Guides from the city’s two guiding organisation, the Southampton Tourist Guides Association (STGA) and See Southampton, met at the Bargate ahead of finalising plans for a series of exciting exploration walks across the Old Town in 2025.
Walks will visit the city walls and explore a number of Southampton’s famous underground vaults, shedding light on Southampton’s medieval wine and wool trades.
2025 is a special year for Southampton, marking the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen, who has many connections with the city. Walks will pause at sights that Jane would have known well, and will introduce events from Georgian and Regency Southampton, which famously at that time was a Spa Resort!
2025 also marks the 85th anniversary of Dunkirk, and the 80th anniversary of VE and VJ Day. Guides will recall events in Southampton from this time, including the over exuberant VE Day celebrations at the Bargate, which resulted in a statue of Queen Anne inside the Bargate losing one of her arms!
Kim Golder (Chair of STGA) and Nigel Philpott (Chair of See Southampton) are both looking forward to the new season walks, starting on Sat 5 April.
‘We’re delighted to be able to offer walks of the Old Town on weekends throughout the year, at 10.30am and 1.30pm from April – September, and then at 1.30pm on weekends from October – March. Only qualified guides with both organisations have access to the ‘keys to the vaults’ – it amazes us how few Sotonians and visitors to the city know what treasures we have ‘underground.’ Their reaction when they discover the vaults is one of wonder and incredulity – they simply have no idea of the range and quantity of vaults that exist!’
‘In addition to the vaults, Southampton at its peak had over a mile and a quarter of medieval walls, along with gates and towers, and we will discover sections of these during the walk. Last winter a new bus terminus was constructed close to Arundel Tower and Prince Edward Tower (otherwise known as Windwhistle and Catchcold Towers!). A new garden will shortly be opened as part of the development, and from the walls we will have a bird’s eye view of the new green space.’
‘The Jane Austen 250th anniversary is also being highlighted in a series of additional talks and walks throughout the year being given by the STGA and See Southampton. Over the winter a series of plaques highlighting parts of the town known by Jane Austen have been refurbished and presented, and a downloadable, self-guided leaflet is available.’
Other parts of Southampton’s colourful history covered on the guided walks include links to the Romans, Saxons, Vikings, Normans, the 100 Years War, the Tudors, William Shakespeare, the Mayflower, the Titanic, WWII and D-Day and the development of the Docks.
Tickets may be booked online at the respective guiding organisations websites:
Southampton Tourist Guides Association: southamptontouristguides.co.uk/
See Southampton: seesouthampton.co.uk/
Or if tickets remain on the day, they can be purchased in person from the guide with cash / card.
Tours depart the Bargate at 10.30am and 1.30pm from April – September and cost £10 (accompanied children under 16 years free of charge). Tours last approx. 90 mins and will finish in the Old Town.
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