Southampton, located on the south coast of England, has long been a popular tourist destination for people hoping to soak up some of the sun, sand and local culture that the Hampshire city has to offer. Due to it's position as a major trading port Southampton has seen many historical moments, including being sacked by the French in the fourteenth century and becoming a centre for ship-building (including the 'Grace Dieu' warship of Henry V). The RMS Titanic sailed from Southampton as did the Mayflower, the ship which held the Pilgrim Fathers who went on to colonize the United States. Sightseeing in Southampton usually involves a visit to the Central Parks, the Bargate gatehouse, the Southampton Common, and the Museum of Archaeology. The New Forest is within easy driving distance, as is Portsmouth, Winchester and Salisbury.
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Southampton is serviced by Southampton International Airport, a relatively busy complex which handles around two million passengers annually. The airport is located on the M27 motorway, six kilometres north of the city of Southampton near the satellite town of Eastleigh. FlyBe uses the airport as a major hub, offering flights to a number of European and British airports. Other airlines use the airport seasonally or for short haul flights (such as to Guernsey and the Isles of Scilly). As the surrounding area is best explored by private transportation it is recommended you make use of the car-hire facilities within the airport - a car rental reception centre has newly been opened right next to the terminal and houses Enterprise, Avis, Europcar, National Alamo and Hertz.