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Best Student Cities in the UK

29,946 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 the best city I have ever been to; I usually tell anyone it's the party capital of the UK. The people of the city are the kindest you can...

By member6236176 On 21st October 2026

Newcastle upon Tyne

Love this city, my hometown! Super affordable compared to other university cities, great nightlife, lovely student areas (Jesmond, Sandyford, Heaton) ...

By member5209007 On 23rd July 2026

Newcastle

Newcastle upon Tyne is a beautiful and lively city with a friendly atmosphere and a rich cultural history. I really enjoy living here because the city...

By member8 On 24th October 2026

Sheffield

Good WiFi and good staff and good rooms and good washing machines and good accommodation for all international students who want to live in private ho...

By member12238991 On 30th October 2026

Leeds

Everything is amazing in Leeds. I love the bus transport system; it is so efficient and practical that you don't even need a car! The nightlife is sup...

By member12238912 On 30th October 2026

Glasgow

Glasgow is a vibrant and welcoming city with beautiful architecture, rich history, and friendly people. It offers excellent universities, great restau...

By member7232423 On 9th October 2026

Nottingham

Nottingham trent is located right in the city centre which is amazing as you have everything on your doorstep. The local shops are 5 minutes away, tra...

By molshaw13 On 26th October 2026

Cardiff

Cardiff transport is probably the best out of all that I have experienced. St. David’s shopping centre has got all the shops you could ever wish for t...

By member7235101 On 16th October 2026

Manchester

Manchester is a vibrant and friendly city for international students. It has convenient public transport, plenty of cafes and shops, and a great atmos...

By member4237381 On 26th October 2026

#10

Belfast

Belfast is an absolutely incredible city that punches far above its weight. It perfectly blends a rich, complex history with a youthful, modern energy...

By member6236990 On 24th October 2026

#11

Birmingham

Living in Birmingham and studying at BCU has been a really special experience for me. Birmingham is such a diverse and lively city, and I love being s...

By member9238942 On 30th October 2026

#12

Wolverhampton

The cost of living while studying at the University of Wolverhampton can be challenging, especially with expenses such as food, transport, accommodati...

By member11236596 On 23rd October 2026

#13

Southampton

I had a good experience staying at this accommodation. The location was convenient, and the property was suitable for my needs as a student. The room ...

By Achu On 4th October 2026

#14

Edinburgh

Really good student accommodation overall. The location is convenient and makes it easy to get around Edinburgh, especially for uni and the city centr...

By member12228983 On 29th September 2026

#15

Preston

I am returning to the University of Lancashire for my doctorate after 17 years, and trust me, the experience I had with this university back in 2009 h...

By member7236960 On 24th October 2026

#16

Bristol

Bristol is a vibrant and welcoming city with a great balance between urban life and green spaces. It has excellent public transport, plenty of cafés, ...

By member7209049 On 24th July 2026

#17

Portsmouth

Portsmouth is a fantastic place to live, with great nightlife, plenty of shopping options, reliable public transport, and an affordable cost of living...

By member5197172 On 8th May 2026

#18

Dundee

When i came here, i was afraid of new things, new systems and networks. People here are great, nice and sympathetic. They let me know how things work ...

By member7206353 On 7th July 2026

#19

Aberdeen

Aberdeen is a brilliant student city with a great balance of education, community, and lifestyle. It has everything a student needs, from excellent un...

By member8205266 On 30th June 2026

#20

Leicester

Leicester offers a relatively affordable cost of living compared with major UK cities such as London. Dining out has various choices: cheap takeaways,...

By member12232911 On 11th October 2026

#21

Chester

Everything about Chester is great as the city centre is big but not too big compared to Manchester making it easier to walk everywhere and not needing...

By Lily Ratcliffe On 18th October 2026

#22

Swansea

Swansea is a nice student city with a relaxed atmosphere. One of the best things about living here is being close to the beach while still having shop...

By Bhavya_fem On 6th October 2026

#23

Lincoln

Small city has a more town feel but has everything you need. It has big super market chains and a high street with every shop you could need. Cost of ...

By member10235978 On 20th October 2026

#24

Salford

Public transport in Salford is fantastic, offering a well-connected network that makes getting around the city and into Manchester incredibly easy. Th...

By member6230873 On 6th October 2026

#25

Bournemouth

Living in Bournemouth has been a wonderful experience so far. It is a welcoming, vibrant city that offers a great balance between student life, social...

By member9236265 On 22nd October 2026

#26

Plymouth

Plymouth has been a good balance of pricing with everything you need around you. The Plymouth Hoe and the Barbican being perfect places to visit and m...

By member8207683 On 16th July 2026

#27

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

#28

Cheltenham

Great places great mode of transportation...

By Emmanuel Owhojowho On 14th October 2026

#29

York

I had a great experience staying here. The staff were friendly and helpful, the room was clean and comfortable, and the facilities were well maintaine...

By member4207988 On 18th July 2026

#30

Bath

Starting my BA in Business & Entrepreneurship at Bath Spa University has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. When I first moved to ...

By Deep On 17th April 2026

#31

Brighton

Brighton is a fantastic student city with a vibrant atmosphere, excellent restaurants, plenty of shopping options, and great public transport links. T...

By member13201869 On 5th June 2026

#32

West London

Great 24/h transport links from central. Many late night and 24/h food spots. A lot of different cuisines available. Not many late night spots for par...

By member6238999 On 30th October 2026

#33

Uxbridge

Good transport links into London...

By member9187264 On 19th March 2026

#34

Sunderland

So easy to access via public transport and also the course still allows you to have free time should you wish to want to go out shopping or to enjoy t...

By member12234991 On 16th October 2026

#35

Guildford

In Guildford everything is quite close and convenient. There’s a nice shopping centre, a cinema, lots of food shops, clubs, etc. It’s a very peaceful ...

By ethannp9 On 5th August 2026

#36

Derby

I don’t feel the need personally to use public transport often, but I know that busses for example are very frequent. The Derbion is a lovely shopping...

By member12234318 On 14th October 2026

#37

Hull

Hull is located in East Yorkshire, and its geographical location is very good, and the weather is often sunny, but I hope the bus can arrive at the st...

By Thomas.M.Cheng On 23rd October 2026

#38

South West London

London, is big and lively. It has famous places, good transport, and many cultures. Sometimes crowded and expensive, but exciting and full of opportun...

By member4192538 On 17th April 2026

#39

Reading

The university is well-connected by public transport, making it easy to get around and explore. Reading is a lovely town with a friendly atmosphere, p...

By member5238568 On 29th October 2026

#40

Huddersfield

Because it’s a smaller town the cost of living isn’t as high as it would be in the bigger towns like Manchester ! Also every thing is in a walking dis...

By U2675803 On 7th October 2026

#41

Coventry

The location in Coventry is brilliant. Nights out are great — lots of bars, restaurants and student spots are easy to reach. Shopping is very convenie...

By member11203025 On 12th June 2026

#42

North London

Campus is in Ealing and great connections with local community also, such as Ealing Music Therapy, to do voluntary work, as well as charity shops such...

By ferzana On 18th June 2026

#43

Central London

As an Accounting and Finance student at the University of Westminster, my university experience has been focused on developing my financial knowledge,...

By member10237899 On 27th October 2026

#44

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

#45

Durham

Durham is very nice and quiet town, I prefer small town more than big cities. Therefore Durham was the great choice for me. I can get access to everyt...

By JennyL On 23rd October 2026

#46

Canterbury

Canterbury is a great fit for student life.. Cost of living is reasonable compared to bigger UK cities, though it's still worth budgeting carefully as...

By member9208364 On 21st July 2026

#47

East London

There is great connectivity with respect to all modes of transport ranging from tube(Jubilee Line, Elizabeth Line) and Buses to all campuses of UCL as...

By member10236955 On 24th October 2026

#48

Stirling

Stirling is a historic and vibrant city in central Scotland, beautifully positioned where the Lowlands meet the Highlands along the River Forth. Often...

By member5235549 On 19th October 2026

#49

Exeter

Exeter has genuinely been a lovely place to live as a student. I particularly enjoy the balance it offers between city life and a relatively comfortab...

By member13239044 On 1st November 2026

#50

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

#51

Middlesbrough

The cost of living in the town is good and there are stores for different ethnic shopping which makes the town fun to stay...

By member5235469 On 19th October 2026

#52

High Wycombe

It’s a bit far away from home....

By member478953 On 20th February 2023

#53

Bradford

All is good and fun and i enjoy living here...

By member6237028 On 24th October 2026

#54

Lancaster

Option 1 — Warm & detailed: "Lancaster is an absolute hidden gem of a city! Despite being small, it has such a rich historical character that makes i...

By member9208881 On 23rd July 2026

#55

Gloucester

Lots around the area. Loving it!...

By Gemma222 On 13th October 2026

#56

Loughborough

Well connected town, busses to Leicester and Nottingham are great. My favourite place to eat is Rolling Smoke and the breakfasts at Green Bowl are che...

By wintrfox On 24th April 2026

#57

South East London

Living in London is a great experience, with excellent public transport connections that make travelling around the city convenient and easy. There ar...

By Ren357 On 14th October 2026

#58

Keele

Great place to study and explore....

By member10204661 On 24th June 2026

Bromley

Very sociable area with interconnected community...

By member5168275 On 1st December 2025

Dorchester

I wouldn’t have asked for a better place to be. So lovely, lively and there’s are a lot of fun things to do and places to visit. I’m grateful I get to...

By Wizzy On 27th October 2026

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

i like it with good shopping and people...

By member13207768 On 16th July 2026

Solihull

Great for everyone and everything...

By member11238259 On 28th October 2026

Timperley

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

By member9161630 On 14th October 2025

Poole

The staff are very helpful and friendly, I feel safe here. The facilities are looked after well, I've been here for 3 years and I highly recommend!...

By Amyyyy On 6th October 2026

Coleraine

good times have been had close to nightclubs and popular restaurants...

By member9163768 On 3rd June 2026

Kingston upon Thames

Kingston upon Thames is a charming and vibrant town that offers a perfect blend of history, culture, and modern living. Located along the River Thames...

By member8205432 On 1st July 2026

Swindon

Fair cost of living and wide range of things to do...

By Bibek0912 On 25th October 2026

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

Scunthorpe

Not much around me however the nightlife and the tight nit community makes it worth it...

By member8225422 On 18th September 2026

Devon

So good so great so amazing so good...

By williamashraf On 13th May 2026

Rotherham

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

By member12167902 On 27th November 2025

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

Bognor Regis

The free transportation provided by Stagecoach is honestly much appreciated. It really comes in handy. The High Street has the shopping stores which i...

By member6233835 On 14th October 2026

Stafford

Really good accommodation with great facilities...

By member13160744 On 27th November 2025

Burnley

Burnley is a lovely and convenient town for students, with everything close to the university. There are plenty of places to eat out, cafés to relax i...

By member12234970 On 16th October 2026

Hartlepool

i currently live at home but have found other student are often close by due to the short proximity of the campus as well as the student union being c...

By member4227906 On 24th September 2026

Bury

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

By member5143787 On 25th March 2025

Doncaster

Doncaster is good, good places to hangout...

By member7234370 On 15th October 2026

Stoke Gifford

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

By member543125 On 4th November 2019

Milton Keynes

This is a great spot for a night out. You will find fantastic local restaurants here with great food. Enjoy a fun evening filled with delicious meals!...

By member10194024 On 24th April 2026

Warrington

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

By member9143627 On 25th March 2025

Eastbourne

The town is welcoming, peaceful, and well connected, with good transport links, essential amenities, and a friendly community. It provides a safe and ...

By member8206839 On 9th July 2026

Londonderry

I feel very safe and comfortable living here. The building has good security measures, and the staff are always available when needed. It's a great ch...

By member9232359 On 9th October 2026

Barnsley

Its a nice little town with great transport links to Sheffield...

By member12228711 On 28th September 2026

Hagley

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

By member5109327 On 22nd May 2024

Chelmsford

I like the facilities and services here...

By member7199911 On 22nd May 2026

Gillingham

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By member13236617 On 23rd October 2026

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

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

Carlisle

Cost of living is as high as any other city in UK Rent is on average around £600 a month for a room in a shared house Food is expensive in comparison ...

By member13236607 On 23rd October 2026

Oldham

Amazing town lots of area to eat out...

By member4237166 On 25th October 2026

Dagenham

I have had an extremely positive experience during my time at the University of Greenwich. The university has a very warm and conducive environment, a...

By member6238818 On 29th October 2026

Yeovil

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By member7184109 On 2nd March 2026

Farnham

good public transport, awful nights out...

By member9178342 On 8th February 2026

Henley

Everything is connected beautifully!...

By member4233893 On 14th October 2026

Carmarthen

A lot of people who are sharing connections ideas and opportunities as a...

By member665016 On 15th December 2021

Southport

Nice area and nice people and good money...

By member10225792 On 18th September 2026

Bedford

I’ve had a really positive experience staying in this student accommodation. The rooms are clean, comfortable, and well-maintained, with everything ne...

By member6195274 On 30th April 2026

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

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