Recharge Your Mind at Ocean Village in Southampton

Southampton (or Soton for short) is a great place to visit in the summer, so I decided to come here last August on one of the hottest days. Go to places here are the City Art Gallery (free entry), Westquay and the city centre, IKEA, and Ocean Village by the docks. Several years ago, I had also come to Ocean Village as part of a geography field trip so coming back here was in some ways like taking a trip down memory lane…

Ocean Village is a modern development by the River Itchen where a lot of regeneration work has been taking place. Here, you can find yacht marinas on the glistening blue waters, Southampton’s tallest building (the Moresby Tower), and other corporate buildings. These offices are home to companies such as PwC and RSM, and I imagine you can see some beautiful views of the marina from these offices.  

The Location of Ocean Village

Ocean Village is located on the south coast of England by the River Itchen. Though it felt out of the way from the city centre, it is in fact a lot closer. It is only a 20- minute walk away from the Westquay Shopping Centre and the IKEA store. You can also get here by the THREE or 11 buses. After trying to get the bus and walking here, I recommend the latter as you can take in the sights, especially on a warm day.  You can also cycle here and get here in less than 10- minutes but I haven’t done this yet.

Sit Back and Relax by the Docks at Ocean Village

The best time to come here is during the day, as the river looks beautiful here. The yachts reflect onto the water, which is like blue sapphire and the sun really brings out the best in it. The great weather created the perfect opportunity for some photography. You can take some really impressive photos of the yacht harbours and skyscrapers (which make a great Snapchat or Instagram story).

Furthermore, there weren’t many people here at all. These two things make Ocean Village a nice and peaceful area. Therefore, it is ideal for coming to recharge here, either with company or by yourself. As well as doing photography, you could have a picnic here, or easily spend hours sitting by the yacht harbour reading a book…

The docks by the offices are another great place to relax. You can admire some of the really posh yachts here, some which are perfect for boat parties. Occasionally, giant container ships go past which is a truly incredible sight. Unfortunately, the photos aren’t the best quality as I took these when I went on my school trip. At the time, I had a Sony Xperia phone which didn’t have the greatest camera.

Amenities at Ocean Village

For those who don’t want to get the bus or walk here, you can instead drive here as there’s parking at Ocean Car Park. This is a several storey car park which opened in 2009, and it has been awarded for being extremely safe and secure. As well as office blocks here, there are several convenience stores here including Tesco Express and Coop. In addition, there are several places to eat too, and even a cinema called Harbour Light Picturehouse.  

Verdict

Overall, I think Ocean Village is an example of many successful regeneration projects in the UK which is why it’s worth visiting. It is a great for anyone looking to get away from the hustle and bustle and clear their mind because of the sapphire blue waters and quiet atmosphere. As well as visiting Ocean Village, make sure you go to the city centre to see the medieval walls and Westquay. Plus, don’t forget to visit the coast and harbours at sunset too…

Find out more about Ocean Village:

https://www.mdlmarinas.co.uk/marinas/mdl-ocean-village-marina/

Directions to Ocean Village: