Location

The Campus

Highfield Campus is home to many of the University's academic schools, and with extensive practice and recording facilities, is where School of Humanities courses in music are taught.

Established in 1919 as a new campus for the then Hartley University College, relocating from Southampton city centre, Highfield Campus is instantly recognisable for beautiful landscaped gardens with modern buildings and the extensive facilities you'd expect from one of the UK's leading universities.

Nestled in pleasant suburbs of Southampton and to the edge of a large park called the Common, Highfield was home to the University when it was awarded its Royal Charter by the HM the Queen in April 1952.

The campus features many pieces of modern art, including bronzes by Barbara Hepworth, and buildings designed by architects such as Sir Basil Spence, and expanded throughout the 20th Century as the University grew.

In addition to the many buildings housing the University's Academic Schools, important landmarks on Highfield Campus include the distinctive red brick and modern glass of the Hartley Library, originally opened in 1935 and subject to a 21st Century £12.5million modernisation and expansion.

The campus is home to the three Students' Union buildings representing the interests of students and running hundreds of societies and sports clubs, as well as the Union Shop, sandwich bars and cafes. The Campus also has branches of all the four major high street banks, shops, hairdressers and cafes, bars, restaurants and pubs.

Opened in 2004, the Jubilee Sports Centre is the centrepiece of the University's extensive SportRec facilities, and across the road the new Student Services Centre provides answers to all student enquiries throughout the year.

Arts and events at Southampton are commonplace as the Campus has its own Turner Sims Concert Hall, Nuffield Theatre and Hansard Art Gallery.

Southampton

The city of Southampton is on the south coast of England within easy reach of London by train. The city has a rich and varied heritage and is one of the great European ports. It has played a significant role in Britain's maritime history from the sailing of the Mayflower to the fateful voyage of the Titanic. Today, the city is the home of ocean sailing. Southampton is the region's main culture centre and is set amidst some of Britain's most significant historical sites such as the ancient cathedral cities of Salisbury and Winchester, the prehistoric site of Stonehenge, and the picturesque New Forest, one of the oldest and most beautiful woodlands in Europe. The seaside resort of Bournemouth is only half an hour a way.

How to find us

PDF version of Highfield Campus map

By car

Southampton is just 75 miles (120km) from London and 21 miles (35km) from the Channel ports. The M3, M27 and A34 provide fast, direct access while the A36 is the main route to the West Country, Bristol and Wales.

From the M3 – exit at junction 14, following signs for Southampton (A33). Follow the A33 into Bassett Avenue and follow the map/signs to University campuses.

From the M27 (west or east) – leave the M27 at junction 5 (Southampton Airport) and follow the map/signs to University campuses.

Visitor parking

On the Highfield Campus, there is a pay and display car park. The charges here are £2.50 for up to 4 hours and £5 all day.

The car park is sited in the vicinity of Buildings 1 and 16.

By road to Winchester

From the M3 – exit the M3 at junction 9 or 10.

By rail

Fast trains from London and Bournemouth/Weymouth stop at Winchester, Southampton Central and Southampton Airport Parkway. Trains from Portsmouth and Bristol/South Wales stop at Southampton Central. Slow trains from London and Bournemouth/Weymouth also stop at Swaythling Station, which is a five minute walk from Connaught Hall, South Stoneham and Montefiore halls of residence.

By coach

National Express provides regular services from central London, Heathrow, Birmingham, Bournemouth and the North. Southampton coach station is at Western Esplanade, in the city centre. Our own Uni-link buses connect the University's Southampton campuses and the city centre.

By air

Southampton International Airport is a few minutes away from the Southampton campuses by bus or taxi (off junction 5 of the M27). There is a full UK domestic service, as well as flights to mainland Europe and the Channel Islands.