To not be able to decide between Leeds or Liverpool

[Northerngal123]

I’m mainly posting in here for traffic! Normally just a browser on this site.

I’m going to go to university in September and have to make my choice before the 7th of June. I really can’t decide between Liverpool or Leeds as my firm choice. Realistically I am doing well in my A level exams and will probably be able to get into both so can choose either to firm.

I’ve just come back from Leeds today after visiting Liverpool last week and my initial feelings of love for Liverpool were conflicted by me loving Leeds too and realising how good the city is.

I’m from Manchester and am going to be studying English literature. Both unis are good for English lit and I’ve been to both open days and liked them equally. The courses are similar with varied options and mandatory early English and Renaissance literature for both so I’d be happy going to either Uni based on that.

my real thing I’m going to narrow it down to now is if I want to spend 3 years in Leeds or Liverpool! It would be really interesting to get advice from people who have lived in either city or have experience of both about what they prefer and why. Or if your dc have tried to decide between either of these unis and what they ended up going with.

I have a good instinct gut feeling about both of them but I’d hate to firm Leeds for instance just because it’s slightly higher for English but then do well (AAB instead of Liverpool’s ABB) and not be able to get to Liverpool and regret it.

I mean I asked my dad who came with me to both what he preferred and he said he ‘felt happier in Liverpool and just loved it for some reason’, which I also felt, but then I felt like that in Leeds too and loved the shopping and there was so much going on, like in Manchester.

As someone who grew up in Leeds, and went to uni in Liverpool and moved back to Leeds, I vote Liverpool. Leeds is a fantastic place but there's something special about being in Liverpool for me, it's combination of history, culture and student life was unmatched

Vote for Leeds! Huge student community, great nightlife and loads going on

I live in Liverpool, DS has gone to uni in Leeds and loves it! No help
really

Leeds.
I dont like liverpool, but am probably in the minority.

My son literally took his last exam at Leeds yesterday and he has absolutely loved it there .I have been and stayed there a couple of times and I really loved the vibe ! It’s a really fantastic place and my son is really sad that he will be leaving and as for the nightlife…!!!

This!!

Grew up just outside Leeds but moved at 16 - was adamant I would go back to Leeds/Yorkshire for uni. Went to visit Liverpool not expecting to love it, but did. Leeds has its good points, but Liverpool has the edge!

Liverpool trumps any other city.

My DS went to LJMU and loved his time in Liverpool. We're from the south and Leeds wasn't on his list of choices but he had a great Uni experience in Liverpool.

I went to uni in Liverpool, still here 30 plus years later. Love it.
Leeds is a great place too though.

I'm ancient but I lived in Leeds from 18 to 45 and now live near, and work in, Liverpool on the University campus.

I love Liverpool, and the people are great. My heart will forever be in Leeds.

Neither will be the wrong decision.

Liverpool - three of the best years of my life , my daughter is now in her first year in Liverpool and having time of her life . Beautiful city , amazing people . Leeds is great but it just isn’t erm well Liverpool

I went to University in Liverpool… it was absolutely brilliant.

I studied Eng Lit 10 years ago, did one semester at Liverpool and ended up changing to Leeds to be nearer home for family reasons.

They are both fantastic cities and unis. Both have great nightlife, Liverpool was better for more indie pubs and grungey clubs - my preference! - when I was there, but most cities have less of that now.
Liverpool has easy access to the sea - Crosby and Formby - Leeds to the Dales and West Yorkshire countryside - Ilkley, Haworth, Hebden etc. Being from Manchester will be easy for you to get home from either as of course you know!

Leeds is more campusey and the buildings are closer together. But Liverpool isn't hard to get around either.
Liverpool is an awesome city with such a strong identity of its own and some beautiful buildings. But I'm from West Yorkshire and often feel people underrate Leeds - it has a quieter feel about it in some ways but once you get to know it it has its own character.
Have you looked at degree structure and module choice later on, like in third year? Leeds used to be a larger department and might have more choice in the later years, but that might be out of date info now.
I would be too nervous to put the higher grade uni as my insurance. (The grades stated for English Literature for Leeds on their website are AAA for entry Sept 22? But I guess they give different offers sometimes.) Maybe you should consider picking one of them and then putting another lower offer uni as insurance?

I love the shopping in Leeds - even if you don't buy much it's fun to window shop there. It has got better and better over the years - the arcades etc and now Victoria Gate. It is awesome for food too.

I found it slightly easier to live in Leeds but that's maybe because I knew it. The time I spent in Liverpool was in residences that were quite far out and I had to get a bus, but in Leeds I went straight into shared houses and lived within walking distance.

I have been no help. They're both great. I sense a slight leaning towards Liverpool in your post but I might be imagining that.

DD1 went to Liverpool Uni at the same time as DD2 went to Leeds - and both had the opposite university as their insurance! They visited each other regularly and both loved both universities. So not helping you really! I preferred visiting Liverpool and found it very friendly. Either would be a good choice.

I love Liverpool, so much to do. Went to Leeds and though the shipping was good. There wasn't much else.

Leeds is an amazing place to study English and there is a history of some of the finest academics teaching there, Wilson-Knight, Douglas Jeffares, Arnold Kettle to name a few. My husbands, step son and two grandchildren studied/study at Leeds. In terms of location you have the Yorkshire Dales on the doorstep and a fast rail service, Leeds Bradford airport for transport anywhere.

Leeds

I went to Leeds and loved it. I have been doing the rounds with my son this year and he has turned down both Leeds and Liverpool as he wants a more campus based uni. I was disappointed about Liverpool the most as I would have enjoyed parental visits. Whichever you choose will be the right one for you

I went to uni in Liverpool and lived there for years afterwards. I have so much love for the city and can’t speak highly enough of it, amazing to be a student there. Everyone I know from uni still loves the place and always goes back to visit. Piece of your heart stays there!

I’ve lived in bath and it’s Liverpool hands down for me. Leeds is cool but Liverpool has the edge, it’s so friendly and just such a great city.

DH went to Liverpool (it's actually where we met) and I went to Leeds because it's the nearest uni to where I grew up and I didn't want to live in. Of the two, I'd 100% vote for Liverpool .

Shipping is much better on Merseyside. The Aire is far too narrow.

I’m not from there, but Liverpool is my favourite city in the UK, and is extremely student-friendly (student loan stretches a long way there!)

Liverpool.

Leeds is a horrible, cold city.