Student Life in the North West
Offering students two of the UK’s most student dominated cities, Manchester and Liverpool, the North West of England is home to a mixture of new and well-established universities. With Liverpool home to three universities and Manchester two – the two largest in terms of student population in the UK – there are also academic institutions in Bolton, Preston, Lancaster, Salford, Ormskirk, Chester and Cumbria. Ultimately, there is a very youthful, student-friendly feel to the North West, and while the area may not offer as much natural beauty and famous architecture as some other areas of the UK, it more than makes up for this with social and leisure opportunities.
With most of the student population in the North West residing in and around the Manchester area, the city has become something of a student hotspot in recent years, arguably offering the region’s most vibrant student social scene as well as a number of other entertainment and leisure opportunities. The city’s main appeal is still its energetic and diverse night-life, with a wide range of clubs and bars, almost all of which cater to the student population. The city’s music scene is also a big source of entertainment, with numerous live music venues regularly hosting a mixture of internationally famous acts and local talents. Football also has a large part to play in the city’s social scene, with European champions Manchester United and premier league team Manchester City both resident in the city. Shopping in Manchester is also popular, with the city’s Arndale and Trafford centres, two of the UK’s biggest shopping complexes, offering a vast array of shops. In cultural terms, Manchester has a lot to offer, with many museums and theatres and a thriving student arts scene.
Down the East Lancashire road in Liverpool, students are equally spoilt for choice in terms of social and entertainment opportunities. Although much smaller than Manchester, the student population in Liverpool is an active one, in a city with more than enough student bars, clubs, and art and culture venues. Like Manchester, the live music scene in Liverpool is a huge source of student activity in the city: after all, this is the home of the Beatles! The bars and clubs around the Matthew Street area of the city are specifically designed for live music, while the Albert Docks are home to the Beatles Story museum, one of the city’s biggest tourist attractions. Just like Manchester, sports have a big part to play in Liverpudlian culture, with Liverpool F.C and Everton F.C both based in the city. As the 2008 European Capital of Culture, Liverpool city centre has seen an amazing transformation in recent years, with new developments and investments giving the city a modern and youthful feel, aided by the continuing growth of its three universities.
Outside the boundaries of Manchester and Liverpool, students have the chance to venture out to some of the other major towns and cities in the North West, all offering individual social and cultural scenes. In Salford students can visit the brand new Lowry centre, with one of the country’s largest indoor theatres as well as an excellent art gallery; in Chester students can enjoy Chester Zoo, one of the biggest in England and one of the most visited tourist sites in the region. Not to be forgotten is Blackpool, possibly England’s most famous seaside resort, offering everything from fairgrounds, pier walks, fish and chips, donkey rides, seaside sweets and the Eiffel Tower-esque Blackpool tower.
There are a number of big media companies in the North West, with Manchester in particular home to many internationally famous organisations such as the northern BBC buildings and Granada studios, while famous radio stations Century FM (Salford) and 97.4 Rock FM (Preston) also have head studios in the region.
Students living in the North West will be glad to hear that the cost of living in the area is one of the lowest in the country. Even students living in Liverpool and Manchester can enjoy university without having to worry too much about their finances. Unfortunately however, crime rates in the region are among the highest in the country, with both Manchester and Liverpool victim to high rates of crime. Students should always be extra careful with their personal and private safety when living in these cities: often it takes only common sense to reduce the chance of a crime. Like all cities, Liverpool and Manchester have good areas and bad areas, but for the most part student areas in both cities are reasonably safe; the majority of students enjoy their university experience without being a victim of, or witness to, crime.
The region's main road is the M6 motorway, which connects major cities in the region with both Scotland and southern England, while the M56 and M61 provide links to most cities in the region. There are also a number of important A roads in the area, ensuring there is no place in the North West that cannot be reached easily by bus or car. Every city in the North West is well connected by rail, with Manchester’s three stations offering direct lines to all corners of the country, as well as numerous local services. In the cities themselves bus and taxi services abound, with bus services in Manchester especially popular among students thanks to their student discounts and 24-hour service. The region is also well equipped for international travel with a number of international airports including the region's largest, Manchester Airport. Liverpool and Blackpool airports also offer national and international flights. Ferry travel is also available, with Liverpool’s Sea Cat service connecting the city to Dublin, Ireland.
