Welcome to See Southampton Heritage Guides
See Southampton Heritage Guides – Sightseeing tours, tour guides and accessible tours
Guided Tours
See some of Southampton’s wonderful architectural, historical and cultural heritage with our tour guides.
Private Group Walks
Book a walk for a group or private party, tailored for your interests, with a qualified local history expert.
Accessible Guided Tours
Guided tours are for everyone! We offer a sign language interpreter, voice amplifiers, ramps, lifts, and accessible toilet facilities.
More history in Southampton than you ever imagined!
See Southampton Heritage Guides is a team of qualified local heritage experts and tour guides, delivering an entertaining programme of walks and talks for local residents, visitors and cruise ship passengers.
Events & Tours
Discover Southampton's Amazing, Hidden - and Surprising - History
90-minute walking tours on Saturday and Sunday in October and December 2025 and February 2026
Starting at 1:30pm, at the Southampton Bargate – beside the statues of the lions
Explore the hidden history of Southampton – from the Romans to the Normans, to the city’s years as an elegant spa town, and on to the amazing part the city played in the Second World War as a military port and home to wartime industry. Visit the medieval walls and wine vaults, and hear the stories of Southampton’s most famous ships, including the Mayflower and the Titanic, along with tales of Southampton’s famous residents, such as novelist Jane Austen.
And December walks will also take you on a fun, joyous journey back through the city’s Christmases of yesteryear.
Tickets: £10 – book online or pay on the day (cash or card)
The Westgate
Visit the historic 14th Century Westgate, one of the main gates leading into medieval Southampton. Henry V with his band of brothers on their way to the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 passed through West Gate, as did the Pilgrim Fathers in 1620, ready to board the Mayflower at the busy, bustling medieval West Quay.
Explore the fascinating story of the Mayflower as told in the Westgate, along with exhibitions commemorating the 80th Second World War anniversaries of VE-Day (8 May 1945) and VJ-Day (15 August 1945), the 70th anniversary of the launch of Southampton’s heritage steamship, SS Shieldhall, and the 250th anniversary of the birth of Jane Austen in 1775, a famous resident of Southampton.
See Southampton’s Godfrey Collyer says, “The Westgate is likely to be closed until Christmas as part of the ongoing Southampton Heritage Assets Restoration Programme. We will advise of any changes to this schedule via this website and social media channels. We look forward to welcoming you to the museum once it is open again – with our opening times, Sundays, 10:00-12:00 and 13:00-15:00.”
Upcoming Public Themed and Group and Private Tours
Upcoming Public Themed Tours:
16 December 2025, 11:00-13:00: Jane Austen in Georgian Southampton – explore the streets that famous Southampton resident Jane Austen knew well, on the 250th anniversary of her birth in 1775. Book direct.
Or see the Events page for more information and to book.
Group and Private Tours: We offer private tours for individuals and groups, on subjects ranging from Titanic themed, to the Second World War, to the story of the Mayflower, covering the city’s churches, Christmas in Southampton, or Medieval or Georgian Southampton – whatever your interest, we can find a guide to tailor a tour for you. To find out more about our Group and Private Walks, contact us for more details.
Talks at Portswood and Woolston Libraries - FREE!
A series of Wednesday evening talks covering the history of Southampton is being given by See Southampton guides and Bevois Mount History at Portswood Library during 2025. There is free admission to the talks, which commence at 7.30pm. Dates for Woolston Library talks will be announced shortly.
Portswood Library (SO17 2NG) talks programme, arranged by The Friends of Portswood Library:
12 March – Southampton’s Parks, Ally Hayes & Wendy Stokes
9 April – Victorian Cruising, David Hornsby
14 May – Southampton’s Nationally Renowned Carriage Makers, Godfrey Collyer
11 June – The Shieldhall – 70 Years Alive and Still Steaming! Nigel Philpott
9 July – Significant Southampton Mayors and the First Lord Mayor, Ally Hayes & Wendy Stokes
13 August – Jane Austen’s Southampton Connection, Jack Wilson
10 September – Isaac Watts’ Statue, Ally Hayes & Wendy Stokes
8 October – More Stories from the Stonemason’s Yard, Godfrey Collyer and Peter Shawyer
If you would like to book a talk, our team is always happy to provide guest speakers on a range of subjects. Contact us for details.
Jane Austen 250 and VE and VJ Day 80th
2025 sees many events taking place to mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Jane Austen. Our historical weekend walks will include Jane’s connections with Southampton.
Weekend See Southampton walks throughout 2025 will also feature the role that Southampton played during the Second World War.
See Events for more details.
See Southampton's Accessible Guided Tours
We ensure that our Accessible Guided Tours are accessible to those with (visible or non-visible) physical and learning difficulties, and are wheelchair and mobility scooter friendly.
"From Parks to Port" - See Southampton's map with Accessible Trail
See Southampton have produced a map that details accessible places of interest, and includes lifts, toilets, ramps and facilities that can be easily accessed by wheelchair and mobility scooter users.
Award
Beautiful South Award
See Southampton has won a prestigious accolade at the Beautiful South Awards for Excellence 2023.