Self Guided Tour of Loughborough Uni?

[Orichino]

Does anyone know if you can just wander on campus and follow the map? DC was hoping to do this at the weekend, but it looks like there are security guards on the entry roads?

Thanks

I'm not familiar with Loughborough specifically (well I've only been there once) but I visit University campuses all the time. There's almost always a security checkpoint of some kind but the campus isn't locked down, and for most campuses, anyone who has a reason to be there is welcome. They probably won't even be asking people's reasons for being there. If parking is limited they might be checking cars to keep track of how overwhelmed the car parks are.

It's very easy to pick up the phone and ask if you want to check that its ok. Or there will be an admissions enquiries email address somewhere on the publicity.

It's ahem years since I graduated from Loughborough, so things may have changed. However, I've had a quick look on Google street view, and whilst there are security barriers on the roads, there are plenty of places you can just walk into campus, if you park somewhere else.

Why don't you just ask them if they mind? I'm sure it's fine. Most uni campuses have security but ours certainly don't check who is coming in and out of the outside spaces on foot. It's only accessing rooms and facilities where you'd need id card.

I graduated from Loughborough 13(!) years ago and if things are the same you'll be able to walk, but not drive on.

HOWEVER, what's special about Loughborough is the student experience- to understand this you really need a proper tour. It's a very 'collegiate' type of uni with lots of socialising within and loyalty to the individual halls of residence. The facilities are fantastic and you may miss out on seeing these as for certain buildings/areas you'll need an access card. Also- the campus is huge so if you go on a tour and can express your interests they can tailor what they show you,rather than you wandering around aimlessly looking at a collection of buildings.

It's a really fantastic place with a great atmosphere, I absolutely loved my time there but I'm not sure you'll 'get it' from a self guided tour- the selling points are different and less observable/obvious than for example a big city type uni.

Thanks all - yes I will be ringing them this morning, I just wondered if anyone knew!

They're not doing official campus tours at the moment KnifeandFawkes unfortunately, just virtual tours, which is why DC just wanted to have a wander!

Thanks for all of your help.

My DS2 is there and I echo what @Knifeandfawkes said, he is in hall on campus and is already heavily involved with IMS - that's intramural sport ie he plays footy for his hall and has had a few matches already.

He also is on a BUCS team for his uni (not footy as soooo many tried) which is great. He is really enjoying it.

Anyway to answer your question OP, yes you can certainly go on campus. DS used to do athletics there every week (it is not a million miles away from us and he had a coaching group of buddies) and I used to go for a run round the campus; no one ever queried me. In fact someone once stopped me to ask where the nearest cash machine was.

There is a barrier if you drive on but I imagine there are some public car parks; and you can certainly park elsewhere and walk on to campus from several points. Behind the union for example.

We went a few years ago to show the kids where their Dad went to uni. We drove up to the gate and asked could we tour round and they let us in to park up. Ds1 can't have been older than 14.

I agree with Knife that it does feel collegiate and Dh was in a particular hall for first year and so you played sport for that hall and later when he was back for his final year he was back in that hall just a different block. There is a real sense of community for the halls unlike my uni where you were just in blocks of accommodation but there was no us vs another hall, in a friendly mock insult sort of way.