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Best Student Cities in the UK

24,716 Reviews by Students

Student reviews reveal the best and the worst cities and towns for students in the United Kingdom.

Not sure what the best student cities in the UK are? Then you’ve come to the right place!

Our list of best student cities and towns in the UK is the only live league table which is chosen 100% by students who are actually studying at each university.

It is constantly updated with new student reviews about the important areas of city life: cost of living, restaurants, nightlife, shopping options and public transport.

Because we only publish reviews from students using their university email account, you can guarantee all our reviews are from real students. You will hear directly from the experts which university cities in the UK top the chart for student experience.

Click on a location below to read all the independent student reviews and find out more about what each location can deliver.

You can help future students by reviewing your student location when you get there.

Review your town or city here!

Liverpool

I'm not one for going out but when I do there is always something for me. Food shops can be quite cheap if you aren't getting the most expensive stuff...

By member6113111 On 6th August 2024

Newcastle upon Tyne

Nestled on the banks of the River Tyne, Newcastle Upon Tyne boasts a captivating blend of historical charm and contemporary vibrancy. From the iconic ...

By DPaul On 29th April 2024

Leeds

Leeds is a vibrant city with a rich cultural scene! The mix of historic architecture and modern amenities creates a unique atmosphere. The local dinin...

By member5120568 On 17th October 2024

Belfast

Living in Belfast is very lively, having an endless supply of pubs and places to go, such as Hollywood bowling and lost adventure golf, escape rooms e...

By member1296818 On 8th January 2024

Sheffield

Sheffield is an incredible city that truly exceeded my expectations. It offers the perfect blend of urban life and natural beauty, with its lively cit...

By ROCHELLE On 27th August 2024

Cardiff

The environment is very good, the room is particularly satisfied, especially the large French Windows, which are very few in the UK, the price is not ...

By member6100732 On 15th February 2024

Glasgow

The only city I have been ever fell in love other than my hometown is Glasgow... It is one of largest city is Scotland and have an amazing social life...

By madihasalam On 26th September 2024

Birmingham

Birmingham is a vibrant city with a rich mix of culture, history, and modern amenities. The city center is bustling with shops, restaurants, and enter...

By Sid4247 On 19th October 2024

Nottingham

The house prices have become more and more expensive each year but still far cheaper than london prices. Every night there is a great night out on the...

By member8120687 On 18th October 2024

#10

Southampton

Emily davies apartment in Southampton is a good value for money apartment, low price but very good location. It is close to all train and bus stations...

By member12104443 On 18th March 2024

#11

Edinburgh

What truly sets Prestige Mayfield Residence apart is its vibrant and welcoming community. I had the pleasure of meeting students from diverse backgrou...

By member11106086 On 4th April 2024

#12

Norwich

Best university city - very safe and amazing range of shops and small businesses. 365 pubs makes for a lovely city....

By member1387950 On 23rd June 2023

#13

Manchester

Wonderful nightlife! we went out every single day and had so much fun. Although it can be a bit costly, it’s definitely worth it and i would live in m...

By member5109281 On 22nd May 2024

#14

Royal Leamington Spa

Love the services and the accommodation...

By member1258760 On 25th May 2021

#15

Portsmouth

Getting anywhere is super easy in Portsmouth. It really elevates living here to a new level. Also, the trains go directly to London and most major poi...

By member897259 On 16th January 2024

#16

Lincoln

A hidden gem. Has everything but isn’t as crowded as some of the really big cities. Couldn’t get a better place to live and study!...

By member596626 On 22nd December 2023

#17

Bristol

Bristol is such a vibrant, diverse city filled with passionate people. I’ve heard Bristol referred to as the “France of England” because people are no...

By member10118435 On 9th October 2024

#18

Aberdeen

There are plenty of options for eating out, lots of clubs and bars for nightlife, and a convenient bus network for getting around. Plus, we have a lov...

By Rosie N On 2nd April 2024

#19

York

The perfect city. The collegiate system is perfect and the university has the perfect balance of work and party. Every shop you could ever want is her...

By member496705 On 30th December 2023

#20

Chester

1. I have thoroughly enjoyed my times here at Granary Studios. From move in week the atmosphere created has been next level, consistent weekly events ...

By member13104438 On 18th March 2024

#21

Leicester

Living here has been a fantastic experience. The cost of living is reasonable, making it manageable for students. There are plenty of great options fo...

By member7111114 On 12th June 2024

#22

Preston

Cost of living is pricey but as long as you get good grades (A's and B's) Biola University will gladly give you scholarships that aid your attendance ...

By member10103475 On 11th March 2024

#23

Newcastle

Newcastle is one of the best cities I’ve lived in, you’ve got everything in one place. City center is right in between Newcastle university and Northu...

By Christy Lau On 1st October 2024

#24

Bournemouth

Night's out in Bournemouth are the bets i've ever had! Cameo is such a unique nightclub consisting of 5 rooms covering everyones music tastes....

By member9109126 On 20th May 2024

#25

Guildford

I think Guildford is a great place to live, the night life is incredible, it is busy, the shopping centre is very big with many things to do and keep ...

By member698298 On 26th January 2024

#26

South West London

Create stuff about this town. Great transportation system of buses and trains. Halal restaurants are nearby. Grocery stores for students is at walking...

By member11107483 On 26th April 2024

#27

Dundee

ovbisouly dundee isn't the biggest city ever but I think its great fir student life. As snooze who came from a big city it did feel a little hard to a...

By member4107977 On 3rd May 2024

#28

Reading

There are friendly staff and delicious breakfast, and the daily cleaning is very good. There are often some festival activities to give us some small ...

By member5109611 On 24th May 2024

#29

Swansea

St. David's Accommodation is ideal for students, boasting an unbeatable location just steps away from the university, libraries, and essential ameniti...

By member10108226 On 8th May 2024

#30

Exeter

The apartment management staff can respond promptly to issues reported by residents. Once, the mirror on the wall of my house fell off, and the apartm...

By member13103505 On 11th March 2024

#31

Plymouth

Generally a good city for a student you get the best of both worlds and it offers a great balance in all aspects...

By member6106994 On 19th April 2024

#32

Bolton

I live in bolton but come to Manchester for all the amazing facilities...

By member593437 On 25th October 2023

#33

Uxbridge

try gun lean and get shot from the backseat...

By member1044480 On 18th December 2019

#34

Derby

A bit dangerous city at the night, but in the morning or afternoon its safe and I would also say, people are friendly! Free Unibusses for students fro...

By Ivan On 28th September 2024

#35

Central London

I recently lost my access card and approached the front desk for a replacement. The staff was incredibly helpful and efficient, making the process qui...

By member9106506 On 14th April 2024

#36

London

This apartment is an absolute gem! It's spacious, filled with natural light, and beautifully designed. The location is perfect, offering convenience a...

By member9113310 On 12th August 2024

#37

Coventry

Coventry, UK, offers a balanced experience for international students, blending affordability with vibrant urban living. The cost of living here is re...

By member7109033 On 20th May 2024

#38

Cheltenham

it is quite a big city so it seems to be a great choice to live in. I would compare the cost of living to the standard....

By member1384604 On 20th April 2023

#39

High Wycombe

It’s a bit far away from home....

By member478953 On 20th February 2023

#40

Bath

Slightly pricey, but it is possible to find student deals and prices around the city. There's plenty of shops in city center, and plenty of restaurant...

By member497532 On 17th January 2024

#41

Brighton

The public transportation is very reliable, almost always coming every five minutes or so. The city is gorgeous and the citizens are helpful....

By member1191710 On 29th September 2023

#42

Loughborough

Living in Loughborough has been a delight! Whether it's hitting the shops for high-street brands or unique finds, there's something for everyone. Plus...

By member13110797 On 11th June 2024

#43

Hull

Cheap, cheerful and an array of nightlife of all genres (though lacking on a Tuesday night)...

By member985972 On 10th May 2023

#44

Durham

It's a very warm place, people here are very friendly. Actually it's not a big place but it promotes relationships, safety and convenience, a sense of...

By member1176642 On 31st January 2023

#45

Cambridge

Best student city! Very happy. Had the best student time in Cambridge. Very international and beautiful city...

By member1375268 On 19th January 2023

#46

Worcester

Town centre is in walking distance, can walk back from a night out safely...

By member769854 On 7th July 2022

#47

Wolverhampton

Amazing city, not crowded like most cities are, most takeaways and cafes are in walking distance, same as the train, bus and metro station...

By member463014 On 20th October 2021

#48

Lancaster

Has everything a students needs here at Lancaster except for bigger shops, may have to travel to Manchester for selfridges...

By member9107473 On 25th April 2024

#49

Sunderland

Sunderland is a beautiful place to live and studying. The Cost of living is not too high but is affordable. Sunderland have diverse eating establishm...

By member884845 On 24th April 2023

#50

South East London

South East London offers a vibrant blend of cultures, rich history, and diverse neighborhoods. The green spaces, trendy cafes, and cultural hubs creat...

By member492799 On 17th October 2023

#51

Stirling

A place mix with culture and history. This is best for adventure lovers and a beautiful environment to stay in....

By Sakshi On 13th December 2022

#52

Newport

A fun night out with friends in the weekends is one thing I will never forget when leaving this place....

By member8100993 On 18th February 2024

#53

Salford

Salford is such a lively place. Never a dull moment. The shopping centre is super convenient for all shopping needs. The buses are amazing there is al...

By member698951 On 1st February 2024

#54

Winchester

Cost of living: Winchester can be an expensive place to live, but considering this, food, petrol, rent etc. is to be expected for the south. There is ...

By member5121314 On 21st October 2024

#55

Oxford

"Oxford University is an epitome of academic excellence and intellectual rigor. From its distinguished faculty to its state-of-the-art facilities, Oxf...

By member7106395 On 11th April 2024

#56

East London

Best connectivity, Easily available convenience stores, Friendly neighbourhood, Safest locality...

By member1189493 On 3rd August 2023

#57

Falmouth

Amazing friendly atmosphere, beach on your doorstep, and if it’s for you, a slower, more mindful pace of life...

By member888212 On 28th June 2023

#58

Bradford

Bradford is a culturally rich city known for its historical landmarks and vibrant arts scene. The city offers diverse dining options, beautiful parks,...

By member13112488 On 15th July 2024

#59

Huddersfield

Huddersfield is a great place for students as it’s got everything you’d want, shopping, entertainment, parks, etc....

By member1083744 On 6th April 2023

#60

Canterbury

For safety reasons, I do not recommend that new international students who have just arrived in the UK walk alone on the streets at night without a co...

By member12107109 On 22nd April 2024

#61

St Andrews

Extremely expensive. The only Tesco located in Market Street is away more expensive than other Tesco I’ve ever been to....

By member5101883 On 23rd February 2024

#62

Colchester

Great town lots to do good resteraunts and bars and shops. Well equipped for travelling with buses and train stations clean friendly...

By member883845 On 8th April 2023

#63

West London

Got to know about new culture and knowledge about when started living in london. Cost of living is a bit high might be difficult to manage according t...

By member497287 On 16th January 2024

#64

Luton

Beautiful city, very quiet area living standard is very nice near to london city and also there is lots of our muslim community...

By Khawerrafik9 On 2nd November 2024

#65

North London

Good experience but the area isn’t safe. However, station court is pretty much safe....

By member10111108 On 12th June 2024

#66

Ipswich

Ipswich is my home town and although it is not the best for young individuals it is a nice town to live in...

By member1085195 On 27th April 2023

#67

Bangor

2 local clubs and many pubs, many which are cheap. Local supermarkets- asda, morrisons, lidl, aldi. Variety of shops, cafes and restaurants....

By member783852 On 8th April 2023

#68

Stoke-on-Trent

Such a cheap place to live and it has easy access to other places so boom, perfect. Oatcake cafes are in abundance here so if you enjoy those then yo...

By member10108441 On 10th May 2024

#69

Wrexham

A nice place to live not far from Chester and Llangollen. Plenty of bars and clubs. Fairly safe area....

By member884943 On 25th April 2023

#70

Keele

Bit further out from the town but buses run every 15mins and it’s not too far of a walk. There is pretty much everything you need on campus already to...

By member4109885 On 29th May 2024

#71

Northampton

I love it it’s very pretty and social...

By member8100942 On 16th February 2024

#72

Hatfield

It is a quiet but amazing town to take university....

By member986328 On 17th May 2023

Leeds

Leeds is a excellent city to study...

By member7120615 On 17th October 2024

Swindon

Solihull

Easy to get to Coventry, Birmingham and the airport! Then there’s start city not far away too...

By member1250312 On 7th August 2020

Abingdon

A quiet town with everything you need. Everything within a walk away including a shopping area and a large Tesco superstore....

By member843862 On 21st November 2019

Warrington

Yeovil

Since you are living at home you can go out as often or as little as you like. You can attend face to face tutorials or not as suits you. Early on sum...

By member649752 On 7th July 2020

Buckingham

The cost of living in this community is relatively fair. As a student, I refer to cook my meals so that I don’t spend a lot eating out; however eat ou...

By Oluwayomi On 18th October 2024

Kingston upon Thames

Kingston has shopping center which can meet daily needs...

By member5107341 On 24th April 2024

Inverness

Inverness is a great place to live....

By member858578 On 23rd May 2021

Stoke Gifford

It’s very easy to get around with the bus’s. So much so that I even sold my car as there was no need to keep it....

By member746879 On 20th March 2020

Doncaster

I didn’t live in Leeds I stayed at home. Leeds is a lovely city but everything is quite spaced out and if you’re staying at trinity it is quite the tr...

By Amy070196 On 13th September 2019

Hagley

fantastic area everything is within a 10min walk...

By member5109327 On 22nd May 2024

Watford

Great everything in my town is great...

By member11119839 On 15th October 2024

Gillingham

Thank you for everything. I am glad....

By member459926 On 10th June 2021

Romford

i would say you cant really have a nice night out because there's a lack of places and even if there are its filled with people who are bound to cause...

By member4122114 On 26th October 2024

Lampeter

Lampeter is a small, quiet village surrounded by countryside. There are a few cafes, pubs and restaurants but if you want more choice then Aberystwyt...

By member464617 On 5th December 2021

Penryn

Bus comes frequently. Not many clubs, but plenty of bars and of course, we have the beach!! Many many restaurants!!...

By Chubbs On 15th July 2015

Ormskirk

Really nice area, clean and tidy and overall lovely...

By member1089205 On 23rd July 2023

Bedford

Nothing much just my rating that’s...

By member6112983 On 31st July 2024

Maidstone

Eating out in the local area is expensive however as it is close to a university they offer student discount which helps a lot. There are many local m...

By member1385517 On 30th April 2023

Epsom

I have been commuting from home....

By member10105705 On 27th March 2024

Birkenhead

As the living crises go up this cannot be blames to a specific area. It is hard to keep up with everything but it is manageable....

By member12117009 On 1st October 2024

Milton Keynes

It's distance learning...

By member1349794 On 7th July 2020

Greenwich

Reasonable access to things like shops. Main pub is weatherspoons, the others are all really quite expensive. Food shopping you realistically need pub...

By member1064855 On 11th December 2021

Stafford

A lot of things like petrol are cheaper from where I live. There are lots of places to eat in Stafford, the nights out aren’t too bad either not as ma...

By member847285 On 12th April 2020

Grimsby

Unreliable buses, okay pricing but getting more expensive making it harder for students...

By member11103757 On 13th March 2024

Wigan

Decent place, has options for places to go...

By member12104263 On 15th March 2024

Walsall

Cheap accommodation (university dorms), but very little to do as the town is more geared towards young families and people with 9-5 jobs, not students...

By member565625 On 24th January 2022

Set yourself free. Set yourself free.