Inspired by Team GB’s success at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, sports fans heading to Southampton can choose from a range of new tours, events and activities that have launched in the city on England’s south coast. Highlights include:
New sightseeing by bike tour
A new E-Bike sightseeing tour has launched in Southampton. Local operator Madein:Here has teamed up with SEE Southampton tour guides and The Hub Cycleworks to offer visitors and locals an alternative sightseeing perspective on the city.
Led by an accredited guide, the two-hour Classic tour, takes cyclists through the city’s backstreets, parks and cycle paths at a gentle pace, with frequent stops to learn about Southampton’s surprising history.
Departing from the Dolphin Hotel (where Jane Austin celebrated her 18th birthday), the route includes the quayside dock where the Titanic set sail on her doomed voyage; the heart-rending D-Day Wall and the spot where RJ Mitchell developed the iconic Spitfire fighter plane. Cyclists will also discover Southampton’s intriguing Saxon and Tudor heritage; ride past St Mary’s Stadium (home of Southampton FC’s ‘The Saints’) – and even local boy, singer Craig David’s, childhood home!
The Ebike Tours run on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month at 10am from the Mercure Dolphin Hotel car park with a special ‘sunset tour’ on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month at 6pm. Tickets cost £18 per person for adults and £16.50 for 16-18 year olds and include the services of a tour guide and assistant, electric bike hire, helmets and a map of the route. For those wanting to make a day of it, there’s the option to extend the bike hire until 4pm for an extra £18 per person. There’s also a special post-cycle afternoon tea package with The Mercure Dolphin Hotel for £30. The price includes the bike tour and afternoon tea with unlimited tea and a coffee, a selection of sandwiches, cakes and clotted cream scones and jam. For more information and to book: Tel: 07834 129 612 or see madeinhere.co.uk
The absolute beginners’ guide to sailing in Southampton
Ideal for novices, Southampton Water Activities Centre is offering a weekend-long introduction into sailing, where no previous experience is needed. Its Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Start Sailing Course is a fun introduction to dinghy sailing that leaves participants with the knowledge and skills to rig, launch, recover and sail under instruction. All specialist kit is provided – including wetsuit, buoyancy aids, spray top and helmet. The cost of the 2-day course is £220 including full tuition by a qualified sailing instructor. For more information see activenation.org.uk/venues/swac
Join Southampton’s inaugural Sporterium cycling event
Sporterium is a brand-new festival of cycling combining scenic rides, competitive racing and a fun line-up of interactive events based in ‘Spin City’ within Southampton’s East Park. Taking place on 4th September, it comprises three events: the challenging 100km ‘Standard’ Sportive which takes more serious cyclists on a circular countryside route out of the city; the ‘Short’ Sportive 60km circular race; plus the Criterium, a 1.72km race around the two main city centre parks in which riders compete to make the most laps around the circuit in a short amount of time. Race participants from primary school age upwards are welcome, with the shorter Criterium event ideal for those who want to put a team together. Access to Spin City is free with event prices from £15 for the Criterium; £35 for the Short Sportive and £40 for the Standard. The event is supported by British Cycling. For more information see sporterium.co.uk
Embark on a canoe, archery and climbing ‘discovery’
Located 10 minutes from the centre of Southampton, Woodmill Activity Centre offers a one-stop shop to try several Olympic-inspired activities. The woodland oasis, with its own lake and access to the River Itchen, runs a series of 90-minute tutored discovery sessions every weekend enabling participants to try their hand at the Olympics sports of archery, climbing, or canoeing (plus bushcraft, stand-up paddling boarding and kayaking). As well as the tutored discovery sessions (£22 for adults and £12 for children), which cover basic tuition and an introduction to all the on and off water activities available at Woodmill; every day of the week, the centre also offers equipment hire from £14 per hour.
Dive in for a high board taster
Reeling from pride as one of its homegrown divers – Tanya Watson – recently competed at the Olympics, Southampton’s The Quays Swimming and Diving centre is offering diving taster sessions for novices. Aimed at different age groups, the 30 minute sessions include a children’s taster (6 to 13 years), teen taster (14 to 17 years) and adults taster (18 years+). All taster sessions are priced at £7.25 per person and act as an introduction to the sport – providing some basic tips and drills needed to dive. Participants just need to be able to swim 25m unaided, be confident in deep water and happy to swim without goggles.
Southampton’s The Quays Swimming and Diving centre is one of only four high performance centres for diving in the UK – featuring a range of springboards and diving platforms from 1m to 10m, with bubble-making machines give divers extra cushioning. For more information call: 023 8072 0906 or see activenation.org.uk
Where to stay in Southampton
Centrally located beside a quiet leafy park yet close to the marina and Oxford street – lined with restaurants and bars – room2 is Southampton’s most stylish self-catering hometel. A weekend stay in a Lounge room which sleeps two costs from £104.13 per night. A proper home from home with flair, the room features a fully equipped kitchenette with dishwasher, table, sofa and TV. Alternatively, sleeping four, a Lounge Loft room costs from £129.63 per night. See more at room2.com
For more details on what’s on and what to do in the city see visitsouthampton.co.uk
Main image: Madein:Here and SEE Southampton E-Bike sightseeing tours (via @VisitSoton/Twitter)