From green spaces, to restaurants, and everything in between

There’s so much to explore! Whether you’re looking for cosy cafès to study, parks to relax, or local spots to hang out, we’ve got you covered.

Here’s a quick guide to your new neighbourhood.

Green Spaces

📍Southampton Common: this large green space is right on your doorstep and is perfect for picnics, outdoor sports and sunbathing. It's a popular hangout spot for students when the sun is shining. 

📍Portswood Recreation Ground: an open area popular for walks and sports, with tennis courts, a small AstroTurf and a relaxing community garden with picnic benches. 

📍Riverside Park: only a 30-minute walk away, this massive park sits along the river, where you can do water sports like paddleboarding and kayaking. You can even head to the sports fields where you can find football pitches, cricket pitches and a tennis court. 

📍Itchen Valley Country Park: looking for something bigger? This country park is a 25-minute cycle away, offering plenty of walking and cycling trails, rivers and woodland to explore. 

Further afield...

📍Bournemouth: an hour away by train, Bournemouth is a great day out whether you want to relax or have some fun and is known for its beautiful beaches. If you're up for travelling another hour from Bournemouth, it's also worth visiting Durdle Door which is another scenic getaway.

📍Brighton: another city known for its seaside and beaches, you can get to Brighton in a couple of hours by train. Make sure to take a stroll along the pier, labeled the 'biggest attraction in the South East'!

📍The Isle of Wight: close on the ferry, it is perfect for a sunny day trip. Do not miss historic sites like Osborne House and the Needles.

📍Brockenhurst: looking for a shorter train journey? Only half an hour away, you can visit the New Forest in the small village of Brockenhurst which is a great place for hiking – see if you can spot any ponies, donkeys or cows along the way.

Restaurants and Cafés

📍Brewhouse & Kitchen: just down the road, you can not only grab an award-winning craft beer and local drinks, Brewhouse also does lunch, dinner, buffet meals and traditional Sunday roasts. 

📍Ceno Bar & Restaurant: this spot is perfect for when you're eating as a group and can't decide on a cuisine, as the menu offers plenty of global dishes to suit everyone. 

📍Chaiiwala: a cute street food café, think naan, roti, paratha, pani puri and more! Whether you're looking for a Desi breakfast, quick lunch or evening bite, Chaiiwala is a great choice. 

📍Muse Coffee Co: located on Portswood Road and London Road, this café has amazing coffee — and we'd especially recommend the pancakes. It also makes a good study spot. 

Entertainment

📍Turner Sims: known as one of the finest music venues in the country, located on our very own University of Southampton Highfield Campus — just a 10-minute walk from Highfield Hall. 

📍Escape room: head closer to the city centre to find Elusion Escape Rooms, Sneaky Dog Escapes and Houdini’s Escape Rooms, all offering the perfect activity to participate with a group of friends, finding hidden clues and solving puzzles.

📍The Brook: a live music venue in a beautiful old Victorian building that’s been around for over 30 years, promoting thousands of shows on and off site from Bastille to Reneé Rap!

📍Hollywood Bowl: head out with some friends for some healthy competition at Westquay or Eastleigh. There is also great food, drinks, games, and a pool table.

📍Karaoke night: sing the night away at one of these venues hosting karaoke nights: The Bedford, Medbar, Shanghai 1814, Oasis Bar, The Lion, Boom Battle Bar or The Stags.

These are just a few of our favourite - there are so many places to explore.

If you've found your favourite place in Southampton - let us know in our Halls Life suggestion box!