City guides: Southampton

Southampton boasts a unique fusion of the past and present, meaning there is always something to discover...

An hour and a half from London and a stones-throw from the beautiful New Forest and the beaches of Bournemouth, there are also day trips aplenty.

Bars and clubs

Every night of the week, students flock to Portswood to visit the finest (and cheapest) student drinking establishments the city has to offer. The Mitre, The Gordon Arms and The Hobbit are firm pub favourites as well as cheap clubs such as Sobar and Jesters. A word of advice: make sure you wear specific 'Jesters shoes' that you don't mind getting grubby.

The city centre boasts a range of nightlife, from the more 'alternative' Unit and Dungeon, to the popular Wahoo and Voodoo, as well as mega-club Oceana by the docks. Bedford Place also offers a large variety of bars and clubs, including Pop, Junk and Orange Rooms, which is renowned for its cocktails and shots.

Southampton Solent University's three-floor students' union at East Park Terrace holds a variety of student nights and activities. The University of Southampton has two bars of its own on campus; The Stags and the newly refurbished Bridge Bar, where quiz nights and karaoke take place regularly. The 1,700-capacity university nightclub 'The Cube' has undergone a make over, with more live acts and bigger and better club nights than ever before.

Shopping

Southampton has shops for every budget, these include:

• WestQuay Shopping Centre - located in the heart of the city it has a number of high street outlets;
• West Quay Retail Park - home to a large IKEA and many other furniture stores including Tesco Home.

Every Christmas, the high street is home to a German Christmas market, stocking traditional food and souvenirs perfect for gifts.

Nearby areas Portswood and Shirley also have their own mini high streets. Both are popular locations for students to live, and their numerous charity shops are ideal for vintage bargains and fancy dress outfits.

Eating out

Both Southampton city centre and Portswood have lots of pubs, restaurants and fast-food outlets, so you'll never go hungry. For a slightly more upmarket dining experience, visit Oxford Street near the docks, where you will find a wide variety of cuisines to suit all tastes, as well as chains Pizza Express and Prezzo.

However, if you want a hearty meal without breaking the bank, Portswood is the place to head. Trago Lounge and Kate's Café do a fantastic all-day breakfast, and Tiger Lilly offers an eclectic Chinese and Indian all-you-can-eat buffet.

If you're peckish after a night out, Indian restaurant Manzils is the place to be. Open from 7pm until 3am, it transforms from a sophisticated establishment to a hilariously raucous dining experience largely populated by students.

Entertainment

Southampton is home to two theatres which are regularly frequented by professional productions.

• The Nuffield - located on the University of Southampton's Highfield campus and hosts touring shows as well as student performances;
• The Mayflower - in the centre of town is a popular location for touring West End productions.

For those wishing to be even more cultured, the newly-built SeaCity Museum (next to Southampton Guildhall) commemorates the Titanic's 100th anniversary. With interactive displays, original preserved artefacts and personal video accounts of that fateful cruise, it is suitable for all ages and highly recommended. Alternatively, visit the Bargate monument on the high street or take a walk into the past along the ancient walls of Southampton.

There are a variety of live music venues to suit all tastes across the city. To see headlining acts and world tours, visit Southampton Guildhall, and for local bands and up-and-coming artists, try The Talking Heads, Soul Cellar and The Joiners. Both university students' unions also offer a selection of live performances throughout the year.

Student accommodation

Accommodation for both the University of Southampton and Southampton Solent University is dotted all over the city.

The majority of Solent halls are in the city centre, the largest of which are:

• Deanery
• Lucia Foster Welch

The University of Southampton has two main student accommodation sites:

• Glen Eyre
• Wessex Lane

Both house around 3,000 students each, and are in easy reach of the main Highfield campus. There are also several sets of 'small halls', as well as the intercollegiate Orion's Point in the city centre.

After their first year, students from both universities usually move into a shared house with friends. Solent students tend to live in the city centre, Ocean Village or Polgon, while University of Southampton students normally live in the Highfield or Portswood area.

Top 3 places to see

• Jesters - if you love a night out, it truly is an experience like no other;
• WestQuay Shopping Centre - to snap up a bargain;
• The SeaCity Museum - for culture vultures and fans of the Titanic.

With its thriving port, brilliant entertainment and buzzing student scene, the city of Southampton truly offers something for everyone.