Southampton

Lots of maritime history – I never knew that the Titanic sailed from Southampton, as did the Mayflower. There are some well preserved city walls and gates still standing that make for a nice stroll. And it’s less than 1/2 hour on the fast passenger ferry to Cowes on the Isle of Wight.

I was born in Princess Anne Hospital in Southampton. My family used to own the Eaton Court Hotel on Hill Lane, and I lived there until I was about two. Then we moved into a house in Lordswood. I went to Oakwood Infant and Junior Schools. I used to like going to the shops at Ocean Village – there is a plaque there where the Titanic left from. I left Southampton in 1995 when I was ten – we moved to New Zealand. I’ve been back once – in 1998. I would love to go back soon to visit my large extended family and experience the city as an adult. I bet a lot has changed.

This summer 2006, I went to spend a month in Southampton. One night, from my flat in a students’ residence, we heard a big BANG!
As naive as i am, i thought this noise was made by some factory, and didn’t pay attention, until my flatmate came into the kitchen and said “did you see that? a bus crashed on the bridge, i was just next to it”.
Yes, the bus actually crashed on the bridge out of the residence. No, not ON the bridge, but UNDER the bridge. It was a 2-floored bus, and the bridge was too low.
When i got on the street, there was a lot of people, firemen and the police, and the idiot driving the bus (taking the wrong route) was still in it. I could tell he was embarassed and i sure know why. The upper floor of the bus was on the road below the bridge, as the lower floor was a bit further after the bridge. It litterally took off without its head. But i heard nobody was hurt.
The funny fact about this story is that when you came up to the bus, you could read an ad on it, which said : “Today is Friday 13th”. I think this is what you call irony.

My sister just moved here and I am sooo curious to see how she is managing the whole settlement and change of environment.

Some fact that i noticed: southampton is a town where lots of people drive bikes. The bars close very early, it seems it’s like that in england in general. It’s near stonehendge!

Where i lived before uni, the rents and sister are still there and loads of mates, such a good atmosphere, im gonna miss it soooooooooo much over the summer! I did everything there andlove it to bits

i live in southampton and it ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

From living here, i know go back onto the motorway and i hate to say this but head towards Portsmouth, it has far better attrations,......excluding Pompey FC of course!

Hey I live here on the outskirts of Southampton, we can walk to the Country Parks from my home, the wildlife and the natural area with its bluebell woods and daffodil woods in the spring, the Hamble River in the Summer and the wonderful New Forest in the Winter with the wild Ponies and deer and all the wildlife, I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else in England, (and there is very little crime here either.) Come and visit, it’s not all about shops and art galleries!

But only because I live here.

I’ve lived near here all my life, so I guess I would love it – I know nothing else. There’s a certain vibrance and youth about the place, most of the time everyone feels happy and determined (but I think thats quite a Southern quality anyway).

There are a few museums based around the city, but I don’t think we really take advantage of our history and past. There aren’t many art galleries either – only the Guild Hall that I’ve visited and that’s all right.

The best thing about Southampton is its shops. We just got a huge new shopping centre – WestQuay and I really, really like it in there.

To be frank, even though I love Southampton, there’s not a whole lot to do unless you’re just passing. If you want to visit Southampton, stay somewhere in the New Forest (Where I actually live) and only make going to Southampton a day trip for the shops.