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Best Student Cities in the UK

24,490 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

Liverpool is an amazing city. The food in all the restaurants is amazing with such a variety of food (Asian, American, Italian, Turkish etc). The nigh...

By member10108790 On 16th May 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 and diverse city with a rich culture, history and a modern business atmosphere. As an important economic centre of the UK, Leeds of...

By member5110167 On 2nd June 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 a city that is great value for money and all round fun. West street provides a great night out in the city centre where you don’t have to...

By member6111129 On 12th June 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

Nottingham

I recently stayed at nova Student Accommodation and was blown away by the exceptional service provided by Emma, one of the concierge team members. Fro...

By member8108191 On 8th May 2024

Glasgow

Glasgow is a vibrant and charming city that combines a long history, rich culture and modern vitality. The city is famous for its unique style and fri...

By member10105930 On 2nd April 2024

Birmingham

I’m so glad I live here for this year , it is a good apartment!and I meet a lot of new friends,I will recommend here to other people for no doubt!hope...

By member7106233 On 8th April 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

Manchester

The city of Manchester is a dynamic blend of culture, history, and modernity. From iconic music venues to rich industrial heritage, there's always som...

By member10102853 On 4th March 2024

#13

Royal Leamington Spa

This small town is very cozy and comfortable to live in. Nothing is out of reach, very accessible. Very easy to get all basic necessities and more. Th...

By member1163738 On 11th November 2021

#14

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

#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

Wonderful place to live in. Very kind and approachable people. Have never experienced such kindness. Will forever be grateful....

By member5111840 On 25th June 2024

#18

York

beautiful city - love it.................................................................................................................................

By member690342 On 22nd August 2023

#19

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

#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

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

#22

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

#23

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

#24

Bolton

Bolton is a nice place to stay, it’s city centre has the university and lots of places to shop, eat and relax. It’s also close to Manchester....

By member1272611 On 21st October 2022

#25

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

#26

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

#27

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

#28

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

#29

London

Grand Felda House is a clean and well maintained accommodation. The staff is nice and helpful. The gym and swimming pool are well maintained. The room...

By member10107872 On 1st May 2024

#30

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

#31

South West London

Very nice to live here, because of the super conveniences to all the supermarkets and restaurants nearby...

By member1290571 On 29th August 2023

#32

Plymouth

Lovely location for a university. You have the plym and tamar very close so if you or a friend own a car not too far to enjoy the views or go paddlebo...

By member790100 On 12th August 2023

#33

Uxbridge

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

By member1061527 On 2nd August 2021

#34

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

#35

High Wycombe

It’s a bit far away from home....

By member478953 On 20th February 2023

#36

Derby

not the biggest city which does me perfect. loads of good shops with stuff at reasonable prices. uni bus is free. pop world and mosh are good nights o...

By member5111933 On 28th June 2024

#37

Cambridge

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

By member1375268 On 19th January 2023

#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

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

#40

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

#41

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

#42

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

#43

Durham

An expensive uni town, but somewhat expected given the ratio of private to state school education. Going out options are plentiful and lots of shoppin...

By member1192051 On 8th October 2023

#44

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

#45

East London

Cost of living is ludicrous. I’m from Liverpool so I try to go home to save money as much as possible. Night life isn’t great - have to spend at least...

By member1390126 On 14th August 2023

#46

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

#47

Sunderland

Compared to canada its very cheap. However here i feel like sometimes food is costly and some grocery stores are a lot more expensive than others. Pub...

By member592338 On 11th October 2023

#48

Salford

The cost of living in Salford, like any other city, can vary depending on what you spend and location of where you are either accommodation or shared ...

By member1394000 On 27th October 2023

#49

Worcester

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

By member769854 On 7th July 2022

#50

Winchester

It is a very peaceful city with an unparalleled environment and climate that is more comfortable and pleasant than many large cities and is ideal for ...

By member784206 On 14th April 2023

#51

Hull

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

By member985972 On 10th May 2023

#52

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

#53

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

#54

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

#55

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

#56

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

#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

Huddersfield

A small city that is suitable for living may have a poor shopping experience, but people are very friendly and not as noisy as other cities. Overall, ...

By member1290522 On 28th August 2023

#59

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

#60

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

#61

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

#62

North London

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

By member10111108 On 12th June 2024

#63

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

#64

Bangor

The nights out in Bangor are absolutely amazing especially Wednesday night especially academi and castle, bus travel and trian travel can easily and c...

By member791119 On 14th September 2023

#65

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

#66

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

#67

Luton

Luton is a small city and with a wide range of communities. The best part of it is that it has a close airport and it’s well connected to London and o...

By member1386968 On 30th May 2023

#68

Hatfield

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

By member986328 On 17th May 2023

#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

Eastbourne

Warrington

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

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

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

Birkenhead

Stoke Gifford

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

By member543125 On 4th November 2019

Heslington

Living in York: Friendly, Expensive and Small. I love the city, one of the best places in England. Super friendly, food is cheap/expensive depending o...

By member1347364 On 16th April 2020

Buckingham

Close to shops and public transport....

By member1379747 On 27th February 2023

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

Gillingham

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

By member459926 On 10th June 2021

Newcastle

I'm leaving nights out blank because i don't go out. Great value for money for the accommodation and what you have in the area. Two/three central tra...

By member11108590 On 14th May 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

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

Bedford

The nights out let down the score, however the Hub is a great place to meet people...

By member10112137 On 3rd July 2024

Middlesbrough

Is okay a lot to do so never really get bored...

By member9104715 On 19th March 2024

Epsom

I have been commuting from home....

By member10105705 On 27th March 2024

Chichester

Chichester City Centre has majority of the shops that you want in the high street, With also restaurants and pubs in the city centre its very ideal....

By member673142 On 8th November 2022

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

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

Wigan

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

By member12104263 On 15th March 2024

Grimsby

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

By member11103757 On 13th March 2024