Experiences of Southampton as a student?

[hohoopla]

My son will be starting an engineering uni course in Southampton later this month. It's a brilliant department, so all good from that perspective. However, the city was his insurance choice - he missed out on his first choice, Bristol, and was inevitably disappointed so has been up and down mood-wise since then. Nevertheless, he was starting to feel a little excited about Southampton. He got his first choice accommodation (Highfield Hall) and the freshers week info gave him a lift. He had already visited the university for an Open Day and Offer Holder Day, which were both positive, but over the weekend we went down for an afternoon to explore the area around his hall and the city. There are obviously no students at the moment, so the visit may have been a mistake. As parents it seems lovely and safe and green, but to DS it felt like the hall was in the middle of nowhere surrounded by residential streets rather than the vibrant studenty area he imagined. We got the bus from there down into the city, which he conceded was 'ok' 🙂 then we walked to an area (around Brunswick Place) where there were a few bars and clubs. It wasn't lively on a Sunday in August, but he could see it had some potential. With hindsight we should have walked through the Portswood area, as I've read that is vibrant for students, and I understand the Old Town area is lively in the evenings. Are there any other areas should we have explored?

I went to Southampton, albeit some time ago and lots will have changed, and have also lived near Bristol (not as a student). There was loads to do outside of the university in surrounding areas, the New Forest, Portsmouth, and in the city itself. I would suggest he needs to find his own way with his new friends that he meets in his accommodation and course. I had a very positive experience of my time there, other than that the courses were hard (I did Mech Eng) but I didn’t do the traditional A level route which I think wasn’t the best in hindsight. Southampton was my first choice, with Bath second.
I visited Bristol recently and was surprised at how grotty it was.
Southampton will be great.

p.s. Are there any street food markets in Southampton? (Food makes him happy 🙂)

Thanks @NeedANewOne25 , yes I'm sure he'll be fine.

Honestly it was a long time since I was there (88-91) and we didn’t have the cash for eating out but cooked loads at home. Street food wasn’t really a thing then, but I am sure there is now.

I came to Southampton almost a quarter of a century ago as a student, also not as my first choice. I am still here, still loving Southampton, and live quite close to Highfield Hall. I think he might be right in that the hall itself isn’t as bustling as some of the others, but it’s close to campus and right on the edge of the common. Close to bus stops into town (U2 route) and an easy walk to Portswood, which is very studenty (do not go to Portswood High Street in August, it needs the students to take the edge off a bit).

the uni has fantastic facilities, especially for sport, and has the benefit of being a campus uni but close to the city centre (it’s a 45 minute brisk walk to the centre from Avenue Campus). He has good shopping choices in Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, and Lidl, and is actually well situated for that.

I’ve no doubt Highfield Hall has a good community feel and he will make friends, the bigger Glen Eyre complex is an easy walk up past the campus if he has friends there, Wessex Lane is a bus ride away. I think location wise it’s probably the best the uni has to offer even if it doesn’t feel as bustling.

Food - the campus does a good selection at various outlets, Portswood has good options including an awesome Vietnamese and some great Indian restaurants. The campus has an excellent Chinese restaurant too. Highfield Hall is about 15 minutes walk from Maurie’s a sandwich shop that has a near viral following (and sandwiches that are £££ with queues out the door)

Another ex-Sotonite here, similar vintage to @NeedANewOne25 <waves> and it's a great place. I had a brilliant time, and I'm sure your DS will too. I still have close friends from my student days and see them regularly. Lots has changed since I was there, but Portswood (shops & pubs) is only a short way away from Highfield, and it's a nice hall to be in. Friends were there in the first year and liked it a lot, despite its ridiculously small bar (it's famous for its small bar!). He's on the edge of The Avenue and the Common, which he'll appreciate in the summer, and only a short hop from the Polygon/Portswood Rd to go to the other student-y areas. The Student Union will probably do some sort of city intro session as part of Freshers' Week so he'll get info on any street markets, and there are loads of clubs and societies for him to get involved with, including sports teams.

I live in Southampton. I went to the uni (almost 20 years ago now!) and stayed. My DH was in exactly the same position as your DS, having missed his Bristol offer for engineering and he’s still here too 🙂 Honestly, Southampton is a vibrant and bustling city with lots going for it-but the student bits are very quiet in August. It really does perk up and fast. Can I ask, what attracted him to Highfield Hall in the first place, especially for engineering? It’s beautiful and very convenient for some courses, but not exactly busy. If he struggles a bit out there then rooms in Wessex Lane (Monte) normally become available. Also, as others said, Highfield Hall is within walking distance of lots of amenities, including the main campus, and there’s a bus too. It’s not long to go now. I hope he enjoys Freshers!

@JennieTheZebra "Can I ask, what attracted him to Highfield Hall in the first place"

He wanted catered. 🙂 It seemed to be the only one that was catered.

It's only 15 mins walk to his department on the Boldrewood Campus across the Common, so seems convenient for engineering, yes?

I’ve been at this campus a lot the past year (ds not at uni we are local and he was on TASS - athlete scheme)

Highfield campus is very busy even in the evenings with lots of students about - there’s a sports centre there (which is what we generally used) if he’s into sport?

It’s about 10-15 minute walk depending on speed to the accommodation but the whole area is residential once you leave the campus (and hilly 😂).

Buses are frequent and easy into town however when I was chatting to students most said they tended to use campus more after the initial weeks of partying but everything was easily accessible.

There’s a sainburys down the road too that’s walkable.

Southampton university is spread across many campuses over the city and whenever I drive past a campus (ds use to be under hospital there) area there’s 100’s of students milling around so hopefully he’ll find it ok .

X posts. See he’s at Boldrewood. That’s only 1 minute walk roughly from Highfield

Is that a typo? Boldrewood is a little further than a minute from Highfield 😉but Highfield is definitely close to there so I'd estimate 15 - 20 mins or so walk, quicker on a bike. Your mention of hills brings back memories of that evil hill on Woodmill Lane walking up from Portswood to main site, and up through Swaythling from Wessex Lane. I don't think I've ever been so fit!

@itsgettingweird "There’s a sainburys down the road too that’s walkable"

Yep, we pointed that out - looks about 10 mins walk. We have a Tescos 1 min walk from home and he's far too used to popping round whenever he wants a snack but I expect he'll soon learn to cope with the extra distance. 😁

Highfield is probably the better hall then if he’s studying at Boldrewood - it’s a roughly 15 minute walk between campus (back in the day I had lectures at the old Bio Med Sci building and on Highfield Campus - did that trek all the time). Highfield Hall to Boldrewood is an easy walk/cycle up Lovers Walk and along Burgess Road.

The other good spot would be Glen Eyre but (I think) no catered options there these days. I think it will be fine - transferring halls is sometimes an option in the first few weeks, but it’s a nice little spot. Wessex Lane is too far out, in my view.

to the PP who suggested Southampton is hilly - it definitely isn’t! But then I grew up in Cornwall where the hills are all >10% gradient.

Unfortunately the Google Street View footage round that area is all from July/August too.

As a local resident I can assure you that in 2-3 weeks’ time the place will be bustling, peace will be shattered, and the students will be all over the place. There will be little point even attempting to go to the gym and campus will be heaving. I will hide for a week or two (after having done a big shop in preparation) and then it will all settle

DC1 went there and loved the city and the social life and from what I can see that was the general opinion among the students. I don't think you have anything to worry about.

Just wanted to add that I went to Solent University in Southampton but had a lot of friends at Uni of (big rivalry although only on surface level) due to a society I was a part of. I still live in Southampton 6 years after graduating and have loads of friends from uni.
A couple of my friends lived in Highfield Halls and loved it. They seemed to know loads of people due to it being catered and always eating together.
There is loads to do on campus and it does get super busy in September. We used to joke that the pesky freshers would arrive taking over our buses when we lived in highfield area - of course us being pesky freshers not long before.

Basically give it till he’s been there a few weeks and will see how great it can be. And if you fancy somewhere studenty/not-really-studenty when you visit. I can recommend Trago Lounge in Portswood. Again walkable or there is a bus.

Thanks all. Any recommendations for a traditional Sunday roast would be welcome, for when we come down to visit for his birthday in October.

Honestly the number one thing that will make or break his experience is who he is with. If he finds a great bunch of friends he’d be happy in the out Hebrides. If he’s with awful people he’d be miserable in manhattan.
Soton is well regarded in his subject so presumably he’ll have some very similar minded people on his course.

if he throws himself into meeting people I think he’s for every reason to have a fantastic time and get a great education. .

I remember trying to walk up the hill when it was icy, and giving up! Loved Southampton especially the pubs in Bevois Valley though most have changed in tne last 40 years!!

Dancing Man Brewery does a nice roast. It's down by the Solent. I don't have any student experience advice- DP was an adult student in engineering during Covid so results not typical. We have stayed because the quality of life is decent and we have good jobs. The New Forest and other regional cities aren't far, train links are excellent, Southampton common nice to have locally, and the food scene isn't bad.

I hope if we stay long term DS recognises the benefits of a good local uni.

If you fancy a day of it try either ‘The New Forest’ in Ashurst or ‘The Forresters Inn’ in Brockenhurst. Both in the New Forest about 30 minutes drive from Southampton or there is a direct train from Southampton Central. Both we nice short and long walks near them.
in the city we go to The White Swan near Riverside park but it’s a Toby Carvery or The Crown right by the uni but not actually sure if that’s there anymore.

Ooo but my favourite is King and Queens in The Hamble. Again a drive but so so lovely. Literally my favourite pub now and the best food but you have to book.

I also went to Southampton (so years ago) and it is a wonderful uni and city. It was also my insurance choice, but in hindsight suited me far better than my first choice!

Once he gets to Clowns and Jesters and has a Juicy Lucy there, he'll wonder what he was worried about!

Also, Monte is lovely halls in case anyone is interested and doesn't feel far out at all!