Nursing in Southampton: Studying, working, and living guide
Find out about nursing in Southampton - where nurses can find jobs, the hospitals they might work in, colleges & universities to study in, plus living information.
Southampton is a port city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in Southern England.
Southampton is known for its rich maritime heritage and with a focus on watersports and sailing as well as being one of the most important ports in the UK.
Southampton could be an ideal place for nurses to relocate to for study and work.
From cost of living and travel through to culture and nightlife, it is an end-to guide for Nurses wanting to study or work in Southampton.
Where do Nurses work in Southampton?
There are lots of places for nurses to work within Southampton.
Royal South Hants Hospital
University Hospital Southampton (Southampton General Hospital)
Princess Anne Hospital
Mountbatten Hampshire (hospice)
There are a multitude of health-related places to work in across Southampton. These are just a few of the major employers and there are thousands ready to fill vacancies for Nurses throughout Southampton for anyone wishing to live and work here.
Find nursing jobs in Southampton
Find nursing jobs in the South East
Spire Southampton Hospital - Spire Healthcare
Find nursing jobs in Southampton at Spire Southampton Hospital, operated by Spire Healthcare. You will also find career information about this Spire facility.
Where do aspiring Nurses study in Southampton?
If you're looking for a University in Southampton, there are many educational institutions that aspiring Nurses can study at.
The University of Southampton, offers a range of Nursing courses and is spread across five campuses within the city of Southampton as well as one in Winchester.
University of Southampton nursing students study mostly at the University Hospital Southampton (Southampton General Hospital) Campus and have access to facilities such as the Health Service Library, Clinical Skill rooms, Research Centre for Cancer Immunology and Life Lab (state of the art hands-on laboratory). Courses start in September.
The Solent University Southampton, offers nursing courses accredited by NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council) which start in September and works in partnership with NHS Trusts.
Solent University Southampton, has a Nursing Lab which simulates a nursing ward in a clinical environment as well as a community facility which includes a GP consultation room, treatment room and care home room.
Find our nursing university guide here.
The average monthly rental in Southampton is around £1,250 per month. But if you are looking to rent a room in a shared house, the average cost is just over £700.
Where do Nurses live in Southampton?
Nurses live all over Southampton and surrounding areas. Some of the best places to live in Southampton are:
Southampton City Centre.
Popular with students due to its excellent central location with endless amenities close by as well as being within proximity of both Universities.
Ocean Village.
Appeals to all types of people with its residential, business and leisure hub. It also offers a cinema as well as lots of restaurants and shops making it a popular choice for young nurses and their families.
West End.
Is a village close to Southampton which offers a wide variety of local shops, pubs and independent boutiques and restaurants making it a lovely place for nurses to live.
Netley
One of the historical and sought after villages to live in with a strong community feel as well as lots of local amenities and restaurants. Netley train station provides regular trains to Southampton, which is 20 minutes away.
Bassett, is also popular with students due to its closeness to the University of Southampton residential complex. It could be an ideal place for nurses with families to live in with its open spaces and proximity to Southampton Sport Centre, Snow Centre, and Golf Course.
What are the living costs for Nurses in Southampton?
Southampton is considered one of the most expensive towns in the UK which makes living costs higher compared to other towns and cities.
Here is a general guide to some of the different costs of living in Southampton.
The average price for a home in Southampton is currently £302,500 which is above the national average of £293,000 – according to Zoopla.
The average rental price for a property in Southampton is £1,250 per month. But if you are looking to rent a room in a shared house, the average cost is just over £700 depending on the area of Southampton.
Council tax costs vary across the United Kingdom but in Southampton many people reside in a Band B property or similar which means paying £1600 a year, which works out to just under £133 per month.
Bills like shopping and utilities are priced along the same lines to the rest of the UK.
Is travel easy in Southampton?
Southampton is an internationally connected city with its large cruise and two ferry ports while Southampton International Airport serves the UK and nearby European destinations.
The area also has excellent major road/motorway links and is accessible via the M3 and M27 motorway. London to Southampton takes just under 2 hours by car whereas Portsmouth can be accessed within 30 minutes.
Southampton is easy to visit by train and has direct services to other major cities and towns across the region and further afield. London to Southampton takes less than one and a half hours to reach while Bournemouth is just 30 minutes away.
All in all, Southampton is well connected for all your transport no matter where you are located.
What to do in Southampton: walks, culture, nightlife and eating out?
There are lots of places to visit and experience in Southampton.
Culture and attractions
Depending on your interests and where you want to spend your free time Southampton has attractions and places to suit all tastes.
One must-see visit is Tudor House and Gardens, a stately house and ancient monument in Southampton. Considered a treasured piece of history it offers a unique insight into the lives and times of its residents though the years and is the perfect way to spend a day.
Just outside of Southampton is the New Forest – an idyllic day out in its own right – but also home to Paulton Park, a family theme park best known for Peppa Pig World. With over 70 rides and attractions including roller coasters and lots of animals to see, it is the perfect day out for nurses with young families.
Look out for Itchen Valley Country Park with its 440 acres of water meadows and woodlands situated by the river Itchen or alternatively head for Royal Victoria Country Park, set across 200 acres and offering a variety of leisurely walks.
There are also many art galleries and museums in Southampton to visit including Southampton City Art Gallery, John Hansard Gallery, Sea City Museum (Titanic Story), Solent Sky Museum (history of aviation) and Southampton Maritime Museum.
The West Quay for shopping and leisure and Southampton Tour Guides are also excellent ways to utilise your free time.
There are also many entertainment venues across Southampton such as o2 Guildhall Southampton, The Brook (for national touring acts), The Joiners (local music) and the 1865 Southampton (live music) for all your music needs and experiences.
Sports fans can indulge in the talents of Southampton Football Club who play in the Premier League with matches hosted at Saint Mary’s Stadium.
Nightlife and eating out
Southampton is known for enjoying a good night out and for its quality restaurants to eat out in.
Highlights include:
Dancing Man Brewery, popular brewpub, and restaurant in a medieval woolhouse.
The Rockstone, known for having the most gargantuan burgers in Southampton.
Oxford Brasserie - a legendary Southampton restaurant with a lively atmosphere and succulent and stylish food.
The Orange Rooms - a popular bar/club in Southampton which is ranked number one on TripAdvisor.
What are the school options in Southampton?
There are many options for schools in Southampton for your children.
These include a high number of Ofsted Outstanding and Good rated schools.
Southampton has 65 Primary schools, 25 Secondary schools and 5 private independent schools.
Population and demographics in Southampton
Here are some of the stand-out population and demographic facts in Southampton.
Southampton has a population of 254,000
Southampton’s population density is 4,954 people per square kilometre.
81% of people in Southampton are white.
English is the main language and is spoken by 85% of the local population.
3.2% of Southampton’s population is unemployed – lower than the UK average.
In summary: is Southampton a good place to be a Nurse?
There are many sought after areas to live in Southampton.
Southampton is a port city offering a good variety of attractions and amenities.
Living costs are higher than other major cities but there is always lots of work on offer.
There are two Universities close by: University of Southampton and The Solent University Southampton which both offer nursing courses.
Travel to and from Southampton is easy - multiple locations can be reached by foot, car, plane, train, or ferry.
Average salary for nurse in Southampton £36,000 per a year.
So, your salary as a registered Nurse goes much further in Southampton.
Here are a couple of examples:
As a newly qualified Nurse on an NHS Band 5 salary, if you rented a house, you would still have just over £900 left in your pocket each month for everything else. Your disposable income in the Southeast would barely reach half of this figure, for example.
As a Band 6 Nurse, you would easily be able to borrow enough money to buy a joint mortgage for an average-priced flat in Southampton. In fact, in many parts your salary would cover the cost of buying a house.
As a nursing student or Nurse, you will have an excellent quality of life with lots of things to do.
