Situated on the south coast of England, Southampton is a known throughout the UK as one of the major ports in south of England, nestling at the very head of the Solent, which separates the Isle of Wight from the mainland of England. Southampton is the largest city in the entire English south coast, situated in the middle between the other Hampshire towns of Portsmouth and Bournemouth.

As well as being one of the largest commercial ports in Europe, Southampton is also the home dock and embarkation point for some of the World’s largest and most luxurious cruise liners, in the World. Southampton was indeed the port from which the RMS Titanic set off on her maiden (and only) voyage way back in 1912. Being a major port city, Southampton has a large amount of industry based around shipping, tourism and various service industries. Visitors to the city are numerous; either to embark or disembark on a long distance cruise or to do business in the city, which is the home of many Hampshire County based businesses as well as some on a national scale. Southampton is home to the offices of the Ordnance Survey, which is the national mapping agency for all of the British Isles. For shoppers the focal point is the West Quay Shopping center, one of the largest centers in the UK, as well as the Mall in East Street, which is alive with small, family owned stores displaying some interesting merchandise, some of it hand made. Being a port city, and a host to visitors from all over the World, Southampton has a very cosmopolitan feel to it, with restaurants catering for every taste and palate. At night there is a variety of attractions for lovers of “good times,” from bars to cafes, from night clubs to discos.

Southampton is home to the famous Museum of Archaeology, tracing back the city’s history for many hundreds of years. Another historical landmark to be found in Southampton is the Tudor House Museum, where the ghost of Anne Boleyn is reputed to be in residence. Beautifully maintained and reliving the atmosphere of Henry the eighth’s reign in England, the Tudor House Museum is an interesting place for a visit. Echoing the city of Southampton’s rich maritime history, the Mayflower memorial in the city celebrates the departure from the city of the Pilgrim Fathers to the New World of America in 1620. To commemorate more modern history, Southampton was the city from where more than two million allied soldiers embarked on the short journey to Europe during the Second World War. A plaque to commemorate these tumultuous times can be found on the site of the Mayflower Memorial.

A short care journey from Southampton is the New Forest, one of the largest green belts in all of the UK. Visitors to the city to take the time to travel around the region, and take in the scenic beauty that abounds.

Renting a car can be an economical way to travel around Southampton and the county of Hampshire. Car Hire in Southampton usually comes as a ‘fully inclusive’ package which includes unlimited mileage, collision damage waiver, passenger indemnity insurance and cover for third party, fire and theft -and usually insurance excess. To rent a car anywhere in the United Kingdom, you must show a full driver's licence and a credit card in the driver’s name. Cars are usually rented to customers between the ages of 21 to 70 years. Hiring a car is a great idea if you want to use Southampton as your base for a three day minimum travel experience around the Hampshire county region