Experience in Southampton, United Kingdom by Hollie

What is it like to live in Southampton? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

For me, settling into Southampton was a bit of a disappointment, as I had pictured this beautiful seaside city with a beach and plenty of things to do. In reality, Southampton is a very grey port town and lacks a lot of the entertainment you'd expect to find in any other British city. That being said, there is an incredible shopping centre - Westquay - and you don't have very far to go to find beautiful countryside: both the New Forest and the Isle of Wight will be right on your doorstep.

What is the student lifestyle like in Southampton?

As a student in Southampton you don't tend to mix much with the general public, partly due to it being a campus university and partly due to the very predominant student areas where you will end up living. Portswood is the main one of these.

How much does it cost to live in Southampton?

Southampton is situated in Hampshire which is one of the most expensive counties to live in in Britain. Renting a place here is definitely a lot more expensive than it will be for other universities, particularly those in the north, though nowhere near as bad as London. I managed to find a room for £280 a month in my second year, which was a great deal cheaper than those of many of my friends, but it is possible to find.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Southampton? Is there any advice you can give?

It's relatively easy to find accommodation in Southampton, particularly if you already have a group together to rent a house with. I would recommend staying in halls if you can, otherwise many people advertise spare rooms on different facebook groups so have a search there.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

There are loads and loads and LOADS of takeaway places in Southampton - pizza, Chinese, kebabs... otherwise the food is very typical of the rest of Britain.

What places would you recommend visiting in Southampton?

Westquay is definitely worth a visit - a huge variety of shops with restaurants open until late on the top floor.

The Isle of Wight makes for a cute day out, with ferries leaving from the port near to the city centre and some beautiful beaches there to spend the day.

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The old city walls are also very beautiful and signs point out a lovely walk along them.

Is it good to eat out in Southampton? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

There are a couple of really nice places to eat in Southampton - my favourite one is the Dancing Man Brewery near the docks. They offer great quality food and their own beer, and it is an absolutely stunning place to eat. Also, dogs will not only be welcomed but doted on by all the staff - you can even order them their own doggy dinner off the menu!

The Rockstone Pub is also worth a visit if you like burgers - a cool little indy pub with amazing, locally sourced, great quality burgers.

Is the nightlife good in Southampton? Where is good to go?

The nightlife is one of Southampton's best selling points with a huge range of clubs: Sobar, Pop World, The Edge (LGBT), Junk, Cafe Parfait, Oceana, Orange Rooms... not to mention my personal favourite, Jesters, aka the worst club in Europe, where you can get your hands on the famous Jesticle.

In terms of bars, The Hobbit is absolutely brilliant for nerds like me. The Fellowship is a challenge made up of 12 cocktails, that when you complete earns you a free t-shirt!

What advice would you give future students heading to Southampton?

Make sure you choose accommodation near to the campus you will be spending the most time on. Last year I lived near to Highfield, the main campus, but as most of my lectures were at Avenue Campus it meant a half an hour walk each way - and Southampton is very hilly!

Highfield Campus (library)

Avenue Campus