Student friendly things to do in Southampton

Do a lot with a little

New to the city and looking for things to do? Well you'll find plenty to do in Southampton but there's no need to break the bank in your first week! Here are our top student-friendly activities you can do on a budget:

Sea City Museum

Kick off your time in Southampton with a visit to the Sea City Museum, which has an interactive model of the Titanic, recorded messages of passengers and original objects from the infamous boat. you will get a 10% discount if you bring your student ID. It is a good way to educate yourself and learn why there wasn’t any room on the door for Leonardo DiCaprio!

Bring & Mix

A unique night-time experience where you bring your own spirits to this cool “speakeasy”. The mixologists will create cocktails for you using a wide variety of mixers and juice. The table is a set price which you get for 2 hours which sounds like a lot, but you don't have to pay for alcohol since you're bringing your own! Book in advance on their website, show up, ring the doorbell, and hope for the best...

Guided Ghost Walk

If you want to get to know the spooky side of Southampton then this is the activity for you. The walk is around an hour and a half and includes meeting the ghosts, murderers and thieves that roamed the streets in the 1800s. Starting and ending at Westgate Street, this unique experience has a tour guide and a guarantee that the tour will run no matter the weather! So if you are bored in the middle of January, give it a try!

The New Forest

If you fancy exploring what's nearby, you can take a 20-minute train to the natural beauty that is the New Forest. It's completely free (other than the train ticket) and you'll have the chance to see animals like ponies and deer. It's the perfect spot to escape the city and get a bit of nature in your life.

Southampton City Art Gallery

Found in the centre, the art gallery has pieces dating all the way back to the Renaissance period and is a great place to kill an hour or so, as it is free and new exhibits pop up all the time. So you can easily visit multiple times throughout the year and view different pieces each time!

Westquay shopping centre

Hop on the bus, it's time for a shopping spree! There are over 100 stores and leisure venues. So if you're in need of a new outfit, with the handy help of student discounts in shops like Footlocker, H&M, Hollister and Zara available. Also, if you are craving something to eat, Westquay offers student discounts to McDonald's, Nandos, and even Krispy Kreme. 

Showcase Cinema de Lux

You'll also find a Showcase cinema in the centre, and if you have a Meerkat Movie code, you can get 2-for-1 cinema tickets on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. 

Pickwell farm

Pickwell Farm is on the outskirts of Southampton, where in summer you can pick strawberries (with price depending on the weight) and in October you can also pick pumpkins and other fruits! Nice way to get some fresh air while picking affordable fruit and veg for dinner.

These were just a few picks for what to do in Southampton, you can look into the official visit Southampton website for more options!

Halls Life Quality Check ✔ Updated August 2026 — Reviewed by TMW