Thank you for choosing the Lewis School of English. Our aim is to help you make good progress with your English, and to make sure your stay is comfortable and enjoyable.
We have created this guide to help you get the most from your time here…

Museums, Art & History

Titanic in 1912. Other museums include Solent Sky, the Tudor House & Garden. Visitors to the city can also walk the city walls. Click here to download a guided walk around the Old Town (pdf file).

Southampton City Art Gallery has an impressive art collection which spans six centuries. Entrance is free. The city’s central library is in the same building. If you like modern art, there is also the John Hansard Gallery (free entry). God’s House Tower is an art and heritage venue with changing exhibitions.

WestQuay Shopping Centre

WestQuay is one of the best shopping centres in the south of England is right in the centre of Southampton. There are over 90 stores, including John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, Apple, Superdry, Hollister and Zara.

Nightlife

The new Watermark development next to WestQuay shopping centre has a brand new cinema and bowling alley. Southampton’s rich nightlife also includes musicals and ballet at the Mayflower Theatre, pop/rock concerts at the Guildhall and a huge choice of pubs and clubs. There are many excellent restaurants, such as those in the popular Oxford Street area and WestQuay Watermark.

Ocean Village, Cruise Ships & Town Quay

Ocean Village is Southampton’s marina and offers bars, restaurants and boat trips, plus the Solent Sky museum and the Harbour Lights cinema. The city is also a major centre for sailing and is the home port for many cruise ships such as the Queen Mary 2.  Town Quay and Mayflower Park are the best places to see cruise ships. Click here for the cruise ship schedule. From Town Quay you can catch a ferry to the Isle of Wight or the nearby village of Hythe.

Sports

Football fans can watch matches at St Mary’s Stadium, home of Southampton Football Club (nicknamed the ‘Saints’). Southampton’s other major sporting venue is the Ageas Bowl, home of Hampshire Cricket Club. The city offers a wide range of activities for sports enthusiasts, such as sailing, golf, horse riding and kayaking.

More Fun Activities

For something a bit different, you could try a treetop adventure at Go Ape and have fun on the zipwires in a woodland location. Southampton also has a number of Escape Rooms: Houdini’s, Locked in a Room and Elusion. Check them out for a fun problem-solving adventure with your friends!

Parks

With several large and beautiful city centre parks and the enormous Southampton Common, Southampton is one the greenest cities in the UK.

Events

There are a lot of events going on throughout the year, including Southampton Boat Show, which takes place every September, and music events in the city centre or on Southampton Common. Find out what’s happening in the city by checking https://visitsouthampton.co.uk/. Feel free to ask us any questions, too!

Discover incredible places in England. Choose from exciting cities, historic towns and stunning countryside. “Days Out Guide” is a set of ideas for your trips in England.