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Located in the South East of England, Southampton is the largest city in Hampshire, with a population of over 1.5 million. A number of industries—including government, policy, education, research and tourism—have a presence in the city, and its size and location make it an ideal place for a balanced yet exciting working life.
Image: Peetlesnumber1 from Wikimedia Commons.
From the D-Day departures to the RMS Titanic, Southampton has a strong maritime history—nowadays, the city is known as the home port of a number of the largest cruise ships in the world. The Institute of Maritime Law at the University of Southampton is a world-leading centre for research, consultancy and training in maritime law, and plenty of legal work opportunities exist in this area of practice for those looking to progress their interests further.
With a variety of law firms located in Southampton, you can expect to find a comprehensive array of legal specialities including family law, public law, corporate law, commercial agreements, franchising, property litigation and intellectual property.
Southampton has plenty of museums and galleries. One of the city’s most important venues is Southampton City Art Gallery in the Civic Centre. This gallery exhibits a range of different artists from the local to international. In addition to its temporary exhibitions, the gallery also hosts a permanent collection focused on modern British art.
Despite its relatively small size, the Mayflower Theatre hosts major West End productions as well as music and comedy acts. It even hosts immersive theatre nights with live actors and themed dinners!
Other exciting cultural activities to keep on the lookout for are the city’s public events. The most renowned event, Common People, takes place every May bank holiday. Located in the city centre, the event celebrates music and the arts, attracting thousands of spectators per year.
Southampton has plenty of independent and alluring micropubs that are worth exploring. The Caskaway Tasting Rooms is one, offering its customers the chance to try a selection of different independent brews. Alternatively, make the most of the waterfront view at the Ocean Village Marina, where you will find plenty of bars and restaurants to keep you entertained.
If you feel like partying into the wee hours, Southampton will not disappoint. Switch offers club-goers a chance to see big-name DJs, while the Buddha Lounge is more intimate with a beautiful roof terrace bar. If clubbing is not your thing, The Stage Door hosts cabaret, comedy, plays and musicals.
Get in touch with the important Medieval and Tudor heritage in Southampton by visiting the city walls—built in the 12th century—or the Tudor House and Garden.
The Art House is a gallery, venue space and community-run cafe rolled into one. With a variety of exhibitions, live music, open-mic nights and even life drawing and ukulele workshops, it’s the perfect opportunity to try something new.
Only open from April to October, the New Forest Wildlife Park’s tropical butterfly house is an ideal chance to get away from the streets of Southampton for a unique experience of wildlife.
If you are in the mood to shop for quirky trinkets, the Beatnik Emporium should be your first point of call. You will find everything from clothing, accessories, records and the like for £5 or less.
Southampton has an excellent range of transport options. Within the city centre, there are plenty of bus routes and bus companies, including Bluestar, City Red and Xelabus. Southampton is also very well connected to other cities. In addition to the bus routes, the city’s train services can take you all over Britain. You could even venture across waters to Cowes, the Isle of Wight and Hythe by ferry.
It is worth getting yourself the city travel card, Solent Go, to top up at your own convenience. The card allows you to travel all over South Hampshire on its buses and ferries.