In the mid-1800s, Southampton experienced great expansion; in fact, this time arguably marks the beginning of the development of modern Southampton. Railways and ship docks began to flourish in the area, bringing wealth and travelers to the area. The Southampton Dock Company was founded in 1836 and railways from London arrived around the same time. The shipping and transportation industry contributed to the expansion of Southampton. Southampton was even called Britain's “Gateway to the World” due to the great number of liners linking the port to America. The area was also home to many medieval vaults and walls built hundreds of years before, which stood alongside the new transportation systems. Other historic monuments that existed during the 1800s include the Bargate, an iconic and historic monument built in the 1100s, and the  Tudor House, built in the late 1400s with a traditional steep pointy roof and a brick and timber facade. There were also historic churches including the Holyrood Church and St Michael’s Church which was founded in 1070. 

Since the mid-1800s, Southampton has been reconstructed while retaining its charm and historic monuments. The city is a bustling cultural center with many tourists visiting museums such as the SeaCity Museum, the famous liner ports, and other significant sites such as the Tudor House. Although the steam industry is not as prevalent anymore due to airplane transportation, the docks and passenger liners are still used today for commercial cruises from Southampton to places including Greece, Russia, Norway, and the British Isles. In fact, there were 1.8 million cruise passengers that embarked and disembarked from Southampton ports in 2019. Other docks have been transformed into marinas and commercial areas with shops and offices, which also add to the tourist attractions of Southampton. The area has been one of the most visited places in the UK, with around 221,000 tourists visiting Southampton in 2013.

Image of Southampton Docks, 1896