Southampton has a rich and fascinating past to explore and is full of amazing culture to experience. You can discover some of the city’s incredible history and art at our museums and galleries. Our cultural venues are perfect for family outings, trips with friends, or even just for some time to yourself.
Find out what Southampton has to offer below.
Located in the heart of Southampton, SeaCity Museum is the city’s port of call for stories of maritime history and life. Exhibitions share tales of the people of the city, their fascinating lives, and our historic connections with the Titanic and the sea.
Learn from interactive activity areas, highly visual displays and memorable real-life accounts. The popular exhibitions will transport you back to the Titanic’s fateful voyage, reveal thousands of years of our port’s lively and diverse history, and uncover the city’s past with local archaeology and archives.
SeaCity Museum brings maritime history to the surface.
There’s always something new to learn, whatever your age!
Opening times
Monday - Sunday 10am–5pm (last entry 4pm)
See world class art in the centre of Southampton’s Cultural Quarter!
Southampton City Art Gallery houses one of the finest collections of art in the south of England, including over 5,300 works of art from the Renaissance to the present day. Work includes those of some of the greats, such as: J.M.W. Turner, Auguste Rodin and L.S. Lowry, among many others.
Main Hall exhibitions - A rotating display that Showcases the gallery's internationally renowned permanent collection
From the Renaissance to the present day - highlights from Southampton's collections
Foyer Exhibition - features a changing programme of exhibitions from local and emerging artists alongside community and arts groups
Opening times - FREE ENTRY
Monday – Friday 10am–3pm (last entry 2.45pm)
Saturday 10am–5pm (last entry 4.45pm)
Please note that these times may change so please check online for latest opening hours
As entry is free there is no need to book, just walk in.
Discover over 800 years of history in one fascinating location at the heart of the Old Town. The timber-framed building facing St Michael’s Square was built in the late 15th Century, with King John’s Palace, an adjacent Norman house accessible from Tudor House Garden, dating back a further 300 years. Tudor House & Garden gives a unique and atmospheric insight into the lives and times of both its residents through the years, and of Southampton itself. It appeals to visitors of all ages and interests, who find the family-friendly activities, interactive technology and fascinating displays a winning combination.
Find out more on the Tudor House & Garden website
Opening times
Monday - Friday 10am-3pm (last entry 2.15pm)
Saturday - Sunday 10am-5pm (last entry 4.15pm)
John Hansard Gallery is an internationally recognised and locally engaged contemporary art gallery in Southampton.
Being part of the University of Southampton, the Gallery aims to change the world for the better through great art.
To realise this, the Gallery creates innovative and critically acclaimed contemporary art exhibitions, events, engagement and research projects that excite, challenge, represent and reach the widest possible public audience.
Find out more on the John Hansard Gallery website
Opening times - FREE ENTRY
Tuesday - Saturday 11am - 5pm
God's House Tower (GHT) is a unique arts venue; a 700-year-old ancient monument in the heart of Southampton’s Old Town.
GHT works with historians and artists to interpret Southampton’s heritage in imaginative ways using history as inspiration for emerging and established artists across the south coast.
Their art, projects and events, reimagine the hidden stories of Southampton’s Old Town.
Find out more from the God's House Tower website
Opening times - FREE ENTRY*
Friday - Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 4pm
Bank Holidays 10am - 4pm
*Admission to the changing exhibitions, galleries, cafe, and local heritage library is free.
*Admission to ‘Stories Behind the Stones’ and some events carry a separate charge.
A new website – www.southamptonstories.co.uk – created by Southampton’s Cultural Services with financial support from Arts Council England is available to the public. The website reveals stories of the city told through the museum and archive collections
Users can explore over 1,000 objects from the collections, which will increase over time as more stories and objects are added to the website, making these rich collections more visible to the public.
Stories drawn from the collection feature people with connections to Southampton, such as female footballers Sue Buckett, the goalkeeper for Saint’s women’s FA Cup winning side, and Aman Dosanj, the first British Asian to play for England. The website also tells the tragic story of Titanic steward Sidney Sedunary, and the tale of the Basque refugee children who arrived in Southampton on the steamship Habana in 1937, escaping the Spanish Civil War.
Southampton Cultural Services looks after four unique collections. It includes a maritime and local history collection which tell the story of Southampton; an archaeology collection; an archive containing material from 1199 to the present day; and an internationally renowned fine art collection. Both the archaeology and fine art collections hold Designated status from Arts Council England due to their national significance.
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