Leeds is by far one of the UK’s best and most vibrant student cities. Having undergone (and still undergoing) a dramatic facelift over the last ten years, it has gone from a typical northern town to a city which rivals Manchester and outdoes it in many ways.
There are ample opportunities for shopping, nightlife, days out to the beautiful Yorkshire countryside or satellite towns such as Harrogate and historic cities such as York. There is also plenty of choice when it comes to settling down and finding a professional job (we are the legal and financial capital of the north, after all), making it one of the country’s best student cities. Plus, there are three universities here too!
Finding student accommodation in Leeds isn’t by any means difficult – there’s plenty of it – but choosing which provider to go with can be. With more accommodation being built as we write this, and new providers such as Almero popping up, you have plenty to choose from.
Here are three areas of Leeds where you can find student accommodation.
#1: The City Centre
I may be a little biased in writing this since I live here, but Leeds City Centre is the best place you can live as a student if you can afford it. Being right in the middle of the action puts you on the doorstep of everything Leeds has to offer: transport links, bars, pubs, clubs, restaurants, two of the three universities, shopping… the list goes on.
As a student, renting in the centre isn’t quite as expensive as private renting and there are many options located either directly in or just on the outskirts. Believe me, being able to stumble home from the clubs in five to ten minutes is a God send. If you are looking for a place to start and are looking for something a little more luxurious, you can find accommodation in Leeds here.
#2: Headingley
This is the “typical student area” of Leeds, but locals still reside here, too. It is a very vibrant and quirky part of the city which is located a short bus ride away. In fact, you can even walk it if you’re inclined to… it’s not that far.
As a student, you are sure to find yourself on an Otley Run at some point (Leeds’ main pub crawl) which includes a walk from Far Headingley all the way to the City Centre. With 18 pubs stops on the Run, it is a full day drinking session which can last upwards of 10 hours.
#3: Hyde Park
Hyde Park has something of a bad reputation, however, it’s a perfectly safe area to live as a student. Sure, it’s not the fanciest of places, but if you’re looking for budget-friendly student housing then this is where you’ll find it.
Hyde Park sits just behind the main University of Leeds campus and is a short ten-minute walk away from the main part of Leeds City Centre.
Leeds is an amazing student city, yet many people don’t realise and appreciate it until they get here. It is the underdog student city of the north (and outdoes Manchester in all areas except for size (and maybe shopping!)) and is well worth a look at.