AFS City Guides

The complete student guide to Southampton

8 min read·Last updated: 13 July 2026

Curated and written by

Elizabeth Hadley

AFS Content Creator

Studying at University of Lincoln

8 min read

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Why study in Southampton

Great shopping
Southampton offers an excellent shopping experience, with its most popular retail destination being Westquay. The centre features more than 100 shops, a cinema, a food court, and a bowling alley, making it a major entertainment hub for residents and visitors alike. Whether you are looking to shop, watch a film, enjoy a meal, or spend time with friends, Westquay has something for everyone. In addition to providing hours of entertainment, the shopping centre is also a great place for students to find part-time weekend employment opportunities.
Lots of green spaces
The city is coastal and the centre has a host of parks, decorated with historic landmarks, these are excellent places to spend the warmer days here in the city. Southampton Common, is the cities flagship park with over 365 acres of forests and meadows. The common is further north of the centre and is best accessible for those staying in University of Southampton accommodation, however, is only a 25-minute walk from the city centre.
Reputation and opportunities
The University of Southampton is a member of the prestigious Russell Group, representing some of the UK’s leading research-intensive universities. It is especially well known for high-quality teaching and research in engineering, computer science, oceanography, business, medicine, and aerospace studies. The university also promotes strong links with industry, helping students gain real-world experience and career opportunities. Key connections include sectors such as maritime, engineering, technology, healthcare, and finance, supporting graduates in developing practical skills and employability.
Welcoming, affordable and diverse
Southampton has a lively and diverse student population. Students can join hundreds of societies, sports clubs, and cultural groups, creating a welcoming and inclusive environment. Compared with London and many other major UK cities, Southampton generally offers a lower cost of living, particularly for accommodation, transport, and entertainment, making it an attractive option for students. However, if you did want to get to the capital of the UK, Southampton has direct rail connections to London, taking around 70–90 minutes.

Key facts about Southampton

Student life in Southampton

The city is a famous port, serving as a hub for many worldwide cruises alongside cargo vessels. It is also the home of ‘Southampton F.C’ who are currently playing the EFL Championship in an impressive 30,000-seater stadium called ‘St Mary’s.’ Southampton is a compact city, limited by the docks and rivers, this allows for a great number of shops, bars and clubs all within walking distance. Southampton is very well situated for nearby areas of beauty, one of the UK’s most famous national parks, The New Forest, is only a short train or bus away from the centre. There are a host of well recommended walks, pubs and cafes to discover here alongside the chance to see some of the 7000 wild ponies that wander the forest. Another great spot is a short walk over the Itchen Bridge, Woolston beach is a brilliant place for a sunset, as it takes its claim at Southampton’s only beach! Pubs and bars are great in the centre, and further out there’s some real hidden gems! Would it be a city without a Weatherspoon’s? Well, Southampton has two to choose from, with both offering the famous cheap food and alcohol. Around the Polygon, the main hive of clubs are located - Trilogy, Pop World & Revolution to name a few. Heading further out of the centre and closer to the University of Southampton campus, there’s a host of cocktail bars and clubs. The two best being, ‘The Shooting Star’ & ‘The Hobbit’, both offering affordable and themed cocktails. In my opinion, the best night out is found at ‘The Frogs & Frigates’ pub with live guitarists playing indie and pop. The basement is open Friday & Saturday night and free entry is before 11pm and drinks are average priced. In terms of food, all the usual fast-food names are found across Above Bar Street and Westquay, and some great independent spots can be found outward towards the Polygon. A highlight for burgers, would be ‘Z-Bone’, ‘Fire Away Pizza’ is a great shout for a pizza, and ‘Lorista’ is the must visit for Italian food. For higher end and pricy food, there’s some great placesfound around the cities harbour, Ocean Village, although expensive for a meal, can be a great place to grab a coffee. It is avery modern and well looked after area of the city, and definitely a place to go for an Instagram photo! Live music is a real strength of the city, with a few great venues for smaller artists. Multiple spaces across the centre are also regularly transformed for bigger concerts, such as Southampton Guildhall Square for its ‘Summer Sessions’ and ‘St Mary’s Stadium’ for bands such as Take That. With the city not featuring a touring arena, it really forces some creative solutions to the locations of gigs.

Cost of living in Southampton

Wondering how much it costs to live in Southampton as a student? We’ve broken down typical monthly expenses and compared them to the national average, so you can plan your budget with confidence.

Expense	Southampton average	National average	Difference
Rent (monthly)	£1040	£891.63	£148.3717% more
Utilities (monthly)	£105	£112.25	£7.256% less
Bus pass (monthly)	£56	£61.13	£5.138% less
Groceries	£16.51	£15.40	£1.117% more
Gym pass (monthly)	£30.65	£34.59	£3.9411% less
Takeaway coffee	£3.81	£3.54	£0.278% more

Rent (monthly)
Southampton average
£1040
National average
£891.63
Difference
£148.3717% more
Utilities (monthly)
Southampton average
£105
National average
£112.25
Difference
£7.256% less
Bus pass (monthly)
Southampton average
£56
National average
£61.13
Difference
£5.138% less
Groceries
Southampton average
£16.51
National average
£15.40
Difference
£1.117% more
Gym pass (monthly)
Southampton average
£30.65
National average
£34.59
Difference
£3.9411% less
Takeaway coffee
Southampton average
£3.81
National average
£3.54
Difference
£0.278% more

Universities in Southampton

Southampton Solent University

Paving the way for students to make the best of themselves, Solent University allows its students to explore new ideas and develop their interests.

Read guide →

University of Southampton

With a range of societies and a high employment rate among graduates, The University of Southampton provides great educational and extra curricular opportunities for all its students.

Read guide →

Getting around Southampton

Getting around Southampton as a student is fairly easy thanks to a compact layout and strong public transport links.

Buses

Most students rely on buses, especially routes connecting the university areas like Highfield and Portswood with the city centre. Services are frequent during term time, and student bus passes usually make travel cheaper if you’re commuting daily.

Cycling

Cycling is also popular, with relatively flat roads and dedicated cycle lanes in many areas. You can often spot bike sheds on campus.

Walking

Walking works well due to the compact centre of the city, allowing students to move around with ease, particularly between nearby neighbourhoods and campuses.

Trains

For longer journeys, South Western Railway network runs regular trains from Southampton Central to cities like London, Portsmouth, and Bournemouth, making weekend travel convenient.

Taxis/car

Taxis and ride-hailing apps like Uber are available for late nights, though most students stick to buses and walking for everyday travel. For a local cab, use Radio Taxis.

Life after uni

Southampton has a diverse job market, with strong employment in maritime, engineering, finance, technology, healthcare, and public services. The city is a major UK port, which supports a large logistics and shipping sector, as well as related industries like cruise operations and supply chain management.

Here are some key facts about employment prospects in Southampton:

Growing tech and digital economy
With Southampton recognised as one of Europe’s leading tech clusters this status is helping to create graduate roles in software, data, and AI-related fields.
Graduate outcomes are generally strong
Due to links with local universities and employers, many students move into skilled or graduate-level roles within 15 months of finishing their degree.