Welcome to Southampton!
Southampton is a city on the South East coast of England. Southampton has a large dock, from which many boats, most famously the Titanic, have set off from.
Southampton is a port city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. It is located on the southern coast of Great Britain, approximately 70 mi (110 km) southwest of London and 15 mi (24 km) west of Portsmouth. The city forms part of the South Hampshire built-up area, which also covers Portsmouth and the towns of Havant, Waterlooville, Eastleigh, Fareham, and Gosport.
A major port, and close to the New Forest, it lies at the northernmost point of Southampton Water, at the confluence of the River Test and Itchen, with the River Hamble joining to the south.
Southampton is noted for its as being the departure point for the RMS Titanic, and home to 500 of the people who perished on board. The Spitfire was built in the city, and Southampton has a strong association with the Mayflower, being the departure point before the vessel was forced to return to Plymouth. More recently, Southampton is known as the home port of some of the largest cruise ships in the world. Southampton is also one of the largest retail destinations in the South of England.
The city was heavily bombed during the Second World War during what was known as the Southampton Blitz. It was one of the major embarkation points for D-Day. It was also where troops left England for the Battle of Agincourt and were itself a victim of a number of raids from French pirates in the Middle Ages, leading to the construction of the fortified town walls, many of which still stand today. Jane Austen also lived in Southampton for a number of years.
Some notable employers in the city include the University of Southampton, Ordnance Survey, BBC South, Associated British Ports, and Carnival UK. The unitary authority area of Southampton had a population of 253,651 in the 2011 census, making it one of the most populous cities in Southern England. Southampton forms part of the larger South Hampshire conurbation.