Welcome to Southampton

We think UHS is a great place to work, and Southampton is a great place to live.

This vibrant, diverse city on the south coast is steeped in history. Past residents include Jane Austen, and Southampton was also the site of the fateful voyage of the Titanic and the first flight of the famous Spitfire fighter plane. Southampton’s maritime and aviation history is honoured at a range of attractions around the city, but it’s far from stuck in the past. With the University of Southampton’s cutting edge research facilities, the new shopping and entertainment complex at Westquay shopping centre and speedy transport links by bus, train, ferry and plane, Southampton has long established itself as a modern city with a lot to offer.

It’s also one of the top ten places to live in Britain. Southampton came third in a 2018 ranking of the best places to live and work in the UK, and fourth in a 2017 ranking of the best places to raise a family. The city offers lower than average house prices, 13 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted and 13 nearby green spaces to enjoy. Southampton residents also feel safe in their city: it came fifth in a recent survey that asked participants to rate how friendly, welcoming and safe they felt their neighbourhoods were.

Southampton is conveniently located, with easy transport links to the beaches in Bournemouth, the historic cities of Portsmouth and Winchester, and the scenic New Forest. A visit to London on the train will take you less than an hour and a half, and there’s also easy access to the motorway for commuting and weekend road trips.

Visit the sites below to explore more of Southampton and the surrounding area, or read more about moving to Southampton.