| | It is known as the city from which the [[Mayflower]] embarked (although [[Plymouth]] was its last port of call before leaving for America.) | | It is known as the city from which the [[Mayflower]] embarked (although [[Plymouth]] was its last port of call before leaving for America.) |
| − | Although an important medieval port, Southampton fell into a gentle decline and only became a major centre again after the opening of the London & Southampton Railway in 1840 and the subsequent decision by the London & South Western Railway (successor of the L&SR) to develop docks there. By the early decades of the twentieth century, it was a hub of transatlantic traffic, serving as an endpoint for the many cruise ships. The fated cruise ship [[RMS Titanic]] left from Southampton on her maiden voyage. With the advent of mass aviation, its importance has declined somewhat, but it still plays host to luxury cruise liners, in particular the [[RMS Queen Elizabeth 2|QE2]]. | + | Although an important medieval port, Southampton fell into a gentle decline and only became a major centre again after the opening of the London and Southampton Railway in 1840 and the subsequent decision by the [[London and South Western Railway]] (successor of the L&SR) to develop docks there. By the early decades of the twentieth century, it was a hub of transatlantic traffic, serving as an endpoint for the many cruise ships. The fated cruise ship [[RMS Titanic]] left from Southampton on her maiden voyage. With the advent of mass aviation, its importance has declined somewhat, but it still plays host to luxury cruise liners, in particular the [[RMS Queen Elizabeth 2|QE2]]. |