Southampton is, obviously, in the South of England. It’s nearly as south as you can get, and the South usually has a reputation for being an expensive area, at least in comparison to the Midlands or the North. However, this reputation is somewhat unwarranted and is usually caused by extortionate prices in London. So, is Southampton expensive for students? It may be near to London, but it is most certainly not as expensive as London. Here’s how much things typically cost when it comes to living as a student in Southampton.
Accommodation/rent
In your first year you’ll probably live in halls of residence. In Southampton, the bigger halls, such as Wessex Lane and Glen Eyre, come in at a respectable £135.03 per week. In contrast, the smaller, catered hall, Highfield Hall, starts at £201.11 per week with a shared bathroom. However, considering this includes meals and washing and drying facilities, it’s not a bad deal.
According to UniAcco, the average cost of off-campus accommodation in Southampton is £516 per month, or approximately £129 per week. According to NUS and Unipol, the UK average is £615 per month, or £154 per week. When looking at other southern figures, such as London, the figures rise even higher. Therefore, although Southampton will never be as cheap as the northern cities, it is fairly affordable considering its position in the South and with easy access to London. Speaking of transport links…
Getting around
Southampton has a reliable and extensive bus service operated by Unilink (with bus routes passing by every campus and hall) as well as Bluestar, which takes you to the wider Southampton areas. Every student living in halls of residence receives a free annual bus pass, which makes getting around Southampton free for your first year. In addition, Southampton has excellent transport links, with ferry, train, and even air links. You can hop over to the Isle of White on foot for as little as £12 return. Southampton is also a little over an hour from London by train, and if booking early, you can get there for less than £7 with your railcard.
Going out in Southampton
Southampton has plenty of affordable options for going out. The main ones, and usually the most popular ones, are bars and clubs. In terms of bars, Spoons is always a student favourite because of its affordable food and drinks, and there’s one located just out of town. Spoons often do Freshers deals, so make sure to get down there during Freshers Week to save money and meet new people!
Spoons is opposite Trilogy, one of the cheapest clubs in Southampton, with student night entry starting at just £2. Others such as Sobar, Orange Rooms, and Switch are all in the same sort of price range. Trilogy is particularly cheap, with shots costing just £1.50.
If clubbing is your thing, check out our article on the 10 best clubs in Southampton.
Free things to do
Southampton has plenty of free things to do. It’s ranked third in the UK for green spaces, with the biggest and best being Southampton Common. Located north of the city, it boasts 365 acres of woodland, ponds, and lakes. At the other end of the city is Ocean Village. It’s easy to forget you live by the coast when living in Southampton, so this marina is a good place to remind yourself of that. It’s located on the River Itchen and is filled with yachts. Speaking of boats, why not head down to some of the ferry terminals and see the large ferries come in. Check the schedules online to be sure you don’t miss them.
While not quite as impressive as Southampton Common, Riverside Park and Mayflower Park combines green space with water. Riverside is located along the River Itchen, while Mayflower is on the Solent. Both are a great place to relax with friends, away from the busyness of the city.
Sport/fitness
Finally, if you’re looking for more exercise than just a walk, you’ll likely want to join a gym. There are plenty of options for students. The best is the University of Southampton’s own gym. For £20.99 per month, or £209 per year (about £17/month), you get access to the Jubilee Sports Centre gym, swimming pool, and fitness classes. In addition, the yearly membership comes with Students Union training and matches and access to 75 university gyms nationwide at no extra cost. There are other options such as The Gym Group and Pure Gym, but If you’re a University of Southampton student then the campus gym is a no brainer, especially with the extension coming in summer 2024 (see concept above).
