Southampton

Southampton is a city and major port situated on the south coast of England. It is the closest city to the New Forest and lies at the northern-most point of Southampton Water approximately halfway between Portsmouth and Bournemouth.

Related Topics:
City - Port - England - New Forest - Southampton Water - Portsmouth - Bournemouth

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Formerly a County Borough within the county of Hampshire (to which it gives its full name, the County of Southampton) , the city reverted to independent unitary authority status in local government re-organisations on April 1, 1997. This makes Southampton an administrative county in its own right, though for royal ceremonial purposes it is still regarded as being part of Hampshire. Within Southampton there are several districts including Woolston, Bitterne, Portswood, Bassett, Shirley, Freemantle, Millbrook and Swaythling.

Related Topics:
County Borough - County - Hampshire - Unitary authority - April 1 - 1997 - Administrative county - Shirley - Swaythling

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In common with many British towns and cities, such as Coventry and Plymouth, it was heavily bombed during the Second World War. Many historic buildings were lost as a result but the old city walls remain, as does the Bargate, formerly the main gateway to the city at the northern end of the walls. The Bargate is often seen as a symbol of the city, and is the logo of the city council. There are numerous large parks in the city centre. Most of Southampton's municipal services, including the library and the well-endowed art gallery are to be found in the Civic Centre.

Related Topics:
Coventry - Plymouth - Second World War - Library - Art gallery - Civic Centre

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The city is home to the University of Southampton, Southampton Solent University and West Quay shopping centre. It is also the headquarters of Ordnance Survey, the UK's national mapping agency. The local newspaper for the city is the Southern Daily Echo, a Newsquest publication.

Related Topics:
University of Southampton - Southampton Solent University - West Quay - Ordnance Survey - Newspaper - Southern Daily Echo - Newsquest

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Southampton has always been strongly tied with maritime history and developments. In particular, it is a primary port for cruise ships, its heyday being the first half of the 20th Century, and in particular the inter-war years, when it handled almost half the passenger traffic of the UK. Today it remains home to many luxury liners, as well as being a very important container port.

Related Topics:
Maritime - Cruise ships - 20th Century - UK - Container

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The outstanding harbour means it is the principal port on the south coast, and one of the largest in the UK. Sailing is a popular sport here. Much of this is centred around the Ocean Village development, a local marina which includes one of the South Coast's major independent cinema complexes, Harbour Lights.

Related Topics:
Harbour - Sailing - Ocean Village - Marina - Harbour Lights

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Southampton is graced with many green spaces and parks. The largest of these is Southampton Common, parts of which are used to host the annual summer festival. The Common includes a Wildlife Centre on the former site of Southampton Zoo.

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Southampton Football Club (a.k.a. the "Saints") is also based here. It was a Southampton team member, Charles William Miller, who founded Brazil's first football club.

Related Topics:
Southampton Football Club - Charles William Miller - Brazil

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