Southampton Old Town Walking Tour (Self Guided), Southampton

Southampton is a bustling coastal city with the history going back all the way to the Stone Age. There are over 90 listed buildings and 30 ancient monuments in the Old Town, including medieval watch towers and dungeons, an array of churches, fine timber-framed Tudor houses, inns and hole-in-the-wall pubs. Despite heavy bombardment during WWII, much of Southampton's historic heritage survived the blasts, owing to which today visitors can experience what life was like back in the day by taking a lovely stroll down the cobbled streets of the old quarter.

The best place to start this journey is the Bargate (formerly the main gate of the city) – possibly Southampton’s most iconic structure, built around 1180. And of course, walking some of England’s best-preserved medieval Town Wall, nearly half of which still stands since the 15th century, is a must for any guest of Southampton. Among other places to visit, equally informative about Southampton’s past, are:

Red Lion Inn – a historic, half-timbered pub built at the turn of the 16th century;

Medieval Merchant's House – a restored property of a prosperous merchant, John Fortin; built circa 1290;

St. Michael's Church – Southampton's oldest church still in use; founded in 1070;

Tudor House and Garden – a former 15th-century property offering atmospheric insight into the lives of its residents over the years, plus a chance to witness something altogether paranormal, being one of city’s most haunted locations;

God's House Tower – a late 13th-century gatehouse.

If you genuinely love history and want to step back in time to see what Southampton’s Old Town has to offer, take this self-guided walk.