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By BRENDA United Kingdom — what a place, what a dream come true!!
For years, the UK has held a special place in my heart.
My curiosity often made me wonder what it would feel like to finally step foot in the Queen’s land — not just because I have family there, but because of its culture and popular icons.
From the accent that could turn even a simple “hello” into music for my ears, to the influence the UK has had on my own country’s systems and institutions—it always felt both distant and familiar.
The moment I had the visa in hand, excitement rushed through me like never before.
I started to make plans with everyone I knew in the UK—family, my friends and even my future self who would soon be there, because ya know, I gotta make the most of my stay.
In this blog, I will share the first part of my UK experience that involved visiting Southampton, a port city in the south of England and Winchester, England’s ancient capital and memories I’ll forever cherish.
Southampton: Where Sea meets Story
Southampton was the first city I visited upon arriving in the UK.
Famously known for being the departure of the enormous RMS Titanic ship that sank in the North Atlantic ocean, it’s a city with centuries of rich maritime heritage, medieval city walls, green spaces and coastal charm.
My host, Maggie, went above and beyond to make me feel at home.
She showed me the best of the city and helped me settle in as I soaked in its vibe.
Exploring Southampton
SeaCity Museum
On our first outings, Maggie and I planned to go to the city centre and take a tour through the Titanic museum or SeaCity museum.
This place vividly recounts the story of the Titanic through artefacts, eyewitness accounts, and interactive exhibits.
Walking through the museum, I couldn’t help but picture scenes from the movie—Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, and Celine Dion’s melody playing in my head.
What struck me most were the lessons learned from that tragedy—like the lack of lifeboats, the missing binoculars for lookouts, and the overlooked safety measures that shaped modern maritime travel.
Beyond the Titanic, the museum also celebrates Southampton’s other milestones: the birth of women’s football, the quirky invention of the large-wheeled bicycle, and even the import of bananas!
Riverside Park
Through our chats, Maggie found out about my love for exercise, particularly running and cycling.
Her recommendation?
The lovely riverside path along River Itchen through Riverside Park.
And I couldn’t agree more
With a map of the key routes for my stay in Southampton—nicely hand drawn by Maggie (and honestly, part of me was glad that my connectivity issues took us both back to analog), I had no reason to get lost once I was on my own.
Scenic flat-surfaced paths guided me along the river as I ran watching swans glide across the water and exchanged nods with fellow runners.
Another lovely encounter, one morning, was with black swans that are a very rare occurrence along the river, which Maggie asked me to look out for whenever I went out for a run.
On that lucky day, I saw FOUR—colour me excited.
This particular experience made my runs something I always looked forward to.
Premier Universal Marina and Boatyard
What’s visiting a port city without touring its waterfront?
The closest marina we could go to was the Universal Marina.
This is located on the east bank of River Hamble and is home to a wide range of boats.
Together with Maggie, we went on a leisure walk along the marina’s tree-lined banks as we observed wildlife.
Medieval City Walls
Another fascinating landmark that one cannot miss in Southampton city centre are the medieval city walls.
These well-preserved walls that were built for defence against invasion, currently blend with the city’s structures to give it a unique cityscape.
The city also features an Old Town Walls Walk, which passes by an outstanding stone gatehouse, the Bargate, which served as the entrance to the city in the 12th-century.
Remember the part where I made plans with my friends?
A high school friend of mine, Immy, happened to be in Southampton as well for school.
Meeting up with her and strolling through the medieval-walled city was such a beautiful way to catch up.
We later had lunch by Mayflower Park — a lovely spot with a serene view of the sea and the Royal Pier.
Trip to the New Forest
Another delightful thing I did with Maggie was take a trip to New Forest National Park.
It is home to free roaming wildlife, ancient woodlands, magnificent views and picturesque villages like Brokenhurst and Burley.
We had a cozy sleeping van—very bougie for me—that we used as shelter for the two nights we spent there.
While in the park, we indulged in hiking through its woodlands.
And to explore what lay beyond the National Park, we hopped onto bikes to visit Brokenhurst—a charming village with ponies and donkeys wandering on its streets and Burley—similarly charming with pretty thatched cottages and old-fashioned shops.
This visit was a beautiful getaway from the city’s urban energy into the peaceful countryside.
Winchester: A Walk through Time
Another place near Southampton that was worth exploring was Winchester, England’s ancient capital.
Onto an early train from Southampton to Winchester, I went for a solo full-day trip.
Once I arrived in the area, google maps highlighted popular touristic spots and even better, the tourist board in Winchester did a great a job at installing well-marked signposts giving directions to spots that might be of interest to tourists like myself.
I explored the magnificent cathedral, ruins of the Winchester Castle that currently stands as a great hall and century hall, Winchester City Mill—an ancient water mill by River Itchen, Wolvesey castle—a lavish palace for the powerful and wealthy bishops of Winchester.
Between exploring, I wandered through cobbled streets lined with brick buildings decorated with hanging flowering plants, fashion shops, libraries and cozy restaurants all inviting me to come in.
By the end of the day, I felt I had stepped through time—experiencing a city that wore its history proudly while embracing the rhythm of modern life.
Final thoughts
To wrap up, both Southampton and Winchester left me with a deeper appreciation for southern England’s layers of history and the quiet beauty that unfolds when you take time to explore.
Each place carried its own rhythm — one coastal and lively, the other ancient and reflective — yet both reminded me that travel isn’t just about seeing new places, but about feeling deeply connected to the stories they tell.
Plus, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for the warmth of friendships rekindled along the way.
Coming up next, is another blogpost about my trip to London, Birmingham and Coventry — all part of my “Exploring the UK” series