York, Durham, Exeter

[GodessOfThunder]

These universities seem feature in a disproportionate amount of discussion on Mumsnet as institutions commenters see as desirable for their DC to attend. Obviously they are well regarded universities, but why do they attract more discussion here than other Russell group universities, especially those in northern and midlands post-industrial cities such as Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds, Liverpool, Nottingham and Birmingham?

A few possible reasons were suggested by DH:

• They enjoy an undue level of perceived prestige due to being in smaller old cities/towns like Oxbridge
• The Mumsnet user base is skewed towards the SE and biased against post-industrial cities. Mumsnetters are less likely to be familiar with them and hold “grim up north” perceptions.
• There is a “showing off” factor in starting threads and commenting that DC has applied for, or attends, these institutions - the same goes for the “Oxbridge support” threads, the like of which you never see for red bricks.

Does anyone agree, or are there other explanatory factors?

Newcastle is a grim city. Lovely places outside of it, but pretty grim in the town itself and very cold. To be fair Manchester, Sheffield and Leeds are pretty ugly too. Lots of North / South snobbery and drugs especially at Leeds, apparently. Ironically all are places, including Newcastle that students love. I don't think they are as swayed by looks as their parents. I lived next to the redlight district and I have few friends in Sheffield that lived in it! Durham though - Bragging rights over gowned dinners... Hard pass! If Carlsberg did Universities Durham would be it's nemesis.

I'm guessing you walked up to the marketplace from the direction of the train station/bus station. If so, then yes, North Road is fairly scruffy nowadays

However, once you're past there and you go to the Hill colleges/Science site area of the city, either via the Peninsula or New Elvet/South Road routes, I'm really struggling to see how you fou s those areas unappealing

Lots of sneering in the Forums on the Student room. QUML quite often praised. But these are students so it might just be a bubble.

Yeah, Newcastle is so grim. (See pic.)

And architecture was a big reason why DD chose her uni city; I don't think that's entirely silly!

DD loved, and still loves Newcastle. I have no idea why @Socrateswasrightaboutvoting is so sneery about our lovely northern cities.

Every city has its less nice areas. And, incidentally, Newcastle was voted one of the best cities to eat out in.

Over twenty year of visits to Newcastle, it was better that I thought it would be but it is still a bit grim looking. Lovely people, largely ugly city.

Newcastle grim? Eh?

I travel there from London a lot for work. It’s lovely with a fair bit of Georgian architecture and a beautiful riverside. A lively scene with affordable bars and clubs.

Some of it might depend on when @Socrateswasrightaboutvoting last visited. Many admittedly grim areas have been redeveloped in the last ten years. Anyway, no accounting for taste!

Where do you live that is so beautiful?

I love Newcastle.

I am not sneery they are largely ugly cities with a few beautiful buildings. I studied in an ugly city, way north of London, I loved it that didn't stop it being grim looking and grey with lots of ugly architecture which jarred with lovely old buildings.

@Socrateswasrightaboutvoting Newcastle is a truly stunning city. Have you ever actually been there?

I do wonder about all the love for Durham - I would put it in that second tier of good unis that are not Oxbridge / Imperial / UCL / LSE. So broadly on a par with Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, York, Warwick etc. I know some people like the colleges but York and Lancaster have those too I think and are nice small cities. Is it just the dressing up?

I don't think they have @PelotonPingPong. Newcastle isn't beautiful everywhere. Even York, Bath and Chester aren't, but to write it off as a grim and ugly city is just ridiculous.

I found the article about places to eat. Which? readers voted Newcastle, Sheffield, Liverpool, Belfast, York, Edinburgh and Glasgow ahead of London for eating out. Newcastle, Liverpool and York were also voted as the best city centres for shopping.

This year, 4 times so far. There are some really stunning landscapes if you take a meandering route into Newcastle from the south. The actual city is just a shock at the end of that.

Yes, I just don't find it stunning. apart from a few bits, its visually displeasing if people prefer that word. I don't like the mix of architecture, it feels grey, cold and sad.

I don't like the mix of architecture, it feels grey, cold and sad.

But even the most beautiful cities in the world have some horrible architecture.

Where do you think is visually beautiful wih no modern bits to spoil it?

The city near me is ugly and grim. The more they over develop it the less I like it, but people need homes and workspaces.

Yes but in many places the good parts leave a stronger impression than the ugly parts. In these cities that is not the case for me. Bath, Oxford, Cambridge leave a positive impression. I wouldn't live in or near any of those those tbh. Anyhoo I am sure that York, Durham and Exeter are far more interesting than my views about ugly urban architecture.

So with my Uni knowledge mostly being 40 years out of date, what are the "go to" resources?

@Socrateswasrightaboutvoting think you need to get yourself off to specsavers, pet

For my dc the criteria were: where has the cheapest halls of residence and where has the most Wetherspoons. Tbf they've done quite well.

I'll pass thanks. I wouldn't want to see any those places any more clearly than I already have 😉

Dd doesn't want to live anywhere cold! So Newcastle and Edinburgh are out for that reason.

Huddersfield?

I mean if you live in the SE or SW there's enough shit towns with mediocre universities. Why on earth would you bother travelling all that way to go to Huddersfield??