Southampton has always been a maritime port of significance and remains so to this day.
From the Romans, the launch of the Titanic, through the D-Day landings, to today’s cruise ships, the area is rich in history and tradition.
Today, Southampton is the largest city in Hampshire with a world-class university, a vibrant job market, and a thriving city centre.
The health and wellbeing benefits of moving to Southampton are many, not only do you get the fresh sea air and the benefits of living on the coast, but there are over 50 parks in Southampton, and the New Forest, as well as the South Downs, are very accessible.
Although Southampton is the economic hub of Hampshire, it
still attracts many London commuters as London is only 90 minutes away.
So whether you are moving within Southampton, or to Southampton to study, work, or retire, this guide will give you all the essential information that you need to make your relocation a successful one.
You may also like to read: The Pros and Cons of Moving to the Southeast. There are also some great places to live around Southampton and in this guide, we look at some of those areas and the pros and cons of moving to the Southeast.
Should I Move to Southampton?
Southampton is a thriving city with much to entice people to want to move there
There are many reasons why so many people want to relocate to Southampton, these are just a few of the top reasons why you may want to move there too.
#1Education
Southampton has many very highly rated schools as well as Southampton Solent University and Southampton University which features in the top 100 Universities in the world.
There is also a highly regarded teaching hospital in Southampton.
#2Outdoor lifestyle
With the South Downs, the New Forest, and the coast on your doorstep, there is plenty to keep outdoor enthusiasts happy, not to mention the hundreds of acres of wetlands and fields of Southampton Common.
#3Sports
If sports are your thing then Southampton is a great place to live.
The Quays Swimming and Diving Centre offers world-class facilities, the Alpine Snowsports Centre offers ski-ing and snowboarding throughout the year, whilst the Outdoor Sports Centre has everything from cycle tracks to football pitches.
You can learn to sail, play golf, or enjoy rambles on the Downs in the New Forest, there is so much here for an active lifestyle.
#4Great transport links
With two train stations, Southampton Airport (with flights to many major UK cities, as well as Europe), sailings to France and Spain, and a ferry to the Isle of Wight.
The M3 takes you to south London, whilst the A31 goes to the South West and the A36 to the North West.
#5 Culture
Southampton is blessed with many fine theatres and live music venues.
The Nuffield and The Mayflower Theatre are very popular, as is Turner Sims, the live music venue at the University of Southampton.
But it is the smaller music venues that attract many up-and-coming bands and there is always something new and exciting to listen to.
From film to fine arts, Southampton City Art Gallery attracts many visitors and is a part of what is now the Cultural Quarter around Guildhall Square.
#6Housing
There is a range of homes throughout Southampton to suit your needs.
Whether you need a newly built apartment overlooking the marina or a large detached family home, Southampton has much to offer and at prices that are lower than many parts of the South East.
You may also like to read: How to Decide Where to Live Next. In this guide, we suggest 12 things to take into consideration when choosing where your new home will be.
How Much do Movers Cost?
Save up to 40% on your upcoming move and get a quote from reputable moving experts.
The findings of a national crime survey of residents in UK cities for a TV channel (Crime+ Investigation) concluded that Southampton was the 4th safest city in the UK to live.
To see what the latest crime figures are for the specific area you are moving to in Southampton visit www.police.uk
You may also like to read: Deciding Where to Live: Location, Location, Location. Where your home is located often dictates whether you are subject to anti-social behaviour for example. In this guide, we look at the pros and cons of living on a main road, cul-de-sac, next to a school, shops, a park, open fields, or a river.
What is the Average Property Rental Cost in Southampton?
The average rental cost of a 1-bedroom home in Southampton is £1,046 pcm
The average rental cost of a 2-bedroom home in Southampton is £1,357 pcm
The average rental cost of a 3-bedroom home in Southampton is £1,557 pcm
The average rental cost of a 4-bedroom home in Southampton is £2,089 pcm
Average rental costs were taken from www.home.co.uk April 2024
What is the Average Property Price in Southampton?
Southampton has an interesting mix of old and new properties
The average price of a detached home in Southampton is £459,472
The average price of a semi-detached home in Southampton is £318,857
The average price of a terraced home in Southampton is £271,434
The average price of a flat in Southampton is £171,137
The latest average home costs were taken from www.rightmove.co.uk April 2024
There are some very expensive and exclusive areas of Southampton
According to www.expatistan.com, the average monthly costs excluding rent or mortgage repayments are:
A single person on average will need £1,786pm to cover living costs
A family of 4 on average needs an income of £3,491pm to cover living costs
Cost of Living in Southampton vs Major UK Cities
According to data from www.expatistan.com here is a comparison of the cost of living in Southampton with other major UK cities
The cost of living in Southampton is 30% cheaper than in London
The cost of living in Southampton is about the same as in Birmingham
The cost of living in Southampton is 30% cheaper than in Leeds
The cost of living in Southampton is 27% cheaper than in Liverpool
The cost of living in Southampton is 10% more expensive than in York
The cost of living in Southampton is 27% more expensive than in Leicester
The cost of living in Southampton is 14% more expensive than in Glasgow
The cost of living in Southampton is about the same as in Edinburgh
The cost of living in Southampton is 16% cheaper than in Bristol
The cost of living in Southampton is 17% more expensive than in Plymouth
The cost of living in Southampton is 27% more expensive than in Cardiff
You may also like to read: How to Find Your Forever Home. Many people choose Southampton as the location for their forever home. In this guide, we look at the pros and cons of making your next home your forever home.
How Much Does it Cost to Move to Southampton?
Southampton Old Town
How much does it cost to move a 1-2 Bedroom home to Southampton?
Every home move is unique and has its own challenges and things that will affect your final moving costs.
The only true way to get an accurate estimate is to get quotes from several different removal firms.
But to give you a rough idea, excluding packing costs, you
can expect to pay on average the following home moving costs when hiring a
professional removal firm to move you to Southampton.
Moving from London to Southampton costs on average of £1,450
Moving from Birmingham to Southampton costs on average £1,560
Moving from Leeds to Southampton on average costs £1,715
Moving from Liverpool to Southampton costs about £1,720
Moving from York to Southampton costs about £1,735
Moving from Leicester to Southampton costs about £1,560
Moving from Glasgow to Southampton costs about £2,035
Moving from Edinburgh to Southampton costs about £2,030
Moving from Bristol to Southampton costs about £1,495
Moving from Plymouth to Southampton on average costs £1,575
Moving from Cardiff to Southampton on average costs £1,550
On average expect to pay about £275-£475 for a professional packing service for a 1-2 bedroom home.
You may also like to read: How much is the average cost to move a 1-2 bedroom home? In this guide, we compare the average cost of moving a 1 or 2-bedroom home by yourself versus hiring a removal company to do it all for you.
How much does it cost to move a 3-bedroom home to Southampton?
Moving from London to Southampton on average costs £1,585
Moving from Birmingham to Southampton on average costs £1,695
Moving from Leeds to Southampton on average costs £1,850
Moving from Liverpool to Southampton on average costs £1,855
Moving from York to Southampton on average costs £1,870
Moving from Leicester to Southampton on average costs £1,695
Moving from Glasgow to Southampton on average costs £2,170
Moving from Edinburgh to Southampton on average costs £2,165
Moving from Bristol to Southampton on average costs £1,630
Moving from Plymouth to Southampton on average costs £1,710
Moving from Cardiff to Southampton on average costs £1,685
On average expect to pay about £450-£950 for a professional packing service for a 3 bedroom home.
You may also like to read: How much is the average cost to move a 3-bedroom home? In this guide, we compare the average cost of moving a 3-bedroom property when hiring a professional removal company versus what it costs to move home yourself.
Where are the
Best Areas to Live in Southampton?
Whether looking for the best places to live in Southampton for family, coming to study, or retiring, there are some very nice areas of Southampton that will fulfill your needs.
Southampton has plenty of choice when it comes to great areas to live in, but of course, what is ideal for one person could be quite the opposite for another.
So whether you are looking for the cheapest places in Southampton to live or the best, here we will look at a wide range of places in postcode order with information that we hope will make your choice easier.
Moving to Ocean Village Southampton SO14
Ocean Village can be found on the mouth of the River Itchen and is where the Titanic would have been pulled out to sea back in 1912.
It is also the place where the Round the World Yacht race starts and ends.
Following major regeneration and investment this is now a very desirable part of Southampton to live in if you like to be surrounded by yachts, shops, restaurants, and a wide variety of recreational facilities.
Generally, this area of Southampton is more suited to young professionals, and retirees who want to be by the marina.
With many townhouses and luxury apartments overlooking the marina and river, the homes here are not cheap.
The average home in Ocean Village will set you back about £242,013
Flats on average sell for £227,297
Terraced homes sell for about £419,375
The average rental cost of a 1-bedroom home in SO14 is £1,178pcm
The average rental cost of a 2-bedroom home in SO14 is £1,458pcm
The average rental cost of a 3-bedroom home in SO14 is £1,892pcm
The average rental cost of a 3-bedroom home in SO14 is £1,921pcm
There are 14 schools within a 1 mile radius of Ocean Village, 11 primary schools, and 3 secondary schools.
Find out the latest crime figures for Ocean Village at www.police.uk
Ocean Village also has its own Facebook page which you may like to visit.
Moving to Shirley Southampton SO15
Shirley has a reputation as one of the less desirable places in Southampton to live, but the reality from locals is that Shirley is no worse than other better-regarded areas of Southampton.
One of the pros of moving to Shirley is that it is convenient for Southampton Central mainline station and Southampton Common.
Upper Shirley however, is a particularly sought-after area with some good schools.
The average home in Shirley will set you back about £270,946
In Shirley flats on average sell for £147,135
In Shirley, terraced homes sell for about £263,833
In Shirley, semi-detached homes sell for about £326,099
In Shirley, detached homes sell for about £474,060
The average rental cost of a 1-bedroom home in SO15 is £963pcm
The average rental cost of a 2-bedroom home in SO15 is £1,231pcm
The average rental cost of a 3-bedroom home in SO15 is £1,630pcm
The average rental cost of a 4-bedroom home in SO15 is £2,525pcm
Find out the latest crime figures for Shirley at www.police.uk
Between two of Southampton’s largest open green spaces, Southampton Sports Centre and Southampton Common, just to the north of the city centre is Bassett.
Particularly popular with golf lovers and families, the area has several great sports facilities including Southampton Snowsports Centre, Southampton Sports Centre, Southampton City Golf Course, and a community swimming pool.
Glen Eyres Halls of Residence, University of Southampton, houses over 2,000 students.
Bassett is convenient not only for the university but also for Southampton General Hospital.
The average home in Bassett will set you back about £329,333
In Bassett, flats on average sell for £182,450
In Bassett, terraced homes sell for about £286,531
In Bassett, semi-detached homes sell for about £314,396
In Bassett, detached homes sell for about £555,344
The average rental cost of a 1-bedroom home in SO16 is £915pcm
The average rental cost of a 2-bedroom home in SO16 is £1,341pcm
The average rental cost of a 3-bedroom home in SO16 is £1,533pcm
The average rental cost of a 4-bedroom home in SO16 is £1,983pcm
Find out the latest crime figures for Bassett at www.police.uk
Highfield is where you will find the main University of Southampton campus so this area is popular with students, although Highfield has limited student accommodation.
Highfield is a very quiet and picturesque part of Southampton.
But it is the community feel of the area, Southampton Common, the large Victorian and Edwardian homes, and easy access to the city that attracts many families to this highly desirable part of Southampton.
The local primary schools are often rated as outstanding in Ofsted reports.
The average home in Highfield will set you back about £276,588
In Highfield, flats on average sell for £179,913
In Highfield, terraced homes sell for about £324,162
In Highfield, semi-detached homes sell for about £323,396
In Highfield, detached homes sell for about £567,444
The average rental cost of a 1-bedroom home in SO17 is £1,086pcm
The average rental cost of a 2-bedroom home in SO17 is £1,231pcm
The average rental cost of a 3-bedroom home in SO17 is £1,624pcm
The average rental cost of a 4-bedroom home in SO17 is £1,475pcm
Find out the latest crime figures for Highfield at www.police.uk
The small village of West End, just 5 miles east of Southampton, is surrounded by countryside and woodland, including the 30 acre Hatch Grange, Moorgreen Recreation Ground, Itchen Valley Country Park, and Telegraph Woods.
The village has a number of listed buildings and a museum.
There is an annual carnival each June in the village.
West End however is probably most famous for being the home of Hampshire County Cricket ground.
The average home in West End will set you back about £285,272
In West End, flats on average sell for £155,924
In West End, terraced homes sell for about £261,738
In West End, semi-detached homes sell for about £327,296
In West End, detached homes sell for about £425,518
The average rental cost of a 1-bedroom home in SO30 is £863pcm
The average rental cost of a 2-bedroom home in SO30 is £1,180pcm
The average rental cost of a 3-bedroom home in SO30 is £1,444pcm
The average rental cost of a 4-bedroom home in SO30 is £1,750pcm
West End Parish Council has lots of information that you may find useful if you are planning on moving here.
The average rental costs were taken from www.home.co.uk April 2024
You may also like to read: Which is More Important Home or Location? In this guide, we suggest 31 things to take into consideration when choosing a home or location.
Moving to Southampton Alone
Beaulieu Abbey is just one of the fascinating places to visit in and around Southampton
Consider renting a room in a shared house, or flat sharing, if you want to save some money, get to know the area, and make instant friends in Southampton. Useful websites for finding rooms to rent in Southampton include: www.gumtree.co.uk, www.spareroom.co.uk, or www.nestpick.com
Join local social media groups to find out all the best places to go and get the low down on Cardiff city life.
www.meetup.com has plenty of local groups to join so that you quickly find new friends and get to learn all about living in Southampton.
Consider volunteering in your spare time, it is a great way to meet new people and help the local community at the same time. www.southamptonvs.org will give you some great ideas.
Southampton has a student population of over 30,000 so you
can be assured that Southampton has every amenity and support you could
possibly need whilst you study here.
Southampton is the perfect mix of world-class universities, a city with every amenity you could possibly need, excellent transport, plenty of outdoor pursuits, and easy access to some stunning countryside.
The West Quay shopping centre will satisfy your shopping
needs with a vast selection of shops and restaurants and many stores offer discounts
when you present your NUS card.
There are four cinemas, four theatres, and the O2 for seeing some top live bands.
Southampton has a great nightlife with many live music venues, nightclubs, and bars.
There is a bus service for students that links all the universities with popular student areas and offers a late-night service too.
Below you will find links to the websites of the
universities and colleges in Southampton where you will find plenty of
information about student life in Southampton.
Find out more about these areas of Southampton in the guide
to Southampton Neighbourhoods earlier in this article.
There is a dedicated website for students looking for private rentals. It is the official accommodation website for both the University of Southampton and Solent University and can be found at www.sassh.co.uk
The Student Union of Southampton also has a property finder which you may find useful at www.susulettings.co.uk
Solent University has several student residences, you can find out more, including costs here.
The University of Southampton campus accommodation fees for this year can be found here.
You may also like to read: Where to Move in the UK to Avoid Climate Change. One of your concerns about moving to the coast is how it will be affected by climate change in the next few years. This guide features a useful interactive map showing how climate change is expected to affect every part of the UK in the coming years.
Is There Much Employment in Southampton?
Southampton has a diverse range of employment opportunities
Southampton has a booming economy and there are many
employment opportunities here.
The largest employers in Southampton are listed here with
links to their career pages:
You may also like to read: How to Find New Build Developments. In this guide, we share tips on how to find out where the latest building developments are, when new phases are being released, and even how to find developments by things that are important to you such as a particular builder, or sustainability.
Top Local Southampton Removal Firms
Whether you are moving within Southampton, or from Glasgow
to Southampton, finding the right removal company to relocate you is vitally
important.
Find a local removal company to move you to Southampton here.
Our moving guide section will give you lots of useful advice about every aspect of your home move and most importantly how to choose the right removal company for your move.
Good luck with your move and we hope you enjoy all the
delights that Southampton has to offer you.
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