Mayflower Park — Attraction in Southampton

Mayflower Park is a very nice park on the eastern bank of the River Test. It is located between the passenger and cargo terminals of the Port of Southampton, and is near the confluence of the rivers Test and Itchen (which together form Southampton Water, which the drains into the Solent in front of the Isle of Wight, and then into the English Channel).

The river bank offers spectacular views of the dawn and dusk skies just as the sun sets over the cargo terminal. From time to time, you may even see huge container ships docking at the terminal, which is a spectacle in itself. Looking far enough towards the south, where Southampton Water drains into the Solent, you can see Fawley Refinery, the biggest oil refinery in the UK (I once caught one of the many chimney towers spewing out flames from various gases, and they looked lovely from the distance). There are even ducks that occasionally swim near the bank.

Sometimes there may be events taking place on the Mayflower Park that may cause a little bit of noise. When I’m writing this review, the Continental Circus Berlin had a few shows over the course of about 2 or 3 weeks, and the noise was noticeable even near the river bank (even with the large circus tent positioned a few hundred feet away from the bank). And the actual river bank, complete with benches for you to sit on, is rather annoyingly occupied by a car park (but I think it makes sense, because the site of Mayflower Park used to be occupied by a large warehouse/building for commercial purposes - do let me know if you know additional details).

Overall, though, Mayflower Park is a wonderful park with a huge grassy area if you want a nice little picnic, or if you just want to sit by the river and let your mind get carried away by the beautiful scenery or the ships....

As one of Southampton's few areas of open, public waterfront you'd think more would be made of it, despite the mostly uninspiring views. Frankly, it's all a bit down at heel.

The parking spaces are small and the pavements are in terrible condition with very few benches to sit on if you want to get out of your car to enjoy the view. There is, however, a surprising amount of recreational space, when it's not being used for activities related to the Boatshow and Christmas markets. It's also one of only a few places to get a good look at some cruise ships, if that's your thing. Autumn/winter sunsets can be lovely too. I've never been locked in but it's worth a quick look at that day's gate closing time when you drive in.

A big downside for me are occasional and slightly intimidating gatherings of people in and around vehicles with blacked out windows and vape "smoke" pouring out of them. That and the ageing ice cream van which sits with its engine running all day, inundating the park with heavy, carcinogenic diesel fumes.

It's almost as if the City Council is treading water at this site, until work commences on one of the grandiose public waterside developments which are proposed from time to time but never come...

It is a nice calm and quiet place to go walking on a pier side with a marvelous view of some cruise and ferry ships. There are plenty of parking spaces which you can enjoy all the scenery of water and sky while seating. It's really a good place to relax. I often come here in the afternoon to enjoy the sea and the sunshine, in the afternoon. You won't feel tired. There are ice cream trucks, children's playgrounds, swings, basketball courts, large lawns and seats facing the sea, suitable for people of all kinds to come and play here. When night comes, you will find that the park has become another look. You will be shocked by such a nice beautiful scenery. If you have a car, you can drive directly to the park, there is a parking space , you can park facing the sea, and enjoy such a beautiful view in the car without being blown by the cold sea breeze. Remember to check the weather condition before coming to the park as it can be very windy and cold in bad weather. This is a perfect park for a date and relaxation in...