The Potters Heron

Southampton's Parks

by johngayton

Although the casual visitor might find the city to be nothing but a ring road, a couple of shopping malls, a High Street full of National chains and of course the multi-storey car parks to service all these a little further wandering revrals the whole eastern side of the city centre to be public parks. In fact green spaces account for about a third of the total city centre acreage and these provide a multitude of recreational opportunites for the local residents. As soon as the sun comes out the parks become the city's playground for both the sportingly active and those that just want to lie on the grass and enjoy it whilst it lasts.

The parks are part of the town's (as it was then) Victorian legacy and the local council has succesfully resisted their development even during the rampages of the 1960's planners.

Itchen Bridge (A3025)

by MarkJochim

This bridge over Southampton's River Itchen was officially opened in 1977 by HRH Princess Alexandria, replacying a floating bridge which transported vehicles for 141 years. The floating bridge was a car and people transporter which worked on cables pulling across the river. For a few years, the floating bridge was anchored in Woolston and used as a nightclub called "floaters".

Work first started on the new bridge in March 1974 and a cask with newspapers, coins, souvenir brochures and a scroll commemorating the day was built into one of the piers. There are over seven million vehicle crossings on the Itchen Bridge each year, and tolls are charged according to the type of vehicle.

GET ABOARD THE TITANIC

by alycat

"the south of UK"

The city has become the country's leisure and cultural capital. With major international events, many new pubs, clubs and restaurants, a massive injection of Lottery money to improve parks and sports facilities in the city, and entertainments venues, Southampton is the South's leading leisure destination