Where is Southampton?

Situated in Hampshire on England’s South Coast, Southampton is a popular port city with a rich culture, fabulous amenities and activities, as well as fantastic transport links that provide easy and reliable connections to the rest of the UK.

Attracting young professionals, students and families, there is always high demand for property throughout the area.

Home to two world class universities, excellent schools and a number of blue-chip company headquarters including Carnival UK, Southampton offers a high standard of life and the ultimate work life balance.

Southampton is also known for its nearby countryside, wetlands and wildlife, which allow visitors and locals alike to escape the hustle and bustle of urban living.

What is the population of Southampton?

Southampton is currently home to approximately 240,000 inhabitants. This figure has been growing yearly.

Average house prices in Southampton

There’s always been a high demand for properties in Southampton due to its amenities, transport links, schools, business opportunities and fantastic outdoor spaces.

So, if you’re looking for a property in Southampton, you can expect to pay around £261,300 for a semi-detached property, £221,000 for a terraced property, and approximately £164,000 for a flat.

Properties close to Southampton Common tend to sell for a lot more, with large family homes fetching as much as £3 million.

What is it like to live and work in Southampton?

Southampton’s popularity is mainly down to its great community spirit, fantastic amenities, rich culture, friendly neighbourhoods and desirable position on the south coast.

Home to many famous landmarks and one of the UK’s best-preserved medieval town halls, Southampton has an incredible history. The town has more than 90 listed buildings, 30 ancient monuments and lots of historic sites.

Popular with families and young professionals, through to retirees and those looking to enjoy a lifestyle by the coast, Southampton placed 20th in the UK’s best places to live survey.

Travelling in and around Southampton

Southampton offers excellent transport links, providing reliable connections to London and other parts of the UK.  It is also surrounded by major road networks.

The M3 connects the city to Winchester and London, while the M27 provides connection to the rest of the South Coast. Like any busy town, driving in rush[GB2]  hour can be a problem, especially when it comes to manoeuvring around the city centre and docks.

If you don’t drive, there are plenty of other transport options, including the area’s rail links and bus routes. Southampton Central Station is at the heart of the area’s rail hub, providing services to Portsmouth, London, Bristol and the rest of Hampshire.

First and Bluestar run bus routes through the city and outlying areas, while City Link provides a reliable bus service to many of the city’s surrounding areas. 

Southampton is also cycle friendly and is a major ferry port and cruise liner terminal for the South East.

Amenities in Southampton

There’s plenty to see and do in Southampton.

With its incredible history, museums, shops, outdoor spaces and opportunities to get out onto the water, you’ll never be stuck for something to do.

With such a beautiful coastline to explore, it’s no surprise that water sports are in plentiful supply here, including windsurfing, kayaking and boating.

Eating and drinking in Southampton

There are lots of eateries in Southampton, including restaurants serving up cuisines from all corners of the globe, spots for a light bite to eat, and fine dining experiences.

Top rated fine dining restaurants include The Jetty Southampton, Blue Jasmine and Broadstreet Restaurant and Bar. POPSI’S, Miss Ellie’s Café and Uptons of Basset are also great lunch spots.

Schools in Southampton

Southampton is extremely popular with families due to the many high performing schools in the area, including King Edward VI School, St Anne's Catholic School and Bitterne Park School.

Shopping in Southampton

If you’re looking to get your shopping fix in Southampton, you certainly won’t be short of high street shops and designer boutiques to explore.

Home to a bustling high street and West Quay, a large shopping centre with plenty of shops, restaurants and bars, Southampton attracts shoppers from far and wide.

West Quay in particular is a major draw. Home to big names such as Apple, John Lewis,

Hollister and Tommy Hilfiger, the centre boasts around 120 shops and top brand names.

And, if you’re looking for the perfect spot to refuel during a busy shopping trip, there’s also lots of restaurants on site, including TGI Fridays, Byron, Nando’s, COSMO World Buffet and Red Dog Saloon.

The best hotels in Southampton

As Southampton is a major port city and home to major cruise liners, there’s a number of luxurious hotels dotted throughout the area, including Southampton Harbour Hotel and Spa, The Pig-in the Wall, Ennio’s Boutique Hotel, the Pilgrim Inn and the Hilton at the Ageas Bowl.

Top 10 things to do in Southampton

Ocean Village

Situated east of Southampton's old town, Ocean Village is in the iconic Princess Alexandra Dock, which has recently been transformed into a contemporary shopping centre and leisure facility.

Home to super yachts, boutiques, gourmet restaurants and cinemas, Ocean Village is the ultimate day out, with boat trips and sailing facilities on offer too. No trip to Ocean Village would be complete without finding a moment or two to soak up the impressive views of the cruise ships moored in the Eastern Dock.

Netley Abbey

If you’re looking to immerse yourself in Southampton’s historic heritage, Netley Abbey should be your first port of call.

Founded in 1239, the magnificent ruins of Netley Abbey are steeped in history and definitely worth a visit. Once you’ve finished exploring this historic site, make sure you find the time to visit nearby Royal Victoria Country Park, which is home to 200 acres of woods and parkland, as well as a small shingle beach.

Southampton Boat Show

Popular with locals and visitors alike, Southampton Boat Show is one of the largest boating festival in Britain, taking place at Mayflower Park every year during September.

Held on jetties on the water, this show attracts around 100,000 people every year. Whether you’re a serious buyer or a boat enthusiast, you’re sure to have a day to remember.

Manor Farm Country Park

The ultimate day out for the entire family, Manor Farm Country Park is situated on an idyllic Victorian Farm where you can get up close and personal with a wide range of farm animals.

As well as seeing chickens, sheep, draft horses and cows, through to donkeys and pigs, you’ll also have the opportunity to learn about many day to day farm activities, such as shearing sheep, milking and even operating a combine harvester.

SeaCity Museum

The SeaCity Museum is a great place to learn about the people of Southampton and the area’s major role in the UK’s rich maritime history.

The museum is also home to the Southampton City Art Gallery, which features 3,500 pieces of artwork including old masters and English artists from 1750 to the present.

Solent Sky

Solent Sky brings together a truly fascinating collection of models, photographs and 19 flying machines, to tell the story of Southampton's aviation heritage. A great day out for all the family, look out for the huge Sandringham flying boat and the Supermarine racing seaplane.

Titanic Trail

The Titanic is an iconic part of Southampton’s history, having set sail on her fateful maiden voyage to New York from the port. The Titanic Trail is one of the best ways to learn more about the history of this world-famous ship and its connection to Southampton.

As part of the trail, you will also be able to explore Titanic Engineers' Memorial in East Park.

Southampton Common

Southampton Common boasts 326 acres of grassland, ponds, woods and waterways.

A great spot to enjoy wildlife watching, Southampton Common is also perfectly equipped for cycle rides, picnics and outdoor events during the summer months. If you’re in the area during May, make sure you find time to enjoy The Common People music festival.

Hythe Ferry

Hitching a ride on the Hythe Ferry is one of the best ways to take in Southampton’s water ways. A boat leaves every 30 minutes and the boat ride takes 10 minutes to reach Hythe Pier, which is one of the ten longest piers in the British Isles.

The Mayflower Theatre

The Mayflower is a 90-year-old, Grade II listed theatre situated near to Southampton Central Station.

Playing host to major West End productions such as Les Misérables, Hairspray and West Side Story, this 2000 seat theatre attracts major music and comedy acts.

Our new builds in Southampton

See the following new builds located within Southampton:

Whiteley Meadows

Berry Farm

Burridge Green


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