Southampton has been an important sea port for centuries, the harbour has been in use since Roman times, and lay witness to many historic events, it’s alleged that in 1016 that Canute the Viking King commanded the waves to make his retreat and English armies departed from here during the Hundred Years War to win the Battles of Crecy and Agincourt.

Southampton is one of the world’s natural harbors and has double tides, this natural phenomenon makes it suitable for larger vessels and is the home port to some of the world's most famous cruise liners, including QE2, Oriana, Aurora and Arcadia, its also where the Titanic was built and departed from on its doomed voyage to New York.

The city of Southampton is where old and new fuse together, large shopping emporiums and contemporary architecture nestling among ancient buildings and the remains of the city's medieval wall, which make for pleasant surroundings. There are two Universities in Southampton which are home to around 40,000 students, so as you would expect there are a number of pubs and bars that have set up to cater for the student fraternity.

The Portswood area is the drinking hub for many students, pubs like The Hobbit, The Clowns and Jesters, The Gordon Arms and The Mitre are all very popular with student crowds. The Hobbit Is worth a look whether you’re a student or not it’s a quirky pub with a massive beer garden and live music every night of the week.

There are a number of pubs and bars that have set up to cater for the student fraternity some of the key ones are to be found on the High Street and on the Bevois Valley Road.The aptly named Above Bar Street is home to a good number of pubs and bars and attracts mixed crowds on evenings and weekends.

Southampton also has lots of old traditional pubs serving real ale The Red Lion on the High Street below the Bargate is a cracker and is one of the oldest pubs in the city The Red Lion is a very old timber-beamed pub,and it is alleged that in 1415 King Henry V tried traitors to the crown here on the eve of his departure to France. The conspirators were found guilty of high treason, and were condemned to death and executed outside the Bargate.

Southampton's busiest tourist attractions include the Civic Centre and The Ocean Village, which is a development built around the marina and is home to some really good café’s, bars and restaurants, it’s a great spot for watching the world go by particularly on a English summers evening.