by Ashwin Regi

Ashwin Regi

4th Year MEng: Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical/Space Engineering Student 

Former resident of Wessex Lane Halls of Residence. 

Introduction

Hi, my name’s Ashwin and I’m going into my fourth and final year as an Aeronautics and Astronautics student specialising in Spacecraft Engineering.

It feels crazy to say that I’ve been at this university for four years now when my first day feels like it happened just last year.

So, as one of Southampton’s finest resident grandpas, I’d like to share some of the best tips and tricks to get you settled into this city that you’ll be calling home throughout your degree. So, try to get settled in as much as possible and buckle up to discover the best of what this city has to offer!

Tips

The first thing to get right off the bat is that Southampton is BIG; you’ll learn that quickly. To get from Wessex Lane Halls to the city centre takes about 40 minutes by bus, which leads me to my first tip. Make use of the free UniLink bus pass! As freshmen, you will get access to the UniLink bus services which are included with your University of Southampton Halls accommodation package. So, make sure you use it to the fullest and discover!

Another thing that I would highly recommend is joining clubs and societies. It’s the best way to make new friends. It’s also nice to surround yourself with a variety of freshmen and older years as it supports you whilst you’re still acclimatising. Plus, getting involved in society events breaks up the monotony of lectures and gives you a well-deserved break from all the hard work that you will be (hopefully) putting into your degrees.

Places

Now that you’re equipped with your knowledge of using the bus routes, the next question that begs an answer is ‘Where do I go?’

This answer will vary from person to person. If you want the best views, I will always recommend Mayflower Park at Sunset and Ocean Village, but they’re both a bit out of the way, which isn’t appealing for most of us students, let’s be real.

And don’t get me started on the Ocean Village prices—YIKES!

So, let’s have a look at something a little closer to Highfield. Southampton Common is a luscious park that spans 365 acres with a vast variety of things to do with your new mates. Play sports, exercise, soak up the sun, chat, or even go on a mental health stroll around by yourself. There’s so much to see and do, and once you’re done, there’s even a pub to go visit.

The next two places I have found are very controversial amongst my friends, but I’m still going to stick with them. For context, I’m British-Indian, and sometimes when you feel a little homesick, nothing cheers you up better than a traditional dish. But to make amazing food, you need authentic ingredients. This is when Portswood and St. Mary’s come in clutch. They are great places with a large variety of great and cheap food shops as well as places to eat. You could say that they’re the cultural hotpot of Southampton.

That about wraps up my advice for you, and I hope you found these morsels of advice useful. I would have loved to know these when I was a fresher. I wish you all the best on your newfound adventures and enjoy university while it lasts!