Southampton: A city steeped in maritime history

5 minsJune 15, 2019

The city of Southampton was England’s busiest port for transatlantic passenger travel, until the 1930s. Hundreds of thousands of emigrants departed on ships sailing from here. This was also the city from where the ill-fated luxury passenger liner, Titanic sailed. While air travel has replaced sailing as a mode of transport, Southampton continues to be busy, catering to large cruise and cargo ships.

It is a city with a rich history, many cultural events and lots of green spaces including the 326-acre Southampton Commons. It is also a place from where you can explore Isle of Wight, about 20 miles from the mainland.

This is the venue for India’s World Cup 2019 campaign against South Africa and for its match against Afghanistan on June 22nd. Here are a few things you can do after you have finished watching India play its matches in Southampton. And when you are travelling abroad, remember to carry your Axis Bank Multi-Currency Forex Card.

southampton

City Walls

Southampton has the third longest unbroken stretch of medieval city walls in Britain, dating back to the 14th Century. While you are exploring these, you can also look in on the 11th century St. Michael’s Church and Mayflower Memorial - built to commemorate the Pilgrim Fathers, the first English settlers to sail for America.

SeaCity Museum

Given Southampton’s record as a busy port, this museum should come as no surprise to the visitor. It tells the story of Britain’s long maritime history as well as stories of people who left from this port to migrate to the US, including, of course, the story of the Titanic.

Titanic Trail

Given the enormity of the Titanic tragedy and the fact that the ship sailed from Southampton, there are numerous sites in the city associated with the vessel. You can take the Titanic Trail to learn more about them. A must visit place is the Titanic Engineers' Memorial a beautiful bronze and granite monument built in the memory of the ship’s 35 engineers, none of whom survived.

Merchant’s House and Tudor House

Built in 1290, Medieval Merchant’s House is the only surviving example of its kind. It offers a glimpse of how the wealthy merchants lived in the 13th century. It is filled with period furniture, wall hangings, and unique architectural flourishes.

Of a slightly later vintage, Tudor House, built in the 15th century, is now a museum with exhibits from the Victorian and Edwardian eras, as well as periodic exhibitions showcasing more than 900 years of local history.

National Motor Museum

If you are a car enthusiast, this is one place you shouldn’t miss. Located at Beaulieu, a short journey away from Southampton it is one of the world’s largest car museum. Apart from its many exhibits, it also has the official collection of original James Bond vehicles as well as the flying Ford Anglia from the Harry Potter movies.

The Axis Bank Multi-Currency Forex Card is the perfect accessory to carry while visiting England to watch the ICC World Cup 2019 matches. You can use this prepaid Forex Card to make hassle-free payments. What’s more, it protects you from currency fluctuations, is valid for multiple trips and makes you eligible for special offers.

Disclaimer: This article has been authored by The Source, a Mumbai-based content creation and curation firm. Axis Bank does not influence views of the author in any way. Axis Bank and The Source shall not be responsible for any direct / indirect loss or liability incurred by the reader for taking any financial decisions based on the contents and information. Please consult your financial advisor before making any financial decision.

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