Undergraduate

The Portsmouth experience

The City

Portsmouth is a vibrant, waterfront city on the south coast with a rich maritime history. A flat and compact city, it’s easy to get around on foot or by bike and most University buildings are located in the centre. There’s always plenty going on, whether amidst the bustle of the city centre or in the fresh air and open spaces of the seafront and the Common, and everything you could need as a student is in walking distance.

A compact, waterfront city with plenty to see and do, Portsmouth is an ideal place to be a student.

Seafront location

Just a short walk from the city centre, you can enjoy a breath of fresh air and fantastic sea views on Southsea seafront. Four miles of beach are backed by the green spaces of Southsea Common, great for meeting friends, picnics in the summer as well as running, cycling and football. The Common also hosts a range of activities throughout the year including a kite festival, running events and live music. Follow the seafront along to historic Old Portsmouth and you can wander amongst the city’s old fortifications and meander down its cobbled streets, exploring the original site of the city centre.

Compact city

Located on an island, Portsmouth is a compact city with a real community feel and most University buildings, shops and entertainment are all within walking distance of each other. A few minutes’ walk from the city centre and you reach the open green spaces of the Common and the seafront; you really do have the best of both worlds.

Many students choose to cycle to lectures and the cycle lanes on many of the main roads make this a safe and economic option. There are also frequent buses running throughout the city, including the free University bus that runs between our Guildhall and Langstone campuses, and reasonably-priced local taxis.

If you fancy travelling further afield, the harbour’s ferry port offers a number of cross-channel ferry routes to France, Spain and the Channel Islands. Or closer to home, you can hop on the hovercraft or ferry to the Isle of Wight for a day out or short break away. The city is also only 90 minutes from London by train and Southampton airport is nearby, perfect for UK and European destinations.

A view from above

A great way to appreciate the city is to experience the view from the Spinnaker Tower in the harbour-side complex Gunwharf Quays. Rising 170 metres tall, the tower offers amazing panoramic views over the city, the harbour, the south coast and Isle of Wight. It boasts Europe’s largest glass floor and is the perfect vantage point from which to see the city.

Culture

Over the years Portsmouth has been home to several key historical figures including Charles Dickens, Isambard Kingdom Brunel and Arthur Conan Doyle. Visit Charles Dickens’ birthplace, peruse the Sherlock Holmes collection at the City Museum, or for something a bit different pop into the Aspex Art Gallery for a spot of contemporary art. The city is also home to two theatres, the King’s Theatre and New Theatre Royal, with an exciting repertory of shows ranging from drama, pantomime and comedy acts to dance, musicals and concerts.

Free time

When not studying or in lectures, there is plenty to do in your free time. For entertainment head down to Gunwharf Quays; spend an afternoon wandering around the factory outlet shops hunting for a bargain, stop off for a coffee break, then catch a movie at the multiplex cinema or try your hand at a spot of ten-pin bowling. Settle down for some dinner at one of the many restaurants in the complex or walk to nearby Old Portsmouth with its traditional pubs and little cafes, then as the sun sets head to the bars or nightclubs in Gunwharf, many running special discounted student nights.

Alternatively you could start your night in the city centre or check out one of the pubs with a more local feel along Albert Road in Southsea. The Wedgewood Rooms on Albert Road hold fortnightly comedy nights, a great and inexpensive night out, and here you can also catch live bands and club nights.

If you’re the sporting type, Southsea Common is the perfect place for a game of football or frisbee, and in all seasons people can be seen enjoying a jog along the seafront. With its waterfront location Portsmouth is also the perfect place for a spot of sailing on the Solent. If you’re a football fan be sure to visit Fratton Park, the home of Portsmouth FC.

Portsmouth has several shopping areas and many stores offer student discounts. Whether popping out for some milk or heading out in search of your next fancy dress outfit, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for, with well-known names on the high street, along with smaller independent stores in Southsea and the outlet stores at Gunwharf. There are also several supermarkets, offering you lots of choice when trying to stick to a budget for your weekly food shop.