Welcome (back) to Southampton!

Living in Southampton will be a walk in the park, particularly because the city boasts some of the greenest parks and commons in the South of England. With a mix of history and heritage, pubs and clubs, shops and docks, there's bound to be something to catch your fancy.

History

Southampton has been inhabited since the Stone Age, and has been an important strategic habitation since Roman times. The city's walls were built in the 14th century by order of Edward III, following the sacking of Southampton by Charles Grimaldi, who used plunder from the raid to help found the principality of Monaco. The remains of these walls can still be seen in the city centre, and part of the fortifications, "God's House Tower", is now home to the Archaeology Museum.

Maritime

Southampton is perhaps best known as being a centre of shipping. Indeed, many of the rich and famous have stopped in Southampton, if only to board the Queen Mary at Southampton Docks.

Since 1843, the docks have provided transportation to destinations all over the globe. The port was once called the 'Gateway to the World' and still holds the reputation for docking some of the world's largest ships.

Southampton is a busy port for cruise ships, with some of the biggest ships in the world regularly calling to the cruise terminals in the city centre. The sound of ships' horns is a regular occurrence as vessels cheer each other off on voyages, or navigate the rocks around the Isle of Wight in low visiblity.

The ill-fated RMS Titanic launched from Southampton on 31st May 1912, and Southampton is home to SeaCity, a huge maritime museum exploring the sinking of the Titanic and the history of Southampton as an important British dock.

Sustainable Living

We recognise that, if there is to be a reduction in the devastating impact of climate change, everyone must play their part… so, let’s do it together!

We've included some links below to offer you effective ways to help reduce climate change and generally improve living conditions:

• My Journey Southampton is your one-stop-destination for travel advice and activities. There are regular free Bike Doctor sessions and health walks at locations around the city, details at:  https://myjourneysouthampton.com/events/
• Visit: https://www.southampton.gov.uk/bins-recycling/recycling/ for details of waste and recycling in the city, and what the Council can and can’t collect at the kerbside.
• Explore Southampton’s wealth of parks and green open spaces. From our city centre parks to the wilder open spaces of Southampton Common and Chessel Bay Nature Reserve. Find a park at: https://www.southampton.gov.uk/people-places/parks-open-spaces/parks/find-a-park/ http://www.chesselbay.org.uk/
• Find out about environmental volunteering opportunities in the city at Southampton Voluntary Services https://www.southamptonvs.org.uk/volunteering/volunteering-opportunities/
• Solent University Food Garden at East Park Terrace is a space on campus where students can get hands on with planting and growing a range of vegetables and flowers. Get involved by contacting sustainability@solent.ac.uk  
• For more environmental advice and initiatives at Solent visit: https://www.solent.ac.uk/about/environment-sustainability and https://students.solent.ac.uk/university-life/campus/environment-and-sustainability
• For sustainability at Southampton, visit : https://www.southampton.ac.uk/susdev/

Shopping

With one of the largest shopping centres in Europe, WestQuay, Southampton is an ideal place for some retail therapy. With three floors and nearly 100 stores, it is the centre of the retail sector in Southampton. Shops range from John Lewis to the Apple shop, with a wide range of restaurants on the upper floor and a huge Ikea nearby.

With two universities, many shops in Southampton cater to the large student population; use your NUS Extra Card and take advantage of student discounts at local restaurants and retail shops.

Cinema and Theatre Guide

Cinemas

There are two cinemas in Southampton: the Showcase De Lux caters to blockbuster fans, with most mainstream films being shown every day and night of the week. For art-house and classic films, Harbour Lights Cinema is definitely worth a visit.

Showcase De Lux
Level 4, West Quay South
Southampton

https://www.showcasecinemas.co.uk

Harbour Lights Picture House
Maritime Walk
Ocean Village
www.picturehouses.co.uk

Theatres

There are several theatres and performing arts venues in Southampton and the nearby area. The Mayflower Theatre shows a range of popular theatre including touring shows. It's smaller companion venue Mayflower Studio (MAST) offers smaller, more intimate and quirky shows. The O2 Southampton Guildhall bring big name music acts to the city as well as theatre shows.

Mayflower Theatre
Commercial Road
Southampton
SO15 1GE
www.mayflower.org.uk

MAST Mayflower Studios
122-124 Above Bar Street
Southampton
SO14 7DU
www.mayflowerstudios.org.uk

O2 Southampton Guildhall
West Marlands Road
Southampton
www.academymusicgroup.com/o2guildhallsouthampton/

Nightlife

Southampton is a vibrant city with a wide range of cosmopolitan nightlife. Whether you want to party the night away, have a coffee and watch the world go by, play board games or watch or play live music, you will find a venue to suit your needs.

There are many student friendly pubs and clubs dotted around the city, particularly in the Portswood area and the city centre. Southampton also has a vibrant local music scene, with bigger acts visiting regularly to play venues such as the Guildhall, Engine Rooms and the 1865.

For more information on things to do in Southampton, check out Southampton Council's website dedicated to the sights of the city.