Portsmouth student homes near Guildhall and the Southsea seafront
The University of Portsmouth teaches on its Guildhall campus in the city centre, with sport out at Langstone. Portsmouth sits on an island and is flat, so most students walk, cycle or take the free university buses. Every Portsmouth property we list includes bills, and rooms start at around £190 a week.
How close can you live to the University of Portsmouth?
University accommodation searches lead Portsmouth demand, and almost all teaching happens on one compact city centre campus. Here we set out where the buildings are, the nearest station, the free U1 and U2 buses, Langstone sport and a tower by the tracks.
How central is the Portsmouth campus?
In the city centre. The university calls it the Guildhall campus, spread between the Guildhall, Cambridge Road and Winston Churchill Avenue. Our University of Portsmouth page lists private properties within walking distance, so start from the building on your timetable.
Which station is nearest to campus?
Portsmouth and Southsea. The university puts it about five minutes on foot from its campus buildings. Portsmouth Harbour and The Hard Interchange sit about 15 minutes away, which helps if you travel home by coach, ferry or a coastal train.
Is the university bus free?
Yes, for students in term time. The university says its U1 and U2 services are free once you join First's Student Travel Club with your uni email. Both run Monday to Friday only, so plan weekend trips by public bus or bike.
Crown Place beside the railway
Crown Place puts its studios in a tower, with penthouse rooms on floors 19 to 22. Its page says Portsmouth and Southsea station is across the road and the university about ten minutes on foot. Each studio has a private kitchen.
Getting out to Langstone for sport
Langstone is the university's sports site on the east side of the island. The U2 runs there from Cambridge Road through Fratton Bridge and Milton during term. Students who train with a club several times a week may prefer a room further east.
Do you need a bike here?
Not really. The university calls Portsmouth a flat city, so walking covers most trips between Southsea, Fratton and campus. A bike still saves time from Eastney or North End, and every property on our Portsmouth pages offers bike storage.
Which Portsmouth neighbourhoods suit student life?
Student housing searches in Portsmouth mostly lead to shared houses in a handful of districts. The university's housing team names Southsea and Fratton as favourites, with calmer streets further east and north. Here is how each feels, plus two studio buildings in PO5.
What pulls students to Southsea?
Location. The university's housing team calls central Southsea and Fratton the most popular student areas, close to campus, restaurants and nightlife. Students on forums point to Albert Road and the seafront as the main reasons to live there.
Life around Fratton station
Fratton has its own railway station, one stop from Portsmouth and Southsea, and rows of terraced houses. A Reddit user suggests the streets south of the station cost less than Southsea. The free U1 bus also stops at Fratton Bridge.
Studios on Middle Street
Middle Street sits in PO5, the postcode district that also covers Southsea. Its page describes a building of studios close to the University of Portsmouth, from about 19 square metres to over 30, with a gym, games room and laundry.
Are Eastney and Milton too far?
Not for most students. The housing team lists Eastney and Milton as quieter areas with good links. The U1 calls at Eastney Health Centre and Bransbury Park, and the U2 passes through Milton, so term time trips to campus stay free.
North End and Hilsea for calm
North End and Hilsea sit towards the top of the island, and the housing team lists both as quieter with good links. Expect family streets and local shops, not much nightlife. Hilsea has its own railway station on the line into town.
Where is Earlsdon Street?
In a residential part of PO5. Earlsdon Street's page quotes three minutes on foot to TEG English Portsmouth and 13 minutes to the university, so it suits language course students too. Its studios and two-dios come with a gym and games room.
Is the station and harbour side of Portsmouth a good base?
Private student accommodation searches in Portsmouth often land on Commercial Road and the streets west of it. Shops, the station and the harbour sit close together here, so we cover Portsea, Gunwharf, The Hard, nights out and international arrivals.
What is Commercial Road like?
Busy by day. Commercial Road is the city's main shopping street, a short walk from Portsmouth and Southsea station and the Guildhall campus. Several student towers stand on it or just off it, so supermarkets and buses are never far away.
Stanley Studios for international arrivals
Stanley Studios on Coburg Street says it is a short walk or cycle from the University of Portsmouth and International College Portsmouth. Every studio has its own shower room and kitchen, and the building adds a gym, study spaces and a lounge.
Can you live in Old Portsmouth?
You can, but rents run higher. Old Portsmouth sits at the harbour mouth, home to the Round Tower and old waterside pubs. A Reddit user says it draws fewer students because it costs more. Campus is a walk across the city centre.
Gunwharf Quays and The Hard
Gunwharf Quays, beside The Hard, mixes outlet shops, restaurants and bars with views across the harbour. The Hard Interchange joins buses and trains, and ferries leave nearby for Gosport and the Isle of Wight. Weekends here feel busy with visitors.
Is Portsea close to the university?
Yes, within walking distance. St James Street, in Portsea, quotes a 12 minute walk to the university on its page. It names nearby pubs such as the Ship Anson and gives residents use of the gym at a sister building.
Guildhall Walk after dark
Students on forums call Guildhall Walk the strip, a run of late bars and clubs beside the Guildhall. It sits minutes from campus. Rooms facing it or Commercial Road can get loud at weekends, so ask for a side or rear room.
What paperwork comes with a Portsmouth tenancy?
Studio searches run high in Portsmouth, alongside cheap rooms and student houses. This last set looks at room prices, shared flats, house shares, guarantors, studio sizes and living as a couple, using what providers and the university publish.
How much does a Portsmouth room cost?
Around £190 a week at the lower end. Private rooms on our Portsmouth pages start there with bills included, and larger studios reach about £255 or more. Food, travel and a phone come on top, though the university buses cost nothing.
Shared flats at Stanhope House
Stanhope House on Commercial Road groups en-suite rooms in flats of four to six students, with a free washer and dryer inside each flat. Its page also mentions free PureGym membership. Some rooms look towards the Solent and the Isle of Wight.
House shares against managed properties
A Southsea or Fratton house may list lower rent, but energy and broadband come on top and you usually need a guarantor. Every managed property we list includes energy, water and Wi-Fi, so total a full year for each option.
Do you need a UK guarantor?
Usually, for a private house. The university's housing team says private tenants need a UK based guarantor, or some landlords ask for six months' rent or more in advance. It works with Housing Hand, which can act as guarantor instead.
Catherine House near the station
Catherine House on Stanhope Road offers studios plus a handful of one bed flats. Its page quotes a seven minute walk to the university and eleven to the University of Portsmouth Dental Academy. Residents share a sky lounge and games room.
Can a partner live with you?
Usually not without permission. Many tenancies name one person, and none of the Portsmouth rooms we list is sold for two. Some studios have a small double bed, so ask the provider in writing before anyone moves in with you.
