York
118 Reviews by Students #20 out of 81 University locations
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York is a lovely place, especially if you want a more relaxed uni experience
By Livinglavitaloca On 19th July 2020
Study in York
The University of York and York St John University are both set in the beautiful and historic city of York.
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University of York
The University of York is known for its teaching and being a research-intensive university and it is part of the prestigious Russell Group. They have over 30 academic departments, with teaching at the university recognised with a gold rating from the Teaching Excellence Framework.
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York St John University
York St John University, based in the centre of the city, prides itself on having a close-knit community of students and staff. The universities academic schools include School of Arts, School of Education, Language and Psychology, School of Humanities, School of Science, Technology and Health and York Business School.
Study in York? Review your location
York Student Life
York was named the best place to live in the North and North East England by The Sunday Times in 2019. It may be small in size but York is a lively and vibrant city with lots on offer for students.
Cost of Living
Expensive…
Expensive, but worth it!
Nights out are stupidly expensive…
Nights out are stupidly expensive- stay in or go to a pub if you want to save money.
Cost of living is also really good…
Cost of living is also really good and everything is close by due to York being quite a small city.
Can be expensive…
can be expensive but can be cheap if you find the right places!
Nights Out
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Nightclubs
For clubbers, you won’t need to worry too much about decision making as there are just a handful of clubs on offer. Don’t be put off though, as each has its own dedicated student nights which are always popular. Some favourites are Salvation and Revs. If you are after a bigger night Leeds is only 20-minutes away.
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Cocktail Bars
Partial to a cocktail? Well, there are a number of quirky cocktail bars to try. Evil Eye is a student favourite with quirky decor, Dusk has a vibrant atmosphere and Turtle Bay is another popular spot which has a chilled reggae vibe as well as a happy hour every day.
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Pubs
When it comes to finding a pint in York, you’re spoilt for choice. If you are after a real ale or craft beer put these pubs on your hit list, House of the Trembling Madness, Brew York and Pivni.
Public Transport
York is very well connected both by highway and by train. MAN airport is just 2 hours away and Leeds can be reached in half an hour. Leeds train station is connected to Leeds Bradford airport by bus.
By member947420 On 19th April 20
Eating Out
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Spark:York is a community full of brilliant local street food vendors and shops. The venue is made out of shipping containers and they often put on events such as gigs, quizzes and arts and crafts drop-ins.
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In the historically famous Shambles Market is the Food Court which has a superb range of foodie delights. Head there for Friday lunchtime socials where local musicians play.
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Vegetarian and Vegan
If you are after some delicious vegetarian or vegan food, make sure you head to Goji Cafe for organic sharing platters and Once Across the Garden for indulgent fast food favourites with a twist.
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Shopping
Aside from all the high street favourites which you can find in York, a ‘must do’ is The Shambles. These quaint and wonky old buildings used to be medieval butchers shops, but most of them now house friendlier things. Each shop is different from the next so there’s something for everybody here, from sandwich shops for a quick bite with mates (locals recommend ‘Mr Sandwich’ for a cheap and cheerful sarnie), quirky boutiques, gift shops, sweet shops, cafes and more.
Cultural Guide
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Live Music
York has a number of live music venues across the city, that have nights that cater for every musical taste. A couple of favourites spots are the Pheonix Inn for jazz, BANGARANG for ska or Irie Vibes Sound System at The Crescent for reggae, dancehall and dub. There’s also York Barbican which puts on nationally and internationally acclaimed artists.
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Festivals
All year round there are festivals to get involved with. York Festival of Ideas features world-class speakers, theatre, music and more all across the city. There’s Aesthetica Short Film Festival which celebrates independent film. Or for something totally different, head back in time and join in the fun at JORVIK Viking Festival a city-wide celebration of York’s rich Norse heritage.
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Art
York Art Gallery showcases collections of paintings from the 14th Century through to contemporary prints, watercolours, drawings, and ceramics. Housed in a Grade II listed building it has undergone an £8 million redevelopment in recent years - it really is a must-see.
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Theatre and Cinema
You can catch touring theatre performances, new writing and classics at two well-known establishments York Theatre Royal and the Grand Opera House. There is also plenty of cinema options across the city for your film fix.
Top 10 York Accommodation
Read York Reviews
York is a nice pl...
York is a nice place, lacks of a bubbly sense of community. Nice landscapes, but it has got a depressive edge to it read more
Nice, cosy little...
Nice, cosy little town to stay in. The only drawback would be that the amount of visiting tourists has been overwhelming. read more
great city to stu...
great city to study, travel, shopping read more
York is far too e...
York is far too expensive for students. If you receive the highest loan, you will still have to get a part time job to help you get by as smaller supermarkets cost more and takeaways will take your eyes out. Eating out does cost more, but there is a wide variety of places to cater to different prices, cuisines and dietary needs. Very modern and tailors to everyone. Plenty of shops, you’ll get most of what you need in town. If not, Monks Cross Shopping Park is a short drive or bus journey away and has larger shops. Only criticism other than money is there are no nice walks outside of the city. If you want low cost of living as a student and lush walks outside a city in this area of the country, try Teesside University. read more
York is a nice to...
York is a nice town, there are a number of historical buildings and there are plenty of things to do. read more
The city really s...
The city really sold me on york, it’s so beautiful and really has everything you need. I think york gets a bit of a bad rep for being a bad night out but I love it! There’s lots of clubs to choose from and I always feel so safe on a night out which is really important. read more
York is a lovely...
York is a lovely place to be, a city which history and charm. read more
Very safe, cost o...
Very safe, cost of living is medium expense cheaper alternatives can be found like anywhere can make it as cheap or as expensive as you like. Transport is very cheap and can walk most places, very cycle-friendly. Fun nights out York is very safe and has cheap drinks. Good variety of bars and good night clubs. read more
THERE ARE NO FREQ...
THERE ARE NO FREQUENT NIGHT BUSES! Honestly York is as boring as you can get and is one of the most expensive cities to live in. The prices of student houses is atrocious! Getting anywhere is a struggle because of how horrible the bus routes are and anything interesting to do is only accessible by car, which most uni students will not have! I’d say York is either a biking or car city. It’s hard to get around when you rely on public transport. read more
I love York. I do...
I love York. I don’t really like cities in general but York is my kind of city. It’s beautiful, pretty safe, and has a lovely community feeling due to its smaller size. However, rent is not cheap! You’ll probably need to have a bit of money saved up. read more
I love this city....
I love this city. I don't often eat outside and have little experience of the night life here. Yet I like the walkable distance o everywhere, the smiles on the the face of local people when your eyes met, and the cultural and historical pack around the city center and so many parks around. read more
I like York.A ver...
I like York.A very beautiful and comfortable town. The people here are very friendly and of high quality. It's relaxing for me to be here read more
Such a great conn...
Such a great connection for public transport, so many shops and cafes to go to. Feel welcome and safe here. read more
Really love livin...
Really love living in the city everything is so close together so everything’s within a walking distance. Fairly expensive to live here though read more
Shopping is alrig...
Shopping is alright as the university is in the city centre, however nightlife is quite dead and public transport id very unreliable. Growing up in London I had a difficult time adjust to York and felt it wasn’t for me but lots of people love it read more
Lovely city, a bi...
Lovely city, a bit expensive but good once you know the spots, loads of places to eat out, 365 pubs! Not a wide selection of clubs but definitely one for everyone. Most good shopping places are out of the city but the park and ride systems all go to them read more
Great public tran...
Great public transport connections, nightlife isn't the most vibrant but there's several options and good for people like me who aren't super into all that. Great number of independent shops and food places amongst some chain stores- very healthy high street environment.Cost of living is similar to Bath, it's a tourist city so prices are inflated compared to neighbouring towns read more
My best experienc...
My best experience at university is the York city itself! Lots of different activities, places, festivals, clubs and pubs! I did not enjoy my academic life at the University of York (read my review for details), but I loved my moments in the city. If you need some awesome eat out experience, just check out SPARK: York, Sloppy’s and eborcibus (they have Detroit pizza!) Also, there is an excellent outlet easily reachable by bus if you like shopping with great price tags. read more
Fantastic place t...
Fantastic place to live, lots to do and see. read more
York is a marvelo...
York is a marvelous medieval city that is walkable, easy to live in, and full of life. read more
Whilst York is an...
Whilst York is an expensive place to live, it is a wonderful city full of culture and life. From plenty of shops on the high street to fab eateries and places to drink of an evening, there is no shortage of a good time in York. read more
a some town that...
a some town that I will never forget read more
Good experience w...
Good experience with the city of York read more
Not the most acce...
Not the most accessible be aware of cobbles. Expensive to rent but a lovely city with good food and shopping read more
York is a nice pl...
York is a nice place, is quite and good for study and have a nice people read more
York is a great c...
York is a great city. Living expense is slightly lower than other city. read more
quiet and safe pl...
quiet and safe place to live and study read more
Really good LOVEL...
Really good LOVELY CITY AND VERY FUN read more
Amazing small cit...
Amazing small city with a lot to do and offers more then expected read more
City centre is go...
City centre is good, anything outside of that is suicidal without a car read more
High cost living,...
High cost living, nice city to spend time in other than later at night, haven't had many nights out due to covid read more
York can be expen...
York can be expensive for students. Many places to eat out in York, with lots of variety. Nights out were good in first year but many clubs have since closed. Shopping centre is good. Public transport is mostly on time and the free student bus is good read more
Lovely and safe c...
Lovely and safe city with lots to do. read more
Great city. Great...
Great city. Great nightlife. Suitable for everyone. read more
Amazing city! So...
Amazing city! So many restaurants and bars to choose from read more
Like the city's a...
Like the city's architectural style. There's a sense of great historical and cultural heritage read more
Scenic town that...
Scenic town that is a great back drop for tranquil learning read more
I love this city...
I love this city forever. I hope I can continue to live in this city after graduation. read more
Love it here gre...
Love it here great place to live read more
Lovely city, very...
Lovely city, very safe, food selection is great (Yuzu duck fries are banging). Bus routes are good from any uni accommodation and for getting to campus. read more
A very friendly c...
A very friendly city and environment is good read more
Great city but no...
Great city but not amazing for nightlife read more
Wonderful city, s...
Wonderful city, slightly expensive area but the best place to for studying and night life. read more
All round a lovel...
All round a lovely city, all be it a little expensive read more
York is a beautif...
York is a beautiful city. Not the most accessible read more
York is a quiet a...
York is a quiet and beautiful small city. If you like nature, you will enjoy it. But if you shop, the prices here are not cheap and very inconvenient. Go to Leeds to buy some things read more
York is a lovely...
York is a lovely place, especially if you want a more relaxed uni experience read more
Nights out are st...
Nights out are stupidly expensive- stay in or go to a pub if you want to save money. Plenty of good food, would highly recommend the Taylor made kitchen down the shambles market, loads of amazing food for very little money. Lots of vegan options too, humpit is a great shout read more
York is very well...
York is very well connected both by highway and by train. MAN airport is just 2 houres away and Leeds can be reached in half an houre. Leeds trainstation is connected to Leeds Bradford airport by bus. York is full of nice pubs, bars and restaurants so even after years there is still lots to be discovered. read more
Expensive, but wo...
Expensive, but worth it! I absolutely love living here, and it makes plenty of people jealous who don't. The city is stunning, full of history and so much to do! The fact you can be a tourist in your own city is wonderful. There are so many eateries (both mainstream and independent) of a huge variety, and hundreds of quirky shops and cafe's to visit too. There is a night out to suit everyone here, though some can be very expensive on entry. Also, transport links are amazing! read more
I don't go for ni...
I don't go for nights out often but I have heard great things! York is beautiful and it seems very safe and everyone seems to be nice. However, the average shoppers at the local Morrisons have no problem walking straight into you and walking away with no apology. There are lovely people here, but then there are the snobby few. read more
Bet you can't fin...
Bet you can't find a better place to live! read more
Amazing!! York is...
Amazing!! York is the place to be!! read more
Fantastic city de...
Fantastic city despite not being the biggest it still has a wide variety of food places and clubs which will keep you entertained for the duration of your course! Cost of living is also really good and everything is close by due to York being quite a small city. read more
The best city!!!!...
The best city!!!!!!!!! Just great. Beautiful, historic place with LOADS of independent businesses and weird n wonderful shops. Huge variety of places to eat, drink, and loads to do in general. Very good public transport and very cheap to live/get around compared to Southern cities. Varied, quirky nightlife with lots of cheap, studenty deals. Located in a great part of the world - easy to travel to Scarborough, Whitby, Yorkshire Dales, Peak District, Leeds, Newcastle, Edinburgh etc etc). Great atmosphere - not overwhelmingly studenty/touristy but a healthy dose of both, fantastic buskers and street-performers and the locals are lovely. read more
Lovely place to l...
Lovely place to live with very reasonable prices and lots to do for eating out, nights out and shopping with excellent bus links to and from the university. read more
The third best ci...
The third best city in the UK in my opion. Edinburgh, London... York!! read more
can be expensive...
can be expensive but can be cheap if you find the right places! plenty of places to eat, me and my flatmate were always trying new places read more
So full of stuff...
So full of stuff to do, despite being such a small town read more
I've had a wonder...
I've had a wonderful experience living away from home to the city of York. read more
I think as cost o...
I think as cost of living if you manage to use the markets and offers it will be ok! For eating out there is lots to chose from but I think the price makes it harder for students to do more eating out. However the city itself is lovely and it is really safe so I don't feel scared to walk at anyplace read more
Fantastic nightli...
Fantastic nightlife, there's a student event on most nights! read more
really lovely cit...
really lovely city to live in. Good places to eat (especially when its 50% off on Mondays). Great places to drink (especially 2-4-1 cocktails) And and overall friendly city. read more
Lovely place to l...
Lovely place to live. Just not to safe during night time read more
Can find everythi...
Can find everything you need in the town perfect. Cost of living is high though bulls and rent pull you down. Always some sort of deal on for eating out which helps loads read more
York is a fantast...
York is a fantastic city, for study, leisure and shopping. The city boasts some fantastic eating spots, a varied nightlife (stretching from "69p a drink" nightclubs to one of the finest cocktail bars in Yorkshire, Evil Eye) and good shopping areas. Public Transport around York is a little strained, and the medieval city is not really laid out to cope with the amount of traffic it now experiences. Having lived in York for the duration of my time at University, I can say with confidence that it is one of the most beautiful cities I have visited, and I am happy to call it a second home. Would I recommend studying and living here? Definitely! But be warned- it can be expensive, and you will probably need a part time job to top up your student loan. CR read more
York is blummin b...
York is blummin beautiful. What a gorgeous city with amazing vibes. I'm proud to call this place my home. read more
Love living in Yo...
Love living in York, expensive but worth it. Wouldn't want to live anywhere else read more
A great city, and...
A great city, and a surprisingly good night out...cheap drinks £1 jäger £2 doubles etc. read more
Such an amazing t...
Such an amazing town to live in but expensive for student life- high priced shops do not work on a student budget (in need of a primark). read more
Beautiful city, l...
Beautiful city, loads going on and things to do. Massive tourist location and the city provides for that, there are so many things to do in town, but uni is just far enough away that you can escape the bustle while still only being a 10 min bus ride away. Will definitely continue living here long after uni finishes!! read more
Really good bus l...
Really good bus links around the area, particularly from the uni. Large selection of places to eat out, many of which are very nice. Very active nightlife but shopping could be improved. Also quite expensive cost of living for the north. read more
Day and night lif...
Day and night life is brilliant in York - so easy to find your way, amazing restaurants and great place to socialise with friends! read more