10 things students new to the city should know about Liverpool

Last week saw students receive their A-level results and we can’t wait to welcome those who have chosen to study in Liverpool.

For most students, moving away from home to go to University is a huge deal and one that can be a little daunting.

There is a lot to learn about Liverpool and what it has to offer and there is no doubt that over the next three years you will get to know and love the city.

However, before you get here, you probably want to know as much as possible about it, so we’ve got you covered with our ten top things students should know.

Liverpool is a student-y city

One of the best things about moving to Liverpool to study is that there are so many students here.

Liverpool is home to three big universities; Liverpool University, Liverpool John Moores and Edge Hill and there is also Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts.

This means you get the chance to mingle with not only the students on your course, or in your uni, but also students from all over the city.

Not only will you feel really at home here, you will also never run out of new people to meet.

You can walk everywhere

Liverpool is a big city, but it is also pretty compact which makes it a great place to explore on foot, rather than forking out for a taxi.

There are plenty of areas to explore in the city centre, from shopping in L1 to coffee shops on Bold Street and it’s all a few short steps away.

If you don’t fancy walking, you can hire a scooter, jump on a bus to most places from Queen’s Square, or hop over the water on the ferry and live out your Beatles dreams.

There is a simple way to never get lost

It can be difficult to find your way around a new city and you will probably spend most of your first few weeks lost.

However, you should get to know the city centre quite quickly and know your way round L1 like your local supermarket back home.

So, if you do find yourself in a part of town you are unsure of, the easiest way to become un-lost is to head towards the radio city tower.

The famous radio city tower is right in the centre of town and 138 metres high, meaning you can see it from pretty much anywhere.

Choosing red or blue is an important decision

Red or blue, Liverpool or Everton, the decision of which football team to support is a big one.

Whether you are interested in football or not, the football culture here in Liverpool is massive and it would be a shame to miss out on the atmosphere, whichever team you back.

Stay in Liverpool for long enough and you will inevitably find yourself asked the question ‘red or blue?’ as you hop in a taxi or go shopping in ‘the Asda’.

You need to get up to speed on the lingo

When you first turn up to uni, you will probably enjoy picking up words from all over the country and sharing words commonly used in your home town.

However, if you are moving to Liverpool, it is pretty essential that you learn to understand ‘Scouse’.

Rather than saying something is ‘mint’, or ‘ace’, you’ll be saying it’s ‘sound’ or ‘boss’ and probably start greeting your friends with ‘alright la’.

It might also take a little while to get used to everyone shortening every word from ‘deccys’ for ‘decorations’ to ‘kf’ for ‘kfc’.

You will find yourself revisiting the same food places

You probably won’t get more than two weeks into your time in Liverpool before trying the delicacies of Nabzy’s.

The chicken shop’s offerings of fried chicken and infamous red salt fries will be a staple post-night out takeaway from first to third year.

Whilst Nabzy’s wins on the drunken takeaway front, Dory’s is the place to be when it comes to lunch break at uni.

The affordable sandwich shop is like Liverpool’s answer to Subway and will help you tackle those long afternoon lectures.

The beaches are boss

A day trip to the beach with your uni mates doesn’t have to mean travelling for hours up to Blackpool (though that is also a great day trip!).

There are loads of nice beaches just outside the city centre where you can go and enjoy those rare warmer days.

Crosby beach is easy to get to from the city centre, you can spend a whole day exploring Southport, or head over the water to spend the day on the rides at New Brighton.

The Raz

The Blue Angel is known to most as the ‘Raz’ and is one of Liverpool’s most well renowned bars.

You will probably end more than a few Monday nights in the Raz, wishing you hadn’t when you wake up for a 9am lecture on Tuesday.

If the cheap drinks and nostalgic tunes don’t keep you there, the sticky basement floor most definitely will.

Everyone you know from uni will be there singing along to Angels at 2am, but make sure you get there before the queue gets too long!

You need to visit Sefton park

It’s huge and the perfect spot to meet up with your whole uni course in the summer.

As well as being a nice outdoor space to spend time out of the flat appreciating nature, it is also home to loads of festivals throughout the year.

Keep your eyes peeled for music events, rides and food and drink festivals in the near future.

The park is also right by Lark Lane which is a street full of indie restaurants and bars you have to try.

You can buy almost everything independently

Liverpool is a really friendly place to be whether you are Scouser, a wool (those who live outside of Liverpool), or an adopted Scouser; if you love Liverpool, the city will love you back.

One of the best things about Liverpool is that they really support local and independent traders, artists and companies.

There are loads of local markets, independent coffee shops and eateries and Liverpool even has its own gin distillery.