Living in Portsmouth
Sport
Portsmouth’s coastal location and neighbouring national parks offer the perfect opportunity to get involved in a variety of sports, such as:
- Water sports
- Cycling
- Running
Music
Portsmouth's music scene is vibrant, with live events, festivals, and opportunities to perform, such as open mic nights and music societies. Top picks include:
- Victorious festival
- The Wedgewood Rooms
- Mayfield and Old Blacksmiths Studios
Food
A diverse range of food options await, both on-campus and off-campus, from quick bites to a variety of cuisines. Discover:
- On-campus eateries
- Off-campus eateries
- Budget and dietary friendly options
Shops
Shopping in Portsmouth provides a unique experience, combining local independent shops, designer outlets, and high street stores. Explore:
- Vintage items
- Local and designer brands
- Charity shops in Portsmouth
Art and culture
Our city offers a diverse cultural and social experience, showcasing Portsmouth culture through:
- Art galleries
- Creative workshops
- Historic museums
- Cultural events in Portsmouth
Beaches, piers and parks
Discover our scenic outdoor scene, including various attractions such as:
- Southsea Beach
- Piers in Portsmouth, like South Parade Pier
- Victoria Park
- Canoe Lake
Societies
Explore the city further by joining one of our University of Portsmouth societies. There are loads to choose from, covering sport, culture, politics, gaming, faith and much more.
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Did you know?
If you're looking for an affordable city, Portsmouth is an excellent choice to help with the cost of living for students.
- Portsmouth is a top 10 most affordable UK city for students (Natwest Student Living Index, 2024).
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We offer two FREE campus bus services.
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We also offer a loyalty scheme with 5% off, free coffee rewards, seasonal deals, and extra discounts for reusable cups.
Discover Portsmouth
Portsmouth is a great place to live as well as study. We're the UK's only island city and life as a student in Portsmouth is unbeatable. We’ve got:
- beaches
- great places to eat
- heaps of independent shops and music venues
- cultural and artistic hotspots
- stacks of green space
Commercial Road has you set for your shopping essentials. Or pop down to Southsea for charity shop bargains and quirky independent businesses to browse for something unique.
Or join us in Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth's Waterfront Shopping Centre to check in on your favourite brand outlets or catch the lights at Christmas.
I love that kind of vibrancy of the city
It's got a real independent spirit about it.
I think it's got a really good mix of independent businesses.
There are so many local independent businesses.
There are entertainment activities in terms of lots of bars and restaurants and loads of cool places to eat.
There's so much to do right here in the place you live.
There's an island’s worth of beautiful coast to explore and unique green spaces like Canoe Lake and the Rose Garden to enjoy with your friends or by yourself as a space for study or reflection.
Or for something a little different, you could wander into an art gallery, try an escape room, or book a table with your friends at DICE, the local board game café.
And don't forget the nights. There's a ton of live music events happening every week as well as karaoke comedy nights and live theatre.
There are lots of cultural events, art galleries, music venues.
And there are so many shows. You've got kite festivals.
Food festivals.
The big one that really helps the town is Victorious Festival.
It is such a really lovely community.
And I think after you've been here a while, you feel part of the community.
It just makes you feel like you're at home away from home.
Portsmouth is a one of a kind place, a place for you to explore and thrive.
There's something for everyone here, and we can't wait for you to be part of it.
To find out more about our city, book an open day and get exploring, visit www.port.ac.uk.