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Best Student Cities in the UK

27,045 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

Living in Newcastle upon Tyne has been an amazing experience. The city is friendly, vibrant, and full of character, with great nightlife, culture, and...

By member9182971 On 25th February 2026

Newcastle

Don't go on nights out so can't really say, things are expensive here but it's expensive everywhere so it's not that much of an issue, public transpor...

By member12184493 On 4th March 2026

Liverpool

liverpool one contains most of the big retail shops and restaurants - variety of different types to suit different budgets. situated in the city centr...

By member10176583 On 26th February 2026

Leeds

Very good The apartment is modern, clean, and well managed, with friendly staff and a convenient location. I especially love the fully equipped gym, w...

By member6179636 On 12th February 2026

Glasgow

Glasgow offers great value for students compared to other UK cities. Rent, groceries, and utility costs are much more affordable than London or the so...

By member10185461 On 10th March 2026

Sheffield

I’ve had a very positive experience at Bailey Street Student Accommodation, the location is perfect for students, with everything within walking dista...

By Avaz1999 On 23rd February 2026

Cardiff

Very expensive to live here, lots of good shops. only one public park which I found strange. Some of the people are rude. Lots of traffic noise, but c...

By member11179609 On 12th February 2026

Birmingham

Birmingham is a vibrant, diverse city with something for everyone. It has a great mix of culture, nightlife, shopping, and food, with plenty of afford...

By ope On 26th February 2026

Nottingham

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Nottingham is an amazing student city. It’s lively, affordable compared to many other UK cities, and has a great mix of nightlife, green spaces...

By member13184171 On 3rd March 2026

#10

Manchester

I have had a good experience living at Vita Student so far. The building is clean, safe, and the facilities are well maintained, which makes the envir...

By member8186296 On 14th March 2026

#11

Belfast

I love Belfast, ecen before I came before I came here for uni. Everything is so close together and my university (ulster) is right beside everything....

By member7168614 On 3rd December 2025

#12

Bristol

Living in Bristol is an absolute delight! This vibrant city blends historic charm with creative energy, boasting stunning harbourside views, colourful...

By member7176434 On 3rd February 2026

#13

Southampton

This apartment is absolutely amazing! The spacious layout and modern finishes create such a comfortable and stylish living space. The natural light fl...

By member13169803 On 11th December 2025

#14

Edinburgh

Edinburgh is a beautiful and historic city with a unique atmosphere. The architecture is stunning, and walking through the Old Town feels like steppin...

By member13184757 On 5th March 2026

#15

Dundee

I don’t really go on nights out but when I have they have been fun, I don’t use public transportation other than trains but they always seem to be gre...

By member5168763 On 4th December 2025

#16

Lincoln

So reasonably priced no matter where you go, because the city is mainly built around catering to the students (in my opinion) it is so fairly priced, ...

By member7167980 On 27th November 2025

#17

Preston

Welcome to the north east of England where it rains everyday and it’s cold yeah you probably thinking where is Preston well by train is 30 mins from M...

By member11169847 On 6th January 2026

#18

Portsmouth

Living in Portsmouth as a student has been a really comfortable and enjoyable experience for me. The cost of living is reasonable, especially compared...

By Indu kannan On 18th December 2025

#19

Aberdeen

Aberdeen is a great city to live and study in. It has a calm and welcoming atmosphere, which makes it easy to settle in, especially as a student. The ...

By member10176585 On 3rd February 2026

#20

Swansea

wow swansea is so good!! my favourite thing is seeing the fanta fruit twist at the front desk in the seren building, all neat in a hamper. i wouldn’t ...

By member12168406 On 1st December 2025

#21

Royal Leamington Spa

Great access to all areas with stagecoach bus network, Close to university of warwick with great social third spaces like cafes, stores, clubs, etc...

By member13183868 On 1st March 2026

#22

Leicester

Leicester is a vibrant and welcoming city with a rich multicultural crowd that makes it feel lively and inclusive. The public transport system is very...

By Sumit On 26th January 2026

#23

Chester

Nights out in Chester are definitely one of my favourite parts about the University experience. There is one main club in the city but there are many ...

By member12186653 On 17th March 2026

#24

Cheltenham

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

By member9161653 On 14th October 2025

#25

Salford

Living near Salford has been a convenient and enjoyable experience. The area is quiet but well connected, with easy transport links to Manchester city...

By member7162213 On 21st February 2026

#26

Bath

I love Bath!!! There’s always so many great things to do. When it comes to shopping whilst there is a good selection of places, having Bristol nearby ...

By member0505105 On 17th February 2026

#27

Derby

Derby is a great place to live with plenty to do, alongside many nature sites. In the City, there’s a 3 story shopping mall called the Derbion. It’s a...

By Sxph22 On 5th February 2026

#28

Durham

Durham University is prestigious and academically strong, with a beautiful historic campus and supportive community. It offers a great balance of trad...

By member5182179 On 20th February 2026

#29

Canterbury

i love living in canterbury as a student, there is lots to do for everyone. amazing shopping experience and varied night life for everyone. everything...

By member5176550 On 3rd February 2026

#30

Ormskirk

Good town nice and quiet if you don't like the noise of a big city. Not really much to do around town but your a short train away from Liverpool city ...

By member9180563 On 15th February 2026

#31

Bournemouth

Great town all year round. Lovely location with beautiful beaches. Town Centre is slightly run down but there is action taking place this year to look...

By member7179442 On 11th February 2026

#32

Reading

Reading itself is a lively, welcoming town that offers everything a student could want. It has a great mix of modern shopping centres, cafés, restaura...

By member13169877 On 11th December 2025

#33

York

As an international student, I’ve found York to be a great place to live: people are generally polite and respectful, and the city feels well organise...

By member5181976 On 20th February 2026

#34

Central London

Living and studying in London has been one of the most exciting and enriching experiences of my life. The city offers a unique combination of academic...

By ID 250059618 On 16th February 2026

#35

Norwich

Really good to go around here, never bored in norwich. The nightlife is great but the conditions aren’t great....

By member10182736 On 24th February 2026

#36

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

#37

Guildford

Guildford is great, can sometimes be a bit expensive but lots of great shopping places that are more premium. I like Guildford it's a small wee town b...

By member10173926 On 21st January 2026

#38

Uxbridge

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

By member1061527 On 2nd August 2021

#39

Hull

really good place to live near the ms...

By member6142904 On 8th July 2025

#40

Plymouth

Really good! i’ve always come to plymouth as i live nearby anyways - lots of things to do here from b- pottery painting - to bowling - to clubbing - t...

By Tamara0407 On 2nd March 2026

#41

Coventry

Living in Coventry has been a really lovely experience. It’s a friendly, diverse, and welcoming city with a great mix of history, culture, and modern ...

By member10179120 On 10th February 2026

#42

Brighton

I am currently staying at Hollingbury House, Brighton, and my experience has been outstanding, which is why I have already rebooked for next year. The...

By Blessy On 20th November 2025

#43

West London

I miss home. Bristol is a lot dirtier compared to London which is surprising. However the people here are a lot nicer...

By member7177395 On 5th February 2026

#44

Worcester

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

By member12158574 On 29th September 2025

#45

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

#46

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

#47

North London

North London is a lively and diverse area with a great mix of green spaces, local cafés, and vibrant high streets. It’s well connected by public trans...

By member4176775 On 4th February 2026

#48

East London

London is a good place to live and study. It has good transport links, useful facilities, and many opportunities for education and work. Overall, it p...

By 1111m On 9th March 2026

#49

Oxford

The city has a nice atmosphere, friendly people, and everything you need as a student. Most things are easy to get around and the area feels safe and ...

By Priyxnshu On 8th December 2025

#50

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

#51

High Wycombe

It’s a bit far away from home....

By member478953 On 20th February 2023

#52

Huddersfield

Huddersfield is a really good place for students — it’s welcoming, affordable, and has a great community feel. The town itself isn’t too big, so it’s ...

By member09090909 On 17th October 2025

#53

South East London

I love living in London! SE is great in my opinion, live just next to Brixton so have access all the time to good Jamaican food, also good for a night...

By member5181232 On 17th February 2026

#54

Lancaster

Nice place and calm environment people are good here . There’s no night life in here the city is closed after 8 but there are good shops and restauran...

By member9181496 On 18th February 2026

#55

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

#56

Colchester

Living in this small town is peaceful and relaxing. The environment is clean and quiet, with friendly neighbors and fresh air. Life here is simple and...

By member13181675 On 19th February 2026

#57

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

#58

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

#59

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

#60

Stirling

Stirling is a beautiful city with very interesting places to visit and have fun...

By member988457 On 30th June 2023

#61

Wrexham

Honestly it's great here, towns busy with lots of shops. Plenty to do in general. Nights out are really fun with a big three floor club 'Atik', as wel...

By member5168032 On 28th November 2025

#62

St Andrews

st andrews is a wonderful place to be...

By fsc2002 On 27th January 2026

#63

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

#64

Bangor

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

By member6161296 On 14th October 2025

#65

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

Bromley

Very sociable area with interconnected community...

By member5168275 On 1st December 2025

Swindon

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

Weston-Super-Mare

good brilliant great excellent...

By member12139722 On 25th February 2025

Londonderry

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By member11179513 On 11th February 2026

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

Scunthorpe

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

By member11136511 On 13th February 2025

Bury

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

By member5143787 On 25th March 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

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

Kingston upon Thames

Kingston is a lovely place. I love this place....

By member5175608 On 30th January 2026

Rotherham

we are very close to sheffield and it’s a very close knit community...

By member12167902 On 27th November 2025

Hertfordshire

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

By member6125262 On 29th November 2024

Oban South and the Isles

Oban South and the Isles is a beautiful and peaceful place to live, with a reasonable cost of living and a strong sense of community. It has great pla...

By member11183518 On 27th February 2026

Stafford

Really good accommodation with great facilities...

By member13160744 On 27th November 2025

Isleworth

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

By member13157684 On 22nd September 2025

Stoke Gifford

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

By member543125 On 4th November 2019

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

Gloucester

Central location, close to the city centre...

By member11138542 On 20th February 2025

Milton Keynes

Nice town very happy and peaceful and quiet...

By member8183337 On 26th February 2026

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

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

Gillingham

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

By member459926 On 10th June 2021

Burnley

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By member5126166 On 6th December 2024

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

Watford

Great everything in my town is great...

By member11119839 On 15th 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

Yeovil

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By member7184109 On 2nd March 2026

Farnham

good public transport, awful nights out...

By member9178342 On 8th February 2026

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

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

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

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