The settlement was given city status through a Royal Charter in 1964, but its real history as a regional center of trade, transport and culture dates back as early as Roman times. The Saxon town of Hamwic was actually the first village founded at the territory of what is Southampton today. As the second largest harbor in Britain, this city has always been an important sea link, which is why it is not by chance that William the Conqueror chose it as the most important naval and trade center after 1066.

The most attractive and interesting thing about Southampton is that the city center is actually an open-air archaeological museum; the original ancient town wall still stands, showing unique Arcades and many other remnants of the epoch. In one pedestrian area, you can find a marvelous Bargate (medieval town gate), with frescoes of kings and queens.

In July 1554, Southampton welcomed Philip, Prince of Spain (later King Philip of Spain of Armada fame), who arrived to marry Queen Mary in the Cathedral on 25 July, 1554. In the 18th Century, Southampton became a health center and spa town after the healing capacity of the Chaleybeate Springs was discovered.

The Vickers-Supermarine Spitfire, a fighter plane in the Battle of Britain in World War II, was designed by Reginald Mitchell in Southampton, taking its first flight from the Southampton International Airport.

Today, the great ships which have been entered into the records of Southampton include the Queen Mary 2, QE2 and the Aurora. Unfortunately, Southampton will always be associated with the tragic story of the Titanic, the ocean liner that left Southampton on its first voyage on 10 April, 1912, and sank in the North Atlantic just five days later, after crashing into an iceberg. Many of the crew who died were Southamptoners, and the loss of the ship had a devastating effect on the popularity and economy of the town.