However, you don`t have to travel to the New Forest to find stunning scenery. Southampton is one of the greenest cities in Southern England, containing numerous parks spreading throughout the City Centre. Furthermore, Southampton Common, just 2 miles outside the city centre, offers 326 acres of beautiful, tranquil parkland to enjoy at your leisure. Moreover, trips to the beautiful Isle of Wight are regular and cheap, via efficient ferry links.

As well as Southampton`s prime location for greenery, one of the city`s most publicised advantages is its port. Widely recognised as the cruise capital of northern Europe, Southampton regularly offers the unmissable sight of majestic cruise liners travelling into port. Further to this, Southampton frequently is a location of ship-naming. Most recently, the much publicised Queen Mary 2 was viewed by thousands as she was named.

If you are looking for culture, Southampton boasts an impressive collection of art galleries, museums and theatres. In particular, Southampton is home to the Mayflower Theatre, the largest theatre in Southern England, with a capacity of 2,300. Here you can see numerous world famous plays, as well as many other outstanding theatrical performances.

Unsurprisingly, Southampton contains a rich history, which can be seen all over the city. In particular, the Historic Old Town contains buildings that span the centuries of time, as well as fantastic medieval town walls to stroll along, free of charge. The now tranquil waterfront is also abound with historical importance, with strong connections to the D-Day landings.

In terms of nightlife, Southampton is unparalleled. Eating out is an enjoyable experience, with an enviable range of multi-cultural restaurants to choose from. From classy Italian restaurants, to more specialist Greek tavernas, Southampton has each individual taste covered. For those looking for a more lively nightlife, Leisure World in West Quay offers a modern, spectacularly diverse entertainment complex, containing pubs, a casino and the largest Oceana nightclub in the country.

In sum, Southampton offers something for everyone; from quiet strolls amongst beautiful scenery, to unrivalled cultural experiences. Access to the city is easy via rail and road; and for those further afield, Southampton Airport takes in flights from a wide range of European cities across the continent. In terms of accommodation, Southampton hosts many reasonably priced hotels, which can be searched thoroughly, with limited hassle, through hotels near Southampton.

Southampton warmly welcomes your arrival!

The Civil Aviation Authority’s no-fly zone was extended at 1pm today, closing airports including Manchester, Liverpool, East Midlands and Prestwick due to a cloud of volcanic ash, the air traffic authority Nats said.

In a statement Southampton Airport said, “All of BAA’s airports are open. The volcanic ash cloud coming from Iceland continues to cause occasional problems and passengers are therefore advised to check their airline website for the latest travel information.”

Southern Daily Echo

Passengers will be able to catch flights to Brest and La Rochelle with the airline from Southampton Airport.

Flybe News

The eatery has been named Mitchell’s Bar & Kitchen after RJ Mitchell, the man who designed and tested the famous aircraft.

On 5 March 1936, the first Spitfire prototype set off for its maiden test flight from Southampton.

The plane played a crucial part in winning World War II for the Allies, with over 22,000 being produced by the time the war ended in 1945.

Southampton airport revealed that Mitchell’s Bar & Kitchen had been designed ‘with the time-conscious traveller in mind’, with all dishes made and delivered in less than ten minutes.

Kevin Brown, managing director of the south-coast gateway, said: ‘The new Mitchell’s Bar & Kitchen was developed using passenger feedback and offers a much wider range of products to passengers, whether they are wanting to grab some quick refreshments, or sit and relax.

‘Naming the facilities after RJ Mitchell is a fitting tribute to his work on this site some 74 years ago today.’

Source

A public vote placed Southampton Airport in second place in the top ten list of UK airports with a score of 82.4 per cent. The airport was described by Wanderlust as an “alternative to Heathrow for capital-dwellers”.

Birmingham International, which recently announced the opening of three new Pret A Manger stores, was also in the top five on the list.

Manchester Airport, Robin Hood Doncaster, Edinburgh Airport and Exeter Airport also all appeared in the top ten. London City Airport was named top for its ease of access.

In comparison with international airports, UK facilities failed to perform well with none of the country’s airports appearing in the worldwide top ten. Singapore Changi topped the list with 92.5 per cent.

Figures released by BAA recently revealed that poor weather conditions had a negative effect on the number of passengers travelling from UK airports in December.

Source