Visit Hampshire International Student Guide

www.visit-hampshire.co.uk
The New Forest
Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth
WELCOME TO HAMPSHIRE
Hampshire extends a warm welcome to students from overseas.
On the south coast of England, with excellent transport links to
London, Bath, Oxford and Brighton, Hampshire is one of the best
places to study in the UK.
© Hampshire County Council 2014.
Thank you to Southampton Solent University for their research assistance.
Visit England Images – pages 2, 9, 10, 11, 19. Visit Britain Images – pages 2, 3, 7, 12, 18, 19.
Beach huts at Calshot near Southampton
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Front cover images: Sound II by Anthony Gormley in Winchester Cathedral © Joe Low, SeaCity Museum in Southampton, HMS Victory in Portsmouth
Royal Navy Submarine Museum, Gosport
Portchester Castle
Hampshire’s universities in the cities of Winchester, Southampton and Portsmouth offer top class learning,
a safe environment and an exciting life outside of your studies. Here you’ll find museums, galleries,
cinemas, shops, restaurants and music venues right on your doorstep, along with beautiful outdoor spaces.
In Hampshire’s stunning countryside you can explore pretty English villages, with friendly pubs, thatched
cottages and red telephone boxes. Close by you’ll find miles of lovely coastline, with beaches, nature
reserves and attractive seaside towns.
Associated with writers Jane Austen and Charles Dickens and historical figures such as King Alfred and
Henry VIII, Hampshire is packed with heritage sites and attractions. From Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
and the spectacular Spinnaker Tower to Winchester Cathedral, you’ll find plenty to see and do to
complement your studies and enjoy the best of English culture.
www.visit-hampshire.co.uk
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INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GUIDE TO HAMPSHIRE
HAMPSHIRE’S
HALL OF FAME
Did you know the James Bond film Skyfall was filmed in Hampshire?
From Les Misérables in Portsmouth and The Da Vinci Code in
Winchester to the TV series Downton Abbey at Highclere Castle,
Hampshire has been the location for many famous productions.
You’ll have fun finding out about Hampshire’s famous faces. You
can visit Henry VIII’s castle at Southsea or his Tudor battleship the
Mary Rose. See Lord Nelson’s flagship HMS Victory at Portsmouth,
King Arthur’s legendary Round Table in Winchester or find literary
inspiration at author Jane Austen’s former Chawton home.
With links to Charles Dickens, Florence Nightingale and many other
historic names, Hampshire has a lot to discover.
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1. Scene from Les Misérables, filmed in Portsmouth
2. Highclere Castle, film set for Downton Abbey
3. Jane Austen’s House Museum, East Hampshire
4. The Round Table, Winchester
Hamo Thornycroft’s statue of King Alfred
© VisitBritain/Daniel Bosworth
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Anthony Gormley Sound II figure in
Winchester Cathedral © Joe Low
The Buttercross and High Street
Winchester Cathedral
WINCHESTER
Winchester is the ancient capital of England and is a
beautiful, compact medieval city with many restaurants,
shops, historic sites and attractions.
Easy to explore by foot, you’ll find plenty of things to enjoy
outside of your studies, from street theatre and the bustling
market to Winchester Cathedral, the City Mill, City Museum,
Winchester Discovery Centre and the Great Hall.
The Great Hall
Winchester’s many bars, restaurants and traditional English
pubs make eating out a pleasure and the pretty riverside
walks and lovely countryside of the South Downs National
Park are just waiting to be explored. You can also climb
St Catherine’s Hill for stunning views of the city.
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Tudor House Museum and Garden
Southampton Boat Show
Town Walls © Joe Low
Southampton
Bustling Southampton is home to 30,000 students,
including many from all over the world. It’s a safe, lively
and friendly city with many pubs, clubs, restaurants,
theatres, cinemas and bars and a thriving music scene.
With its city-centre parks, vast West Quay shopping
centre and historic attractions such as the Old Town
walls, SeaCity Museum, City Art Gallery and Tudor
House Museum, there’s a lot to keep you busy.
Southampton’s airport, ferry services to the Isle of
Wight and good train and bus links to London, Oxford,
Brighton and Winchester make it a perfect base for
exploring Hampshire and beyond.
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SeaCity Museum
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1. Spinnaker Tower
2. HMS Warrior, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
3. Big gun at Royal Armouries, Fort Nelson
4. Al fresco dining at Gunwharf Quays
Portsmouth
Surrounded by the sea, Portsmouth is a great place to be a student.
Everything’s close by, including beaches, parks, bars, restaurants, theatres,
cinemas, shops, sports centres and historic attractions.
The city is flat – perfect for cycling – and there are interesting walks through
the old town and along the sea. By night, Portsmouth comes alive with
music events, restaurants, clubs and shows and bustling Gunwharf Quays,
with its waterside shops and attractions, will keep you entertained.
Nearby Southsea has a more Bohemian, relaxed vibe with plenty of
independent cafés, restaurants and shops.
With Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Southsea Castle, the Spinnaker Tower,
Fort Nelson, Portchester Castle and many other fascinating sites to explore,
you’ll never be bored.
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
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Petersfield
Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth
Alresford, near Winchester
SHOPPING
Hampshire offers excellent shopping in Southampton, Winchester,
Basingstoke and Portsmouth, where you’ll find a great choice of
brand names as well as independent specialist shops. Many
stores cater especially for students and young people, accepting
student discount cards and offering prices to suit all budgets.
WestQuay shopping centre in Southampton has over 100
stylish stores while Portsmouth has a busy high street and
lively Gunwharf Quays, where you’ll find designer outlets with
lower prices.
The Bargate, Southampton
© University of Southampton
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Winchester city centre is also a great place for shopping, with its
prestigious high street stores and enticing range of independent
shops, while Basingstoke’s Festival Place is well worth a visit.
WestQuay, Southampton © Joe Low
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The Mayfly Pub, Stockbridge
1. Local farmers’ market
2. Picnic at Netley Abbey
3. Wykeham Arms, Winchester
4. Traditional cream tea
5. Enjoying a pint with friends
Food & DRINK
You’ll find food from all around the world in Hampshire, including Chinese, Malaysian, Thai, Indian, Nepalese,
African, Mexican, Italian, French and Greek cuisine, with vegetarian options and prices to suit all budgets.
As well as fine dining, international and celebrity chef restaurants, there’s plenty of local food to discover too. Try
our fresh cheeses, meats and chutneys at Hampshire’s many farmers’ markets, and don’t miss traditional home
cooked meals in our cosy pubs where you can often enjoy live music.
Experience a cream tea in a country tea room or fish and chips by the seaside for a typical taste of England.
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British Touring Car Championship, Thruxton
Local cricket match
Hayling Island
Sport
If you love football, experience the excitement of
live matches with the fans at St Mary’s stadium in
Southampton or Fratton Park in Portsmouth.
Hampshire is also home to a famous cricket team,
so don’t miss watching this typical English game
played at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton or on
village greens in the countryside.
Thruxton Motorsport Centre near Andover offers
the thrill of fast-action motor racing while on the water
there are sailing events to enjoy, such as Cowes Week
and global yacht races. Hampshire’s universities also
have a full programme of sporting events and fixtures
throughout the year, with excellent facilities.
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The Ageas Bowl near Southampton
Whatever you enjoy, from theatre, live music, arts, cinema
or comedy, you’ll be spoilt for choice in Hampshire.
Winchester, Southampton and Portsmouth offer a thriving
music scene, with events organised by the Students’ Union
as well as many performances in local clubs and pubs.
Venues such as The Joiners or The Cellar in Southampton
or Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth make for a fun night out.
Portsmouth Guildhall, Southampton Guildhall and the
Turner Sims Concert Hall stage music for all tastes, from
classical and jazz to rock and pop.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GUIDE TO HAMPSHIRE
ENTERTAINMENT
The Winchester Discovery Centre
Lovers of dance, musicals and theatre can enjoy fantastic
productions at Hampshire’s top venues, including
Southampton’s Mayflower who feature musicals from
London’s West End, Portsmouth’s King’s Theatre and
Winchester’s Theatre Royal.
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1. The Anvil, Basingstoke
2. Live outdoor music
3. The Mayflower Theatre, Southampton
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INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GUIDE TO HAMPSHIRE
COUNTRYSIDE
You’ll find miles of idyllic countryside in Hampshire,
from the New Forest National Park in the west, with
its famous New Forest ponies and Highland cattle,
to the South Downs National Park in the east and
North Wessex Downs in the north.
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Hampshire offers the best of beautiful English
scenery, including rolling hills, ancient woodland,
tranquil water meadows and meandering rivers,
perfect for exploring by foot or bike. In the
picturesque rural villages you’ll find thatched
cottages, rose-filled gardens and village greens.
Country tea rooms sell tempting homemade cakes,
while traditional pubs offer welcoming log fires,
delicious food and a typical English atmosphere.
1. Thatched cottage, Test Valley
2. Staunton Country Park
3. Segways at Go Ape, New Forest
4. Bluebell Wood
The New Forest National Park
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Queen Eleanor’s Garden, Winchester
Exbury Gardens, New Forest
Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Test Valley
PARKS AND GARDENS
You’ll love the parks and gardens in Hampshire, where you can relax with
friends, kick a football around or enjoy a quiet time away from your studies.
You’re never far from a park or open space, even in the city centres.
Southampton has its tree-lined common and flower-filled parks for
walking, cycling or relaxing, while Winchester has lovely water meadows
and riverside paths. Don’t miss the free weekend park runs organised by
enthusiastic volunteers!
In Portsmouth you can unwind on Southsea Common, while just a little
further away there are vast open spaces such as Queen Elizabeth Country
Park and the New Forest or historic houses and gardens such as Exbury and
Mottisfont Abbey.
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INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GUIDE TO HAMPSHIRE
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COASTLINE
View from Gosport to Portsmouth and the
Spinnaker Tower © Jerry Hardman-Jones
Whether you want to relax or explore, there’s a lot to enjoy around Hampshire’s
coastline. You can swim on the beach at Hayling Island or visit ancient fortifications
at Fort Nelson, Hurst Castle or Portchester Castle.
Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve is ideal for walking and bird-watching while
several country parks, such as Royal Victoria Country Park at Netley, offer stunning
views of the coast.
See the Solent from the top of the Spinnaker Tower, watch the sailing boats at
Lymington, go for a boat ride at Keyhaven or try watersports at Calshot Activities
Centre for a fantastic day out. The sandy beaches at Bournemouth are a short
train ride away.
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1. Windsurfing off Hayling Island
2. Buckler’s Hard, New Forest
3. Kayaking with New Forest Activities
4. Lymington Harbour
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New Forest and Hampshire County Show
Southampton Mela © Matthew Andrews
EVENTS
The Battle of Cheriton re-enactment, near Winchester
University Students’ Unions provide exciting year-round activities but
Hampshire’s annual events calendar also offers fantastic opportunities
to find out more about English life.
At the annual New Forest Show you can try country pursuits while the
Farnborough International Air Show and Southampton Boat Show
make for a fascinating day out.
Enjoy arts and street theatre at the Winchester Hat Fair or live music
at Portsmouth Bandstand and Southampton’s So:Fest event.
Winchester Ice Rink
Watch big name bands at the Isle of Wight Festival and take part in the
Great South Run in Portsmouth. For some festive magic, don’t miss the
Christmas markets, with their fairy lights and ice skating.
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MAP OF HAMPSHIRE
H A M P S H I R E
W I LTS H I RE
WEST
SUSSEX
Southampton International
Horton Heath
DORSET
I S L E O F W I GH
GHT
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© The Marketing Collective Ltd. 2011. Designed and produce by
The Marketing Collective Ltd.
All rights reserved. Source data kindly supplied by Lovell Johns Ltd, Oxford.
Alton
ERCR
WAT LINE ESS
SWANAGE
Map kindly supplied by South West Trains
which provides a regular train service from
Dorset and Hampshire to London.
www.southwesttrains.co.uk
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TRANSPORT
It’s easy to get around in Hampshire.
There are frequent bus and train services
in Southampton, Winchester and
Portsmouth and several bus companies
offer student discounts.
A wide choice of taxis will get you safely
home at night and you can hire bikes for
exploring the city and beyond.
Ferry from Portsmouth to the Isle of Wight
Why not combine cycling in the New
Forest with a trip on the New Forest
Tour bus? You can even hire a Twizy, an
electric two seater car! Boat trips from
Lymington, Southampton or Portsmouth
provide spectacular views of the
Hampshire coastline.
A journey planner is available at
www.myjourneyhampshire.com
Twizy electric hire car, New Forest
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1. Brighton
2. London
3. Oxford
4. Bath
5. London
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GUIDE TO HAMPSHIRE
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ExplorE FURTHER
Don’t miss the chance to visit some wonderful places in the UK, from Georgian
Bath and lively Brighton to the historic colleges of Oxford, the sandy beaches of
Bournemouth or the attractions of London.
With its good travel links and central location, Hampshire is the ideal base for
exploring England. If you want to travel further afield, such as to Manchester, York or
Edinburgh, there are direct trains from Southampton and Winchester.
Stonehenge, Wiltshire
Back cover images:
Entrance to the Great Hall, Winchester
Jane Austen’s House Museum, East Hampshire
Swan Green, New Forest
Coach companies offer competitive prices for trips to London and other destinations
and Southampton’s airport has routes to many exciting cities such as Paris,
Amsterdam or Barcelona.
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www.winchester.ac.uk
www.port.ac.uk
www.southampton.ac.uk
www.solent.ac.uk
www.visit-hampshire.co.uk