Student life 2016

THE LOW DOWN ON THE BIGGEST STUDENT LOCATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY!L I V E P A R T Y S T U D Y

F E A T U R E

CHRISRAMSEY

D E C 2 0 1 5 I S S U E 4

T H E G U I D E 1 6

Life made simple for students.

Glide makes bills simple for students living in shared households.

We provide gas, electricity, water, telephone, broadband and TV licences. You choose which services you want and we give each housemate a single monthly bill, split equally, so everyone pays the same.

Simply go to glide.uk.com to see how we can make your life simple.

AFS_ebook_AW.indd 1 08/11/2013 11:49

3I N T R O D U C T I O N

Life made simple for students.

Glide makes bills simple for students living in shared households.

We provide gas, electricity, water, telephone, broadband and TV licences. You choose which services you want and we give each housemate a single monthly bill, split equally, so everyone pays the same.

Simply go to glide.uk.com to see how we can make your life simple.

AFS_ebook_AW.indd 1 08/11/2013 11:49

S T U D E N T L I F E : T H E G U I D E 2 0 1 6 I N T R O D U C T I O N

S I M O N T H O M P S O N

To bring you this years student

guide we have assembled a team

of 50 students from around the UK.

Each member of our team is a tal-

ented and passionate writer, who has

a unique knowledge of their city.

Our aim is to bring to life the major

student cities, to give new students a

heads up on what to expect and help

current students uncover the hidden

gems they may have missed so far.

We have published a selection of

these guides in this e-book and you

can read the rest of them and much,

much more on our new website

www.studentlifeguide.co.uk

We are also delighted to be

working the Chris Ramsey and are

grateful that Chris took some time

out from promoting his new DVD and

forthcoming tour to talk to us about

his time at University, housemates

and moving away from home. Chris

has also been kind enough to give

us some tickets to his shows in the

New Year and you can find details of how to enter the competition in

this guide.

We have also include tips on

finding the right place to live and also a comprehensive guide for

International Students.

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5C O N T E N T S

8

13

C H R I S R A M S E Y

WE TALK TO THE STAR COMEDIAN ABOUT H IS T IME AT UNI , AND H IS UPCOMING TOUR!

CONTENTS

T E N T O P T I P S

STUDENT L IFE TALKS TOP TEN T IPS FOR RENTING STUDENT ACCOMMODATION

COMPET IT ION

OUR FR IENDS AT THE UKS COOLEST FEST IVAL HAVE G IVEN US 2 V IP T ICKETS TO G IVE AWAY

Running throughout Sheffield in late July you and a friend could win

VIP tickets to the Tramlines Festival

2016, giving you access to the VIP

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jump at the major outdoor stages!

E N T E R H E R E

1 .

6 C O N T E N T S

B-E

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CITY GUIDES

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1 8 B A N G O R

2 2 B I R M I N G H A M

3 0 B R A D F O R D

3 4 B R I S T O L

4 0 C A M B R I D G E

4 6 C A N T E R B U RY

5 0 C A R D I F F

5 6 C H E S T E R

6 0 C O V E N T RY

6 2 D E R B Y

6 6 D U N D E E

7 0 E D I N B U R G H

7 5 E X E T E R

8 0 G L A S G O W

9 2 H U L L

9 6 H U D D E R S F I E L D

9 8 K I N G S T O N

1 0 2 L A N C A S T E R

1 0 6 L E E D S

1 2 6 L E I C E S T E R

1 3 2 L I V E R P O O L

1 4 4 L O N D O N

1 6 0 L O U G H B O R O U G H

1 6 4 L U T O N

2 .

7m-Y

C O N T E N T S

144L O N D O N

GET THE LOW DOWN ON STUDENT L IFE IN THE CAPITAL - EVERYTHING FROM THE PLACES TO EAT, TO THE EVENTS TO LOOK OUT FOR!

222F E AT U R E :

BR ITA INS WORST STUDENT NIGHTCLUBS - EXPOSED!

intlT H E I N T E R N AT I O N A L S T U D E N T G U I D E

112 - 123

1 6 7 M A N C H E S T E R

1 7 2 N E W C A S T L E -U N D E R - LY M E

1 7 6 N E W C A S T L E

1 8 6 N O T T I N G H A M

1 9 4 P R E S T O N

1 9 7 P LY M O U T H

2 0 0 S H E F F I E L D

2 1 4 W O LV E R -H A M P T O N

2 1 8 Y O R K

1 1 3 V I S A 1 0 1

1 1 6 T O P T I P S

1 1 8 C H O O S I N G S T U D E N T A C C O M M O D AT I O N

1 2 2 A R R I V I N G I N T H E U K : N E X T S T E P S

3 .

4 .

8 F E AT U R E C H R I S R A M S E Y

CHRISRamsey

S T U D I E D AT S U N D E R L A N D U N I V E R S I T Y

S T U D E N T L I F E W E R E L U C K Y E N O U G H T O C AT C H U P W I T H C H R I S B E F O R E H I S N E W A L L G R O W E D U P T O U R . C H R I S TA L K E D T O U S A B O U T H I S N E W T O U R , G R O W I N G U P, B E I N G A S E C R E T H O U S E M AT E A N D T H E I M P O RTA N C E O F C O N D O M S .

S L : C H R I S , Y O U R N E W D V D C O M E S O U T AT T H E E N D O F N O V E M B E R A N D I T S A L L A B O U T G R O W I N G U P ?

Yeah, its not even about

growing up. Its about being

dragged kicking and screaming

into an adult world. You have to

be really careful, because you get

30 something comedians going,

Im really old; but you are aware

that there are pensioners in the

crowd going, shut up just shut up,

you are NOT getting old. So its

not an age thing, it is about when

you class yourself as a grown up.

Its this thing that when you are

younger you always hear things

like, you will understand when

you are a grown up or Ill tell

you when you are a grown up. It

just dawned on us recently and I

thought, Am I a grown up? When

are you supposed to be a grown

up? Like how do you know? And

its weird, when you do show or a

DVD the title can sound a bit like

its going to be a lecture, but its

not, it is really just me discussing

parts of me life and things that

have happened to us.

S L : W H AT D I D Y O U S T U D Y AT U N I V E R S I T Y ?

I studied Film and Media and

this is honestly true, I packed in the

course about eight weeks before

the end. When I sat down to tell

them, they were like, you are in the

third year, you literally have hardly

any time left, why are you quitting

now? It was just that comedy lit a

fire underneath me and I thought I am just going to do that now.

F E AT U R E C H R I S R A M S E Y

comedy lit a fire underneath me and I thought, I am just going to do that now.

F E AT U R E C H R I S R A M S E Y

10 F E AT U R E C H R I S R A M S E Y

I mean, I loved being at Uni, but

there was no point when I thought

I was working towards something.

Film and Media is very broad and

I didnt know if I wanted to be in

front of the camera, behind the

camera I even toyed with the

idea of lecturing; you know, that

self-serving circle where all the

students come back and teach

what they have just learnt to new

students who then teach. I just

never had a clear idea of what I

wanted to do. You know, I wasnt

studying medicine or I wasnt

doing engineering or something.

When I started doing comedy,

everything narrowed and literally

after the first gig I was like, THIS is my job, this is what I want to do.

S L : W H E R E D I D Y O U L I V E ?

I didnt even live away. Its one

of my biggest regrets; in fact its

my one regret of my time at Uni.

It was Sunderland Uni and I live in

South Shields. Its like a five-minute

drive up the coast road and I really

used to enjoy driving to Uni in the

morning I got up for lectures,

weirdly. Because I didnt live in

halls, me mam was like knocking

on the door going, Get up! I did

put a 200 deposit down to live

in halls in me second year, but I

bottled it and lost the money; it

came straight out of my student

loan and I was gutted. So yeah,

its one of me main regrets, but

at the same time I had mates at

Edinburgh Uni, I had mates that

C H R I S R A M S E Y: O N T O U RF E AT U R E

You are as grown up as you feel. Its your outlook on life

1 .

11C H R I S R A M S E YF E AT U R E

went to Leeds and I used to reg-

ularly go and stay with them, so I

sort of got my Uni fix. But then I could go home and get proper

meals from me mam!

S L : S O W E R E Y O U L I K E A S E C R E T H O U S E M AT E T H E N ?

Yeah, I stayed with people a lot.

I mean, retrospectively, I would

have been really annoyed had I

been at Uni and me arsehole mate

kept coming down and getting

drunk and being sick in me toilet

and that. So that was me; I was the

guy that just showed up and was

like yeah, here I am.

S L : W E R E Y O U A G O O D O R B A D S E C R E T H O U S E M AT E ?

Yeah, I am alright, me. Im quite

particular on cleanliness and stuff

like that, so I am careful with other

peoples stuff. You wont catch me

wiping me arse on your curtains

and stuff.. because I wouldnt want

anyone to do that to me!

S L : S O P E O P L E W O U L D J U S T W A K E U P I N T H E M O R N I N G A N D T H E L I V I N G R O O M W O U L D B E T I D Y ?

Yeah right, it would be really

tidy. Me stuff would be folded up

and Id be sat there on the couch

having a cup of tea. So I was

alright, I wasnt that bad. Unless

I was hungover, in which case Id

be lying there crying!

S L : I S Y O U R N E W B A B Y T H E W O R S T P E R S O N Y O U H AV E E V E R L I V E D W I T H ?

Yes. He does shit himself quite a lot and when he has a problem

he is very vocal about it! I have only

been a dad for two weeks; hes 15

days old now and its amazing. Its

like this feeling that you cant get

enough of this thing But yeah,

when you put it down on paper,

he is a terrible housemate. He shits himself, he cries, hes sick hes

just been sick on the sofa. Yeah,

its not good!

S L : I S T H E R E A N Y T H I N G N O W T H AT Y O U D O H AV E A B A B Y T H AT Y O U V E H A D T O S T O P D O I N G ?

I havent built as much Lego,

annoyingly, since he was born.

Ive got a few sets that I havent

had chance to build. Ive got

the Simpsons Kwik-E-Mart mart

that I need to build, Ive got the

sand crawler the Star Wars sand

crawler - and I have got The Big

Bang Theory set. Its like the little

room and sofa and all the char-

acters. I need to build them, but

I just havent had the time. You

sort of get three-hour stints when

hes asleep.so you do get three

hours, so Ill get the Lego back

on the go shortly. At the moment

though, sterilising bottles is me

new thing. 3 am in our house and

its like Breaking Bad. Ive got a

mask on and Ive got tongs, theres

things going on Ive got potions

bubbling, microwave bubbling. So

yeah, sterilising bottles is me new

thing. I love it.

S L : AT W H AT P O I N T D I D Y O U S AY T O Y O U R S E L F, I M O L D ?

Not old, grown up. I have

spoken to people in the crowd who

are like 70 who say they are not

grown up and I have spoken to 18

year olds who say I am definitely a grown up. Its a state of mind thing.

Theres not really a moment and

thats what I discuss in the show.

You are as grown up as you feel. Its your outlook on life

2 . A L L G R O W N U P

12 F E AT U R E C O M P E T I T I O N

There are a few different moments

and they can be overcome by the

fact that if you go in your head

that, yes I have got a baby, or

yes I have got an accountant or

I have got a mortgage, but you

know what, Im not a grown up.

You are as grown up as you feel.

Its your outlook on life and even

though I am talking about grown

up things in the show, I like to

think that people will be able to

tell. They will say hes definitely not a grown up!

The best advice I can give to

students is on the first day you will lower your friend-making standards

drastically, right. You will borrow a

pen off someone on the first day and that prick will follow you round for

three years, right so careful who

you hitch your wagon to on the

first dayplay it coolmaybe a bit aloof until you find whats going on. Dont spot someone who went to

your school or your town and latch

on to them, because thats not what

you are there for. You are there to

meet new people and stuff like that.

Do your washing up, right, because

its irritating as anything. Dom-

inos vouchers 2for1 you cant

say no to that and, er, condoms!

Theres nothing worse than having

a stingy wee!

S L : A N Y A D V I C E F O R O U R S T U D E N T S ?

In 2016 Chris is touring the UK

and we have tickets for you and

your housemates to see Chris

at one of his upcoming gigs.

To enter all you need

to do is answer the question....

Enter today to see one

of the UKs most exciting

comedians!

You can submit your entry at


* Terms and conditions apply see website for details

W H E R E D I D C H R I S G O T O U N I ?

T I C K E T S T O S E E C H R I S R A M S E Y O N T O U R ! !

win WIN WIN

13S T U D E N T A D V I C E A C C O M M O D AT I O N

Once a Tenancy Agreement

is signed, it can be difficult and costly to change your arrange-

ments, so dont rush into deciding

who you want to live with in your

second year. Take time to make sure youre compatible, and think about a few different options in case

things dont work out. Remember

also that while Full-Time students are exempt from Council Tax, Part-Time students are liable to pay a reduced rate; youll need to make specific arrangements for dealing with this if you decide to

share with someone on a different

study schedule.

1 Choosing

Housemates

the top ten

S L S T O P T I P S F O R R E N T I N G S T U D E N T A C C O M M O D AT I O N

Student survival

14 S T U D E N T A D V I C E A C C O M M O D AT I O N

When youve decided who you

want to live with, start looking

around the market as soon as pos-sible. Arrange plenty of viewings to get an idea of whats out there,

and if you happen to bump into

the current tenants, dont be afraid

to ask them how their experience has been with the landlord and the property itself. Their answers will

often give you an insight that you

cant get anywhere else.

Once youve handed over your

deposit, the landlord has a legal obligation to protect your money under the terms of the Tenancy Deposit Scheme and must do so within 30 days. It is important to be aware that this scheme covers

deposits on Assured Short-Hold Tenancies. Some other forms of tenancy agreements do not

require the landlord to protect the

deposit and it is therefore worth

checking this.

A landlord will often show you

an inventory before you move in, which allows them to monitor the condition of property over the course of your tenancy. This

usually makes for a stronger and

more straightforward relationship

between the two parties, so if the

landlord hasnt produced one

already, produce one yourselves

and send it over to them as soon as

possible. Take some photographs of the various rooms and make a few notes about any pre-existing signs of damage or wear.

You should try to get the

Tenancy Agreement signed by the landlord as soon as a deal is

agreed in principle. Otherwise,

they are under no legal obliga-tion to rent their property to you when it comes to move-in day

even if youve already handed over

the deposit.

2planning

ahead

3 the deposit4 inven-tory

5tenancy

agree-ment

NORMALLY THEY WILL CHARGE YOU A REFERENCING FEE OF AROUND 20 TO 100 PER PERSON

S L O N L E T T I N G F E E S :

15S T U D E N T A D V I C E T O P T E N T I P S

When going through a letting

agent, they will normally charge

you a referencing fee of around

20 to 100 per person. You should try to negotiate this fee

down, as the average cost of a ref-

erence for the agent is about 20, and they wont want to miss out

on the whole deal for the sake of a

few extra pounds from the tenant.

Be aware also that agents are not legally allowed to charge you for looking around a property.

Look out for confirmation that the properties youre considering

have been accredited under the

AFS/Unipol code. These prop-erties and their landlords have

been through a rigorous, inde-

pendent, and reliable scheme of

assessment, so you can be assured

in advance about the quality of

the property and the standards to

which it has been maintained.

Police report consistently high levels of theft in student areas, as a plentiful range of electronic

goods (iPads, laptops, consoles,

TVs) are made into easy targets by lax home security (unlocked doors,

opened windows, etc.). You should

ask your landlord to fit key-oper-ated locks on windows, as well as 5-level deadlocks on all external doors. Its a good idea to look into

annual crime figures for an area

before moving there.

If youre renting a property on a

shared basis, remember that one

TV License will cover all tenants. However, if each tenant has a sep-arate rental agreement, then one

license will be required for each person that has a TV in their room.

6letting

fees

7 accred-itation

8 Burg-

laries

9 tv license

P L A N A H E A D !

10moving

outYou should plan for moving

out a few weeks in advance. The property needs to be left

in the condition that you found

it, so youll probably need to

replace a few light bulbs and

run the mop around. Just a little

bit of foresight can save you a

costly cleaning fee further down

the line, and ensure that you

end the tenancy on good terms

with the landlord (dont forget,

you might need a reference from them in future!).

16 C I T Y G U I D E S

cityguides

E V E N T S & G I G S

Welcome to your ultimate guide to uni life and city living. To help you find your way around weve stamped the pages with badges showing what each city does best, from cheap eats to culture and everything in between

S P O RT S & L E I S U R E

T R A N S P O RT L I N K S

C H E A P D R I N K S

L O W L I V I N G C O S T S

H A P P YS T U D E N T S

17C I T Y G U I D E S

S T U D E N T H U B

VA R I E T Y

C H E A P E AT S

P U B C R AW L S

M U LT I C U LT U R A L

N AT U R E & G R E E N E RY

18 C I T Y G U I D E S B A N G O R

bangorstudent life in

K N O W N F O RW H AT Y O U N E E D T O K N O W A B O U T B A N G O R

W I T H A C O L L E C T I O N O F E C L E C T I C A N D Q U I R K Y E S TA B L I S H M E N T S D O W N E V E RY S T R E E T, B A N G O R I S T H E U N C O N V E N T I O N A L S T U D E N T C I T Y !

Location, Location, Location

For the most part any promo-

tional material for Bangor youre

likely to see will contain, at its core,

an inadvertent backhanded com-

pliment. Whether youre a new

student or an old student, you will

at some point hear the answer to

the question: Why Bangor?. And

that answer is almost always: Its

Location.

Yes, its location. Not its bars,

or its cafes: its location. Almost

all promotion includes in itself an

implication that Bangor is only

as good as what is near. This

was first shown to me by a head of department at the University

who jokingly pointed to a picture

in their brochure and said: I dont

even know what country this was

taken in.

A sideline to the main event?

But why is this? The reason is

that to most new students - who are

almost always situated far from the

town centre - Bangor city serves

as a sideline to the main event,

and for the old students - who are

peppered all over - Bangor serves

as a hub for exploring the rest of

North Wales. Both of these options

leave little room for Bangor as a

fully realised space to explore.

Whether you are a new student

or an old student, or even local

to the area, Bangor has countless

W H E R E 1 . K Y F F I N - B A N G O R

19X X XC I T Y G U I D E S

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See website for full terms

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20 C I T Y G U I D E S B A N G O R

opportunities around the year to

explore local and international

food, art, music, and theatre. I am

going to take you through some of

the more obscure, and yet homely

of Bangors offerings.

KyffinSat across from me, is none

other than Jo Pott, owner and

manager of Kyffin, a charming little cafe in Bangor, as well as

two neighbouring shops: Jo Pott

Mercer Interiors and Clothing. Jo

happens to agree with me that

Bangor is not only as good as the

places that surround it. She goes

as far as stating that Bangor is in

itself an unconventional place,

where one can plough ones fur-

rows. Meaning that whilst you are

here, it is a chance and a place

to carve a way for yourself, find the unconventional places you

wouldnt normally know to look

for. Kyffin is one of those places. It took me about a year of

eating there before I realised it

was Vegetarian and Vegan food.

It is all so very casual and confi-dent, the type of cafe that attracts

people based on its shy acknowl-

edgement of honesty. Situated

right on the high street, the cafe

houses an eclectic group of cus-

tomers; from professors, students,

and locals, to knitting groups and

creative writers - all in a chocolate,

coffee and world music infused

atmosphere.

Blue Sky Caf Also on the high street, Blue Sky

Caf is a favourite of many locals

and students, as well as musicians

and poets. With an open canteen

setting, skylights, and artwork

hanging from the walls, it is clear

that Blue Sky is bound to be loved

by everyone, it has an easy nature

about it, great food and plastered

all over the side wall as you walk

in are advertisements for concerts,

dance classes, book and poetry

readings. Many of these events

are put on at Blue Sky which also

happens to have a liquor licence.

Art Trail On the subject of art, there

is the Art Trail, art spots dotted

around Bangor for the publics

N O T T O M I S S I N B A N G O R

North Wales International Poetry Festival

Blue Sky Cafe also put on some

of the events of The North Wales

International Poetry Festival,

which has multiple readings and

installations all over Bangor and

takes place every October. Organ-

ised by poet and professor Zo

Skoulding, the festival holds host

to a number of international poets

whose performances range from

skulking around Blue Sky Cafe, pre-

tending to retrace their steps from

their house to their family grave-

yard, painting over (or blacking

out) pages of books brought by

the public, shouting in translation

and banging staffs. All bound to

surprise you after having a few

ciders and no doubt different from

what youll be used to by the end

of freshers week.

C L I C K H E R E F O R M O R E O N L I V I N G I N B A N G O R

21C I T Y G U I D E S B A N G O R

C I T Y G U I D E : B A N G O R 2 . P O N T I O

down almost every street in Bangor is something to be seen.

viewing pleasure. Also, tucked

behind The Antelope Pub, near

the Menai bridge, is a very well

kept secret in Bangor: The Old

Goods Yard. This is a collection of

artists spaces filled with the weird and wonderful, where you may get

a chance to see some of the most

intriguing, grounded, and down-

right confusing art pieces in and

around Bangor.

Pontio Pontio will for the foreseeable

future be the absolute centre of

arts and media in Bangor and the

surrounding areas. With its state

of the art theatres, cinema, con-

ference rooms, Pontio presents

students and locals an easier and

cheaper alternative to travelling

around to multiplexes.

Up and coming over the next

few months are a wide selection

of films and Wallpaper, a digital fiction installation coming in April, that will no doubt appeal to those

of you interested in video games

and interactive media.

A pub for every week of the year

As students you are likely to

find out all the obvious places to go, the places that facilitate

the experience rather than be it:

pubs, bars, clubs, fast food res-

taurants, and societies. Yet down

almost every street in Bangor

is something to be seen. Dont

rush your way through Bangors

Pub for every week of the year,

take your time, explore, and if

youre nervous about experi-

encing these little oddities that

Bangor has to offer, you can always

pretend youre being ironic.

Works like a charm.

22 C I T Y G U I D E S B I R M I N G H A M

Bhamstudent life in

K N O W N F O RW H AT Y O U N E E D T O K N O W A B O U T B I R M I N G H A M

I T S B E L I E V E D T O B E T H E B I RT H P L A C E O F T H E B A LT I , A T Y P E O F C U R RY S E R V E D I N A L A R G E W O K - L I K E M E TA L B O W L

W H E R E 3 . T H E B U L L R I N G

So, youve made it to Englands second city, welcome! With over 65,000 students studying in Birmingham, youve come to the perfect place for nightlife, culture, food and more. If youre a Brummie veteran, you might think youve got it covered, but Ive done some digging and there are a few hidden gems which I can let you in on.

EatingBirmingham is absolutely full

of places to eat. If youre a UoB

student, campus has lots of lunch

options including Joes Bar (check

out their infamous University Chal-

lenge dessert). Plus, theres the

farmers market on campus once

a month where you can try exotic

food such as ostrich burgers.


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My hidden gem for a cheap

lunch in the centre is a shop called

Meal Deal. Its a two minute

walk from New Street Station,

and you can get jacket potatoes,

baguettes and paninis in a lunch

deal (including chips and a drink)

for under 2.

If its a Birmingham balti youre

after, you dont have to travel very

far. With many curry houses in Selly

Oak offering amazing deals and

a BYOB alcohol policy, youre

guaranteed a full stomach for

under a tenner. If you want to try

somewhere a bit fancier in town

(perhaps with the parents in tow)

Puskhar on Broad Street is my

favourite.

NightlifeLots of big-name clubs are on

Broad Street such as 6, Popworld,

Walkabout and Players, but the

most popular club with many

students is Snobs, located near

New Street. Snobs reopened in

2014 after a revamp, but kept

its ever-popular combination

of cheap drinks, quirky decor

(including a disco ball and a wall

of faces) and throwback music.

If its a more chilled out night

you are after, there are also some

great cocktail bars. Highlights

include the sweetie jar cocktails

at Jekyll & Hyde, the two cocktail

menus at Lost and Found, and

happy hour between 4-7pm at

Bodega Mexican where cocktails

are 4.50.

Culture:A R T

If you fancy something more

cultured, Birmingham is full of

inspiring (and free!) art galleries

for you to check out. Theres the

Birmingham Museum and Art

Gallery and the contemporary

Ikon gallery in Brindley Place. If

youre a University of Birmingham

student, youre in luck; the Barber

Institute of Fine Art is right on your

doorstep on campus.

J A Z ZIf youre an Ella Fitzgerald or

a Louis Armstrong fan, youre in

for a treat! Every Friday in the

Symphony Hall Cafe-Bar in town

there is a free jazz gig. Its the

perfect way to unwind after a

week of lectures - and youll have

more money to spend on a drink

at the bar.

W H E R E 4 . L O S T A N D F O U N D

0121 472 7071

primestudentliving.com

For more information or to book a viewing...

Directly opposite Birmingham Universitys Edgbaston campus

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ComedyJanuary can be a bit of a

downer (thanks to essay deadlines

and post-Christmas blues), so Ive

picked out a couple of comedy

gigs to cheer you up!

O N A B U D G E T:

B R A M A L L C O M E D Y N I G H T F E AT. E L L I E TAY L O R ( 1 4 T H J A N U A R Y )

Ellie Taylor (seen on Mock

the Week and 8 Out of 10 Cats)

is coming to the Bramall music

building on the UoB campus.

She will be joined by Aussie mas-

ter-of-improvisation, John Rob-

ertson. The night will be compered

by the brilliant African comedian

Daliso Chaponda. Tickets 5.

U P M A R K E T:

S T E P H E N K A M O S : T H E L A U G H T E R M A S T E R ( 1 6 T H J A N U A R Y )

Fresh from his sell-out tours

of Australia and New Zealand,

Stephen K Amos is back with a

new show full of spiky-wit and feel-

good comedy. Check him out at

the Old Rep. Tickets 17.

Whats On?

W H E N j a n

Your guide to the unmissable events coming to Brum in the next few months! Weve picked a different aspect of this amazing city each month for you to enjoy.

W H E R E 5 . B H A M M U S E U M

STUDENT ACCOMMODATION @ SELLY OAK COURT

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Exam Stress-Busters

O N A B U D G E T:

T H E E L E C T R I C C I N E M AThe perfect way to unwind

during exam season, the Electric

is one of Birminghams best-kept-

secrets and is Englands oldest

working cinema. With a bar, vin-

tage decor and student tickets at

5.40, youd be mad to miss it!

U P M A R K E T:

T W E L F T H N I G H T @ T H E R E P ( 1 2 - 1 6 T H A P R I L )

Fancy something lighthearted?

A new adaptation of one of Shake-

speares best-loved comedies is

coming to the Rep, featuring

romance, satire and hilarious mis-

taken identity. Tickets from 13.50

B I R M I N G H A M

MusicO N A B U D G E T:

L U N C H T I M E G U I TA R C O N C E R T AT @ B M A G ( 5 T H F E B R U A R Y )

Fancy something different?

Head to the Birmingham Museum

and Art Gallery for a free lunchtime

classical guitar concert at 1.10pm.

No booking required.

U P M A R K E T:

H O Z I E R @ O 2 A C A D E M Y ( 2 N D F E B R U A R Y )

This star just keeps on rising!

With two Billboard Awards, a

coveted Ivor Novello award, and

festival sets under his belt, Hozier

is coming to Brum for one night

only. Its not one to miss! Tickets

from 26.25.

WorldO N A B U D G E T:

A S T R O N O M Y I N T H E C I T Y ( 9 T H M A R C H )

For all those budding Brian

Coxes. Astronomy in the City is a

free public event on UoB campus

packed with astrophysics talks,

stargazing, tea and biscuits. Click here to check out the event web-site for more details.

U P M A R K E T:

B A N F F M O U N TA I N F I L M F E S T I VA L W O R L D T O U R ( 5 T H M A R C H )

Do you like adventure and out-

door sports? Head over to Sym-

phony Hall for an extraordinary

collection of short films from the worlds most prestigious mountain

film festival. Youll see inspiring footage from far-flung reaches of the world and heart-racing action

sports. Tickets from 12.50.

W H E N F E B

W H E N M a r

W H E Na p r - J u n

To read more about student

life in the second city visit


Birminghamstudent living.Just better.

www.collegiate-ac.com

800 Bristol Road Brook Studios

Edge Apartments

30 C I T Y G U I D E S B R A D F O R D

BRADFORD

student life in K N O W N F O R

N O T T O M I S S I N B R A D F O R D

B R A D F O R D F E S T I VA L - A T H R E E D AY B O N A N Z A I N J U N E , F E AT U R I N G L I V E M U S I C , S T R E E T S H O W S A N D F O O D S TA L L S !

Whether youre already studying in Bradford or considering it for the future, knowing whats on for students and where to go is always handy. This guide is designed to do just that. From pubs and clubs, places to eat, coffee shops, enter-tainment and places of interest, our student guide to Bradford has everything you need to explore the city and make the most of its facilities.

Centenary Square

One of the first ports of call for students straight from campus is

to head to Centenary Square and

the fantastic Mirror Pool fountains.

This stunning pool and fountains

with its surrounding grassy area

provides a great meeting place,

and with Starbucks, Wether-

spoons, Nandos and Chinese

Buffet just two minutes away, it is

a great focal point and by far one

of the citys most popular areas for

students and families alike. Not

just a daytime attraction, as night

draws in, the Mirror Pool is trans-

formed into a lightshow and is

often the venue for various forms

of entertainment throughout the

year.

Bradford Festival and PRIDE!

Bradford Festival is held over

three days each June, featuring

street shows, live music, food stalls

and more. Showing the ethnic and

multicultural side of Bradford is

31C I T Y G U I D E S B R A D F O R D

something that always proves

popular in the city, and with the

addition of a huge Mela, this

time-honoured festival is a great

showcase. Like most cities, Brad-

ford has an active and very proud

LGBT community, and each year

Bradford PRIDE attracts massive

crowds for its live music, street

shows and strong sense of family.

Where to EatBradford has some of the best

curry houses in the north, no ques-

tion. One of the most popular with

residents of the city and visitors

alike is The Sweet Centre. Estab-

lished in 1964, The Sweet Centre,

Manningham (five minutes from the city centre) was one of the first Indian restaurants to open in the

UK. For a great way to start the

day, turn up early for a traditional

Chickpea curry breakfast.

Pubs and ClubsNight life! Does Bradford have

one? Yes, it does! You want clubs?

We have clubs. If youre a fan of

the metal scene, you cant go far

wrong with Trash, Bradfords only

remaining rock club. Love your

W H E R E 6 . T H E A L H A M B R A T H E AT R E

the alhambra is the place to go for a more cultured night out

alternative events? Check out

Trap Door at The Mill, where the

party never ends.

Looking for a decent pub

with some live music? The Black

Swan has live rock bands, DJ

nights and, for those with an

exhibitionist streak, theres Friday

night Karaoke! Active in the LGBT

community and looking for a gay

bar? Then check out Candy and

the fabulous Sun Hotel.

Just want to enjoy a quiet drink

in a friendly atmosphere? Then

The Beehive Inn is the place to be.

A warm welcome, a roaring open

fire and the occasional live band. Just the place to sit and chat, and

yes, you can actually hear yourself

think.

Theatre and Entertainment

The Alhambra Theatre, located

just five minutes from campus, is the venue for touring shows from

the West End. Showing everything

from The Lion King to The Rocky

Horror Show and the well-loved

pantomime, and with generous

student discounts and a bar/bistro,

The Alhambra is the place to go

for a more cultured night out.


Kirkgate Centre Student Lockdown

Right in the heart of Bradford

is the Kirkgate Shopping Centre

and market; home to all of the

major stores you would expect.

Each year, the centre offers huge

discounts to students in partici-

pating stores as part of its Student

Lockdown Promotion, with some

stores offering 20% off and many

more special offers. Download

the app and add an extra 5% to

purchases for even better student

savings!

B R A D F O R D

7 . K I R K G AT E

To read Sundays full

guide to Bradford visit


T H E S T U D E N T V E R D I C T

Bradford College student Dee

is undertaking a University course

in Games and Digital Media, and

has set up a small games design

company in order to gain extra

experience, and to help fellow

students put their newly-acquired

skills to practical use.

We set up the company with

the main intention of creating

games while in Uni to give us the

experience we need to make it

in the industry. We are currently

working on several ideas for app

games and one for the PC; maybe

we will even earn a few bob on the

app store from our extracurricular

venture.

The course we are on has been

good and we have all learned so

much over the modules. For a

relatively small place, Bradford

has a surprising amount to offer

people choosing to study here,

both educationally and as a city

in general.

C L I C K H E R E F O R M O R E O N L I V I N G I N B R A D F O R D

Places to VisitBradfords Media Museum

has long been an interesting

attraction for both residents and

visitors alike. Home of the giant

Imax screen, the Media Museum

features galleries to suite all tastes.

Whether retro TV, the history of

moving pictures or the future of

technology are your thing, Brad-

fords Media Museum has it all;

moreover, entry to the galleries

is free.

Looking for somewhere to just

kick back and relax? Then a visit

to Lister Park is a must. Just 10

minutes out of the city centre,

this large park is home to Cart-

wright Hall Museum, rolling fields, and the pedalo lake if you fancy

spending a chilled out hour on the

water. An island of green in a city

scene, and one of the most pop-

ular places to escape the bustle

for a few hours, Lister Park has

everything you need for a quiet

afternoon away from it all.

2 MIN WALKTO UNI OFBRADFORD



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34 C I T Y G U I D E S B R I S T O L

bristolstudent life in

K N O W N F O RN O T T O M I S S I N B R I S T O L . . .

B R I S T O L B A L L O O N F I E S TA - E U R O P E S B I G G E S T H O T A I R B A L L O O N E V E N T W I T H O V E R 1 0 0 B A L L O O N S F LY I N G A R O U N D A C R O S S F O U R D AY S

Nights OutBristol has a great nightlife

scene and theres something for

everyone. If you just fancy a few

drinks then Roo Bar, The White

Bear and Highbury Vaults are

popular choices amongst stu-

dents. Alternatively, if youre after

a taste of West Country life then

the Cori Tap and The Apple offer

some pretty tasty ciders, which are

sure to leave you more than a little

sozzled. There are also several

secret cocktail bars, but if I told

you about them, they wouldnt be

secret would they? Youll have to

come to Bristol and discover these

hidden gems for yourself!

Bristol has the highest number of students that chose to stay on in the city after they graduate out of all UK cities. Whys that? Because once you come to Bristol you will abso-lutely fall in love with the city and everything it has to offer. I am a third year Geography student at the University of Bristol and I never want to leave. With so much to do and see in Bristol you can be certain that you wont ever find yourself sitting around twiddling your thumbs!

W H E R E 8 . C L I F T O N S U S P E N S I O N B R I D G E

Bristol student living.Just better.


College Green Water Lane Apartments

William and Matthew House

36 C I T Y G U I D E S B R I S T O L

A D I S T I N C T, C R E AT I V E A N D E D G Y C I T Y

Bristol has become a distinct,

creative and edgy city, so if youre

looking for a night out thats a bit

out of the ordinary then places like

Lakota and Mr Wolfs on Gloucester

Road are the places to go for a

unique Bristol experience. Theres

also Thekla (the club on a boat) and

Motion (the club in an old skate

park warehouse). For something

a little more familiar then Bunker,

Mbargo and Lizard Lounge on the

Triangle offer a great night out,

with cracking tunes and cheap

drinks (Lizard Lounges 1 toffee

vodka shots being a top choice).

J A S O N D O N E R VA N Once youve danced until you

can dance no more then Jason

Donervan will be sure to provide

you with the best kebab/burger/

chips you will ever come across.

In a perfect location just a few

stumbling steps from the clubs

on the Triangle it is an ideal stop

off before you head back home.

TOP EATSYou are absolutely spoilt for choice when it comes to eating out in Bristol. Here are a few places that cant be missed

T H E B U R G E R J O I N TThe Burger Joint definitely

does the best burgers in Bristol,

and I wouldnt hesitate to say the

best ever. You design your own

burger: picking your favourite top-

pings, sauces and sides to make

sure your Burger Joint experience

is sensational!

W H I T E L I O N B A R This pub offers a huge range

of delicious food in a spectacular

setting overlooking the Avon

Gorge and Clifton Suspension

Bridge. This is one of my favourite

spots in Bristol whats better than

enjoying delicious food, for great

prices, with an incredible view?

Not much in my opinion!

C A F E S / S A N D W I C H S H O P S

If youre looking for a quick bite

in between lectures then theres

plenty of choice in this department

too. Sandwich Sandwich is a great

shout with big portions for little

prices! Friska is another awesome

caf serving healthy (and delicious)

fast-food. Alternatively, the Red

Tent is right in the centre of the

university and offers ciabattas,

flatbreads and traybakes.

W H E R E 9 . T H E B U R G E R J O I N T

If youre studying at the University of Bristol, you can be on campus in 5

minutes, and students at the University of the West of England are only 20

minutes away on the bus.

St. Lawrence house offers contemporary studios with

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per week170

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St. Lawrence House

If youre studying at the University of Bristol, you can be on campus in 5

minutes, and students at the University of the West of England are only 20

minutes away on the bus.

St. Lawrence house offers contemporary studios with

fully inclusive rents

from

per week170

Free On-site Gym

Free Group Study Rooms

250Mb Broadband and Free Wi-Fi

All Utility Bills Included

32 Smart TV

Washer Dryer in every apartment

Free Contents Insurance (Up to 5,000)

24/7 Security with Key Fob Entry

On-site Management and Maintenance

3/4 Beds

Spacious 23m2 Studios

Cycle Stores

Inbound Parcel Distribution Service

Printing Service

Car Parking

En-Suite Studios

Prime Student Living

0117 927 9242


@Prime_Student


St. Lawrence House


And breatheOne of the amazing things

about Bristol is that you can be

enjoying the buzz of city living one

minute, and then after a short walk

you can find yourself in the serenity of open green spaces, enchanting

woodlands or peacefully trickling

rivers. The famous Clifton Suspen-sion Bridge is obviously a popular

choice, with a natural rock slide

and a cave that leads down to

an observatory in the face of the

Avon Gorge. However, there are also a number of lesser-known

places that are equally beautiful.

Perfect for a BBQDurdham Downs are rarely

given the recognition they deserve.

This huge expanse of green at

the top of Whiteladies Road is

perfect for jogging, playing footie

with your mates, or gathering for

a picnic or a BBQ. Theres also

Ashton Court Estate with rolling hills and beautiful woodland.

This is a stunning place to go for

a peaceful walk, with the herd

of resident deer making it feel a

million miles away from the rush

of the city. Blaise Castle Estate is another magical place with plenty

of opportunities for adventures

and exploration! And how many

cities can say they have a castle?

B R I S T O L

12 MINWALKTO UNI OFBRISTOL

STUDENT ACCOMMODATION @ KING SQUARE STUDIOS


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King SquareBS2 8AU

Tokyo Worldkick starts the academic year

in September and is hugely pop-

ular amongst students. What was

once a low-key rave has become

an explosion of great music and

funky vibes. Its the perfect way

to see off the summer holidays

before you start a new year at Uni.

Love Saves The Day

takes place in May and is

another cracking festival, popular

amongst the more carefree stu-

dents who arent stressing about

impending exams and deadlines.

This bumper weekend of love

is the perfect combination of

fantastic music and an incredible

atmosphere.

Bristol Balloon Fiesta

graces the city in August. With

mass balloon take offs, two night

glows and a funfair this 4 day

fiesta is not one to miss. Set in the stunning Ashton Court Estate

this fiesta is a perfect way to spend a sunny August weekend. And its

completely free bonus!

Theres also the Bristol Har-

bour Festival, St. Pauls Carnival,

Eat Drink Bristol Fashion, Taste

Chocolate the list is endless.

Theres always something going

on in this vibrant city.

FestivalfeverE V E RY O N E L O V E S A F E S T I VA L , A N D I N B R I S T O L T H E R E S P L E N T Y T O C H O O S E F R O M . . .

1 0 . F I E S TA

1 1 . R O C K S L I D E

More on Bristol at


12 MINWALKTO UNI OFBRISTOL

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King SquareBS2 8AU

40 C I T Y G U I D E S C A M B R I D G E

CAMB RIDGE

student life in

N O T T O M I S S I N C A M B R I D G E . . .

K N O W N F O R

P U N T I N G D O W N T H E R I V E R C A M O N A L A Z Y S U N D AY A F T E R N O O N T O S E E A D I F F E R E N T S I D E T O T H E C I T Y

W H E R E 1 2 . C A M B R I D G E C I T Y

CAMBRIDGE IS ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO STUDY AND LIVE AS A STUDENT

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42 C I T Y G U I D E S C A M B R I D G E

One of the UKs genuinely

iconic student cities, Cambridge is

one of the best places to study and

live as a student. Growing from the

handful of academics who came to

study in Cambridge over 800 years

ago, the city is now home to around

30,000 students during term time.

As you might expect around

20,000 of these are studying at

the University which as an 800

year old global leader in educa-

tion - really needs no introduc-

tion. However, the city is also

home to Anglia Ruskin University

(ARU) and while ARU only gained

that name in 2005, it also has a

rich history dating back to 1858.

Given the relatively large num-

bers of students in the city (when

considered in proportion to the

general population) you wont

be surprised to find a student focused and friendly environment.

Furthermore, whilst the image of

Cambridge as a peaceful, friendly

city is personified by the image of students punting up the River

Cam, its hidden depths of diver-

sity offer enough to keep the most

demanding students happy.

the campus

There is little point, here, in

offering a guide to life on campus.

There are so many such guides

covering the 700 plus societies

and the ins and outs of stud-

ying at one of the worlds most

renowned Unis you wont need

another one here. Furthermore, if

you are studying at Anglia Ruskin, the Union is pretty well organised and it wont take you too long to

work out how it ticks. What of life

on the outside.

Big City BenefitsCambridge might not be the

biggest of places, but it is gorgeous

to look at. Just a glimpse of the

Kings College Chapel, which took over one hundred years to build,

is enough. The global reputation

of the University ensures that the

city punches above its weight

and hosts major art collections,

huge libraries and an array of fes-

tivals. Folk, Rock, Comedy, Food

or Dragon Boats. Take your pick

of these festivals and more. There

as so many super smart, driven

people in Cambridge resulting in

a diversity of interests and tastes

and so many events to choose

from every night of the week.

ClubbingDespite rumours to the con-

trary there are clubs and bars in

Cambridge. Kuda, right in the city centre (near the market) runs

its legendary student night on a

Sunday so be careful if you have

lectures first thing on Monday. Ballare, at the Lion Yard, normally runs its student night on a Tuesday,

while, Lola Lo positions itself as a student friendly venue which runs

regular students nights and has

CITYLIVING

D R A G O N B O AT S

1 3 .


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Student accommodation at its best in CambridgeWere right in the thick of things, just a few minutes walk from Jesus Green and the neighbourhoods coffee bars, cafes, shops and museums.

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a loyalty card, with some pretty

attractive savings. Finally Fez, over on market passage runs a student

night on Monday and if you have

had your fill of the standard cheese a pretty credible indie night every

Friday called propaganda. For drinks try Vaults on Trinity

Street. Its an underground (lit-

erally) venue that does amazing

cocktails and has recently opened

up a Gin Laboratory, after teaming

up with the team at Cambridge

Distillery. They also serve amazing

hotdogs and have a happy hour on

cocktails every night, so its pretty

easy on the student loan.

Cheap Drinks For really student friendly prices

go to the ADC theatre bar. You dont need to be seeing a show

and it regularly stays open until

the small hours. In addition to

refreshingly cheap prices, the bar

has great booze, supplied by the

Cambridge wine merchants and

Milton brewery.

Places to EatIf you want to escape campus

(and you probably will), try Copper

Kettle in Kings Parade, which specialises in reasonably priced

and great tasting Mediterranean

food. Clowns on king street offers Italian cooking and the 10 set

menu is relatively in tune with stu-

dents pockets. Meanwhile, Nanna Mexicos has great tasting burritos on offer for around 6. Lovely stuff

and there are two of them in the

city, one on Petty Cury and one

on Hills Road. Other places to try

include Afternoon Tease on Kings Street and Espresso Library on East Road. Not so much a library,

more part cycle shop, part art gal-

lery and restaurant and bar and oh

yes, specialist coffee shop.

Shopping As you might expect Cambridge

is home to all of the mainstream

shops that you might expect to

find and are probably useful. If you are looking for something a little

more budget and vintage is your

thing, you can find loads of charity

shops around ARU and also on Burleigh Street. Check out Mill Road, which is apparently home to the first internet caf, has loads of cheap groceries on offer as well as

a plethora of vintage shops

Getting aroundSimple. Buy a bike. And a lock

for your bike.

C A M B R I D G E

N A N N A M E X I C O

TOP EATS

TO GET AROUND JUST BUY A BIKE... AND A LOCK!

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about lancaster visit


To read more

about Cambridge visit


1 4 .

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46 C I T Y G U I D E S C A N T E R B U R Y

canterBuryN O T T O M I S S I N C A N T E R B U RY

W O R L D F E S T - A C O L L E C T I O N O F W E I R D A N D W O N D E R F U L P E R F O R M E R S F R O M A C R O S S T H E G L O B E !

student life in

K N O W N F O R

PROS.. .In the last decade, Canter-

burys student population has

almost doubled. Not only has this

made for a vibrant and thriving

local economy, but it also means

that every time you go out,

youre bound to meet plenty of

likeminded, young, fun-loving

people. Canterbury is one of the

warmest places in the UK, so once

summertime comes around, youll

be able to spend hours lounging

around in the greenery of Dane

John Gardens and, if you fancy a

quick change of scene, London is

only an hour away by train. CCCU

students get into the Cathedral for

free with their university student

card, so take some time to look

around one of the most famous

historic buildings in the world (this

is also probably where you and

your classmates will graduate).

CONS.. .This might sound a bit hypocrit-

ical considering the way students

invade the city during Freshers

Week, but: tourists. Once the

springtime comes, be prepared

to share Canterbury with hundreds

of visitors, including French school

trips that, on some days, will liter-

ally take over the streets! The only

other thing to mention is that Can-

terbury is pretty small an advan-

tage in lots of ways, but when you

need something specific (from a big supermarket or DIY store,

for example), you might have

to take a bus.

1 5 . W O R L D F E S T








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your mind off things? Go and see

Derren Browns new show at The Marlowe Theatre and you never

know, he might make you forget

youre a student altogether (along

with your name and home address,

but never mind that). Tickets are

available at around 40. If hyp-

nosis isnt your thing, then maybe

book at a table at Tacos Locos, a bustling Mexican restaurant thats

popular with locals and students

(tell them youre doing your exams

and you never know, you might

even get a free shot of Tequila).

March brings with it Canter-

burys annual, week-long multicul-

tural feast known as Worldfest. Expect a big tent full of amazing

musicians, dancers, and fellow

students for a unique celebration

of cultures from all over the globe.

C A N T E R B U R Y

Whats On? X2

Bring in the New Year in style

at Club Chemistry, a popular, three-storey venue that plays all

sorts of music. Its worth visiting

in advance to get an Early Bird

ticket, which are available now

at 10 each. For something a bit

different, try The Old Brewery Tavern, a contemporary pub and bar which is renowned for its late

night parties (advance tickets are

available for 10, from the ABode

Canterbury Hotel around the

corner). If you find yourself nursing a few early-2016 hangovers, it

might help to wrap up warm and

take a scenic walk down the canal;

the local council has a number

of routes available to download

from their website.

Its term-time again, and

youre likely to be buried under

a stress-inducing mountain of

coursework and exam revision.

So why not treat yourself to a bit

of the cultural high-life to take

W H E N J A N

W H E N F E B

W H E N M A R c h

In the last decade, Canterburys student population has almost doubled!

W H E R E 1 6 . T H E O L D B R E W E RY TAV E R N

If youre after some more

musical magic, why not pick up

some tickets for Wolf Alices gig at the Leas Cliff Hall on Monday 21st (from 20).

49C I T Y G U I D E S C A N T E R B U R Y

W H E N a p r W H E N M A Y

In the last decade, Canterburys student population has almost doubled! W H E R E 1 7 . C A N T E R B U RY C AT H E D R A L

Spring is here, and finally you can start to make a bit more of

Canterburys stunning natural

beauty. Beer gardens will fill up, and tourists will crowd the streets,

but fear not: with just a bit of local

know-how, you can plan around

the mayhem. First of all, spend

a chilled afternoon taking in the

gorgeous Westgate Gardens (and learning a bit about the city

youre studying in!) on one of Can-

terburys Historic River Tours. Stu-dent prices are 8. Then take a bus

to one of the local beaches try

Broadstairs, a lovely seaside town where you can have a game of

mini golf before enjoying a more

relaxed night in the local bars.

OK, so there are more exams

and essay deadlines ahead, but

you really shouldnt miss out on the

various end-of-year celebrations

that are hosted by the University

in May. A particular favourite is

Keynestock, a music festival held in the grounds of Keynes College.

Traditionally, a number of up-and-

coming musicians will battle it out

to decide who gets to play at the

Universitys main summer ball. The atmosphere is friendly but fun,

with a BBQ and several bars, and

the music is usually pretty amazing

when she was a student here a

few years ago, Ellie Goulding was

in the line-up. Advance tickets are

around 5.

A F S T O P T I P

The citys accommodation is

more or less divided into two

areas, depending on which Uni-

versity you attend. If you go to

CCCU then you are generally

better off living in the south of the

city towards Sturry or Wincheap,

which are very close to the

campus. On the other hand, UKC

students should look for housing

around Hales Place, as it means

you wont have to trudge up the

dreaded Hales Hill on your way

to every lecture.

C L I C K H E R E F O R M O R E O N L I V I N G I N C A N T E R B U RY

More on Canterbury at


50 C I T Y G U I D E S C A R D I F F

cardiffstudent life in

K N O W N F O RN O T T O M I S S I N C A R D I F F

T H E C H R I S T M A S M A R K E T S - O F F E R I N G U P A L L T H E B E S T F E S T I V E T R E AT S A N D W I N T E R WA R M E R S I N T H E H E A RT O F C A R D I F F S C I T Y C E N T R E

As 2015 comes to an end, there are plenty of upcoming Christmas and New Year events. Then, in March 2016, the 6 Nations will see every Cardiffian donning their Welsh rugby shirt with pride. But what about those lesser known events? Well, Cardiff has many hidden shopping gems, must-try street food stalls, intimate theatre productions and alternative club nights.

W H E R E 1 8 . C A R D I F F C A S T L E

Cardiff student living.Just better.


Alwyn Court Northgate House Apartments

Summit House


Places to EatCardiff city centre has masses

upon masses of restaurants; from

the classic chains in St Davids 2, to the independent cafes in the

shopping arcades. There really is

something for all tastes. That goes

without saying of course.

And what about those pop-up

restaurants and street food ven-

dors that are only there for a short

while? My annual favourite is

Cardiffs Christmas Market, which is located primarily in The

Hayes, but spans to St John Street,

Working Street, Hills Street and

Trinity Street. The market has all

the Christmas foods you could

want; from a French crepe filled

to the brim with sugar and lemon,

to delicious pulled-pork and

stuffing rolls, and a must-try

German bratwurst hot-dog. The

market also has several vegetarian

and vegan stalls, such as Mr Nice Pie, which sells some of the tast-iest vegan pies going (dont knock

it until youve tried it), and the

VDeli stall, which sells a Welsh favourite: homemade Glamorgan

sausages 100% vegetarian and

100% mouth-wateringly good.

Nights OutCardiff has a music scene that is

second to none. With a wide range

of mainstream bands playing at

the Motorpoint Arena and Cardiff

Universitys Students Union, it can

be easy to overlook the smaller,

independent venues. Gwdihw

(Welsh for Owl, in case you were

wondering), which is located just

behind the Motorpoint Arena on

Guildford Crescent, puts on a wide

range of events every month; for

example, Folk in the Owls Nest, an Acoustic night on the 1st

Wednesday of every month, Fat City, a Soul and Hip-Hop night on the 2nd Saturday of every month,

and an Open Mic night on the 4th

Monday of every month. Buffalo Bar on Windsor Place, conven-iently located between Cathays

and the city centre is home to

some of the best student nights,

including Bump & Grind, an

RnB and Dance party held every

Monday, and Knee Socks, an Indie

Pop night every Tuesday. For more

mainstream music, try Glams hugely popular Smack club night,

which is held every Friday and has

featured some of the biggest DJs

over the years.

For alternatives to club

nights, Cardiff has some amazing

theatres that put on productions

of musicals, ballets and plays all

year round. From the 2nd-12th

December, Cardiffs Royal College of Music and Drama will be staging a performance

of Shakespeares The Taming of

the Shrew, but with a 60s twist to

the tale. And the Sherman Cymru

will be showing a performance of

The Lion, the Witch and the Ward-

robe between the 4th and 31st of

December.

W H E R E C I T Y C E N T R E

T O P T I P. . .C H E C K O U T C A R D I F F S V I C T O R I A N A R C A D E S F O R O N E O F A K I N D S T E A L S A N D V I N TA G E B A R G I N S !

C A R D I F F

T O P N I G H T O U TT R Y S M A C K ! - H E L D E V E R Y F R I D AY N I G H T AT G L A M I N T H E C I T Y C E N T R E

1 9 . X M A S M A R K E T S

Blackweir Terrace, Cardiff CF10 3EY

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54 C I T Y G U I D E S C A R D I F F

ShoppingAside from the high-street

giants and designers situated in

St Davids 2 and Queen Street, Cardiff really does have some

hidden-gems when it comes to

shopping. There are six Victorian

Arcades in Cardiff city centre,

which are full of vintage clothing

shops, craft shops and jewellery

stores. One shop in particular that

is a must for all students is Spillers Records in Morgan Arcade; the oldest record shop in the world.

W H E R E C AT H AY S

To read more

about Cardiff visit


Music and pizza; what more could you want?

Places to EatCathays is one of the biggest

student areas in Cardiff, so there

are plenty of cheap cafes and

takeaway restaurants. But dont

just log on to Just-Eat, take a trip

there for yourself. I would strongly

recommend going for a walk down

City Road to discover cuisine from

all over the world and some bril-

liant independent restaurants. For

something a bit different try Milgi, a plant-based restaurant, which

has some really innovative recipes.

Or on Woodville Road, there is a

wonderful Caribbean restaurant

called Irie Shack, where many

of Cardiff Universitys societies

get together for an end-of-year

meal. For some amazing breakfast

cafs, go to Salisbury Road, where

Caf 37 and Ramones Caf are situated.

Nights OutThere are many student

favourites in Cathays, such as

The Vulcan, Gassy Jacks and Koko Gorilaz. As a student, I can guarantee you will visit all of these

locations at least once. But make

sure you discover some of the

other great venues in Cathays too.

For live music, go to The Globe on Albany Road, where you will

get the chance to listen to some

upcoming bands, such as Lonely

and the Brave, older bands like

The Zombies and Exodus, as well

as some cover bands such as

Atomic Blondie and The Bowie

Experience (all playing at The

Globe between November 2015

and March 2016). Or go to Face 11 on Cathays Terrace, where an Open Mic night is held every

Thursday. While youre there, why

not try their amazing stone-baked

pizza? Music and pizza; what more

could you want?

W H E R E C I T Y C E N T R E

S P I L L E R S R E C O R D S

2 0 .

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56 C I T Y G U I D E S C H E S T E R

CHESTRstudent life in

K N O W N F O RN O T T O M I S S I N C H E S T E R

C H E S T E R R A C E S - W I T H M E E T S T H R O U G H O U T T H E S E A S O N , B O T H T H E R A C E C O U R S E A N D T H E C I T Y I S B U S T L I N G , W I T H B A R S A N D R E S TA U R A N T S O F F E R I N G D I S C O U N T D E A L S T O P U L L I N T H E P U N T E R S .

a magical city and one that is easy to fall in love with.

Theres an old Tudor by-law that says that its legal for a Chester resident to shoot a Welsh person with a bow and arrow if theyre in the city walls at night. Now this law is, of course, no longer in place but it is the history sur-rounding this that makes Chester an absolutely fascinating city that is becoming increasingly popular for both students and the general public alike. With its gorgeous pubs, restaurants and events that happen all year-round it is no wonder that more and more students are flocking to this his-toric city.

W H E R E 2 1 . C H E S T E R R A C E C O U R S E








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58 C I T Y G U I D E S C H E S T E R

of Morrissey will be sure to love

this and with a sound thatll take

you back to one of the golden

ages of music, the 1980s, its a

must-see. Even though many of

us werent born when The Smiths

where at their peak, The Smiths

Indeed offer an amazing oppor-

tunity to witness what it might

have been like to have seen them

live. Since their formation in 2005

they have gone from strength to

strength and for only 12 youll

get to experience a performance

that even Morrissey himself would

be proud of. Telfords Warehouse

HickorysSince its close to the Bus Sta-

tion, going to Hickorys is a great

way to end (or begin) any day.

You can find it down by the River Dee and is one of the best places

in Chester for American and bar-

becue food, always guaranteed to

warm you up on a cold day. From

pancakes to ribs, there is amazing

food at great prices but the Baby

Back Ribs are really incredible, they

are sticky and succulent and its a

good size portion. Even though

its a steakhouse there are plenty

of options for vegetarians, from

Mac and Cheese to Vegetable

Chili there are plenty of options

for everyone.

The Smiths Indeed

For music lovers, The Smiths

Indeed will be playing Telfords

Warehouse on the 11th February.

As a Smiths cover band, any fans

W H E R E 2 2 . M E D I E VA L C I T Y WA L L S

is also an amazing pub with an

even better bar so it makes for

an amazing night, just dont fall

in the canal.

Romantic LunchIf you fancy a romantic lunch

for Valentines Day, Beatons is

perfect. Its a really quaint teashop

overlooking the Cathedral. Saying

that Beatons is a tearoom is an

understatement, the large variety

of teas, coffees and food available

means that there is little room to

go wrong. The Strawberry Kiwi

tea alongside the Bacon Bagel is

always a winning combination in

my book and the fact that its super

affordable makes it even better.

Food, Drink and Lifestyle Festival

Chesters Food, Drink and

Lifestyle Festival will be taking

place during 26th 28nd March

at Chester Racecourse and is an

event loved by residents and

students alike. From crepes to

chilli, there is an ample variety of

Chester is the best preserved, walled city in England

59C I T Y G U I D E S C H E S T E R

regional and national food and

drink on offer. Theres also a Cock-

tail Bar, Coffee, and Wine Tasting!

Looking After Mum and Dad

While youre at Chester its

inevitable that at some point

you will be playing host to family

members, therefore you will need

places to take them during their

visit. There are two places that

are guaranteed to put a smile on

any parents face: Hanky Panky

Pancakes (HPP) and Caf at the

Walls (CatW). HPP is a cute little

restaurant in the City Centre that

specialise in, you guessed it, pan-

cakes. They have both sweet and

savoury pancakes, but if you ask

me sweet pancakes are the way to

go! Its down an alleyway on Bridge

Street, so its easy to miss but it

is truly one of Chesters hidden

gems. For something more tradi-

tional, CatW have a wide variety

of sandwiches, Paninis and cakes

available. You can find them by either going along the Walls or by

going down the River Dee to see

their charming caf overlooking

the river.

T H E WA L L S

Yes Chester is small when com-

pared to Liverpool or Manchester.

Theres no getting away from it

unfortunately. But that doesnt

mean that there is not as much

going on, Ive only touched the sur-

face on what Chester has to offer.

It truly is a magical city and one

that is easy to fall in love with.

If there is something that you

cant find in Chester, Crewe is only a 20 minute train ride away,

Liverpool a 45 minute train ride,

and Manchester 1 hour.

2 3 . H A N K Y PA N K Y

If youve still not had your fill, head on over to The Architect.

Overlooking the racecourse, its

hard to miss. Its best to follow

the Walls around to get there,

not only would you be getting

a tour of the Walls but youll be

able to treat yo self with a drink

afterwards and besides, it saves

you from doing the Walls in your

final year when you feel guilty for not doing it sooner. If you decide

to go for a bite here it may be

best to book as with it being near

the racecourse its very popular,

especially on race days, but if

youre just after a drink then you

should be fine. With some of the Georgian architecture still intact

its easy to see why its popular,

and even though its a bit more

out of the way than the SU, the

classic British and exotic influences of beers, wines and food help to

appeal to any pallet. A truly magicalcity

More on Chester at



Coventry is a vibrant and forward looking city whose outstanding history and unrivaled heritage makes the perfect student spot.

Eating out For a quick rest after night of

studying during exam week or

posh evening of fine dining and entertainment, Coventry provides

an outstanding variety of eateries

and captivating night life. Serving

food from around the globe,

restaurants in the city will tickle

your taste buds with their deli-

cious, tasty dishes, Michelin star

dining experiences and popular

takeaways.

Coventry isnt the most expen-

sive place to grab a meal or a

cheeky drink. Here are the top 3

spots where you can that you can

be well fed and watered for very

little money.

There are two main pubs that

always draw students attention

to their competitive 2 for 1 deals.

The Phoenix is located on the Far Gosford street and it is popular

among students, hosting comedy

and karaoke nights - and showing

live formula 1, football, rugby and

all range of sports. The Flying Standard, based on Bayley Lane offers a variety homemade pub

classics at decent prices such as

chicken pesto pasta or chicken

salad for those on the diet.

If you fancy grabbing a sand-

wich or jacket potato when on the

way to library, you should go to

the Deli. The family run sandwich deli located in Coventrys student

quarter offers fresh food, aromatic

coffee and snacks.

Nights outCoventry and its locals know

how to party so if you want to have

C O V E N T R Y

COVstudent life in K N O W N F O R

N O T T O M I S S I N C O V E N T RY. . .

U N I R I VA L RY - W I T H A C L O S E R I VA L RY B E T W E E N C O V E N T RY U N I , WA R W I C K U N I A N D L O U G H B O R O U G H U N I V E R S I T Y, S P O RT S C L A S H E S A R E S O M E O F T H E M O S T TA L K E D A B O U T E V E N T S A M O N G S T C O V E N T RY S T U D E N T S !

FANCY GRABBING A SANDWICH ON THE WAY TO THE LIBRARY? HEAD TO THE DELI

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Student life 2016