Where to Capture Amazing Photos and Sightsee in Southampton
Compared to the other port cities such as Portsmouth, Southampton isn’t the most exciting place if I’m honest. The shopping centre, Westquay isn’t that great compared to other shopping complexes such as Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth. Plus, there aren’t many free attractions here- you have to pay for many of the museums and galleries here. But despite this, there are some amazing place to sightsee by the river and harbours.
The best time to visit is during the summer months, so you can go sightseeing by the ports. I came here on one of the hottest days during the summer, because Southampton was cooler than the other parts of the UK. If you’re going to Soton in the summer, I recommend going to Ocean Village and the harbours, because of the beautiful sights you can see here. Especially the sapphire blue waters… This presented the opportunity to take some fantastic photos.
Photography at Ocean Village in the afternoon
Ocean Village is one of the newest developments in Soton and is now home to apartments and offices. Despite the glass buildings here, the professional vibes given off aren’t as strong as somewhere such as Canary Wharf. I think the water and harbour gives the area a more relaxed feel, making it ideal for members of the public to visit.
The best time of day to go to Ocean Village is in the afternoon, when it’s a lot cooler. I think the harbours and waters help to give it more relaxed vibes… Obviously when it’s a sunny day though, as it is not fun going there on windy or cold days… The best photos can be taken by the harbours, where the boats and offices reflect onto the glistening waters. So, make sure you capture both the offices and boats in your photos. Avoid letting the pier railings obstruct your photo, as that can end up ruining the picture.
See incredible views of Southampton from the Itchen Toll Bridge
The Itchen Toll Bridge links Ocean Village and Woolston across the River Itchen. Obviously from the name, in order to cross the bridge by car, you need to pay a toll. So, I’d suggest walking here instead from Ocean Village or Woolston Station. This way, you can take the time to see some of the incredible sights…
Though the bridge isn’t that attractive (like Brutalist architecture), the views from here make up for this. You can see amazing views of the city, including miles away… But my favourite sight had to be the blue river, and the boats spanned across it. If your phone camera has telephoto, this is a bonus as you can take some great wide shots of the views here. Make sure you capture all the shipyards and buildings in the distance too.
To make the most of your time sightseeing here, I’d recommend coming at different times during the day to compare the views. Unfortunately, I haven’t had the chance to see the bridge at sunset or night. To anyone who has been at these times, I’d be interested to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
Take beautiful sunset photos of the river
One of my favourite places to sightsee is by the ports. Here, you can see boats reflecting onto the water at the marinas, with the occasional large freight ships going past. When I came, it was really quiet as there weren’t many people. When I came, I saw some sightseers, and a small group playing football… The best time to come is at sunset, when you can come and take photos of the ports, and walkways.
Verdict
In this post, I’ve listed three of my favourite places in Southampton where you can sightsee and take great photographs of the marinas and the river. As it’s so quiet by the river, this makes it a great place to come if you’re looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, or you want to make the most of the hot weather.
If you’re planning to spend the day sightseeing here, I would go to Ocean Village first. Then go to Itchen Bridge to see views of Southampton and the river. Then finally at sunset, spend some time by the ports.
Directions to Itchen Toll Bridge: