Public Themed Tours
2026 Special Walks and Tours See Southampton runs a number of themed walks and tours throughout the year, each one focusing on one of the amazing stories in Southampton’s history. Our 2026 Special Walks and Tours programme includes: Jane Austen in Georgian Southampton Southampton’s American Story Southampton’s Second World War Story High Vaultage – Definitive Tour of the City’s Vaults!Ghastly, Grim and Gory The QE2 Mile ExplorerTitanic Monuments in Southampton Christmas in Southampton (with festive refreshment) See below for details of some of the tours – with more information to be added shortly. Jane Austen in Georgian Southampton Discover the world of one of Southampton’s most famous residents!Famously of the write-what-you-know genre of authors, how much of Southampton is written into Jane Austen’s books? With Southampton an elegant and chic spa town, Jane partied, danced, entertained, walked, took pleasure boats and enjoyed the seaside air when living here 1806-1809. On our walking tour of the old city, visit the places Jane knew and loved, while exploring Georgian Southampton. Meet at the West Gate, Westgate Street (what-three-words: letter.tribes.inch) 2026 dates: Sunday 12 April (11:00-13:00) Sunday 2 August (11:00-13:00) Tickets £12.50 – book for 12 April via Eventbrite (2 August booking opening shortly) Southampton’s American Story 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Southampton has many American connections – from early exploration of the New World and the sailing of the Mayflower, to involvement in the American War of Independence and the American Civil War, the important role America played in Southampton in the First and Second world wars, in particular with regard to D-Day. Join our Heritage Guide for a two-hour walk exploring these stories and more, including those of the Titanic, Hollywood stars and sporting connections. Meet at the West Gate, Westgate Street (what-three-words: letter.tribes.inch). 2026 dates: TBC Tickets £12.50 – booking opening shortly Southampton’s Second World War Story Walk the streets of the old town to discover Southampton’s vital WWII role.Hear about the city as a military port, learn about the wartime industry – from building warships to the story of the iconic Spitfire fighter aeroplane – while discovering the devastating effects of the Blitz. Experience what life was like for those living in Southampton – including visits to some of the medieval vaults turned air raid shelter – while hearing about the arrival of the impact of the Americans to the city. 2026 dates: Friday 8 May 14:00-15:30 Thursday 13 August 18:00-9:30 Tickets £12.50 – booking opening shortly SEE Southampton – more history than you ever imagined!
See Southampton Heritage Guides
Welcome to See Southampton Heritage Guides Welcome to See Southampton City Guided Walks Explore the city’s amazing historical architecture, with the stories of Southampton’s centuries long history. More information Private Walks and Tours Book a walk for a group or private party, from our list of themed walks, or tailor one to your interest. More information Accessible Guided Tours We offer bespoke assessible guided tours, and have created a Southampton Accessible Walk map (PDF), to download. 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 a programme of walks and talks for local residents, visitors and cruise ship passengers. Tours and Events Discover Southampton’s Amazing, Hidden – and Surprising – History Walking Tour Dates & To Book 90-minute walking tours on Saturdays and Sundays: 10:30-12:00 (May, July, September 2026), 13:30-15:00 (February, April, June, August, October, December 2026) Meet 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 Pilgrim Fathers’ Mayflower and the Titanic, along with tales of Southampton’s famous residents, such as novelist Jane Austen. Tickets: £12.50 – book online or pay on the day (cash or card) Special Walks and Tours 2026 Our 2026 programme includes: Jane Austen in Georgian Southampton Southampton’s American Story Southampton’s Second World War Story High Vaultage – Definitive Tour of the City’s Vaults!Ghastly, Grim and Gory The QE2 Mile ExplorerTitanic Monuments in Southampton Christmas in Southampton (with festive refreshment) For more details of the walks and tours, see our Special Walks and Tours page! Group and Private Walks and Tours We offer private tours for individuals and groups, with some of our most popular walks the Hidden History Heritage Walk, Titanic themed, covering the city in the Second World War, the story of the Mayflower, Medieval and Georgian Southampton. We also have guides who can take you further afield, into Hampshire and surrounding areas. Whatever your interest, we can find a guide to tailor a tour for you. Our Group and Private Walks and Tours page has more details. Contact Us The Westgate – open on Sundays 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. Special exhibitions explore the fascinating stories of the Mayflower and Southampton’s Second World War history. Opening times: Sundays 10:00-12:00, 13:00-15:00 – free entry 2026 Talks at Portswood Library Library talk dates & times A series of monthly Wednesday evening talks covering the history of Southampton will be given by See Southampton guides and Bevois Mount History at Portswood Library, starting in March 2026. The talks begin at 19:30, last for about an hour, and admission is free. 11 March: Rebuilding the town Southampton after the Blitz Godfrey Collyer 8 April: Gatti’s Restaurant – the Titanic’s ‘Ritz’ Ally Hayes and Wendy Stokes 13 May: Rigging Block Maker, Walter Taylor (1734-1893) Mark Newland 10 June: Southampton’s American Connections Nigel Philpott 8 July: The First Public Libraries in Southampton Ally Hayes and Wendy Stokes 12 August: Bevois – Prince of Southampton Jack Wilson 9 September: Early Development of Southampton Docks David Hornsby 14 October: The French Raid of 1338 Ally Hayes and Wendy Stokes 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. Southampton’s ‘American’ story 2026 is the 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence in 1776, and America and Americans feature throughout many parts of Southampton’s history – from 1620 and the departure from Southampton’s West Quay of the Pilgrim Fathers on board the Mayflower and the Speedwell, to the major role America played in Southampton’s Second World War story. Weekend See Southampton walks throughout 2026 will recount many of the fascinating stories of Southampton’s American connection, with details of special America-themed walks to be announced shortly. See Southampton’s Accessible 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 Reviews Click here to leave us a review!