Academic rankings and concerns aside, what are the best UK college towns? I've never been to England, but am looking for an experience as much as the LLM degree. As far as safety, scenery, culture, people, food, fun... I've heard that Sussex, Nottingham and Newcastle are great. Any others? Thanks!

Try Durham and Bristol.

Amongst some of the best places to study!

Durham is quite small and centered around the university. I believe it is seen by many as substitute for Oxbridge, right down to the collegiate system.

Bristol has a nice campus near the center of a nice, mid-sized city. Bristol has a bit of a reputation for crime though.

Notts is a fun city, but also has a reputation for crime (a worse reputation than Bristol, I think).

Brighton (Sussex) is one of my favorite places in the UK -- lots to do, very energetic (but not hectic). The Sussex campus is a bit removed from the center of the city (about a 10 minute train ride, if I remember). The campus buildings are the achetype of 1960s "plate glass unis" -- but at least they are set in the beautiful south downs.

Newcastle I have never been to.

Glasgow and Edi are both supposed to be fun cities, if you are considering Scotland.

Thanks so much for the info!

Any thoughts on Leeds?

Leeds, like Newcastle, I've never been to. My perceptions of the two are largely similar: industrial. The nearest analogy of these northern cities to American cities would probably be the "rust belt". Maybe a little less blighted, but a similar ethos. (I'm from Cleveland, by the way).

Anyway this is all unashamedly hearsay. Hopefully someone with more personal knowledge of these cities will come along and comment.

I visited both Bristol and Edinburgh just before last Christmas. I also made a short visit to the campus of Lancaster University -- not the town. From this very recent personal experiences (I would not like to suggest places of which I had only a casual touch such as Slough where "Thames Valley" is located) I would say Edinburgh was the most impressive of all these places, even though it was already getting very cold.

My visits to some other places in England, in particular, took place a long time ago; therefore, I am not sure how much they have changed since my last visits.

Edinburgh is both beautiful and social. Benefitting from being the Scottish captial it has loads of art houses, museums, theatre, etc. There are loads of fantastic restaurants and, for students on a budget, there are great sites like http://www.5pm.co.uk/ that offer excellent deals at all of the top eateries. If you are more into the club scene, George Street is home to some of the best-rated clubs in the UK (Opal Lounge/Tiger Lily). Plus, July/August Edi is home to the world-famous festivals...an experience not to be missed.
For hill-walkers there are loads of walking options in the city or a short bus ride away. Ditto for cyclists. Essentially, it provides everything you want from a city but without feeling trapped in a concrete jungle.

I am doing my LLM at Durham University and despite the fact of living in such a small place I do not complain at all. We have got everything you need -of course sometimes you miss a proper nightlife- but still is good.
Nottingham as the audience may be aware is called Shootimgham, thanks to its criminal rates.
Newcastle is very close to Durham and by no means I would life there, full of drunkers and chafs....
Durham has an excellent environment, pepole form good families, nice city, easy...

I lived in Nottingham for one year (doing the LLM at Nottingham Law School - Nottingham Trent University) and did not experience any specific criminal actions that could not have happened anywhere else. It was a fantastic year, a lovely city, full of students bars and clubs, but also culturally attractive and a great place to travel around as it is situated in the heart of England!

If you want scenery, then Bath and Durham are hard to beat, as well as Oxbridge. Party towns all come second to Newcastle. Note the south will be much warmer but more expensive, the north cheaper and with long winters. Scotland is in a different climatic zone - you'd better like 6months' cold and no sun if you want to spend a year up there!

I am doing my LLM at Durham University and despite the fact of living in such a small place I do not complain at all. We have got everything you need -of course sometimes you miss a proper nightlife- but still is good.
Nottingham as the audience may be aware is called Shootimgham, thanks to its criminal rates.
Newcastle is very close to Durham and by no means I would life there, full of drunkers and chafs....
Durham has an excellent environment, pepole form good families, nice city, easy...