Last Updated on March 2, 2025

A day trip to Southampton by train

Why not consider a day out to this maritime city on the south coast? It couldn’t be easier to get to Southampton by South Western Railway, saving petrol costs, avoiding traffic jams and the stress of finding car parking and, there’s plenty to do once you reach your destination.

For me, the journey from Woking to Southampton Central was less than fifty minutes, allowing me a full day to explore the city. My grandfather retired to live in Southampton, and I have vague memories of visiting him as a child, so I was keen to discover more about the area where he lived.

The cultural part of the city, where the Sea City Museum and Southampton City Art Gallery can be found, is well signposted from the station and less than ten minutes by foot, a good starting point for my day out.

Housed in what used to be the law courts the Sea City Museum has fascinating, interactive, exhibits on the story of the Titanic and the lives and history of the people of the city. The RMS (Royal Mail Ship), Titanic was built and operated by the White Star Line with local people from Southampton involved in the provisioning and manning of this luxury passenger liner. The story of the Titanic, believed to be unsinkable, is well known with this modern tragedy taking a huge toll on lives.  RMS Titanic left Southampton on April 10, 1912, on her maiden voyage to New York City, she sank in the early hours of 15 April 1912 having hit an iceberg off the coast of Newfoundland in the North Atlantic Ocean with the staggering loss of fifteen hundred lives. The sheer size of the liner is hard to imagine, it was one of the largest ships of the time. I found the oral stories of the survivors in the exhibition very harrowing and the scale of the loss to Southampton as an area was very sobering.

The second main exhibit, Gateway to the World, covers the history of the lives of the people of the city and their connections to the sea building on Southampton’s maritime past. This gallery tells the story of people who have passed through Southampton: Roman traders, Saxon settlers setting up homes or Huguenot Protestants seeking refuge, and Victorian industrialists with links across the British Empire. A large interactive map displays the development of Southampton from the earliest stone age settlements to the walled medieval town and the present-day city.

The final permanent exhibition showcases Southampton’s Stories; this exhibition looks at the city’s rich and diverse maritime, local history, archaeology, and archive collections. Covering subjects including the docks, working life, sport and leisure, and Southampton during wartime.

Just a short distance away is the Southampton City Art Gallery featuring 58 works of art including paintings by Monet, Gainsborough, Maggi Hambling, and Paula Rego from its own and the National Gallery’s collection. The large airy gallery spaces are perfect for displaying the works of art. The Baring Room exhibits a complete series of works by Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones on the Story of Perseus.

The temporary exhibit was just up my street, a collection of works by the artist Kurt Jackson with the theme of biodiversity. This contemporary artist lives and works in West Cornwall, his seascapes are favourites of mine. In addition to the main galleries, the Foyer exhibition is dedicated to showing the work of local and emerging artists.

From the cultural quarter I made my way into the vibrant, central area of the city, Southampton is very easy to walk around. Heading down Above Bar Street, the main street in Southampton, towards the docks you pass through the Bargate monument leading into the Old Town area. This medieval building, built in the 12th century was the northern gatehouse into Southampton constructed within the town walls which enclosed the town at that time.

The ruins of the Holyrood Church can be found in the Old Town, this church being one of the five that were originally within the walled town. Only the shell remains as the Holyrood church was damaged by a bomb in the blitz in 1940.

For lunch, I was booked into Marco’s Restaurant in Oxford Street, one of the many restaurants to be found in this pretty street full of restaurants and bars. Marco’s is known for its Cicchetti or small plates which are great dishes for sharing.

It was a sunny day, perfect for an al fresco lunch. From the extensive lunch menu, I chose to start with some marinated queen olives with sourdough bread Tuscan olive oil, and balsamic vinegar, the olives were plump and juicy.

To follow a small dish of deep-fried crispy calamari which came with an aioli dip and a slice of lemon.

To finish I opted for a tasty plate of tagliatelle ai fungi, fresh tagliatelle with wild mushrooms in a creamy garlic and truffle sauce.  To accompany my meal a glass of Pinot grigio blush Torresella, Veneto, which was light and refreshing.

Marco’s has an extensive menu to choose from, including the lunch menu I dined from as well as special dishes of the day and, of course, numerous Cicchetti. With my appetite sated it was time to continue sightseeing.

A short walk from Oxford Street is the Town Quay where God’s House Tower can be found. This is one of Southampton’s oldest historic medieval buildings, built in the 15th century, which reopened in 2019 after a 3-million-pound refurbishment. The tower is a three-storeyed building with a stone turret. Originally adjoined to God’s House Hospital, which no longer exists, its history includes a period when it was used as a debtor’s gaol and an Archaeology Museum. It was an important part of the medieval walled town of Southampton on the side facing the sea, an ideal place for defending the town from the French army. Today the tower is divided into a heritage section along with an arts and culture venue which is used to show art exhibitions, there is also a café selling tasty refreshments. Climbing to the top of the tower there is a great viewpoint, stretching out over the water and the docks as well as the modern city inland.

Visit the Stories behind the Stones exhibition, for a small entrance fee, which takes you on a journey through God’s House Tower’s dark history and turbulent past. The exhibits on the ground floor tell the story of the devastating French raid of 1338 that led to the town building fortifications, including God’s House Tower, completely encircling Southampton. 

On the second floor are exhibits depicting more about the building’s original use as a defensive tower. The third floor focuses on the tower as a prison, the cell spaces are incredibly small, and it must have been a hard life for the prisoners held there.

Keeping walking along the outskirts of what would have been the walled town is the Mayflower Memorial to the Pilgrim Fathers who set sail on the Mayflower and Speedwell ships from Southampton in 1620. The memorial consists of a fifty-foot column of Portland stone with a cupola and a copper model of the Mayflower.

Numerous remains of the medieval town walls are incorporated into the structure of the modern city. Walking back along Western Esplanade towards the city centre are the arcades, and medieval arches where the merchants used to sell their wares. It is fascinating to see the juxtaposition of the old with the new.

Opposite the modern Westquay shopping centre the old town walls run almost as far as the Bargate gatehouse. In front of the walls, there is a new pop-up bar, The Village serving outdoor drinks with a large screen showing current sporting events. A great place to stop and enjoy a drink on a tour of the city.

It was almost time to head back to Central Station to catch my return train. I had time to quickly visit Southampton’s long-awaited new bar and restaurant, Gin & Olive a recently opened independent establishment. It was obviously popular, with a great location at the top end of Above Bar Street. For gin lovers the choice is exceptional and a tasty food menu includes small plates and sharing plates as well as larger dishes such as steaks and burgers.

For me, it had to be a local gin “Mermaid” from the Isle of Wight with classic tonic which came served in a beautiful glass. It was smooth and delicious with hints of citrus. Feeling a bit peckish a small plate of Asian sticky pork belly with house salad was just right for my journey home.

Southampton is great for a day trip out, you can easily discover what the city has to offer on foot, travelling by train is the perfect way to make the most of a day out. Why not take the time to visit one of England’s great maritime cities? The journey to Southampton Central is just over an hour from London Waterloo station.

Useful Links

My travel to Southampton was courtesy of South Western Railway. Click here for train information and offers for days out.

I was a guest of Visit Southampton, where you can find more information on the city and things to see and do Southampton.

Visit the website for exhibit information and the fee for the Sea City Museum. Sea City Museum, Havelock Road, Southampton, SO14 7FY. The museum is open Monday to Sunday, 10.00 am to 5.00 pm.

Admission to Southampton’s City Art Gallery is free, with the building also housing the city library. Southampton City Art Gallery, Commercial Road, Southampton, SO14 7LP. Opening times: Monday – Friday 10.00 am to 3.00 pm, Saturday 10.00 am to 5.00 pm, closed on Sunday. The Kurt Jackson exhibition is running until 29 October 2022. Check the website for details on new exhibitions.

To reserve a table at Marco’s Bar and Restaurant. Marco’s restaurant, 35 – 36 Oxford Street, Southampton, SO15 3DS. Closed Mondays, Open from 12.00 pm – 11.00 pm on Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday, 12.00 pm – 1.00 am Friday and Saturday. Reservations are recommended.

To book tickets for the Stories behind the Stones exhibit visit:

God’s House Tower which is currently open on Friday and Saturday from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm, and Sunday from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm. God’s House Tower, Town Quay Road, Southampton, SO14 2NY.

The Village pop-up bar is open through the summer on the Esplanade West Quay. Booking is advisable.

For more details on the food and drink menu and to reserve a table visit Gin & Olive.  Gin & Olive, The Arts Complex, 140 Above Bar Street, Southampton, SO14 7DU.

 

Looking for more day trips from London?  Check out our review of Winchester