Group Walks
Group and Private Walks Are you looking to find an activity for your group or club? Or are you visiting the city and looking for a private guided tour? Our usual group/private tours last for one hour, 90 minutes or two hours – depending on what is best for your group and the theme of your walk – but we can tailor timings to your specific requisites. Most of our tours centre around the Old City, but we can also cover other areas of Southampton as required. Southampton has the most amazing history to discover and wealth of hidden stories! Many groups choose to do a private version of our history of Southampton walk – taking people through from the Romans to the Normans, the elegant and chic spa town of the Georgian era, to the time of the Second World War. Additional themed walks include : The Titanic and the very personal Southampton story Southampton and the Second World War The Pilgrim Fathers and the Mayflower Notable and Notorious Women of Southampton Southampton’s Parks Southampton and the Spitfire story Southampton’s docks Novelist Jane Austen – one of Southampton’s most famous residents Churches and other religious buildings in Southampton Or choose your own theme! Dates and Cost Please contact us to discuss charges and dates. Special rates and contents are offered for school parties, and especially for younger children. Illustrated Talks Many of our guides offer illustrated talks on a variety of subjects. Please contact us to discuss availability and charges.
Events
See Southampton – Upcoming events and tours
Contact
Contact and bookings We will be delighted to speak to you concerning any aspect of a visit to Southampton, accessibility, volunteering, or to arranging a private tour for you or your group in the City. Tel: +44 (0)7770 842728 Email: info@seesouthampton.co.uk See Southampton SouthamptonHampshire, UK Meeting & starting point at Bargate, Southampton (by the statue of the lions).
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: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. 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!