On a cruise to Southampton, shore excursions can introduce you to ancient history and royal history, as you please, on journeys that start with drives through beautiful English countryside and end with a convenient airport drop off for your flight home.

Among the most popular things to do in Southampton, England from a cruise are excursions to Stonehenge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to view and walk among the “ring of stones” that comprise the world’s most famous prehistoric monument. The mystery of Stonehenge persists, with everyone from astronomers and historians to archeologists, architects, and amateur sleuths conjecturing about how the stones came to stand as they are. A visitor center, an audio visual program, and an exhibition detailing the site’s history are readily available to guide you to a better understanding of this powerful, ancient monument.

Take a drive through small English villages on Southampton shore excursions that arrive at the town of  Hampshire, which encompasses the picturesque New Forest, an 11th century hunting forest founded by William the Conqueror. The forest is a series of glades, ancient woodlands, open moors, and cliff walks, as only Mother Nature can design.

If you have more royal inclinations, get on board for Southampton shore excursions that have you crossing an iconic river to visit a world-famous castle, an equally famous school, and the site where the world’s most important document was signed. You’ll see it all on a whirlwind tour of Windsor, where you’ll be treated to Windsor Castle, St. George’s Chapel, and the Royal Apartments. See Eton College and Runnymede, where King John signed the Magna Carta.

During your European cruise, spend time strolling High Street, with its mix of traditional shops, new-age retailers, restaurants, and pubs, all in sight of the mighty Thames River.

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