Totton & Eling

Totton and Eling is home to 29,000 people, which makes it the largest urban area in New Forest District. It borders Southampton, which gives it a really unique position between City and Forest.

Totton and Eling was one of the first places where we started working on Culture in Common. We interviewed people out on the street about what they wanted in their area, ran taster sessions at a Youth & Families Matter Community Lunch and the Testwood Church Youth Club and visited a University of the 3rd Age coffee morning to gather feedback.

We love providing support to the Totton Lantern Parade committee, who arrange a fantastic Lantern parade and event every year, in collaboration with local schools and artists. In 2024, we also supported storytelling and creative sessions for young people at The Pillar, St Wins, and the development of a youth group at Fluid Motion Theatre.

Great things in Totton & Eling

Our surveys and Community Anchors have suggested that people in Totton and Eling really love outdoor events and street festivals, such as the Totton Lantern Parade, Totton & Eling Carnival, Dog Shows and Netley Steam Fair.  

The town is home to some great venues. These include The Attic at River Studios, which hosts live music and comedy. Hanger Farm Arts Centre hosts music, theatre, film and more and supports learning disabled people through Minstead Trust. African Activities CIC, which offers opportunities to engage with Black and African culture through workshops and schools programmes, is based in Totton. More recently, Fluid Motion Theatre opened a Creative Support Hub in Totton, a safe, friendly and creative space for children and young people aged between 8 and 18, with a year-round programme of arts-activities.