AFS City Guides

The complete student guide to Liverpool

7 min read·Last updated: 13 July 2026

KM
Curated and written by

Kara Mcdevitt

City Guide Content Creators

Studying at Liverpool John Moore's University

7 min read

Share this guide

I have been a student in Liverpool for nearly two years now and I think I’ve learned a thing or two. As an Irish girl, I have been loving living in Liverpool as it has so much to offer socially, professionally and also has an amazing vibe in general. Being a John Moore's student is a huge advantage as there are so many opportunities to mix with new people and experience new things. Nevertheless, as Liverpool is a city of multiple universities and a central hub for neighbouring towns and cities, the people you will meet go way beyond the few in your university course; which is another huge advantage to becoming a student in this fantastic city.
“I love the variety of bars and pubs, access to parks, and lovely docks.”
HMHeather McCorkleLiverpool Institute for Performing Arts

Why study in Liverpool

  1. Top attractions

    From stadiums to green parks, Liverpool has it all. At the Baltic Triangle, no matter what time of year you visit, there is always something going on here, from ice-skating to bongos bingo or simply some food and drinks from independent vendors. Just a short distance via train from the city centre is Crosby Beach, a cold-water dip or a picnic on a sunny day here is always a vibe!

  2. Great nightlife

    Liverpool is known for having great student nightlife. What makes this even better is that it is famously affordable and active every night of the week. Some of the top-rated spots by students include Mad Mondays at The Raz (Blue Angel), SKINT Tuesdays at Moloko, Wednesday at LEVEL, and Dirty Antics at Heebie Jeebies. If you’re looking for a good night, Concert Square is the place to be for popular student bars and deals.

  3. Vibrant yet affordable

    Studying in Liverpool offers the full experience that other cities offer but at a cheaper price due to lower cost of living than in the south. It has plenty of rich culture and is known for being highly student friendly. On top of nightlife, Liverpool has many things to offer; with its vibrant music scene, handy transport links, many attractions, green spaces, waterfront views and a famous football culture.

  4. Reputable education

    The city is home to multiple universities, including world-class education at institutions like the Russell Group member – the University of Liverpool. Students here are highly sought after by employers due to the high reputation of this university in particular. This means that internships, placements, industry links and networking are heavily available and ensures for a quicker route to employment after graduating.

Key facts about Liverpool

Student life in Liverpool

Liverpool is renowned to be a good night out and I cannot disagree with this. Whatever vibe you are looking for, you will find somewhere suitable. Whether it’s a birthday, a Thursday night or St Patrick’s Day you are guaranteed to have a great night in Liverpool. During the week, most nightclubs have drink offers on with typical drinks being £3.50 for singles with mixer, or £4.50 for doubles with mixer. A personal favourite of mine is Heebie Jeebies on a Thursday, which is just off Concert Square. The Albert Docks in Liverpool are beautiful and surrounded by some top-class restaurants and cafes. The docks are especially pretty during The River of Light festival that takes place every autumn. Sefton Park is also a beautiful place to walk on a sunny day, and is nearby Lark Lane (making your coffee stop after pretty much essential.) Lark Lane is a very popular place to visit in Liverpool, you can travel here via Liverpool Central Station and arrive in just six minutes. It again has an abundance of bars, restaurants and cafes; Lunko, The Old School House and Maranto’s being some of my personal favourites. One of my hidden gems I love going to in the city is Wyld Sauna located on Princes Dock. Sessions at Wyld sauna vary in price with the cheapest being £7.50, these are the ones you need to look out for as a student. Aside from its health benefits, Wyld sauna is easily one of the most unique experiences Liverpool has to offer, with a floating sauna on the docks, outdoor ice baths and access to jump in the Mersey – which is arguably colder than the ice-baths. Another firm favourite of mine is St Peter’s Tavern, a stunning bar perfect for some chill drinks with friends. In my opinion, drinks prices in St Peter’s are reasonable considering it’s one of the most beautiful bars I’ve ever sat in. These are things I would urge you to fit into your student budget. In terms of food, I think everyone needs to try Mowgli on Water Street for special occasions! This stunning venue serves incredibly tasty tapas-style Indian food. However, it is a bit on the pricier side, in my opinion, as I have eyes bigger than my belly and like to order a few small plates – I'm still dreaming of their tamarind fries. Villa Romana located in the city centre is an amazing authentic Italian which is reasonably priced, but make sure you leave enough room for their desert trolly! Finally, I would recommend Spice Thai on Castle Street. Their food is top-class.

Cost of living in Liverpool

Wondering how much it costs to live in Liverpool as a student? We’ve broken down typical monthly expenses and compared them to the national average, so you can plan your budget with confidence.

ExpenseLiverpool averageNational averageDifference
Rent (monthly)£715£891.63
£176.6320less
Utilities (monthly)£125£112.25
£12.7511more
Bus pass (monthly)£40£61.13
£21.1335less
Groceries£14.77£15.40
£0.634less
Gym pass (monthly)£26£34.59
£8.5925less
Takeaway coffee£3.55£3.54
£0.010more
  • Rent (monthly)

    Liverpool average
    £715
    National average
    £891.63
    Difference
    £176.6320less
  • Utilities (monthly)

    Liverpool average
    £125
    National average
    £112.25
    Difference
    £12.7511more
  • Bus pass (monthly)

    Liverpool average
    £40
    National average
    £61.13
    Difference
    £21.1335less
  • Groceries

    Liverpool average
    £14.77
    National average
    £15.40
    Difference
    £0.634less
  • Gym pass (monthly)

    Liverpool average
    £26
    National average
    £34.59
    Difference
    £8.5925less
  • Takeaway coffee

    Liverpool average
    £3.55
    National average
    £3.54
    Difference
    £0.010more
Last updated January 2026 (Reviewed every 6 months)

Data sourced from Accommodation for Students, Fused, Numbeo and local transport providers.

“Sefton Park, Lark Lane, the Albert Dock; bars: the Monroe, Petit Cafe du Coin, Queen of Hope Street, Kazmier Gardens.”
HMHeather McCorkleLiverpool Institute for Performing Arts

Universities in Liverpool

A view outside of the Liverpool Hope University

Liverpool Hope University

Liverpool Hope University has a history of 175 years and has developed a strong tradition of scholarship and research in key disciplines in that time.

Read guide  →
A view outside of the Liverpool John Moores University

Liverpool John Moores University

Liverpool John Moores University can trace its origins to the Liverpool Mechanics’ School of Arts which was established in 1823.

Read guide  →
A view outside of the University of Liverpool

University of Liverpool

The University of Liverpool was founded as a college in 1881 but gained its university status in 1903 when it became one of the six original ‘red brick’ civic universities.

Read guide  →

Getting around Liverpool

Transport is well-connected for the students of Liverpool, with a network of buses and trains, both of which have student discounts available.

Buses

Arriva and Stagecoach offer discounted student passes (options include: Day, Weekly, Term, Academic Year) for students, which can be purchased via their apps. The 699 service connects the University of Liverpool's city campus with residential areas, while the 82 and 76 serve major areas of student life (bypassing living areas.)

Walking

Liverpool is a highly walkable city and is often considered to be one of the ‘best walking cities in the UK’ according to Liverpool Bites.

Trains

Merseyrail is the main train network in this city and has 66 stations in the region. Students can purchase affordable student-specific bus passes, or the Merseyrail's "Tap & Go" system.

Life after uni

Many students decide to stay in Liverpool once they have graduated due to the vibrant city life and the career opportunities available here.

Here are some key facts about employment prospects in Liverpool:

  • Employer demand

    Due to its high reputation, the University of Liverpool is now top 20 in the UK for employer targeting (17th in 2026).
  • Graduate outcomes

    Around 92–95% of graduates from the University of Liverpool are in employment or further study within 15 months.

Some of Liverpool's biggest graduate employers

Accommodation for every student

Latest properties in Liverpool

KM
Curated and written by

Kara Mcdevitt

City Guide Content Creators

Studying at Liverpool John Moore's University

Kara Mcdevitt is in her second year at Liverpool John Moore's University.