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Southampton

The ancient maritime city of Southampton with its historic Old Town, world-class museums, theatres and contemporary boutiques makes for a wonderful day or weekend break.

Fast becoming a popular leisure and cultural destination, Southampton offers visitors the chance to explore superb heritage attractions, sample a diverse nightlife or simply enjoy a coffee and slice of cake in any one of its cosmopolitan cafes.

Like any city, avoid the stress of navigating complicated one-way systems while finding somewhere to park by travelling by train. Southampton Central station is conveniently located near the city’s port, major retail district and Old Town – making our trains perfect for Southampton days out.

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Getting to Southampton

Southampton is the ideal city for a day trip or long weekend break. With so many things to do in Southampton you’ll want to arrive feeling refreshed and ready to explore, and that’s where we come in. With regular services running to Southampton Central from major UK cities including London, Birmingham and Newcastle you can choose when to come and go at your leisure.

There are plenty of ways to make getting to Southampton even cheaper when you travel with us. Railcard holders can save up to 1/3 on each ticket- we have a variety of Railcards available as well as the traditional student and senior cards, with similar savings to be had on our Off-Peak tickets. If you’re travelling with a group of 3-9 friends for a night out in the city, take a look at our GroupSave ticket.

Things to do in Southampton

For centuries Southampton has played an important role in Britain’s maritime prowess and there are plenty of things to do in Southampton that encompass the high seas. Visitors can discover the interactive SeaCity Museum, which tells the story of the people of Southampton as well as their connections with the sea, and of course the fateful liner RMS Titanic.

Visitors can carry on delving into the city’s history with a stroll around the twelfth-century medieval stone walls. Lose yourself by wandering along the centuries-old walkways, turrets and arches and get swept back in time down the streets of the Old Town.

For those who want to soak up a bit more history, the Tudor House & Garden museum offers guided tours of the 800-year-old building - and even ghost tours if you’re feeling brave!

If you enjoy West End shows, but don’t want to venture to the capital, Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre plays host to some major productions, as well as attracting music and comedy acts. If you have tickets for the Mayflower why not make a day of it by taking the train and staying in one of the boutique hotels.

Avid shoppers will love the Westquay centre situated in the heart of the city. Home to high street favourites, it’s fast becoming one of the country’s most popular shopping destinations.

If you need inspiration for things to do in Southampton when the British weather is less than favourable there are plenty of indoor activities on offer too. Head to 1st Base - a baseball entertainment centre with the UK’s first baseball simulator or enjoy a good old fashioned afternoon at Hollywood Bowl. The Southampton City Art Gallery offers a diverse collection of fine art from the Renaissance period through to the present day; they also host a range of creative workshops and activities to suit all ages too.

With so many things to do, Southampton days out are fun for all ages. And with Southern, getting to Southampton is simple, affordable and family-friendly.

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Looking for travel inspiration? Discover all that our destinations have to offer, with great things to do and see along the South Coast and in London.

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Buying tickets

You can buy tickets online and collect them from the ticket machine before you travel. You can also buy them at the station from a ticket machine or staffed ticket office.