Students - Local Entertainment and Nightlife

What makes Portsmouth the best place to be a Student?

Crammed with maritime history Portsmouth is a coastal city with a lot to offer those who like to be beside the sea and look at ships of yesteryear. Being what is technically an Island, Portsmouth has a real community feel and one place where everyone likes to hang out is Southsea common, the site of hundreds of BBQ's, ball games and much sunbathing during the summer months. Other daytime places of interest include Commercial Road which is good for shops, Albert Road & Elm Grove with quirky shops & internet cafes. For the more adventurous why not catch the hovercraft to the nearby Isle of Wight.

For 400 years Portsmouth was one of Britain's foremost naval ports and the nautical influence is still inescapable. The city, built on Portsea Island (a peninsular rather than a real island), is one of Europe's most densely populated - it's a small place that can't grow without getting wet.

Why not visit the City Museum and Records Office situated on Museum Road, Portsmouth. The museum is dedicated to local history and fine and decorative Art. The story of Portsmouth has room settings showing life in Portsmouth from the 17th century to the 1950's, or you can experience the different life styles of the Victorian working poor in the dock yard workers cottage and the affluent Victorian parlour and many other eras which are very interesting

Another place to visit is Portsmouth's Historic Dockyard which opens every day at 10am throughout the year, except when closed on Christmas Eve, Day and Boxing Day. Discover the world famous Historic ships HMS Victory, The Mary Rose & HMS warrior 1860 that have shared British history at Portsmouth. Other attractions include the Royal Navy Museum with a new Exhibition "Sea Your History" and action stations with the interactive gallery detailing the science and technology used by the modern Royal Navy. Also on site there are harbour tours enabling you to see the fleet close up.

Not to be missed is the Spinnaker Tower which is situated in the Gunwharf Quays development. The spinnaker tower offers amazing views standing at a height of 170m and opens daily between 10am-6pm.

For those who are active there are many leisure facilities in and around Portsmouth, including the David Lloyd leisure centre situated in Port Solent which features swimming facilities Tennis courts and a gym, there are also many classes on offer. Some of the local gyms and leisure centres are also popular including the pyramids, and the small gym on Albert Road that the famous Arnold Schwarzenegger used to train at.

Nightlife

Portsmouth & Southsea has a varied and vibrant nightlife with many clubs & bars situated on Palmerston Road, Albert Road and on Guildhall Walk in central Portsmouth. The popular Gunwharf Quays complex has a wide array of bars & clubs including Tiger Tiger a large stylish club, Jongleurs a very popular club with regular stand-up comedian nights & bar 38, Ha Ha Bar and Customs House all with in close vicinity.

The student union is also a great gathering place and has benefited from a £6.2m Union building - with very swanky glass wall and reception desk - that now forms the social centre of student life. A £300,000 Virtual Reality Centre and the new Creative Arts Faculty are the latest toys. The union is situated in Portsmouth's city centre and truly is the heart of student life. The notorious Purple Wednesdays is the club night which regularly attracts top DJ's, bands and celebrity guests. However if the club scene isn't for you there is always something else going on at the union every night of the week.

Student travel

Portsmouth's bus service from First covers most of Portsmouth and Southsea. Students will need to provide a valid registration card or NUS card for the current academic year to benefit from the heavily discounted annual tickets. Information and prices for student bus passes and tickets can be found on the First website by clicking the link below.

There is also a night bus service which serves Gunwharf quays and the new liquid and envy nightclub on Stanhope road. The night runner is a late night/ early morning bus service for people out late at the weekends. For pick up times and points please visit the stage coach website by clicking the link below.

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