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Best Student Cities in the UK

24,962 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!

Newcastle upon Tyne

Newcastle is a dynamic, character-filled city perfect for students, professionals, and explorers. Whether you’re drawn by its rich heritage, vibrant c...

By member5151994 On 21st June 2025

Liverpool

10/10 nights out, many different places to choose from to eat, drink and more. Shopping is relatively affordable (not really) but there’s many places ...

By member7137021 On 14th February 2025

Leeds

My first two weeks in Leeds have been quietly lovely, mostly thanks to my little supermarket runs. Near my accommodation is a cozy Morrisons—its produ...

By member13160273 On 8th October 2025

Sheffield

I enjoy the verity of restaurants and bars that Sheffield offers and the green spaces/ parks available. The cost of living is one of the lowest in the...

By member4150059 On 31st May 2025

Cardiff

Student life is really nice especially for a freshie and someone new. The welsh people are really nice to meet and talk to and the capital of Wales ha...

By Ahsan Basharat On 15th January 2025

Belfast

Belfast is very cozy,friendly and chill atmosphere here peoples are very good here. I love Belfast and the life over here....

By member4109681 On 27th May 2024

Glasgow

Glasgow is a vibrant and welcoming city full of culture, music, and warmth. The people are incredibly friendly, the atmosphere is lively, and there’s ...

By member9158842 On 30th September 2025

Nottingham

From a personal point of view, what attracts me to HSBC is its truly international nature. With its strong presence both in the UK and across Asia, th...

By member10158442 On 27th September 2025

Birmingham

Birmingham is my home town, so I'm a little biased, but I think its a great city with a lovely mix of 'big city' with lots of people, facilities, shop...

By member4146083 On 18th April 2025

#10

Newcastle

Newcastle is a vibrant and welcoming city with a perfect mix of historic charm and modern energy. The city centre is lively, offering great shopping, ...

By member5151392 On 21st June 2025

#11

Hull

really good place to live near the ms...

By member6142904 On 8th July 2025

#12

Norwich

Transport is amazing here to train station and buses...

By member13104811 On 20th March 2024

#13

Manchester

The cost of living is reasonable, with affordable public transport and diverse dining options. Eating out offers good value, and travel is convenient,...

By member11154767 On 14th August 2025

#14

Edinburgh

Edinburgh is an amazing city to live and study in. It’s beautiful, historic, and full of culture, with a friendly atmosphere and great public transpor...

By member12161734 On 15th October 2025

#15

Southampton

Ubers, taxis and buses are the easiest and best way to get around in Southampton you don’t have to wait long for any of them to get you anywhere you’d...

By member11158579 On 29th September 2025

#16

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

#17

Royal Leamington Spa

Love the services and the accommodation...

By member1258760 On 25th May 2021

#18

Lincoln

Lincoln is a nice, small city. The city centre is only a 5 minute walk away from campus. It has a good blend of history (up near the cathedral and cas...

By member12145016 On 6th April 2025

#19

Bristol

Rent is extortionate and private student flats are in terrible disrepair, but the city itself is a lovely place to live...

By member9157718 On 22nd September 2025

#20

Chester

There’s so many places to eat out in Chester which is really good as uni students because you want somewhere that isn’t too expensive and there’s lots...

By member4157782 On 23rd September 2025

#21

Aberdeen

Great bus links that are regular. Plenty of places to eat, with a range of diffrent types Lots of pubs and clubs near by...

By member4106986 On 19th April 2024

#22

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

#23

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

#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

Plymouth

Close to both Dartmoor and Cornwall, both easy as pie to get to. Walkable city, great sea views and amazing people! Shout out the Plymouth sound natio...

By member10144860 On 4th April 2025

#26

Preston

Preston is such an affordable and great place to live everywhere as walking distance and everyone is so friendly...

By member13107842 On 1st May 2024

#27

Dundee

The night life here is on another level. There is loads of pubs and local restaurants to go for your favorite meals. Getting there is no issue as th...

By member893833 On 27th October 2023

#28

Swansea

Swansea is a busy place, there are loads of shops and transport available but sometimes the transport is hard to access because of the demand. However...

By member10161141 On 13th October 2025

#29

Derby

You don't really need to use public transport. The great thing about Derby is that it is a small city. You can reach from one end to the other in abou...

By member10125273 On 29th November 2024

#30

Leicester

The city gives an urban vibe with lesser cost of living. Its has the city centre where you can shop for or get anything you need. The social life is s...

By member7140832 On 1st March 2025

#31

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

#32

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

#33

Ormskirk

Lovely place to live as a student and I am considering sticking around...

By member1396790 On 15th February 2025

#34

Reading

Cost of living here is similar to London. But it is more relaxed and peaceful here. We have Oracle shopping mall and town complex which has its fair s...

By member5158076 On 24th September 2025

#35

Exeter

The room is big, with good lighting, and the kitchen is quick and easy. Well ventilated and quiet surrounding. The community is good and every activit...

By member13105560 On 26th March 2024

#36

Cheltenham

Really Great town. Is quite expensive but I think everything is expensive on a uni budget...

By member9161653 On 14th October 2025

#37

Bath

I use the bus every day pretty much, to get to and from my campus as I live privately, and I love it. Everyone is very chill and friendly, the bus dri...

By member13148524 On 15th May 2025

#38

Uxbridge

Great little town, plenty to do and at reasonable prices :))...

By member1061527 On 2nd August 2021

#39

Coventry

I have a very good experience here. And I’ve also met good people here, the staff, the neighbors are all very nice....

By member8106157 On 5th April 2024

#40

London

Apart from the cold and grey weather,London it is a city where you can live at the fullest, it makes you grow and offer many opportunities. I love Lon...

By member7157761 On 22nd September 2025

#41

Worcester

Worcester is a great place to live, a balanced environment of city and suburbs....

By member12158574 On 29th September 2025

#42

Cambridge

Costly, but worth it. £1 buses everywhere with a tiger card, decent selection of clubbing with insane deals on drinks like 5 for 5 at mash, you can sh...

By member10157472 On 19th September 2025

#43

Brighton

Everything is nice the place and staff...

By member4101405 On 20th February 2024

#44

Salford

My favorite place to go is Tesco supermarket. It's very big. I often take the No. 50 bus. Not only is it free, but it's also very convenient as it can...

By member10161152 On 16th October 2025

#45

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

#46

Durham

clean, lot of nice cafes and bars, pretty...

By member4161323 On 14th October 2025

#47

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

#48

Sunderland

Sunderland is growing as smart city it is developing many things. such as transporting, industrial revolution, and other facilities such as big major ...

By member6142655 On 17th March 2025

#49

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

#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

High Wycombe

It’s a bit far away from home....

By member478953 On 20th February 2023

#52

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

#53

Canterbury

Canterbury is a nice city with plenty of choice for food and shopping. As I am on meal plan, my cost of living is currently quite economical and affor...

By member11146478 On 22nd April 2025

#54

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

#55

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

#56

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

#57

Falmouth

The perfect student friendly town....

By member594323 On 31st October 2023

#58

Huddersfield

F f ff f f f f ff f f f f f f f f f f ff. ff...

By member997493 On 17th January 2024

#59

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

#60

Colchester

really fun and fantastic experience would highly recommend okayyyy...

By member10111265 On 13th June 2024

#61

East London

There are plenty of student discounts available, but the biggest expense has to be transport. Oyster cards and rail cards offer some discounts but the...

By member794102 On 27th October 2023

#62

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

#63

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

#64

Bolton

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

By member593437 On 25th October 2023

#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

Best town to live in if you are a nature attraction person...

By member6161296 On 14th October 2025

Bury

great and i love it so much thank yo...

By member5143787 On 25th March 2025

Weston-Super-Mare

good brilliant great excellent...

By member12139722 On 25th February 2025

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

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

Swindon

Scunthorpe

so many things to do and plenty of things too do...

By member11136511 On 13th February 2025

Greenwich

Greenwich is a great place to study – it’s got a nice mix of history, parks, and riverside views, while still being close to central London...

By member13158354 On 26th September 2025

Timperley

Excellent place to live, so much to do....

By member9161630 On 14th October 2025

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

Burnley

Nenenennenenens evened Jane jenen...

By member5126166 On 6th December 2024

Warrington

It has a lot of good links to different cities...

By member9143627 On 25th March 2025

Leeds

The town is charming, peaceful, and well-developed. It has friendly people, beautiful scenery, and a strong community. Public services are efficient, ...

By member10139727 On 25th February 2025

Hertfordshire

Great shopping and food and transport where I live but very high cost of living...

By member6125262 On 29th November 2024

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

Isleworth

london is very expensive. specially the travel is too expensive. its difficult to manage expenses...

By member13157684 On 22nd September 2025

Inverness

Inverness is a great place to live....

By member858578 On 23rd May 2021

Kingston upon Thames

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

By member5107341 On 24th April 2024

Stoke Gifford

The best City You can go by bus to the centre in 15 minutes...

By member543125 On 4th November 2019

Watford

Great everything in my town is great...

By member11119839 On 15th October 2024

Hagley

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

By member5109327 On 22nd May 2024

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

Bognor Regis

In Bognor, they have a lot of charity shops as well as a savers, which can really help for those struggling with cost of living. As well as, it has go...

By member8160201 On 7th October 2025

Gloucester

Central location, close to the city centre...

By member11138542 On 20th February 2025

Gillingham

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

By member459926 On 10th June 2021

Hartlepool

Cheap, smaller Northern town. Transport and food/shopping options are good and close together. Because its a smaller town though the nightlife is pret...

By member7158453 On 27th September 2025

Chichester

Needs more transport connections but otherwise lovely place to live! Lots of shops, cafes and parks, events are always happening!...

By member6157817 On 23rd September 2025

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

I was dismissed from studying due to discrimination of a disability they took my write s to study the tutors are poor and I received no response and a...

By member639461 On 18th June 2019

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

Loughborough

such a great town to be in, a small town but so cozy...

By ramerimran On 8th October 2025

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

Carmarthen

It is an amazing place to be,it is full of life there is easy access to buses and trains. There are a wide range of shops, restaurants and bars. It ha...

By member758666 On 24th May 2021

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