thornhill, Totton and Weston.