Southampton Boat Show

At the Southampton Boat Show in Hampshire there's fun for all the family with boats, watersports, magical marina, shopping, holidays and fun features. Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2008, the internationally renowned Southampton Boat Show received record numbers last year. The event highlights all that is new in the boating world and engages visitors with a mix of demonstrations and hands on activities. Have a go at diving or watch one of the search and rescue demonstrations, there is plenty to choose from.

Previous Shows

More than 123,000 visitors enjoyed the visitor attractions and boating delights that were on offer in 2004's Southampton Boat Show.

Ellen MacArthur also sailed into Southampton for the boat show aboard her new trimaron B&Q, one of its first public displays in 2004.

HMS Newcastle proved an extremely popular feature with around 15,000 visitors taking the opportunity to board the ship at Mayflower Park.

Ross Burden's (celebrity chef) first ever restaurant, The Waterfront, was also a tremendous success in 2004 with 2,500 people enjoying the culinary delights at the Southampton Boat Show.

History

Hampshire's Southampton is steeped in maritime history and is the country's premier cruise port with more luxury ships arriving and departing than from the rest of the UK put together.

The first docks in Southampton were built in 1838 and since then many great transatlantic liners, such as RMS Queen Mary, Aquitania and Queen Elizabeth have had Southampton as their home port.

The Southampton Boat Show is organised by the National Boat Show Limited, a subsidiary of the British Marine Federation, the trade association for the UK boating industry.

Find out more about Southampton Boat Show