City guides : Southampton

Southampton is a buzzing metropolis between the coast and the beautiful New Forest countryside. Steeped in history yet cultural and cutting-edge, it is the perfect blend of everything a student needs to have an excellent time at university.

Bars and clubs

A new Oceana has expanded Southampton’s outstanding nightlife. Bedford Place has some unique bars and clubs, whilst round the corner Soul Cellar hosts famous DJs and live music, such as High Contrast and the Slackers. A £6million refurbishment of Southampton University’s Student Union (The Cube) created a 1700-capacity nightclub. Located at Highfield campus, it offers various club nights and live acts, and provides a night bus to ensure students get home safely. Southampton Solent’s SU is located at East Park Terrace. Spread over three floors, the top floor nightclub hosts a variety of student nights and activities. There are many student bars and clubs on Portswood Road; the infamous Jesters is renowned for being cheap, but be warned - it gets messy in there, so don’t wear your favourite shoes. Nearby are the popular Sobar and Kaos, whilst Lennon’s, an indie club, is just down the road.

Shopping

In 2008 Experian ranked Southampton 15th for shopping in the UK. The main mall, West Quay, provides all the best high-street shops, including Hollister. The majority of clothes shops are popular chains, but there are some independent stores, such as The Emporium and Spybaby Vintage. Ikea has just opened next door, which is an invaluable asset for accessorising any student abode.

Eating out

Oxford Street, near the docks, has a great variety of restaurants that never fail to disappoint. Poppadom Express, Dockgate 4 and the Olive Tree are located there, whilst Kuti’s Royal Thai Pier is right on the waterfront, as is Banana Wharf in Ocean Village. Mango, a Thai tapas bar in Portswood, is popular for its relaxed atmosphere, and Natraj is particularly welcoming to students on socials. There are plenty of takeaway joints around Portswood which offer discounts for students for those lazy evenings when you don’t want to leave the house.

 

Entertainment

Located in the city centre, the Mayflower is the largest theatre in the South. Nearby, the Guildhall stages live music, such as Manic Street Preachers and The Killers. The Brook and both Student Unions also host acts; recent performances include Kano and Mr Scruff. Leisure World provides more options with an Odeon cinema and a Grosvenor casino. Nearby are the docks, home to famous cruise liners such as the QM2. On occasion, events take place here to celebrate the docking of particular ships; for example, a free festival showcasing Caribbean art, cuisine and music marked the arrival of the massive Independence of the Seas. It was from Southampton that the infamous Titanic embarked, and there are plans to open a museum dedicated to the ship in the near future.

Accommodation

Glen Eyre and Wessex Lane are University of Southampton’s largest accommodation complexes, but the small halls are just as lively. Most rooms are en-suite and non-catered, although opting to share facilities will be cheaper and more social. Southampton Solent’s halls are all within a short walk from the city and main campus. Deanery and Lucia Foster Welch are the largest and most active, whilst the smaller residences have more of a sense of community. For Southampton University, most live around the Highfield and Avenue campuses and in Portswood. Solent students tend to live nearby in the Polygon area and in Ocean Village.

Top 3 places to see

• The Docks
• The Hobbit (a Lord of the Rings themed pub)
• Ocean Village

With two thriving universities, Southampton is a particularly lively student city. It caters for its cash-strapped student population by offering great value for money in everything from drink prices to rent. Most noteworthy is its variety of restaurants, bars and clubs, and its dynamic music scene.