On 24th February 2024, Southampton will commemorate its remarkable 60-year journey as a city. We've rounded up 60 fun facts about Southampton since 1964 in celebration of this milestone.
Read more about our 60 year city status on our dedicated page here.
Education
1. Southampton is home to one of the UK's Top Universities: University of Southampton
2. Southampton Polytechnic became Solent University in 1984
3. Southampton University’s Nuffield Theatre opened in 1964
4. Southampton is home to over 37,800 students
5. In September 2023, Southampton Solent University was awarded three Gold ratings in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), recognising their outstanding student outcomes and experience
6. By 1977, 90% of Mount Pleasant School pupils had English as their second language
Photo by University of Southampton
Sports
7. Southampton FC won the FA Cup on 1st May 1976
8. Southampton FC moved to St Mary's in Aug 2001 from the Old Dell in Milton Rd where they'd been since 1898. 15,000 seats became 32,000
9. The Women's Southern Brave team won The Hundred Cricketing competition in 2023 and the Men's Southern Brave team won in 2021
10. The Utilita Bowl, formally known as the Ageas Bowl and Rose Bowl, was first established in 2001
Music & entertainment
11. Mayflower Theatre is the largest on the South Coast, seating 2,270
12. In 1999 there was no pantomime at the Mayflower Theatre due to setting up for Phantom of the Opera
13. Southampton-born Jona Lewie released his hit record, Stop the Cavalry, on 21st November 1980
14. The Southampton Top Rank opened in the mid 1960’s, was renamed the Mayflower and closed in the late 1980’s
15. UK Garage Duo Artful Dodger was formed in Southampton
Environment
16. Southampton has six award-winning parks, all of which achieved Green Flag status
17. Southampton’s Central Parks have Grade II* listed status on the Historic England Register of Parks and Gardens
Awards
18. Southampton was awarded Purple Flag status for its night-time economy in 2023
19. Southampton was awarded Lord Mayor status in May 2022 as part of The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Civic Honours Competition
20. In 2000, Harbour Lights picture house was voted Britian’s Best Loved Independent Cinema by Empire Magazine
21. Shelina Permalloo won BBC's Masterchef in 2012
Shopping & leisure
22. Westquay shopping centre, the 27th largest in the UK, opened in September 2000
23. W.J French & Son is over 200 years old, one of the oldest shoe shops in the UK
24. IKEA opened on 12th February 2009 and has the youngest Market Manager across all UK stores
25. George's is one of the oldest restaurants in the city, now celebrating 84 years since it opened in 1940
Travel & transport
26. Visit Southampton was officially launched in October 2019 as the city's go-to destination website
27. Cruise ships in Southampton contributed over £1billion to the local economy in 2023, a record year
28. Carnival opened its European HQ in Southampton on 20th July 2009
29. On 11th November 2008, Cunard's QE2 left the city for the last time
30. Horizon Cruise Terminal opened in September 2021
31. The Port of Southampton is the largest cruise port in the UK
32. In 2018, Southampton Airport saw over 1.99million passengers
33. The Itchen Bridge was opened by HRH Princess Alexandra of Kent 13th July 1977
History & Heritage
34. The medieval Merchant's House opened as a museum in 1998
35. Solent Sky opened in its current building in 1984 and tells the aviation story of Southampton including the iconic Spitfire
36. The Mercure Southampton Centre Dolphin Hotel is the oldest hotel in the city, dating back over 500 years
37. Opening in 1968, and then called the Arundel Centre Inn, The Dog & Duck stood next to the site of Ye Olde Arundel Tower
38. Vosper Thornycroft launched its last warship built at the Woolston yard 25th January 2003
Arts & Culture
39. Southampton made the final four in the running for City of Culture 2025
40. The Bulb building is home to the UK’s largest clean air mural which was painted by French Street Artist Nerone and measures 1,005 sq m
41. In March 2022, a new mural was unveiled celebrating iconic Southampton-based reggae band Ebony Rockers
42. After being closed for a four-year renovation project, God's House Tower re-opened as Southampton’s new arts and heritage venue in 2019
News
43. The Echo newspaper moved from Above Bar to Redbridge in 2000 to make way for the West Quay development
44. BBC South moved into its current Southampton studios in 1991
45. The first geothermal district heating system started in 1986
Events
46. In 2016 the International Boat Show held the record for ‘the largest human image of a boat’
47. The International Boat Show began in September 1969 with 50 exhibitors. There are now over 600
48. On 10th September 2023 the Ocean Globe Race started from Ocean Village marina, celebrating 50 years since the first Whitbread round the world yacht race
49. In 2013, The Joiners was named Britain's Best Small Music Venue by NME and has hosted the likes of Green Day, Arctic Monkeys, Oasis, Ed Sheeran and The 1975 in its time
50. April 1999 was the first time the Sikh community, Southampton City Council and the Mayor gathered in the Guildhall square to mark the Sikh celebration Vaisakhi
People
51. Chris Packham, the naturalist and environmentalist, was born in Southampton and studied at Southampton University
52. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was born in Southampton 1980
53. Sir Tim Berners Lee, founder of the World Wide Web, was appointed Chair of Computer Science at University of Southampton in 2004
54. Benny Hill (1924-1992) was born in Southampton and is buried in Hollybrook cemetery
55. The first Lord Mayor and 800th Mayor was Jacqui Rayment in 2022
56. International R&B/Garage superstar, Craig David MBE, was born in Southampton in 1981
Business
57. Southampton's Business Improvement District, GO! Southampton, was formed on 1st April 2017
58. The National Oceanography Centre was established in 1994
59. The new Ordnance Survey HQ was officially opened by Prince Philip in Adanac Park on 4th October 2011
60. In May 2019, Starling Bank opened their first offices outside of London in Town Quay
