Leeds
242 Reviews by Students #42 out of 422 University locations
The North is super cheap. Being a southerner, I was very pleasantly surprised by leeds. It's a very modern city with tonnes to do. Great shopping and restaurants, and has some of the best nightlife in the country.
By member1210001 On 4th July 15
Study in Leeds
Leeds is home to three universities, the University of Leeds, Leeds Trinity University and Leeds Beckett University.
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University of Leeds
The University of Leeds was established in 1904 and is one of the largest higher education institutions in the UK. The university is a member of the Russell Group of universities and has more than 38,000 students from over 170 countries. The campus is located just a 10-minute walk from the city centre which includes a state-of-the-art fitness, sport and wellbeing facility and award-winning Students’ Union.
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Leeds Trinity University
Leeds Trinity University offers foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in a range of humanities and social sciences. The university includes a professional work placement within every degree and is one of the UK’s top universities for employability with 95% of students employed or in further study six months after graduating.
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Leeds Beckett University
Leeds Beckett University has a 190-year history of education with a community of over 28,000 students. They boast top-class facilities with £300m being spent on new buildings and campus developments which include a sports centre and creative arts building. They have taken big efforts to be green and were the first English university to achieve international environmental standard ISO 14001.
Study in Leeds? Review your location
Leeds Student Life
Leeds is a lively and multicultural city with a large student population. It is quite a compact city, so it is easy to get around and has a community feel.
Cost of Living
Cost of living is what you'd expect from a big student city but it's doable
By member118155 On 28th April 15
Nights Out
10 star…
There should be a 10 star option for nightlife
Nights out in Leeds are top…
Nights out in Leeds are top, especially if you go to Quids In because its really cheap.
Really love going out…
Really love going out with the clubs and societies I'm in
Can't fault Leeds…
Can't fault Leeds. It's cheap, there is a massive amount of things to do both in the day and night, and the nightlife is one of the best in the UK. Great city.
Public Transport
Leeds is an accessible city making it very easy to get around by walking or cycling. If you want to go further afield, Leeds is also well connected by rail and coach services, with London just over two hours by train. It is also well connected to airports, Leeds Bradford International is 30 mins and Manchester airport is an hour away.
Eating Out
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LS6 is one of the most popular cafes, right next to the student area of Hyde Park. Serving brunch, lunch, dinner and cocktails, they pride themselves on fresh, healthy and homemade food sourced from ethical and sustainable farms.
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The Drydock is a boat that isn’t near any water. 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.
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Neon Cactus is the spot to go for tasty Mexican meals and a great tequila cocktail menu. Located on Call Lane (known as the party street) it’s a great place to go before heading out or equally good to spend the whole evening there.
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Shopping
When it comes to shopping, Leeds does not fall short! Trinity Leeds, with its iconic glass roof, houses 120 high-street shops, bars and restaurants. Grade I listed Kirkgate Market has over 400 stalls selling anything from flowers and textiles to loose leaf tea. For designer brands, there is Harvey Nichols and Victoria Leeds. Whilst an eclectic selection of independent boutiques are housed in the beautifully restored Corn Exchange.
Top 10 Tips
1. Pub crawl. You haven’t experienced student life in Leeds until you’ve done the Otley Run – the infamous fancy dress pub crawl.
2. Summertime. 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.
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.
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.
6. Discount. Visit studentbeans.com/uk for some awesome deals, 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 First Direct Arena for music, comedy, dance or sport, they host some legendary acts and huge names.
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. 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.
10. Cinema. Whether you are a film buff or just go to watch movies on rainy days, you’ll love Hyde Park Picture House which is a friendly, local, independent cinema. Plus there is a young person’s membership which is free to join and you can get discounted tickets for just £5!
Top 10 Leeds Accommodation
Symons House
Hands down the best place to stay as a student in Leeds!!! All the staff are super friendly and go above and beyond to ensure you feel just at home. T...
The Refinery
Best accommodation I have lived in so far! Friendly, very helpful staff, good ammenties and good distance from Leeds beckett. They're also very qui...
IconInc - The Edge
It's been almost a month since I checked in at Iconinc - Edge. I really like it here. First of all, the studio environment here is really good and it ...
CitySide
The welcome was very warm, day to day management is very good. They make everything very streamline. Communications are very direct and you know what ...
The Foundry
I have had a good experience staying at The Foundry so far (2021/22), the facilities are all up to a great standard, and it is a good location from th...
Lyddon Hall
Lyddon Hall was great to live in for first year! Catered food was decent too. I didn't live in the main hall but one of the annexes - 32 Springfield M...
Fountains Court
I don’t live in student halls but from those I have seen they look spacious and good value for money...
Ellerslie Global Residence
full of tories, no social life, everyone has horse passports because theyre so rich...
All Saints Court
Good if you have a problem with your roommates the uni is amazing at helping and so is the 247 security...
Trinity Close
I don’t live in halls but my friends do and they’re great! the shuttle bus they provide around the town and to the station is free to students and an ...
Read Leeds Reviews
Very busy, lots of different...
Very busy, lots of different things to do read more
I really love this city....
I really love this city. There is always something fun and exciting to do. read more
Lovely city, not too...
Lovely city, not too large but a great night out. Would recommend highly read more
Great city lots to do...
Great city lots to do and good art installations read more
Very sociable , very...
Very sociable , very big and always something to do read more
I have enjoyed the city...
I have enjoyed the city of Leeds so far It has a great centre/CBD with a good range of shops and restaurants There is also good transport links around the place, and to other parts of the UK I would recommend Leeds as a city for students read more
Everything you could...
Everything you could need for a student life read more
Leeds isn’t too pricey,...
Leeds isn’t too pricey, but you can expect to pay quite a bit to keep up with living here. read more
Everything is dead expensive...
Everything is dead expensive make sure you got a fat loan read more
Lived close to the city...
Lived close to the city centre. Overall positive living experience for around 9 months. read more
The living cost here...
The living cost here is soooo much cheaper than the south I got a culture shock, I feel like the nights out however are purely just hit or miss, so depends. Public transport is pretty easy to understand too read more
Leeds is an amazing city...
Leeds is an amazing city and there much of it I’m yet too see read more
Some Chinese restaurant...
Some Chinese restaurant is really nice read more
i like this city，nice...
i like this city，nice people and nice street read more
Everything is affordable...
Everything is affordable for a student read more
The city centre is very...
The city centre is very nice and lively. I like my long walks along the river. I like it here a lot read more
Buses are complicated,...
Buses are complicated, recommended getting the app Moovit read more
Leeds is a nice modern...
Leeds is a nice modern city, however it can be an expensive place for students to live compared to other cities such as Birmingham read more
The city is not far from...
The city is not far from campus and has all the essential and big brand stores read more
Really love Leeds everything...
Really love Leeds everything is convenient read more
Leeds is exciting and...
Leeds is exciting and vibrant, a bit more expensive than anticipated but overall, lovely. read more
Leeds is a good place...
Leeds is a good place to live, the location is good read more
I loved everything about...
I loved everything about Leeds to be compeltely honest! read more
Coming from London I...
Coming from London I was expecting very cheap prices and though some places are cheaper there are many which have similar or the same prices as London! But I guess on nights out there are drink deals you can get behind, they are not always amazing you just have to find the right places. The majority of the year stuff was closed so again have not really eaten out much, that for a student will always be expensive anyway. the leeds city centre is like a big town where you can find mostly all the shops you would find on Oxford street so it is convenient. I have avoided using public transport- the Ubers are sooo cheap here and everything is a walking distance to be honest. read more
Bustling city, lots to...
Bustling city, lots to do a see read more
The city is nice. There’s...
The city is nice. There’s always buses available and a lot of shops around read more
It's so expensive to...
It's so expensive to live here, drinks and food can get really pricey so just pre and shop at Aldi unless daddy's rich. The bus is £1.20 which is pretty good n can take u all the way from Headingley to leeds if you cba walking. Haven't been on a proper night out since being at uni but Leeds is known for good nightlife just be careful of d*******bouncers, women are usually worse than men <3 read more
Really sociable city...
Really sociable city with lots of cool bars. Good shops and lots of nice reatairants read more
Decent city, restaurants...
Decent city, restaurants and shopping good, but bars are pricey read more
Great city to live in!...
Great city to live in! Very student friendly and quite a lot to do read more
N/A ..........................
N/A .......................... read more
So much to do and so...
So much to do and so much diversity read more
Fantastic with love and...
Fantastic with love and respect read more
Lovely city, easy to...
Lovely city, easy to get around with many transport links read more
It’s good for shopping...
It’s good for shopping loads of places to go out and public transport is ok big train station I tend to just get Uber’s read more
Lovely town, good for...
Lovely town, good for nightlife. read more
Absolutely amazing!!...
Absolutely amazing!! Leeds has everything you want, lovely city. read more
Great student life and...
Great student life and places to go for a night out. Cheap accommodation. Basically anything a student could want. read more
Great city to live in,...
Great city to live in, good night life and pretty affordable read more
Nice city but with Covid...
Nice city but with Covid hard to judge read more
Absolutely love Leeds!!!...
Absolutely love Leeds!!! Have fallen in love with the city! read more
Awful transport at Clarence...
Awful transport at Clarence dock read more
Night life is very fun...
Night life is very fun but I haven’t had a chance to experience properly due to covid. read more
Good in terms of the...
Good in terms of the city centre, everything is uphill and bars can be expensive read more
Leeds is 12/10. Don’t...
Leeds is 12/10. Don’t know about public transport- should have electric scooters ! read more
Leeds is nice, I dunno...
Leeds is nice, I dunno about nights out because covid exists read more
Nice shopping opportunities...
Nice shopping opportunities bjt bad public transport read more
Good place to be with...
Good place to be with lots around read more
Leeds is the best city...
Leeds is the best city in the Uk by a mile. read more
It’s fine.........................
It’s fine......................... read more
Love the city, great...
Love the city, great transport and atmosphere read more
Best student city, very...
Best student city, very pretty and scenic read more
Stay in the centre, wide...
Stay in the centre, wide choice of bars and restaurants. read more
So in love with the city,...
So in love with the city, such a buzzing place to be read more
Rent is pretty expensive...
Rent is pretty expensive but food shopping isn’t too bad if you shop cheap, amazing city read more
Leeds is pretty sick....
Leeds is pretty sick. Very friendly, has all the high street shops and little markets/charity shops you could wish for. Good for skating. read more
More expensive than I...
More expensive than I thought it would be to live here, but there’s so much to do that it cancels out the expensive rent read more
leeds is great. Convient,...
leeds is great. Convient, friendly and attractive. read more
Nice town nice food nice...
Nice town nice food nice environment nice uni read more
Good yeah love it mo...
Good yeah love it mo yeah yessir read more
A good lovely city with...
A good lovely city with lots of diverse cultures and students from all around the U.K. read more
It’s a good city. Haven’t...
It’s a good city. Haven’t been out too much yet though. read more
Leeds is a very lively...
Leeds is a very lively city and great if you want to just chill in a park or fancy going for a night out read more
In covid times guess...
In covid times guess you can’t really have a proper uni experience however in first few months without lockdown I loved Leeds, although it is kinda pricey read more
Although Leeds is not...
Although Leeds is not as classical as Edinburgh, it is full of modern and classical collisions. It can lead me to find a feeling and make me take many photos. read more
Leeds is a modern city....
Leeds is a modern city. I like it. read more
It's a great city, lots...
It's a great city, lots of places to explore. Not too big but not too small. read more
I love this beautiful...
I love this beautiful and historical city. read more
Living costs are a joke...
Living costs are a joke and not worth it rent wise but cant fault the city in any other way. read more
There haven't been any...
There haven't been any nights out because of miss rona, but I've been told that they are amazing when they're about. the people of leeds seem to be making do without anyways read more
as compare other cities,...
as compare other cities, Leeds life style is very good and affordable. read more
as compare other cities,...
as compare other cities, Leeds is very good city to live read more
Leeds is amazing and...
Leeds is amazing and so is Leeds fc read more
Great city but more bars...
Great city but more bars for different crowds would be better read more
Very expensive but great...
Very expensive but great variety of eateries and bars and pubs read more
COVID 19 has affected...
COVID 19 has affected the amount of time spent in the city read more
The city is vibrant,...
The city is vibrant, perfect for students, especially the night life. Has all the important facilities a city should have. read more
it has everything you...
it has everything you need. just need to walk a bit to get to them read more
Leeds is a decent sized...
Leeds is a decent sized city with options for restaurants and nightlife read more
good student city, everyone...
good student city, everyone is friendly and it's easy to get around read more
Been living here for...
Been living here for like 5 years, with a break, like I lived here for 2015-2016 and now 2018-2020. I love Leeds. I feel safe and secure here and allowed to be free and well independent. read more
Leeds is a great city!...
Leeds is a great city! I have loved my first year here. Would love if they had some sort of metro system like Newcastle do. Would make life so much easier getting about the city and to and from Headingley where my new house is read more
Every shop you need especially...
Every shop you need especially student friendly ones like Poundland. I don’t go clubbing myself but it is well known for good clubs. read more
Leeds is an inviting...
Leeds is an inviting city with lots to do! People are warm and always happy to help! read more
Often great vibes and...
Often great vibes and great city read more
Best city for students...
Best city for students to go out in! read more
Living in Leeds has been...
Living in Leeds has been incredible. Fantastic night life and equally amazing food. Everything is close together so there’s never too far to walk. read more
Overall good city and...
Overall good city and good experience read more
Buses when I was given...
Buses when I was given a rubbish accommodation were awful read more
Leeds is an amazing city...
Leeds is an amazing city for things to do. There are always plenty of places to eat and drink out, great places to shop and quirky places to visit. The nightlife is also amazing too with many student nights and weekly events on! Leeds can be expensive because it is a City, but it doesn't have to be as a student. You can budget effectively and still treat yourself to the nice/more expensive things! read more
It is a beautiful city....
It is a beautiful city. And it is very safe living here. I believe that you will love it. read more
Great city, very central,...
Great city, very central, everything you need is on your door step in Leeds city centre with good transport links with the train station and bus station being a short walk from student halls and uni campus read more
One of the best years...
One of the best years in my life. Everything is perfect in Leeds. I love Leeds. I had to give five stars for the night life eventhough I never went to any clubs or pubs in Leeds, but my friends who did said Leeds' night life is the best. read more
Living is too expensive,...
Living is too expensive, if you can travel from home, travel from home. Even with a 5.5k maintenance, I could afford hardly anything. Ideally you want to eat in, even if it means eating a raw onion or having spaghetti and ketchup every day for 3 weeks. Milanos and Pizza Pazza are good local takeaways, but everywhere else just ain't meaty enough. Prices, expensive. Atmosphere, not welcoming. You go on a night out to be happy. I struggle finding happiness when it's just me so I tried going out and making others happy, but apparently that's weird and creepy. Shopping: Get the coach to Manchester for £3 single, bigger variety. Only found one leather store. Couldn't find any hunting or fishing tackle shops. Public Transport is amazing, just too many train delays and cancelations. read more
good city, but very expensive...
good city, but very expensive the closer you get to living in the city centre read more
Not applicable for Open...
Not applicable for Open University read more
Leeds is a great University...
Leeds is a great University city that I don’t think can really be topped in my opinion. read more
Nights out in Leeds are...
Nights out in Leeds are decent, definitely recommend Fruity at the student union. Drinks are fairly cheap unless at the 02 then they can hike up. If you are doing freshers i definitely recommend Indie Thursdays and not buying a freshers ticket. Only buy tickets if you are absolutely certain on going because you might get there and find no one else has bought that ticket. read more
Really close to uni,...
Really close to uni, easy to walk to. Good night life, felt quite compact but still lots of places to go. Really good city to be in as a student read more
I am very happy to stay...
I am very happy to stay in Leeds read more
Lots of things to do,...
Lots of things to do, you will never be bored in this city read more
Leeds is very approachable....
Leeds is very approachable. I hired a bicycle from the uni so I can cycle all around the city. read more
Leeds is a very nice...
Leeds is a very nice city to stay in and has many good restaurants/fast food chains read more
Leeds is the best. So...
Leeds is the best. So much to do read more
love leeds. everything...
love leeds. everything is comfortable and convenient read more
Very social city, lots...
Very social city, lots to do for any interests, explore the whole city not just your uni/living area for best results read more
Great city - loads to...
Great city - loads to do, lots of great student places. Public transport links are very good and bus is cheap. read more
Cannot fault the city...
Cannot fault the city of Leeds. read more
Great city for students...
Great city for students for nights out and shopping read more
A compact city with an...
A compact city with an plenty of opportunities to have a fantastic day (or night) out. read more
Leeds is a nice town...
Leeds is a nice town with everything you need read more
Cost of living is still...
Cost of living is still higher than home read more
Everything is close so...
Everything is close so you’ll rarely need to use public transport. Cost of living is cheap compared to London. read more
Food is good as is the...
Food is good as is the public transport read more
Bus can be unreliable...
Bus can be unreliable sometimes. Can be a 10-30 minute wait and the 28 sometimes never shows up. But its a cheap city. Good value for money especially as a student. read more
Can be pricey but a great...
Can be pricey but a great city to do things read more
Great transport, the...
Great transport, the city is really vibrant. read more
I don't go out into the...
I don't go out into the city much or to eat as I am a very busy student-athlete. But when I do there are lots of shops and places to eat for every culture and craving. lots of cinemas to choose from. traffic is very very busy read more
Great city, very big,...
Great city, very big, lots of crime in outskirts, trinity urban outfitters steals ur money, great maccies read more
Leeds is an amazing city,...
Leeds is an amazing city, it has just been named the second biggest financial center of the UK behind London which is amazing for a northern base. There is an abundance of opportunities to get involved with and i am still close to home which is a bonus, read more
The cost of living is...
The cost of living is alright if you have a good student loan, eating out is cheap if you go to the right places. Nights out are a rip off if once again you don't get a big loan read more
Public transport in Leeds...
Public transport in Leeds is a joke. Don't expect buses to run on time, taxis are rude and trains don't turn up read more
Leeds is an amazing city,...
Leeds is an amazing city, with loads of facilities and things to do as well as numerous shops and restaurants. Nights out in Leeds are top, especially if you go to Quids In because its really cheap. read more
Not quite london prices...
Not quite london prices but wow try and find a women's basic haircut under £30 read more
Decent city, places for...
Decent city, places for everyone, cheap living read more
Really love going out...
Really love going out with the clubs and societies I'm in read more
Leeds is a very student-lead...
Leeds is a very student-lead city and is constantly developing! read more
Very cheap compared to...
Very cheap compared to the south. read more
Leeds is a fantastic...
Leeds is a fantastic city! Cheap public transport, plenty of shops and clubs... It is brilliant read more
There should be a 10...
There should be a 10 star option for nightlife read more
Leeds is a fantastic...
Leeds is a fantastic city! Cheap public transport, plenty of shops and clubs... It is brilliant read more
Brilliant city, loads...
Brilliant city, loads of places to go out. It never gets boring read more
The North is super cheap....
The North is super cheap. Being a southerner, I was very pleasantly surprised by leeds. It's a very modern city with tonnes to do. Great shopping and restaurants, and has some of the best nightlife in the country. read more
All of these sections...
All of these sections are cheap since being in the north so you get good value for money and value for your student loan! Everywhere is accessible easily and quickly read more
Leeds as a student city...
Leeds as a student city is ace lots of things going on and so cheap read more
Only £1 bus anywhere...
Only £1 bus anywhere which is great, beautiful city with loads to do throughout the day and night with a massive nightlife. read more
Rent is quite expensive...
Rent is quite expensive in the centre but worth it for the convenience. Eating out can be really expensive but there are wetherspoons everywhere so eating on a budget can be done. Entry and drinks are often expensive on nights out and you have to get tickets in advance which is a bit annoying. However, trinity is awesome... And deadly for your student loan read more
The city has so much...
The city has so much to do and it's relatively close - there are so many eating places and places to have a night out you'd never get bored! Drinks and food is cheaper than where I am from (near London) so value for money is excellent. Bus drivers are generally nice and busses are usually punctual, although sometimes I've experienced the opposite. read more
Cost of living is what...
Cost of living is what you'd expect from a big student city but it's doable. There are so many places to eat and visit with friends whatever the occasion. The trinity centre makes Leeds a great shopping location and there are plenty other shopping rows plus the white rose mall just outside the city. Public transport is frequent and a lot cheaper than I expected too. Nights out are great! Something for absolutely everyone! read more
Stay away from Call lane...
Stay away from Call lane unless you have a tendency for drug abuse. Perfect collection of restaurants and bars catering for both peasants and the landed gentry. Make sure you find the nicer places first otherwise you'll end up being a promoter... nobody likes club promoters read more
Public transport and...
Public transport and cost of living could be better, otherwise Leeds is a fantastic city. Loads going on and cheap compared to bigger cities like London. read more
Eating out is expensive...
Eating out is expensive for students anywhere. Leeds is known for its night scene for a reason with numerous clubbing events every night and the famous Otley Run bar crawl. People even come from neighbouring towns and counties just for a night out. Also with world class shopping arcades each with its own unique design and architecture, if you're not studying here you will have to visit it at least once. read more
Amazing, so happy I came...
Amazing, so happy I came here. From everything I heard from friends elsewhere I honesty haven't heard of anyone loving their city more then me and my friends do. Sooo much to do, I never get bored. Such a good location to see people and have them visit you. read more
Can't fault Leeds. It's...
Can't fault Leeds. It's cheap, there is a massive amount of things to do both in the day and night, and the nightlife is one of the best in the UK. Great city. read more
Leeds is a great city...
Leeds is a great city in the north of England, great value for money, lots of entertainment opportunities, places to visit/eat/drink/relax read more
Best night out in the...
Best night out in the country and great value for money! Eating out is cheap and there's loads of student friendly places to go, plus a good range of shops in the city centre. Not too big of a city but big enough! read more
Best nightlife in the...
Best nightlife in the UK, some amazing restaurants and a good shopping centre. read more