Hidden History
Hidden History See Southampton and the Southampton Tourist Guides Association popular Hidden History Walks* are a stroll through the past of the City, exploring the Walls of the Old Town, with your Guide recounting tales of yesteryear, and bringing to life historical characters, and life-changing events.ee We will tell you about Southampton’s association with the Romans, Saxons and Vikings, the building of the Town Walls – standing since the 1300s – and the City’s ancient legends. We have ‘keys to the city’, enabling us to open up the locked doors of the Medieval Towers and Wine Vaults! We will see the Bargate, Southampton’s most famous monument; walk along the Western Walls with distant views to St. Mary’s Church and the New Forest; pass the oldest Church in the City, St. Michael’s, and the oldest Museum, Tudor House. Places associated with Jane Austen’s time in the city are included, and the City’s Spa Period from 1750-1830 is described. The Mayflower and Speedwell departed from Southampton, and important locations associated with the Pilgrim Fathers are covered, as is the City’s connections with the Titanic, which sailed from here. The City’s role in conflicts from the Battle of Agincourt, through to the Blitz and Normandy Landings on D-Day are also addressed. Walks last 1&1/2 hours and are gently-paced, however some stairs are involved. If you have any problems with these, or with heights or enclosed spaces, please let our Guide know, and they will be able to adjust to help you. Walks will finish near the lower end of the High Street – your guide can assist with directions to any part of the town you wish to visit or head to thereafter. Walks run at 10.30am and 1.30pm on Saturday and Sundays from April until end September, starting from the Lions at the Bargate in the City Centre. The cost is £7, children below 16 are free, but must be accompanied. Walks will then take place on Saturdays and Sundays during the winter months October – March, commencing at 1.30pm at the Bargate (but not on 24 or 31 Dec). The majority of City Centre Car Parks are well placed for access to the Bargate, especially the Eastgate and Albion Place Car Parks. Please note parking is free on the Western Esplanade on Sundays until 1pm, which gives time enough to enjoy our Sunday ‘Hidden History’ summer morning walk! * For 2023/24, Southampton’s two guiding associations, See Southampton and the Southampton Tourist Guides Association are working in partnership to deliver a series of Southampton History Walks on weekends throughout the year. SEE Southampton – More history than you ever imagined!
See Southampton Heritage Guides
Welcome to See Southampton Heritage Guides Welcome to See Southampton Guided Tours See some of Southampton’s wonderful architectural, historical and cultural heritage with our tour guides. Tours & Events Private Group Walks Book a walk for a group or private party, tailored for your interests, with a qualified local history expert. Contact us Accessible Guided Tours Guided tours are for everyone! We offer a sign language interpreter, voice amplifiers, ramps, lifts, and accessible toilet facilities. More information 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 Book Events 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:Check back in January for details of our public themed tours for 2026! 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. Contact Us Click poster for dates & details Talks at Portswood and Woolston Libraries – FREE! Library talk dates & times 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. Map and Tour – “From Parks to Port” 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. Accessibility Information “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. Information & Map Award Beautiful South Award See Southampton has won a prestigious accolade at the Beautiful South Awards for Excellence 2023. Read the full article in the Southern Daily Echo Reviews Click here to leave us a review!