Visiting Southampton this weekend because thinking of moving there. What places should we check out?

[LittleAprilShowers3]

We're thinking of moving to Southampton at some point in the future.
This weekend we're going to stay there to get a sense of the area, explore the centre and see what the residential bits are like.
Which areas should we definitely visit? Both for leisure and daily living?
When we move, our budget will be about 450k.
Thanks!

I would wander around the city walls, down to Mayflower Park and the Museum and up past the Tudor House. I would also go to the park near the Guildhall, there is a good library and art gallery there. Shops in between are OK but I prefer the shops in the shopping centre. If you fancy a coffee there are views of the cruise ships from the John Lewis café on the top floor.

You could look at the common and the houses to the north, up from Burgess road, and to the west from Hill Lane (Upper Shirley) as a starting point for house hunting. The pub on the Common is nice but always busy in good weather.

Old Southampton and Ocean Village are great for a wander. For stop offs, I'd recommend the Duke of Wellington (if you like traditional pubs), Dancing Man Brewery and God's House Tower (cafe). Then I'd push on down to the marina to see the boats etc. There's also a few galleries/museums to have a look at if you have time (the Tudor House is in the old part of Southampton, but the art gallery and Sea City Museum are about a 10 min walk away, Above Bar).

If you have a car and fancy exploring slightly further out, I'd go to the common (Cowherds pub is good), walks around Chilworth/Bassett area.

You'll find some people on here get a bit shirty about Southampton, but I'm still really fond of it nearly 40 years on.

Marchwood and Hythe

What kind of house do you want for that budget?

I’d suggest visiting Highfield (north of Portswood high street) and around the Common, Bitterne Park (over Cobden bridge around the triangle) and maybe Bassett (near the m3!) if you want to live within the city itself. Possibly Upper Shirley. St Denys is lively and has a good community but the houses there are generally smaller.

Southampton is great to live in if you want the convenience of a city without being in a huge one, and it’s close to the sea, New Forest etc. We always laugh that one of its big selling points is it’s easy to get to other places!

Thanks everyone!

We're looking for a 3 bedroom house with garden

Chandlers Ford and Romsey are just outside and might be worth a look

Are schools a consideration?

It can be quite queuey going in to S'oton at a weekend.

You could visit Ikea

Yess :) good primary and secondary state schools are needed

As above, the area around the Guildhall (o2) square so long as you don't get mowed down by a skateboarder grinding! Library and free art gallery are around the corner. Free events often in the square, fake beach, summer in the city, Chinese new year etc. You will see MAST theatre opposite (was the Nuffield City theatre for about a year then closed beginning of Covid, an Arts Council funding fallout I believe). It is the sister of the Mayflower theatre (5 mins away) and a lot cheaper, always seems lots of family/ kid type performances on. Lots of green areas/parks criss cross these area.
No idea re housing. Good luck and enjoy.

You need to be careful about catchment, S'oton schools have been patchy in quality in the past though I think may have improved. It's not like plonking yourself in Romsey or Winchester and knowing you'll be pretty much OK for schooling.

Barton Peveril 6th form in Eastleigh has good reputation though, and also next door Eastleigh College for vocational. Most of the schools round here don't have their own 6th forms, though there are some exceptions. Most go off to one college or another.

Have a look at Bitterne Park. Schools are good, easy access to city centre, riverside park, the Triangle is an area with shops & it's lovely. Close to Bitterne which has a precinct/shops etc!

I think Thornden in chandlers Ford has a good reputation

Very good rep. Very tight (more expensive too) catchment.
Have also heard good things of Toynbee, but I'm a few years out of date.

I also recommend Bitterne Park area on the Riverside. There's a lovely row of shops at Bitterne Triangle including a family butcher and the walks all along Riverside Park are lovely.
The house prices around there will be in your ballpark.

I wouldn't buy within the Southampton City Council area as many areas have crime issues and good schools are few and far between. There are some nice areas outside of Southampton with good schools such as Hedge End where you can buy a decent sized 3 bed within your budget. Have a look at Grange Park or Dowds Farm but not the South end where walkable facilities are lacking. Hedge End has good schools (mostly), a nice village centre, nearby big shops, access to the countryside and is on the railway mainline to London, Portsmouth and Winchester. It's also fairly quick and easy to get into Southampton by car or bus.

If you're visiting for the weekend then I recommend walking the walls and the Tudor House museum (but check their opening times as they're stupidly short). One of our Pride festival's is on this weekend in the parks in the city centre - we have two per year. Westquay is a big shopping centre but The Marlands Mall has smaller shops of interest. Ocean Village is down on the water but has little of interest now as it's mostly flats but Mayflower Park gives a good view of the ships etc. The art gallery (near the guildhall) is worth a visit and Guildhall Square is nice with lots of cafes and restaurants.

Southampton has two very decent theatres and lively live music scene but is heavily neglected by the city council who would rather shut things down than invest. The is also a huge problem with begging and on street alcohol drinking and watch out for people riding scooters!

She won’t get a 3 bed with garden for 450k in the catchment though.

I lived in Romsey when I worked in Southampton and loved it there.

Romsey is lovely, but more pricey that S'oton and a very different feel - small market town not small city. Good choice of schools though.

You won't have time to see the surrounding areas in a weekend, but know that the city is surrounded by stunning countryside, pretty villages with country pubs, country walks, lovely market towns. Southampton has great shopping, cafe culture, The Arts etc - so much to see and do in the area.

Thank you so much, everyone. I have come up with an itinerary based on all the responses here! Saturday we'll do touristy stuff, Sunday we'll look at residential areas, starting in the city itself and going further out. Very grateful for all your insight.

@5childrenand Is Thornden the only reason chandlers Ford is so £££?

Maybe the other school catchment would be an option?

Hedge End is worth a look - with Wildern School. Essentially the schools that fall into Hampshire rather than Southampton tend to be better. Someone has also mentioned Bitterne which is nice. On the other side of Southampton - Totton is also worth looking at.

Roads may/will be very busy around Romsey (today &) tomorrow as we are hosting 'Dogstival' - everything you may want for your dog and more.🐶🐕🐩🐈