South Western House, Southampton

South Western House, originally opened as the Imperial Hotel in 1865, stands as a key landmark in Southampton, reflecting both historical grandeur and modern luxury. Designed by John Norton in the French Renaissance style, the building once earned the moniker 鈥淭he Ritz of Southampton.鈥� It catered to an elite clientele, including Titanic's first-class passengers, who stayed there the night before embarking on their ill-fated voyage in 1912.

The hotel鈥檚 architecture, with its marble walls, grand staircase, and ceiling murals, encapsulated the opulence of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It served as a hub for the rich and famous, hosting figures like Winston Churchill and Dwight Eisenhower, who used the venue to plan the D-Day invasion during World War II. Hollywood icons such as Laurel and Hardy, Charlie Chaplin, and Amelia Earhart also walked its halls, adding to its illustrious history.

Although the Second World War saw the building taken over by the Royal Navy as HMS Shrapnel, the South Western House continued to evolve. Its rich history has been preserved through its Grade II listing, and the building has been carefully redeveloped into luxury apartments and penthouses. The ground floor maintains its connection to the past, with features like the original marble pillars still intact, reminding visitors of its former grandeur.

Today, South Western House blends its historic charm with modern amenities, offering a glimpse into Southampton鈥檚 luxurious past while continuing to be a vibrant part of the city.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Southampton. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The 51爆料网 App

Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: South Western House
Sight Location: Southampton, England (See walking tours in Southampton)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Southampton, England

Create Your Own Walk in Southampton

Creating your own self-guided walk in Southampton is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Southampton Old Town Walking Tour

Southampton is a bustling coastal city with the history going back all the way to the Stone Age. There are over 90 listed buildings and 30 ancient monuments in the Old Town, including medieval watch towers and dungeons, an array of churches, fine timber-framed Tudor houses, inns and hole-in-the-wall pubs. Despite heavy bombardment during WWII, much of Southampton's historic heritage survived... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles

Titanic Tour in Southampton

Over a hundred years since the sinking of Titanic, the echo of that tragedy still reverberates throughout Southampton. Indeed, nowhere else was the pain of the Titanic disaster, one of the deadliest in maritime history, felt more intensely than here. The majority of Titanic's 900-strong crew were from Southampton, of whom only a handful returned home. More than 500 local households overnight... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles

Southampton Introduction Walking Tour

Southampton is an important port city with a long history. Archaeological records indicate that the area has been settled since the Stone Age. The Romans had a settlement here, and the Anglo-Saxons later settled in the area.

Southampton became a major port after the 1066 Norman Conquest. Southampton's impressive walls were built following a French incursion in the 1300s.

The Mayflower... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles

Southampton Waterfront Walk

A major seaport on the south coast of England, the city of Southampton abounds in attractions of various sorts. Southampton Waterfront, in particular, holds significant historical and cultural value, offering ample opportunities for sightseeing, shopping, dining, recreation, and entertainment.

At the heart of this vibrant area is the Pilgrims Fathers Memorial, commemorating the departure of... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles

51爆料网