5 best places to study in Portsmouth: on and off campus

As a recent University graduate, I understand the value of the right study spaces, the need for both internal spaces and external space, especially when you find you have spent far too long sitting at the same desk looking at the same essay. 

A large advantage when studying at the University of Portsmouth is the excess of both of these university and non-university study spaces due to the fact the campus is woven into the city itself.

Within a short walk, you can find yourself sitting in a green space facing the sea doing some light reading or at the central university library rereading lecture notes. Yet with such an abundance of choices, it can be hard to know where to make a start.

Therefore, I offer this guide to help incoming (and pre-existing) students decide what spaces may suit them. Whether preferring the silence of a university space or the gentle chatter of a café, here are five great study spots for Portsmouth University students!

1. The go-to: The University Library

The University Library is the place to be when hitting away at any hard deadlines or working through weekly reading in a place to work without distractions. There are a multitude of resources including 400+ desktop computers, 410 loanable laptops and an array of physical books. 

But more than that the central library offers:

• Rooms to book for group study and presentation practice 
• Individual study pods for silent study 
• Archives offering insight into the local areas rich history 
• An in-house café, perfect for a quick coffee or lunch break with friends 
• A ‘book nook’ and relaxation corner with access to books to read for pleasure 
• Accessible scanning and printing

The University Library has it all, with its offer of printing resources, academic facilities and computers making long study sessions more manageable.

2. The sports facility: Ravelin Sports Centre

Ravelin Sports Centre may be known as the University’s state-of-the-art sports centre, but it is also a very underrated space to study.

It is an especially convenient option if you are interested in playing sport at the university or even are just a regular gym user. The Ravelin Centre becomes a great way to incorporate both exercise and study into your day, promoting a healthy balance between academic workload, and physical and mental wellbeing through activity. 

Explore our sports facilities

3. For coffee lovers: independent cafes around Palmerston Road

Easily one of the coolest places in Portsmouth, Palmerston Road is only a short walk from campus and lectures! When you need a change of scenery from desks and bookshelves, I find a coffee break always does the trick and leaves me feeling far more productive. 

There are plenty of great independent cafés to choose from. Esquires Coffee prides itself on their organic coffee and fresh food, while the family-run Farm Kitchen serves delicious food and drink with a Middle Eastern and Mediterranean twist.

More than anything I encourage you to take advantage of how walkable the city is and go out, explore and find your own favourite coffee shop. There will be plenty to choose from.

4. The cafe across the road: Hideout Coffee or Cafe Coco

If you are not looking to venture far from campus in between lectures, there are plenty of conveniently placed cafés nearby. Both Hideout Coffee and Cafe Coco are a short walk across the road from the main library and offer a relaxed setting to reply to any emails, complete seminar preparation amidst background chatter. 

5. The scenic option: Southsea Common

As someone who did a particularly heavy reading degree, I always found myself looking for some kind of green space to go to, especially if I had a physical copy of a book or revision cards to flick through.

While not the place to write an essay, Southsea Common offers both green space and a view of the beautiful seafront, perfect for days of nice weather in the Spring and Summer terms.

Whether a more relaxed space for group discussion or a way to get away from the crowds and have a quiet solo study, the Portsmouth Coastline offers a great place to spend both your study and free time.