There are so many cities in the UK, for example, London, which is a great city to visit and famous all around the world but why do so many students choose to live and study in Liverpool?
Here I will share why my why I think Liverpool is the perfect place to be a student, no matter if you are a student from the UK, from overseas and thinking about studying abroad.
In 2018 Liverpool was voted one of the best cities in the world to visit by The Guardian and TripAdvisor. It’s an exciting and friendly city that attracts students from all over the world because of its history, people and passion for music and football.
Liverpool is smaller than London but it’s a city full of culture, life and friendly people. You can easily walk around the city centre and get to know the different areas whereas London has a population of over 8 million people and often feels crowded. London’s attractions are spread out and you have to use public transport to travel around.
Location
Liverpool is well situated in the North West of England. Due to its location it is easy to visit lots of interesting places such as Manchester, Chester, Wales, York and the Lake District. Plus London is only 2 hours away by train and you can reach Edinburgh in Scotland in just 3 and a half hours.
Life in Liverpool
According to Natwest, Liverpool is one of the cheapest cities in the UK. Statistics published by Numbeo show that the average meal in Liverpool costs £10 and a pint of beer costs £3.45, while in London it’s between £15-25 and a pint of beer is £5.19.
People in Liverpool have a reputation for being friendly and kind. In the Travelodge Kindness Report Liverpool was voted the kindest city in the UK. The report, surveying over 2,000 adults, shows that 55% of people in Liverpool do something kind everyday compared to only 31% in London (which was in 10th place)
Culture And Places To Visit
In 2008 Liverpool was awarded the European Capital of Culture and is one of the best cities in the UK for arts and culture. It has lots of museums and beautiful architecture including the Anglican Cathedral, which is the largest cathedral in Britain and the fifth largest in the world. The extraordinary Three Graces are famous buildings that are part of Liverpool’s iconic waterfront and feature the world-famous Liver Birds.+
Liverpool is great for museums and most of them are free! Highlights include the World Museum, the Museum of Liverpool, the Maritime Museum and the International Slavery museum. If you are interested in art, there is The Walker Art Gallery – for traditional, classical art – and Tate Liverpool which contains some of the national collection of British and international modern art.
The Baltic Triangle is an alternative, artistic area full of street art, vintage shopping and music. One of the most famous and Instagram-able pieces of street art is the Liverpool Wings by Paul Carris. While in this area you can try delicious street food at the Baltic Market or find some second-hand treasure at Red Brick Vintage.
For shopping fans, Liverpool ONE is the place to go! It’s the largest open-air shopping centre in the UK and the 6th overall. It’s full of famous high-street shops, different kinds of restaurant, hotels, a 14-screen cinema and even a Junkyard Golf Club with music and cocktails.
Liverpool is a city that is passionate about football. It has two famous football teams –Liverpool and Everton. Both teams have a successful history and you can watch them play live at their stadium or on-screen in pubs around the city. Wherever you watch, there’s always a great atmosphere!
The city also offers amazing parks and beaches where you can relax, for example Sefton Park which has a beautiful lake and a Victorian glasshouse full of exotic plants. As Liverpool is on the coast, you have easy access to beaches such as Crosby beach with the amazing Antony Gormley sculptures and Formby beach with the red squirrel forest.
Student Life
Liverpool is famous for its nightlife and people travel from all over the country for a night-out here. There are a variety of popular pubs and bars with different types of music. The most famous street is Matthew Street with the Cavern Club where the Beatles used to play. The pub is always full and there is live music all the time. It’s a great place to visit.
There are 8 universities and colleges in Liverpool. The University of Liverpool offers more than 230 first degree courses across 103 subjects. The university has also produced ten Nobel Prize winners.
LIPA (Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts.) was founded by Sir Paul McCartney and is one of the best performing arts schools in the world. It offers a variety of degrees such as acting, theatre, dance, design technology, music, sound technology and performance.
There are also lots of English language schools which have a range of great value courses and who have a good relationship with many universities – lots of former language students from the world are now successfully studying degrees in Liverpool. You might like to check out my tips for studying English.
Language schools in Liverpool have fantastic TEFL teachers and staff who are always ready to help you. Schools also organises activities every week and trips at the weekend, which are a great way to make new friends and get to know Liverpool and the rest of the UK.
Personal Opinion
For me Liverpool is the perfect city for students and a great place to live. I really this city because there’s so much to do, so many places to visit and a busy nightlife. View my Liverpool travel guide today for more advice.
