10 Dangerous Neighbourhoods In Southampton To Avoid: A Guide For Students

Southampton is considered one of the most attractive and best student cities in the UK, with between 35,000 and 40,000 students present in the city each year. Some of the notable universities located in Southampton include the University of Southampton and the Southampton Solent University. Life as a student in Southampton means studying in reputable institutions, having good nightlife opportunities, living next to the coast, and earning work experience. Regarding the dangerous neighbourhoods in Southampton, there are some areas considered to be quite rough owing to the party-heavy nightlife.

Southampton can be considered relatively inexpensive among other large cities like London and Bristol for students to study there. The average cost of living in Southampton ranges between £1,100 and £1,600, depending on personal lifestyles. Monthly rent for shared accommodation in Southampton ranges from £520 to £750. In addition, the employment rate of Southampton is relatively high, being 75.1%, while the level of satisfaction among students is quite high because of affordability, coastal scenery, and transport accessibility.

The overall safety index of Southampton averages around 66/100, with the crime rate in Southampton estimated at roughly 106 to 137 crimes per 1,000 residents annually. While many areas are safe and student-friendly, some neighbourhoods report higher levels of anti-social behaviour, theft, burglary, and violent crime. Understanding which dangerous areas in Southampton to avoid can help students choose safer accommodation and enjoy a better university experience.

Dangerous Neighbourhoods in Southampton

1. Bargate (City Centre)

Crime Rate: ~341 crimes per 1,000 residents 

Bargate tops the list as the most dangerous neighbourhood in Southampton, being the shopping and entertainment centre of the town, always has high statistics on crime. In this area, danger mostly prevails during nighttime. Examples of these include violence caused by alcohol consumption, breaches of the peace near taxi stations and fast food joints, and pickpockets targeting people inside the bars. Meanwhile, shoplifting happens to be the most common crime in Southampton committed during the daytime.

2. St Mary’s

Crime Rate: ~351.6 per 1,000 residents

St. Mary’s is a dangerous neighbourhood in Southampton because of its unusually high prevalence of violence, sexual offences and crimes relating to drugs. The area is situated close to the city centre as well as the football ground, thus making it prone to incidents of public disorder and antisocial behaviour. Many instances involving open drug dealing and assaults have been reported by its residents.

3. Northam

Crime Rate: ~138 per 1,000 residents

Northam is among the most impoverished wards of the city, as is evident from the levels of crime committed. There is a general perception about this place being a hub of antisocial activities, especially where industrial areas are concerned, which seem to be cut off from the main part of the city at night, thus making it a very dangerous neighbourhood in Southampton. 

4. Bevois

Crime Rate: ~128 per 1,000 residents
Bevois functions as a vital entry point into the city centre, and is characterised by a heavy presence of students and families. The reason Bevois is a dangerous neighbourhood in Southampton is that it experiences many complaints concerning noise and disturbances at night. However, more importantly, the neighbourhood has numerous instances of violent acts as well as small-scale drug dealing within designated hot spots.

5. Millbrook

Crime Rate: ~121 per 1,000 residents
Vehicle crime and arson have been a constant challenge for Millbrook. The community tends to experience high levels of antisocial behaviour among groups of youth. Despite plans to redevelop the community, the number of criminal damage and arson cases is significantly higher than in the rest of the city, thus making it a very dangerous neighbourhood in Southampton. 

6. Redbridge

Crime Rate: ~118 per 1,000 residents

Situated at the west end of the town, Redbridge is an area where there are numerous cases of car crime and opportunistic crime. Its location near the dockyards and industrial estates makes it a prime target for burglaries involving vans and tool theft. Another form of criminal activity common here is violent crime, which often stems from longstanding conflicts among residents of certain housing estates. With these many risks, it is obvious that Redbridge makes it on the list of dangerous neighbourhoods in Southampton. 

7. Shirley

Safety Index: 44/100

Crime Rate: ~114 per 1,000 residents
Shirley is an area that is highly populated both commercially and residentially, with the high street becoming a focal point for crimes such as shoplifting and disorderly behaviour. In addition to retail-related crime, there are areas around the high street with above-average incidences of burglary and ASB, making it an area that requires frequent policing. All these reasons put Shirley on the list of dangerous neighbourhoods in Southampton. 

8. Portswood

Crime Rate: ~109 per 1,000 residents
The primary area where most of the students live is known as Portswood, as it offers affordable student accommodation and student life in Southampton. The nature of criminal activities in this area can be attributed to the population. Burglary and bike theft are common crimes, especially in areas with many HMOs where there may be more than one laptop. Robbery on the streets at night is occasional. It is ideal to be cautious while choosing housing in this dangerous neighbourhood in Southampton. 

9. Freemantle

Crime Rate: ~170.4 to 192 per 1,000 residents
Freemantle exists as a buffer zone between the city centre and the suburbs, where most of the spill-over crimes from the city happen. This dangerous neighbourhood in Southampton experiences fairly consistent incidents of burglary and car crime. Anti-social behaviour takes place around the local pubs and take-away restaurants, and drugs tend to create problems here.

10. Thornhill

Crime Rate: ~98 per 1,000 residents
Thornhill, located on the eastern side of the city, experiences issues involving anti-social behaviour and criminal damage among its youth population. The high-rise flats within the vicinity tend to be common grounds for law enforcement when dealing with complaints about drugs and arguments among neighbours. Although it may have fewer crimes compared to the downtown area, the occurrence of violent cases still makes it fall into the dangerous neighbourhood in Southampton category.

Safest Properties in these Neighbourhoods in Southampton 

Even though the above neighbourhoods are some of the most dangerous neighbourhoods in Southampton, there are housing options that students can opt for in these areas:

• Lucia Foster Welch, Southampton: £95/per week - provides amenities like Key Fob Entry, Contents Insurance, CCTV, and 24/7 Security for safety and has rave reviews for the same reason. 
• Orion Point, Southampton: £148/per week - Amenities like CCTV, 24/7 Assistance, Fire System, Secure Access, Onsite Service Team, and Contents Insurance for the safety of the students. 
• Emily Davies, Southampton: £135/ per week - Amenities like CCTV cameras are provided on the property. 
• Hampton Square, Southampton: £200/ per week - Amenities like 24/7 Security, On-Site Support, and CCTV for safety. 
• Vincent Place, Southampton: £195/ per week - Amenities like Controlled Access Gate, CCTV, Onsite Concierge, Secure Building Entry, and Security Alarm are provided for safety. 

Know Where to Find Help in Southampton

In Southampton neighbourhoods, the student support programs that universities have put in place ensure that all students remain safe and secure during their time at university.

How amber Helps Students Stay Safe

Amber Student Accommodation helps domestic and international students access secure and affordable student accommodation in Southampton through:

• Verified Properties – Properties that have been tested in terms of safety, location and standard
• Secure Accommodation – Properties with closed-circuit television cameras and security systems, and onsite management in most cases
• Safe Locations – Accommodation is provided in safer areas such as Highfield and Bassett
• Purpose Built Student Accommodation – Properties built to ensure the safety and comfort of students

This assists both local and foreign students in avoiding regions that have high crime rates in Southampton, and also in selecting safe housing

Safety Tips for Students in Southampton

• Check for safety in the neighbourhood before you rent any accommodation
• Do not travel through deserted or dimly lit or areas with high crime rates in Southampton during the night
• Make sure that your valuables are safely locked up
• Use only reliable cabs or take the public transportation system when coming back from a late night out
• Always stay in contact with your buddies when you go out
• Keep the contacts of the emergency and university security service on your cell phone

Final Thoughts

Southampton remains a popular destination for students in the UK due to its universities, affordable cost of living, seaside location, and lively social atmosphere. Although certain areas in Southampton have relatively high crime levels compared to others, the city is actually quite safe for students when selecting suitable student accommodation in Southampton and exercising precaution.

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