Traditions and culture

As befits its location hugging the south coast of England, Southampton boasts a proud nautical tradition, with the city's history dating back to the Stone Age, though it was only in Roman times that it was truly established as a major trading port.

This history has helped shape Hampshire's largest city as visitors find it today, with gems such as the 12th century King John's House and Canute's Palace testament to the wealth generated by trading links, while remains of medieval fortifications are still very much in evidence.

More recently, the proud seafaring tradition of Southampton witnessed the launch of the Titanic, while this also enabled the city to play a major role in the Second World War.

This history seeps into the city's rich culture, with the Maritime Museum a major draw, while it is also home to a number of art galleries and concert venues, including the Mayflower, named after the ship which took the Pilgrim Fathers to the United States from Southampton.

Things to do in Southampton

Holiday information will show that Southampton boasts an enviable arts scene, with any tourist well-advised to check out the City Art Gallery, which is home to more than 3,500 fine works, as well as the Millais Gallery, which showcases the best contemporary work from the city and further afield.

For culture vultures, a good holiday guide will point to the Mayflower, which is the largest theatre in the south of England outside of London and, alongside the Nuffield Theatre, brings some of the finest modern and classic works to the region.

Those on a Southampton holiday in a cheap hotel on a budget could do worse than to simply wander around the historic docklands, though those happy to splash the cash will be pleased to find that inside its historic centre, the city boasts numerous chic and contemporary hotels, bars and restaurants, as well as some excellent shopping opportunities.

Also, sports lovers are well-catered for, as Southampton regularly plays host to sailing races, as well as to county and international cricket at the Rose Bowl and football at St Mary's.

Weather in Southampton

Unsurprisingly, the weather of Southampton is heavily influenced by the sea. Generally speaking, the city sees relatively high levels of rainfall during the winter months, when average temperatures can also plunge to just above freezing.

However, this is more than compensated for by the fact that the summers are long and warm, with temperatures of 70 degrees Fahrenheit far from uncommon, making the city and its surrounding area a popular destination for holidaymakers and second home owners.

Destination checklist for Southampton

Southampton has a population of around 230,000.

The city is on GMT/UTC timed.

The official currency of Southampton, and the UK, is the pound.

English is the official spoken language.

The city's international dialling code is +44.