Britain's 10 Worst Student Cities
There’s no surprise in saying that some university cities are far better than others, whether that’s for their nights out, safety, shops, location, or accommodation available. But what are the top 10 worst student cities in the UK?
London
Coming in as the ‘worst’ student city to live in'; London is infamous for its soaring costs, expensive nights out, and dense population. Home to around 40 higher education institutions, the capital city is a very popular student hub, but that certainly comes with a (hefty) price tag (with the average pint costing £6.50)!
Coventry
In second to last, Coventry often has a number of safety concerns for students, with a safety index score of just 35/100. Despite this, it’s certainly a smaller city than London (and far cheaper too!), but you might have a hard time finding a good place for a night out, as the city has just 9 clubs or bars per 100,000 people!
Birmingham
Another student city with some safety concerns, ranking it low on this list. However, it does have some great shopping centres, entertainment, and nightlife, with over 139 bars and clubs.
Belfast
Not being the most accessible of cities, most journeys in Belfast rely heavily on car journeys, with public transport accounting for only 11% travel. This can definitely make it a little harder for students, particularly in an already expensive city with an average pint price of £5.50!
Manchester
Another city with some inaccessible transport options, Manchester has relatively underdeveloped public transport and clean air initiatives compared to other student cities. This is in addition to a low feeling of safety, with just 33% people feeling safe walking alone at night.
Southampton
With a relatively quieter and smaller cultural scene, it might be a little harder to have a great night out in Southampton. Paired with a high crime rate above national average and pollution from port activities, the city isn’t rated too highly amongst other university cities.
Colchester
Part-time job opportunities for students, particularly in retail or hospitality, are less diverse in Colchester, compared to larger cities. Again this city, also ranks low in terms of safety and, with only one main nightclub, the student scene might not be as vibrant as other UK cities.
Reading
A pricer city (averaging £5.00 a pint) with some limited nightlife options, Reading students might find themselves venturing via train or tube into London in search of better options for some entertainment.
Glasgow
Public transport for students is a little challenging in the city- despite having a subway, it only reaches across the main city centre, whilst only 42% students felt safe walking alone at night.
Northampton
Finally, this student city has a nightlife score of just 4.03/10 due to a more limited range of entertainment, bars and clubs for those at the university. Despite this, it’s certainly a cheaper city compared to some others on this list!
