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Original poster

Liverpool as a student

30 replies

Hobnobswantshernameback · 19/04/2025 09:53

DC is looking at uni applications.
The course they like has only a couple of options one being Liverpool.
We thought we'd take a trip as we've never been and seems a leap from never going to living there for three years.
But we'd like to visit and look at it and see not just the tourist bits but get a feel for the bits someone living and studying there might experience.
Bit niche but wondered if anyone has any tips

OP posts:
Kittkats · 19/04/2025 10:21

Go and look at halls he might stay in in first year.
Second year student house shares tend to be in the smithdown road area. Check out some of the cafes/ parks near there maybe? Also Lark lane. Student buses run to and from the uni.

Original poster
Hobnobswantshernameback · 19/04/2025 10:22

Thank you
Time to look at the maps and get an idea of where everything is

OP posts:
Kittkats · 19/04/2025 10:22

And Liverpool One for shops, cinema, food. Bold street for bars.

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Higher education
MammaTo · 19/04/2025 10:52

Worth having a walk around Lark Lane and Sefton Park (which is close to the SmitdownRd area, massive student community). Gorgeous park and quirky shops and restaurants.
A walk around the Albert Docks in the evening is gorgeous.
Nice restaurant called The Quarter which is by the cathedrals and Hope Street, another lovely area.

Cynic17 · 19/04/2025 10:57

Liverpool has always been a brilliant place for students - so much so, that lots of them stay here after graduation.
Lots of choices re accommodation, especially in the south of the city, good public transport, loads to do, sport, culture, big student community. Not sure what's not to like, tbh.

Ramblingaway · 19/04/2025 10:59

If you give the uni advance notice that you are coming, some departments can show you around even if it's not an official open day, so might be worth dropping them an email.

Pericombobulations · 19/04/2025 11:02

DS and a few of his school friends are in Liverpool now. He seems to love it and has stayed in halls for each year as the only rental properties he found were the other side of the Mersey. Two of his friends are at LIPAR (the performing arts uni) who they meet up a lot as its seems very close to the uni.

Original poster
Hobnobswantshernameback · 19/04/2025 11:07

Thanks all this is really helpful

OP posts:
crimsonlake · 19/04/2025 11:14

Uni's have open days, so tie in your visit with this and you can do an extended stay.

Oblongofdreams · 19/04/2025 11:28

With the exception of the Greenbank Road halls, nearly all the purpose build student accommodation is now in the city centre. If it's Uni Of Liverpool that you're looking at, it owns a few halls in town but these are on the very expensive side. There are also multiple privately owned halls (e.g. Unite Students) which are a lot cheaper. LJMU / John Moores doesn't specifically own any I don't think, so most of its students live in the private halls or private rentals.
As a PP has said, many second / third years rent properties in the Smithdown Road or Kensington areas but a lot of them also choose to stay in the private halls such as Grand Central, for proximity to town.
Uni of Liverpool itself is slightly out of the city centre, but walkable within about 10-15 mins (uphill). The campus is split into 3 zones, north, central and south so normally your child would have their lectures etc within the same zone. There is a great Guild of Students which has bars, shops, cafes etc plus often puts on gigs from 'big' names (e.g we went there last week to see the Zutons).
Again not sure if you're looking at UoL or LJMU - I don't know much about the latter except that its campus is slightly closer to town.
If you could post some of the information you would like to find out, I could probably give you a bit more specific advice!

findingnibbles · 19/04/2025 11:30

Liverpool’s fine and a nice place to live, but for uni I would go somewhere else personally. (Experience studying both in Liverpool and elsewhere.)

Toddlerteaplease · 19/04/2025 11:31

I wish I could move to Liverpool! It’s a fabulous city, the people are lovely and so
much to do.

Toddlerteaplease · 19/04/2025 11:32

A friend of mine went to Hope university, and absolutely loved it.

Glowingwords · 19/04/2025 11:35

We've been looking at Liverpool uni. The 2nd time we went, we went on an organised bus trip to the accommodation at Greenbank. That was worth doing as we saw a different side of the city, we wouldn't have seen on foot, having travelled by train.

gianfrancogorgonzola · 19/04/2025 11:36

I LOVED it! Late 90s / early noughties student at the uni and we had so much fun

PeggyMitchellsCameo · 19/04/2025 11:36

I went for Uni and never left. And that’s nearly four decades ago!
Several of my friends have had DC here as students as there are several Universities.
As a city, it’s very welcoming to students and there are so many areas they love. Lark Lane and Sefton Park are classics but there are so many more places to enjoy.
Lots of students who come here for Uni don’t leave, it’s a very creative city. Lots of great places to eat and socialise, plenty of live music.

Cynic17 · 19/04/2025 11:37

To look at the (now fairly new) accommodation at Greenbank., just get the 86 bus from the city centre - then you will get the full student experience, at a fraction of the price of an organised trip.
It's a 10 minute walk from the bus stop, through Greenbank Park.

PeggyMitchellsCameo · 19/04/2025 11:38

www.liverpool.ac.uk/undergraduate/life-at-liverpool/

JasonTindallsTan · 19/04/2025 11:45

I have a child at JMU and they LOVE Liverpool and everything it has to offer. For a student it has everything you could possibly need, plus it’s a lot cheaper than many other uni cities. Having been out with them and their uni mates a couple of times I can also state with confidence it is a great night out 😂 Concert Square gets wild!

GrimDamnFanjo · 19/04/2025 11:57

My youngest went to Liverpool university and has stayed.
the city has won awards for being a great place to be a student.
accommodation is reasonable and there isn’t a town/gown mentality.
there’s also lots of part time job opportunities including the two football clubs who hire a lot of casual staff.
add to that the culture and things to do and it becomes a very attractive place to spend a few years.

Original poster
Hobnobswantshernameback · 19/04/2025 12:08

It's Uni of Liverpool that their possible course would be.
Thanks all for the info.
Its all very helpful

OP posts:
RampantIvy · 19/04/2025 12:16

findingnibbles · 19/04/2025 11:30

Liverpool’s fine and a nice place to live, but for uni I would go somewhere else personally. (Experience studying both in Liverpool and elsewhere.)

I think it depends on the subject. DD did undergraduate at Newcastle and is doing post grad at Liverpool (uni of).

She is thoroughly enjoying Liverpool and likes it as much as she did Newcastle.

She says it is quite cheap to be a student there, the public transport is good, there is loads to do and it is busy enough to give a good atmosphere, but not overcrowded like London.

Glowingwords · 19/04/2025 12:41

Cynic17 · 19/04/2025 11:37

To look at the (now fairly new) accommodation at Greenbank., just get the 86 bus from the city centre - then you will get the full student experience, at a fraction of the price of an organised trip.
It's a 10 minute walk from the bus stop, through Greenbank Park.

The trip organised by the uni is free.

MrsKeats · 19/04/2025 12:43

My daughter was in the Philarmonic Halls and loved it. I went to Liverpool uni too.
Have a trip up to Lark Lane. Very cool place near Sefton Park. Liverpool is a super fun city for a student and very well priced.

thefirebird · 19/04/2025 12:53

Liverpool is an amazing city for students. The city centre is small and easy to navigate, the public transport systems are easy to navigate as well. The buses are reliable and you can take the merseyrail to Chester, West Kirby, Formby etc. for days out. The nightlife is great and as far as cities go it is safe. The shops at L1 are fantastic and often do a ‘student day’ once every so often where there are massive discounts at every shop for students. There are 3 universities and each are good in their own way.