Living in Leeds
With two universities, Leeds Metropolitan University and the University of Leeds, and a well-renowned student nightlife, you really should be considering Leeds as a place to study.
Top 10 Tips for Students in Leeds...
1. Pub crawl. You haven’t experienced student life in Leeds until you’ve done the Otley Run – the infamous fancy dress pub crawl. Add it to your to-do list. And move it to the top.
2. Summer time. There are plenty of reasons to stick around in Leeds during the summer – there’s the vibrant Leeds Carnival (Europe’s oldest West Indian carnival) and of course the epic Leeds Festival to name but a couple. Warn your parents now that you’re not coming home!
3. Hungry? If you and your mates can’t agree on a restaurant, try Red Hot World Buffet in The Light centre for an all-you-can-eat buffet in a whole range of international cuisines. That should settle it then.
4. Entertainment. The Leeds Light Night in October is an evening of free performances and exhibitions around the city. It’s the perfect introduction to Leeds and very entertaining.
5. Headingley. Head to Headingley for pretty much everything a student needs – from shops and cafes to launderettes to pubs and bars.
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6. Discount. Visit studentbeans.com/leeds/offers for some awesome deals around the city, including discounts at many popular shops, cafes and restaurants as well as special offers on entertainment and experiences.
7. First Direct Arena. For an unforgettable night save up your pennies and visit the recently-opened First Direct Arena for music, comedy, dance or sport – whatever takes your fancy. There are some legendary acts and huge names already said to be booked in for the near future so keep an eye on the website.
8. Travelling? If you’re travelling on a budget don’t forget to check the Megabus website before spending a small fortune on train tickets or petrol. You can get a ticket to London and many other destinations for just £1 if you time it right.
9. Public transport. It’s probably not worth bringing a car unless you have to – parking is tricky and anyway public transport is excellent in Leeds. There’s a free bus service that will get you to several places around the city, and others that cost only 50p including a night bus that will take you home from the Leeds Uni Student Union. Class.
10. Meal out? For a meal out take a browse around Burley. There are lots of pubs and restaurants where you can enjoy a wide variety of cuisines. Try a couple out and you’ll know where to take the parents (the most expensive one, obviously, as they’ll be paying).
Student Food
- The Drydock: It’s a boat. A bar inside a big blue and yellow boat. It’s not even near any water! We don’t know why they did it, but we think it’s a pretty awesome idea. A student favourite, this is a cheap and cheerful place to start a night out, or play a few rounds of pool with a burger standing by. Lovely stuff.
- Neon Cactus: Spicy Mexican food with a twist. The décor is great and – wait, what do you mean you’ve never tried a chocolate-filled tortilla?
- Simpson’s: Very close to campus, these guys sell 36 varieties of pizza! That should keep you going for a while.
Sports fans...
- National: Leeds has teams in all the big national sports. Leeds United football club practises at Beeston, and the The Leeds Rhino rugby league team plays at Headingly stadium, as do Leeds Carnegie rugby union team, and the Yorkshire County Cricket Team. Frankly, you may as will just set up camp there.
- Social: Climbers will love the Leeds Wall indoor facility. The 229 Bus towards Huddersfield will get you there. Less well known, but equally amazing in its own bizarre way, is the City of Leeds Synchronised Swimming Club. You may recoil at the thought of flowery hats and pointy toes, but there is something strangely hypnotic about it…