Royal Pier, Southampton

The Royal Pier officially opened in 1833. Princess Victoria (later Queen Victoria) opened the pier. In 1864, a pontoon was added. In 1871, railway lines reached the pier. The pier underwent a significant renovation in 1892. A pavilion was added in 1894 and hosted events such as concerts, plays, dances, and roller-skating.

The pier and railway deteriorated during WWI when the trains did not run. Train service ended in 1921, but ferries continued to operate.

Throughout the years, the pier has fallen into disrepair and is now derelict. Many plans have been proposed to develop the pier have been considered, some including a casino and hotel. However, the plans have never moved forward.

Today, visitors can enjoy the Royal Pier Gate House, which hosts a restaurant. Visitors can enjoy an outdoor dining area and watch boats go by.

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Geni.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Southampton. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: 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 GPSmyCity App

Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

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

Southampton Waterfront Walk

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 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

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