Solent Unviersity Southampton logo
Solent Unviersity Southampton logo

Welcome to Southampton!

Going to university is exciting! But we understand that moving away from home and all that's familiar can be daunting for some.

To help you settle in, we've created this guide to show you that however you've travelled here - plane, train, or automobile - your new home of Southampton may not be as different as you think.

Our guide includes information about some of the shops, services, and places of worship in Southampton to give you an introduction to what's available and to help you find your way around.

Food

International Foods
Specialising in international foods.
Location: Portswood

Eddoes Direct
Afro-Caribbean grocery store stocking essentials and favourites from brands such as Tropical Sun, Raja, and Dunn's River.
Location: Online store

Punjabi Takeaway
Indian snack foods - can be bought in bulk.
Location: St Mary's

Rows of apples on a supermarket shelf

Hair and beauty

Two make-up and hair design students making up a model

Beauty by Aja Ndeye
Location: City Centre

Joy D Hair and Beauty Saloon
Specialising in Afro Caribbean hair design and braids.

Judith's African Caribbean Hair Design
Specialising in Afro Caribbean hair design and braids.
Location: Portswood

Urban Trend Barbers
Afro Caribbean and European-Asian barbers.
Location: City Centre

Mary's Hair Salon
Experience in European, Afro (relaxed or natural), mixed race, and synthetic hair.
Location: Shirley

Fabulous Hair Southampton
Hair and beauty product store, specialising in a large range of human/synthetic hair extensions, wigs, ponytails, Afro Caribbean braiding, weave, and cosmetics.
Location: City Centre

Affricardo Barber Shop
Barbers specialising in Afro Caribbean hair.
Location: City Centre

Tcutz Hair
Unisex salon specialising in Afro Caribbean hair.
Location: Woolston

Afro City Southampton
Specialising in Afro Caribbean products, including human and synthetic hair extension, clip-ons, weaves, plait-in-hair and lace, and human hair wigs.
Location: St Mary's

Community groups

Art Asia
Communicating South Asian arts to the widest possible audience.

Southampton Ukrainian Community Support Group
Support and events for people from Ukraine.

Friends International
Christian charity offering friendship to international students.

The United Voices of African Associations - TUVAA
Fostering strong linkages between various Africa/African affiliated groups/organisations in Hampshire.

Black Heritage Southampton
A registered charity which promotes the welfare and social wellbeing of the members of the Caribbean community in Southampton.

Autism Hampshire
The charity runs Serendipity community groups for autistic adults to meet in a supportive and non-judgmental setting.

Student sat around a table playing a board game

Spectrum
User led organisation offering support to disabled people in lots of different ways, including advice, guidance, advocacy, and social.

Southampton Sight
Local charity offering support for people living with sight loss.

Entertainment and cultural festivals

People enjoying the Southampton Pride festivities in Guildhall Square

Mela Festival
Long-standing summer highlight in Southampton’s events calendar celebrating Modern and Traditional Asian Culture.

Unity 101
Community radio station based in Southampton catering to the Asian and ethnic minority communities in the area. The weekday line-up consists of predominantly Indian music in Hindi, Gujarati, Punjabi, and English. At weekends, the station hosts music and other arts, including Chinese Afghani, Polish, and music of Black origin. Solent has a regular monthly slot hosted by Senior Access and Widening Participation Officer, Geeta Uppal, covering topics around education. 

Awaaz FM
Asian broadcasting with most of the line up targeted to specific communities from India and Pakistan. Music styles include North India (Punjabi), Afghanistan (Pushto), Pakistan (Urdu), and English, as well as traditional Bollywood music (Hindi).

Board in the City
Local board game cafe near to Solent that's popular with neurodiverse students.

Southampton Pride
Held in August each year.

Black History Month
Events in Southampton to support Black History Month.