Tudor House & Garden, Southampton, Hampshire
If you have a thing for history to not visit the Tudor House & Garden when you’re in Southampton would be sacrilege; this is after all, the town’s most important historic building, with a narrative that stretches back over 800 years. It’s in the Old Town of course, right in the centre, so you can’t miss it, especially not with that huge timber frame! The house serves as an architectural timepiece and a museum and if you find the time to go there you’ll probably find it fascinating. You get an insight into the people who lived there and how things were in those days, plus there are several displays and interactive technology showcasing various aspects of life through the ages; most of all, the atmosphere is utterly unique. You can whizz around in an hour or so but if you really want to see it all you need to allow 2-4 hours, plus extra time for a pot of tea and a piece of homemade cake in the café. The café has a green roof with wildflowers and sedum, and it overlooks the garden, which was part of a dye works in Victorian times. These days it’s all considerably more ornamental, laid out as a formal Knot Garden typical of the Tudor era.
Open: Mon-Thurs 10.00 am-3.00 pm Sat & Sun 10.00 am-5.00 pm
T: 02380 834242 All information correct at the time of writing