Did you know that there are over 70,000 students in Leeds? And with all that the city has to offer, it’s no wonder that high-school graduates from all over the world flock to Leeds to start their higher education journey! To find out more about what Leeds has to offer its student population, read on.

Dorothy blog Leeds city skyline

You get to see your favourite musicians, DJs and artists

With the First Direct Arena based in the heart of Leeds city centre, you’ll get the opportunity to see some of your favourite big-name artists when they roll into town. The First Direct Arena has seen the likes of Drake, Ed Sheeran and even Elton John grace their stage in the past. If pop music isn’t your thing there are plenty of other venues to explore to find your ideal musical experience, including the O2 Academy, the Brudenell Social Club, and Leeds Beckett’s own Student Union.

In addition to this, Leeds is home to internationally-known music festivals such as Mint Festival and Leeds Festival - so make sure you sample the immense musical talent that the city has to offer whilst you can!

Access to the best budget-friendly food and drinks

One thing almost all Leeds-based students can agree on is that food and drinks are delicious, cheap and cheerful, so no matter where you go you’ll be sure to find a deal that suits your tastes and budget.

Trinity Leeds is one of the best places to go if you’re wanting variety, or you want to show your friends and family some of the best eateries in Leeds.

However, if you want to go for something slightly more unconventional and off-piste, take a trip to Kirkgate Market to support some of the smaller, independent food businesses. Here, you’ll find a range of street-food vendors which represent the array of different cuisines and cultures that have found their home in the city, including Manjit's Kitchen (a personal favourite) which won the ‘Best Street Food’ award from the BBC in 2018!

Top tip: Don’t forget to take your student card! Organisations of any size can offer student discount, so make sure you take your card to take advantage of many deals.

Dorothy blog Giraffe restaurant in Trinity Leeds

An endless number of bars, clubs and pubs to explore

Another great thing about living in Leeds is the nightlife and, better yet, there’s a student night on almost every day of the week! This means that you can avoid the weekend price-hike with ease and make the most of those mid-week student deals.

It would be near-impossible to list every student night worth going to in this article, but I have listed some of the more popular events and venues below, so you can have a quick overview of the nightlife the city has to offer...

  • Mint Club
  • Warehouse
  • Mission
  • Canal Mills
  • The Backroom
  • Revolution
Dorothy blog picture two girls enjoying drinks

And of course, the people!

The members of the Leeds population are some of the warmest people you’ll ever meet, and this includes passers-by, lecturers, shopkeepers and of course, your fellow students. So, if you’re nervous about living in a new city, Leeds is one of the best places to choose for your student journey as you're sure to find a group of lovely, like-minded individuals to connect with in no time!

To find out more about life in Leeds, visit our 'Why Leeds if...' web pages, where you can see what there is in Leeds to suit your unique tastes and hobbies. 

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