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!
Best University Towns to Study / Live In?
Posted Feb 15, 2010 21:51
Posted Feb 16, 2010 12:26
Try Durham and Bristol.
Amongst some of the best places to study!
Amongst some of the best places to study!
Posted Feb 16, 2010 13:20
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.
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.
Posted Feb 16, 2010 17:33
Thanks so much for the info!
Any thoughts on Leeds?
Any thoughts on Leeds?
Posted Feb 16, 2010 19:05
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.
Anyway this is all unashamedly hearsay. Hopefully someone with more personal knowledge of these cities will come along and comment.
Posted Feb 17, 2010 04:30
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.
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.
Posted Feb 22, 2010 10:59
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.
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.
Posted Feb 22, 2010 13:47
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...
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...
Posted Feb 23, 2010 16:29
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!
Posted Mar 03, 2010 17:58
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!
Posted Mar 05, 2010 11:29
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...
This smacks of snobbery. Newcastle is no more full of "drunkers and chafs" (sic) than any other urban city, and Newcastle University itself is located in a leafy area (next to Jesmond) - and infamous for middle-class students.
I'd suggest you don't leave your room on Durham Miners Day if you have aversion to 'chavs'/working-class people.
BTW, I have spent time at both Durham and Newcastle - and both are great universities! But for the "all round experience" Newcastle is a perennial favourite (and very friendly). I've also spent time at Nottingham University and I love the campuses. Notts does have higher crime rates than most other university cities, but one can insulate themselves from most crime (eg. house break-ins) by living on campus. (Anyone particularly worried about crime should generally stay away from any urban university.)
Other universities that I often find friends and fellow students raving about are: Brighton, Glasgow, Warwick, Edinburgh, and Cambridge.
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...</blockquote>
This smacks of snobbery. Newcastle is no more full of "drunkers and chafs" (sic) than any other urban city, and Newcastle University itself is located in a leafy area (next to Jesmond) - and infamous for middle-class students.
I'd suggest you don't leave your room on Durham Miners Day if you have aversion to 'chavs'/working-class people.
BTW, I have spent time at both Durham and Newcastle - and both are great universities! But for the "all round experience" Newcastle is a perennial favourite (and very friendly). I've also spent time at Nottingham University and I love the campuses. Notts does have higher crime rates than most other university cities, but one can insulate themselves from most crime (eg. house break-ins) by living on campus. (Anyone particularly worried about crime should generally stay away from any urban university.)
Other universities that I often find friends and fellow students raving about are: Brighton, Glasgow, Warwick, Edinburgh, and Cambridge.
Related Law Schools
Hot Discussions
-
Oxford 2024-2025 BCL/MSCs/MJUR/MPHIL/MLF
Aug 28, 2024 118,631 641 -
NYU Applicants 2024-2025
Aug 27, 2024 57,861 244 -
KCL LLM 2024-2025
Aug 24, 2024 17,804 125 -
Cambridge PhD in Law 2024 Fall
Sep 01 08:17 PM 19,971 93 -
LLM - Geneva Graduate Institute (AVOID AT ALL COSTS!!)
Sep 04 03:05 PM 1,248 9 -
London - Best LLMs?
Aug 25, 2024 644 7 -
Choose LSE or KCL?
Aug 23, 2024 850 4 -
UCL Phd Law 2023
Sep 01 07:53 PM 609 4