Southampton Student Guide
We have personally scouted the best area of Southampton to find great places to head out to with your mates, from bars and pubs to alcohol-free activities. Explore the areas of Southampton below each containing multiple pubs and places to eat.
Oxford Street, Southampton
Located near to South-Western House, Oxford Street is a nice upmarket area filled with quality drinking holes and mid and high-end restaurants.
Medbar is a modern cocktail bar with DJs at the weekend. Sunday Nights for popular Latin Dance parties. The London Hotel is a lively LGBTQ pub where all are welcome with food also served during the day and at weekends.
The White Star Tavern (Playing on the fact Oxford Street was the home of The White Start Line – Titanic!!!) is a hip hotel with chic rooms, plus an on-site gastropub serving upscale, seasonal British grub. From bottomless brunches to an everchanging cocktail menu, XOXO sits at the centre of Oxford Street.
The Oxford Brasserie is a Bright and airy modern brasserie serving Italian dishes with blackboard specials. For authentic Italian cuisine, Marco’s Bar Ristorante is the place for classic Italian dishes along with hand-crafted cocktails.
Cultural Quarter, Southampton
Positioned next to Southampton Guildhall, the Cultural Quarterhas a mixture of bars, dining and a Seacity Museum, Southampton Art Gallery, MAST Mayflowers Studio, Studio 144 and the John Hansard Gallery. Solent University also has a campus here.
You’ll find O’Neil’s Irish Bar, Switch Nightclub, Turtle Bay, Mettrick’s Coffee, Nandos, The Scholars Arms and many more. You are also only a short walk from Bedford Place/London Road. Grumpy Monkey combines a bar, lounge and kitchen with a variety of cocktails, wines, gins and their ‘bangin burgers’.
For a boogie with your mates Switch nightclub is on par with some of the world’s best superclubs, this venue has played some big artists including Stormzy.
London Road and Bedford Place, Southampton
In the northern end of Southampton, you can find London Road and Bedford Place. They run parallel to each other and have linking roads also filled with great places to check out. There are numerous pubs, restaurants and fast-food places.
In Bedford Place, The Bedford, Revolution and XOXO are very popular. Brewdog and student favourite The Orange Rooms are in adjoining streets.
London Road has the Giddy Bridge, Kiss and the London Road Brew House and The Alexandra Hotel just off the main street. This area has a great choice of venues and different atmospheres, recommended for a night of pub crawling.
High Street, Southampton
The Red Lion is one of the most historic pubs in Southampton, standing for hundreds of years with its genuine Tudor style. There are lots of bars and restaurants on The High Street and we suggest you explore this area. The Coriander Lounge serves fantastic Indian food however make sure to book ahead.
The Standing Order is a Weatherspoon’s pub at the top end of the street. Further down you might to try the Stein Garten – German Keller!
The High Street is also a short walk from West Quay which has lots of things to see and do. With many bars, cinema, food and of course shopping.
Bevois Valley and Portswood Road, Southampton
Bevois Valley and Portswood Road are one of the main areas for University of Southampton students. It has long-standing student venues like The Mitre, The Rockstone and The Hobbit. Clowns Wine Bar and Jesters Nightclub. Trago Lounge sits on Portswood Road and offers a comfortable and chilled vibe with a deliciously affordable menu.
Discover more student hotspots here & our Southampton student accommodation.
