Best Areas to Live in Southampton for Students

Unlike most coastal cities, Southampton experiences an extra surge of water a few hours after the first high tide. It’s just one of the little things that makes this port city different. It is also the UK’s busiest cruise port. It is also a popular student city, home to the University of Southampton and Solent University. With so many students coming to the city, finding the right place to live can be competitive.

So, where should you live? Some areas keep you close to the university, while others are better if you want quieter streets, waterfront views or easy access to cafés and shops. In this blog, we have listed the 10 best areas to live in Southampton for students, along with some useful tips to help you pick the right area for your lifestyle.

Top 10 Areas to Live in Southampton: Quick Overview

10 Best Areas to Live in Southampton for Students

Portswood

What you might not know about Portswood is that it has a Titanic connection. Several members of the Titanic crew once lived in the area before the ship’s famous maiden voyage. You can still find some of their former homes around Portswood, making the suburb a little more interesting than it first appears. Today, Portswood is one of the most popular areas to live in Southampton for students. It’s a main student village. University of Southampton Highfield Campus is just a 14-minute walk away. It also has major budget-friendly supermarkets like a large Sainsbury’s and Aldi for your easy weekly grocery shopping. If you like live music and themed dance, The Hobbit pub is the perfect place to stop by after those long lecture hours, and it’s just a 13-minute walk away. And in the mornings for freshly brewed coffee and all those brunch favourites, just head to Nova Brunch thats just 2 minutes on foot. 

Swaythling

This is one of the most highly focused student neighbourhoods that is close to the University of Southampton (Highfield Campus), a 16-minute walk away and just 10 minutes by bus. What makes Swaythling one of the best areas to live in Southampton for students is that it is often cheaper than in busier student hubs like Portswood or the city centre. Woodmill Coffee Kitchen is a student favourite in this area and serves delicious coffee, fresh cakes, and a varied breakfast menu, including popular Eggs Benedict. This area is also considered safer and quieter than other bustling central areas. Another fun place to hang out here is the Fleming Arms pub, which is known for a historic Bob Marley and the Wailers performance at its Coach House Club in 1973.

Ocean Village

Do you want your student life to come with marina views? Then Ocean Village could be your best bet. It’s right there in the name! This waterfront area offers panoramic views of docked yachts and the marina. From a student perspective, it is known for its modern apartments, restaurants and cafés, making it one of the best places to live in Southampton as a student. For a quick coffee or bite, Banana Wharf and Bacaro are just a 4-minute walk away. The University of Southampton, Burgess Road campus, is about 37 minutes by bus. The peaceful surroundings are another reason students like it, especially if you want to stay away from noisy party streets. You’ll also find plenty of postgraduate and international students living here.

Bassett

A residential and suburban area that is filled with quiet streets and lots of greenery. A simple reason why it is one of the best areas to live in Southampton for students how relaxed the atmosphere is. Even the Highfield Campus of the University of Southampton is 21 minutes away, so you can easily walk to campus or cycle within 8 minutes. The Southampton student accommodation here is generally larger, more spacious, and quieter. Because it’s a residential area, there aren’t many chaotic high streets. But it still has some hidden gems like The View Bar and Eatery Southampton thats 23 minutes on foot and is known for its traditional Sunday carvery, seasonal menus, and a large outdoor terrace that offers a good view of the city. Brewhouse & Kitchen is a brewpub and has its own award-winning unpasteurised and vegan-friendly craft beers it’s about 26 minutes away. An interesting fact, something you might not know about Bassett is that the geographical area we call Bassett today isn’t actually where the original village once stood.

Take a look at what real students have on this Reddit thread to see the safest areas for a University of Southampton student, particularly someone studying at the Highfield Campus. 

Safest place to live for a Uni of Southampton student? – r/Southampton

Freemantle

Freemantle started as a farm before becoming a large house and estate. It was later developed into the neighbourhood you see today in Southampton. One of the main reasons why it’s considered the best place to live in Southampton for students is because of its affordable houses. These private Victorian houses and rents are cheaper than in other hubs. It has a mixed atmosphere thats calm yet close to social hotspots. University of Southampton Highfield Campus is 36 minutes by bus. If you live in Freemantle, you can shop at budget-friendly stores on Shirley High Street or head to the larger supermarkets in the city centre. The Lidl store on Shirley Road sells discounted groceries, fresh produce, meat, and bakery goods. Also, the closest and best-rated pub in this area is The Freemantle Arms. It’s a well-loved local pub known for its friendly atmosphere, cosy log fires in winter and a family-friendly garden thats 9 minutes away. And when you are craving some excellent coffee, ice cream sundaes, and a welcoming atmosphere, you can simply head to Cozy Seven, which is just 16 minutes away. 

Shirley

Shirley is one of Southampton’s more diverse neighbourhoods and has plenty of budget-friendly housing. This makes it one of the best areas to live in Southampton for students. The Southampton Central Railway Station is just 17 minutes on foot. So even if you are not living right next to campus, getting around is fairly easy. The University of Southampton is further away and takes about 46 minutes by bus. Student accommodation in Southampton in Shirley is affordable and student-budget-friendly. You will rarely need to travel into central Southampton for groceries, as Shirley hosts almost all major UK supermarket brands within walking distance of each other. A famous workspace-friendly spot where you can grab a coffee or study away from the crowded university library is Santo Lounge, and it’s just 2 minutes on foot. And The Brass Monkey, which is another hangout spot and has high energy and fantastic hospitality. 

Lordswood

Lordswood is not one of the main student hubs in Southampton, with Portswood, Highfield and the City Centre being more popular choices. However, if you prefer quieter streets and more greenery, Lordswood could be a good option. The University of Southampton Highfield Campus is around 35 minutes by bus, and the area also has good Unilink connections to the city centre and other campuses. You’ll find outdoor spots like local mountain-bike and BMX tracks nearby, too. For a quick breakfast or some homemade cake, Cafe 153 King’s Church is a handy option. For your weekly groceries, Sainsbury’s Lordshill Superstore is around 9 minutes away by bus. This quieter atmosphere and easy transport make Lordswood worth considering when looking at the best areas to live in Southampton for students. 

Bitterne Park

This suburban residential area in Southampton, Hampshire, lies on the east bank of the River Itchen. University of Southampton Highfield Campus is a 28-minute bus ride away. What you might love the most about your student accommodation Southampton here is that you are close to Riverside Park—14 minutes away. The calm and peaceful surroundings are the main reason why you’ll find postgraduate and final-year students. It is generally considered one of the quieter, safer residential areas. The Riverside (Cafe) is a cosy and perfect spot within a 10-minute walk that serves great breakfast and coffee. The St Denys Railway Station is about 26 minutes on foot. This makes travel convenient. The University of Southampton Highfield Campus is about 28 minutes by bus. So, overall, Bitterne Park is one of the best places to live in Southampton for students. 

The Polygon

One fascinating fact about The Polygon is that it was planned in 1768 as a large 12-sided residential and entertainment complex. It was designed to rival the famous Royal Crescent in Bath. Today it is a residential area and one of best places to live in Southampton. The area has many shared student houses, giving it a lively and social feel. If you are planning to study at the University of Southampton, Highfield Campus is around 30 minutes by bus. Getting around is also easy, because it has regular buses, including Unilink routes. Southampton Central Railway Station is also nearby.The Nest Coffee House, known for its speciality coffee and vegan doughnuts. When you want to meet friends for a drink, The Giddy Bridge on London Road is just 9 minutes on foot, and The Mayflower Village on Commercial Road is about 7 minutes on foot, and both of these are popular student-friendly spots.

Netley

There are plenty of reasons why Netley is one of the best areas to live in Southampton for students. For starters, it is a peaceful coastal area next to Netley Beach. Direct train links also make getting to Southampton city centre easier. The University of Southampton Highfield Campus is around an hour away by bus, but the calm surroundings can be a nice break from university deadlines. The area also has low crime levels, making it one of the more secure neighbourhoods in the Southampton region. Rents here offer good value for money too. For a good English breakfast, head to Cherrywood Kitchen on Station Road, where meals are around £10–£20, and it’s barely 6 minutes on foot. And when you’re craving coffee, The Bus Stop Cafe, 23 minutes away, is a fun option. Its quirky converted double-decker bus is sure to put you in a good mood. 

Tips on How to Choose the Right Area in Southampton

• Think About the Student Life You Want

This is one of the most important tips we make sure you are aware of before you pick your Southampton student accommodation. It’s a simple yet very effective tip, and that is to simply think about the kind of student life you want to have when you are at Southampton. Are you on the lookout for areas that are close to the University of Southampton? Or are you looking for an area that has a calmer environment? Even if staying by a waterfront or riverside location is what you are looking for, then yes, make sure you focus on finding such areas. There is no right or wrong answer here. Each student has their own personality and vibe; it’s best to pick the one that fits your vibe the most. 

• Find Student Accommodation Within Budget

Southampton is a relatively cheaper place to live in in comparison to other major UK cities. However, rent prices can vary quite a bit across Southampton. If you find areas like Ocean Village a little expensive, you can look at more budget-friendly options such as Swaythling, Shirley or Freemantle. While rent is one part of your expenses, check whether it includes utilities, Wi-Fi and other amenities. If not, you have to budget for them separately. Figuring this out on your own can be a tedious process, and this is exactly when you can look at verified student accommodation websites like UniAcco. We offer verified, furnished student accommodation across 700+ cities, with all-inclusive options available.

• Don’t Let Travel Take Up Your Time 

If you don’t want to spend time on travel back and forth from the university to your Southampton student accommodation, then it’s important to pick a place close to the university. Portswood and Swaythling are good options. Portswood is just 14 minutes on foot from the University of Southampton Highfield Campus, while Swaythling is around 10 minutes by bus. This way you can divide your time between other important things like assignments, deadlines or even a part-time job. 

• Make Sure You Have the Essentials Nearby 

You might not think about it at first, but having supermarkets, cafés, pharmacies and transport nearby can make student life much easier. After all, you don’t want to travel across Southampton just because you ran out of groceries. Areas like Portswood and Shirley have plenty of shops and supermarkets close by. Before booking your Southampton student accommodation, check what is around the property. A nearby cafe, supermarket or bus stop can make a bigger difference than you think.

• Make Safety a Priority

Safety is something you shouldn’t compromise on. Before choosing an area, check what the neighbourhood is like during the day and at night. Read reviews and see what previous students or residents say about the area. You should also check how easy it is to get back to your accommodation after evening classes or nights out. After all, your student accommodation should feel like a place where you can relax, study and feel comfortable.

Conclusion

To sum up, think about which part of Southampton feels right for you. We have already given you the list of 10 best areas to live in Southampton. Now, before you make your choice, make sure you thoroughly research these areas, apply some of the tips we mentioned, and compare the rent, commute and other factors that would make your student accommodation in Southampton perfect for you. And don’t worry, you don’t have to do it all on your own. UniAcco is here to help you find student accommodation that matches your budget and lifestyle, with 10K+ properties across 700+ cities. 

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