Student areas in Leeds?

[ButPerfectlyFormed]

DS is holding a Leeds offer and we’re visiting Leeds tomorrow for him to have another look around the city before deciding whether to firm. He’s keen to get a feel for the sorts of areas students live in after the first year. From what I’ve read, I’m thinking we should head to Headingley and Hyde Park, but grateful for any tips beyond that. E.g if starting from the Uni of Leeds campus, would you just get a bus (like the 56?) that heads that way and get off at a couple of stops and walk around? Alternatively we could hire bikes, I guess (we’re arriving by train).

Headingly and Hyde Park are traditional student areas. Easy to walk from the Uni, plus buses and Uber. But if your aim is the look at these areas, uni and city centre, you should be ok on foot unless you have mobility issues.

Agreed - all very walkable from the campus - head across the park and up otley road towards Headingley - most roads to the left of otley rd as you head towards Headingley are student areas. There are city bikes around there too.

Headingley is great. I grew up in Leeds a few stops further out in the suburbs than Headingley and it was where my friends and I would go for drinks / shops / cinema etc. My brother lived there a while too. Great access into the city centre, walkable in a lunch if you miss the last bus and can’t afford a taxi, and a good vibe.

Kirkstall has a lot of student accommodation, but the area isn't quite as good as Headingley.

Or there's Burley Park, one train stop from Leeds station.

Burley has a lot of student accommodation

It tends to be the big house shares in Headingley (think 8 bed +), then Hyde park and Burley are the smaller house shares

There are a significant number of student flats in the city centre now and more and more are staying in the city centre for the 2nd & 3rd years

From leeds uni (steps) either walk or bus to Hyde Park Corner and take a look around then continue down into headingly, you could have a drink or some food at various places... bank holiday Monday might mean you see a lot of otley runners in fancy dress 😀
Its all very walkable but the buses go that way frequently

Thank you for all the really helpful pointers!

get ready to be bemused by the huge amount of Otley run participants you might see in Headingley tomorrow.!

the areas you have mentioned are the main ones as are city centre flats.

there are also so many areas of greenery in the city, it’s a fab city to be a student in

Leeds is great for students. Burley Park is where you end up if you leave it too late to grab a property in Hyde Park. Full of students, but just that little bit further out. Handy for Asda. I've had three in Leeds, and we've had the pleasure of Leodis (x1), Lupton (x2 - and much more friendly than Leodis), Hyde Park (x6), Burley Park (x1). One now lives in Headingley and works in Kirkstall, which is great, because we still love to visit the city. Off there next weekend. We even did a family Otley Run when the youngest graduated.

I came here as a student and I’m still here 30 years later - that’s how good it is 😅

My son is just about to firm his Leeds offer so this is great to hear. My brother works at Leeds Uni and he gave us a tour of the student areas. Seeing all the people dressed up doing the Otley Run helped seal the deal. That and the fantastic offer holder day. Leeds looks like such a great place to be a student.

Just reporting back: we had a good visit. First we walked from the railway station to the campus. Walking around the campus again confirmed to DS that this was somewhere he could see himself. It was my first time and I really liked the combination of modern and older buildings. We then walked to Hyde Park and beyond that to Headingley, diverted down some of the side roads, which I think gave us a good sense of the areas. One could certainly spot a good number of student houses. Overall it felt safe and there were lots of young people walking around who looked to be student types, which was nice to see. I think DS will firm Leeds - now just needs to get the grades! Thanks again to all those offered guidance.

So glad it went well and the miserable weather didn't put you off. I didn't drive through that day, but presume the Otley Runners were out in force?

My eldest and his friends all miss Leeds when they're away at uni, it's really spoilt them for the wide range of things they can do, and in his case, the music scene

My daughter has accepted a postgrad at Leeds - only got 4 weeks to find accommodation and Hyde Park is coming up lots. I’m not going to lie, pictures online looks like a run down and rough area - does anyone have experience of their kids living in the area? Thanks in advance

It's the main student housing area. DC has lived the for the past couple of years. It does look a bit grotty (multiple bins and bikes in front gardens, scruffy-looking properties) but it's buzzing and where the majority live. Easily walkable to the uni of.

Headingly is smarter but a bit further out. There is a good bus service on Otley Road.

I live in Woodhouse which is near Hyde park and has a fair few students.

Ps yes it looks run down (which is a bit why I like living here, it's got a bit of life and energy and isn't all picket fences) but other then the usual opportunistic burglaries it's a very safe and friendly area

My daughter lived in Hyde Park and to be completely honest it was a dump. The house was modernised but the area was full of rats that got in. The landlord kept sending pest control but they still got in. Unsurprisingly really as the whole vicinity was full of dumped rubbish. The area was shady as hell and I insisted DD used Ubers to and from uni (at my expense). Sorry to say she hated Leeds and could not wait to leave. But that was just our experience, I know it’s a super popular student city.

Students seem to love Hyde Park and Headingley and there is loads of student housing there. In my experience the quality of much of it is shocking. Damp, dodgy electrics, mould, vermin etc etc. Much of the accommodation comprises the 'back to back' terraces which were cleared from many other cities a long time ago. I'm by no means picky and lived in pretty poor accommodation as a student myself a very long time ago but I was genuinely shocked by some of it. But the areas certainly have a good student vibe and are convenient for the uni.

I lived in Headingley and Hyde Park as a student, and then Kirkstall as a new grad.

House quality is variable, it's all a lot posher than when I was there 20 years ago, must student houses have double glazing now and everything!

Accommodation is pretty cheap still, in Hyde Park especially, and none of us minded a bit of roughing it as a student. I guess it depends on your own comfort levels! We were happy to deal with a few slugs and a damp basement kitchen if it meant a short walk to uni and more money in our pockets.