Leamington Spa

UNIVERSITIES NEAR LEAMINGTON SPA

Leamington Spa is one of the most desirable accommodation options open to those studying at The University of Warwick. There is an easy public transport route to and from the town to the campus, which is located in Coventry. The university is consistently ranked within the top universities in the UK and is highly regarded for its approach and dedication to the highest levels of standards in research and academic excellence. Students are encourages to be proactive in their exploration of new perspectives, and to take on responsibilities both on the courses being taken and within extra-curricular activities outside of university life.

The library on campus at the University of Warwick is an example of how highly rated it is as a higher education institution. It contains about 1 million printed volumes (within that can be found around 15,000 rare and early publications in a range of languages including English, French, Italian, and German from the 17th century onwards), and an extensive electronic resource comprising of 55,000+ e-journals, 605,000 e-books, and 455 databases. There are plenty of comfortable and quiet study areas to take advantage of, multimedia resources, skills development sessions, and well-being sessions aimed at helping the hectic student to successfully manage mental health alongside studies. When the university is open the library is fully accessible 24 hours a day, and there is a coffee bar and café to help keep students refreshed and full of caffeine for those long and productive study sessions!

The university experience is more than just studying though and there are a range of student support services and career support to help you find the correct career path post university, but to also find you the right part-time jobs alongside your current study. Part-time work on campus can be found in abundance, with flexible hours to suit all courses, whilst Unitemps is an employment agency run by the university that recruits for jobs both on campus and the local area. This could help you get a part-time job in an office, helping front of house or back stage at the Arts Centre, or working in a shop or bar on campus. The service also helps students find holiday jobs. For long-term career goals, there are consultants on campus who can help you fine-tune your CV, explore different options for careers and help you understand what you need to do to be employable in those fields. There are plenty of careers events each year, often with different industry-specific days, and you’ll have access to over 300 employers.

The Students’ Union is a massive part of life on campus like the University of Warwick where there are over 300 societies and sports clubs to choose from, making it one of the largest Students’ Unions in the whole of the UK. The bar and nightclub (The Copper Rooms) are fantastic, and the Arts Centre stages many touring bands for live music concerts, comedy nights, as well as the Warwick Fringe Festival, which is held in the summer term and celebrates all forms of art and performance from many of the societies.

EATING OUT IN LEAMINGTON SPA

If you’re out and about on campus during the day you’ll never be short of finding a quick bite to eat. In the Warwick SU alone there are 6 food and drink establishments, alongside a catering company. Remember, everything that gets spent in the SU in the shops, cafes, and bars, does get reinvested into student activities so the more you spend on-site on food, the better you’ll find SU representation, democracy, clubs, societies, and a better standard of service from the Student Advice Centre. Refresh Catering is the company based at Warwick Students’ Union, and it delivers daily in the area. Choose from a range of hot and cold buffets, sandwiches, and hot meals, all prepared and cooked fresh on the premises every day.

Back in Leamington Spa there is no shortage of places to eat out day and night. It is a small, beautiful town that is well known to have a high quantity of places to eat and drink. You’ll find over 50 restaurants, over 40 cafes and bars, and even over 40 takeaway options. This is amazing for a town this size, and it means that as a young person living at our comfortable student accommodation in Leamington Spa you’ll be spoilt for choice the next time you fancy treating you and your friends to a meal out, or a takeaway at home. There are always good student deals being offered at the many cafes and coffee shops, so try some out, find your favourites and you’re bound to be satisfied.

In terms of eating out at restaurants there are some fancy places with posh food that might be a good shout to celebrate after exams or when the parents are visiting you, and there are also some amazing cheap eats, with plenty of veggie and vegan options for those inclined.

On Regent Street you can find La Coppola, serving up high-end Italian cuisine with an emphasis on ingredients from Parma, Campania, and Sicily. It is definitely one for a special occasion but well worth checking out when you do. Elma Restaurant is a Turkish place, with a hint of Greek food thrown in for good measure. It’s great to order a big sharing platter of meats, breads, and salads, with stuffed vine leaves and a wide assortment of other main dishes to sample. The Fox and Vivian is a great shout, a traditional pub on Clarendon Avenue that has a high standard of gastro pub grub including some interesting burger recipes, and a fine selection of craft beers.

Kayal serves up special seafood recipes from Kerala, and there is always something new going on with the menu, including a Njandu curry of crab, and many other wonderful seafood dishes influenced by the colonialist Portuguese in the area alongside traditional Kerala spices. If you are looking for a cool vegan place to eat, the Cellar Club is underground at the very top of the Parade. It offers up some brilliant vegan junk food, and also has a breakfast club on a Saturday that helps with the hangover cure. A must visit whether you are vegan or not. Other interesting veggie and vegan places to eat include The Garden Shed Café, The Drawing Board, and Pure and Raw.

LEAMINGTON SPA NIGHTLIFE

There is plenty to see and do on a night out in Leamington Spa, whether you are planning on starting the evening off with a walk around Jephson Gardens before a swift pint and on to Neon for a night out dancing, or planning on bringing out your competitive side with a trip to Quarry Park Disc Golf for a competition with your mates. If you are planning on more of a quiet evening why not try the Vue cinema, with really cheap tickets, especially on Monday nights. Sit back and watch the latest Hollywood blockbusters and save the pennies you’re going to spend on Tuesday night at Smack. Bowling at Shires Retail Park is another good option with a group of friends for a fun-filled night out without booze, and they always have some interesting student offers.

For a night out at Warwick SU there’s always plenty on offer, from big-name DJs playing at the nightclub, to touring bands and artists, student performances, live comedy, dance and performance art. Plenty of club nights revolve around sports clubs and societies so there is never any excuse not to be having some fun at the SU. POP on a Wednesday night is one of the biggest club nights, with fancy dress and cheesy pop the name of the day, and One World Week is a week-long celebration at the SU of over 120 different nationalities and claims to be the ‘largest student-run international event in the world’.

Away from the SU though there are some choices to make, whether to head to Coventry or Leamington Spa for a night out.

There are loads of great pubs to start the night off in Leamington Spa, along the Parade, including Kelsey’s and the Fox and Vivian, where you can get some cheap shots on a Monday night. Clinic is another firm favourite with students, but remember that most places are paid entry so make your choices worthwhile before heading on to a club.

For clubs let’s take a look at Neon on Spencer Street. It’s open every Friday and Saturday night until 3am and is home to many a different themed night, including a celebration of all things Jaeger with ‘Jaegermonster’ on a Friday and a fancy dress night on Saturdays. Expect three rooms, three bars, and plenty of stripper poles to keep you excited. For dirty beats and great DJs playing Dubstep and D&B until 6am try Smack in Leamington Spa too. There’s always good offers on and every Tuesday night is the most notorious student night in the region – £5 entry, £1 Vodka Rush all night, a fantastic party.

SPORT IN LEAMINGTON SPA

If you are looking for something a little bit different and a more leisurely sporting pursuit, head on over to the Leam Boat Hire right next to Jephson Gardens. As well as helping you stay fit and active, it is a fantastic way to see the beautiful town and landscape, and it a lovely little date idea should you have met someone you fancy at your Leamington student accommodation. There is a range of boats for hire, with a rowing boat available for half hour for a tenner, and kayaks and pedalos also available.

If you are looking to have some fun with some new uni friends you’ll be interested in the pitch hire available through some of the fitness centres in the area. Join a league or just have a fun kick around with a casual game of football with pitch hire available up to seven days in advance when booking. It can be for any sport you wish, with a wide range of sports pitches for hire.

For those of you who like to swim in order to stay fit, there are several swimming pools in the area. Located in Coventry you can pay as you go, or sign up for a membership with access to the gym and other facilities. Whether you are a first-timer looking to learn, a casual swimmer, or aiming to compete at a high level, there is something for everyone at the swimming pools in the area. Other facilities include a climbing wall with various facilities aimed at bouldering experts and first-time climbers.

Through the SU there are many different sports clubs available to join, and they are all student-led. You’ll benefit from Warwick Sport, which is the heart of sport, fitness, and an active lifestyle for university students. All sports clubs benefit from access to exceptional sports and fitness facilities, including the brand new Sport and Wellness Hub. On-site sports include rugby, football, trampolining, and table tennis, whilst off campus sports clubs include skiing, snowboarding, and equestrian.

If you are a fan of football Leamington Spa is the perfect location to experience plenty of live sport. Good public transport links means that London is only an hour away, with its plethora of live sports such as Football and Rugby Union. Coventry City Football Club is just a short ride away, whilst in Birmingham and the surrounding area there are another four Football League and Premier League clubs to easily visit.

SHOPPING IN LEAMINGTON SPA

An afternoon out shopping in Leamington Spa is a real treat, and from your base at our comfortable student accommodation in Leamington you’ll only ever be a short walk from a high-end independent fashion boutique or the store of a high street brand. It really is a fantastic day out shopping if that is what you are into, with a perfect blend of small independent shops and big brand names.

If you are worried that the many designer boutiques on Park Street are a little bit out of your price range as a new student, then do not worry too much. At Scott’s Clothing Exchange you’ll discover all of the designer clothes you want at an affordable, discounted price. There are also two Revolve stores in town, where you can find some amazing cut-price designer clothing from some instantly recognisable labels. The best towns are those that have some different flavour and character to them, with quirky independent stores and boutiques living seamlessly alongside the comfortable and familiar high street brands, and Leamington is certainly one of those towns. It is easy to get lost for a few hours shopping, that’s for sure!

In fact, Royal Leamington Spa is a shopping experience like few others. It is very rare that you can find such beautiful gems of independent retailers and boutiques selling fancy clothes, whilst still having some of these high standard wares available to those on a lower budget (such as students). There are some wonderful examples of independent boutiques in the town, from some of the finest florists you’ll find anywhere in the country, to effortless high-end ladies fashion, and a superb range of men’s clothing from designer labels, to traditional classics and casual clothing.

You can find however, some fine examples of shopping centres where you can locate everyday goods and items that you need when living away from home. Royal Priors Shopping Centre is open seven days a week and is home to plenty of high street brand names that you’ll recognise, alongside some lovely small independent boutiques. Regent Court Shopping Centre in the centre of Leamington is also home to elegant independent stores and big brand names. This part of town is the only pedestrianised section, which has led it to become a genuinely relaxed and enjoyable shopping experience, where you can easily stop off for a coffee along the way.

LEAMINGTON SPA EVENTS

Even if you just fancy taking in Leamington Spa with a stroll around town there is plenty to see along the way. It is a truly breathtaking town with some stunning Georgian-era architecture at the north end of the Parade, and the beautiful Jephson Gardens in the very centre of the town. The park, which was created in the Victorian-era, is a very popular place for students to hang out when the weather is nice. There is a beautiful lake to sit around and plenty of flowerbeds and plants to admire. It really is a calm and settling area of town for all to enjoy.

There are several listed buildings in the town, including the grand Royal Pump Rooms. This was originally a luxurious spa opened in the late 18th century, and is now home to the Leamington Spa Art Gallery and Museum. You can gain entry for free and wander around the many different exhibitions and collections. The local history section and art gallery both have temporary exhibitions, which change from time to time.

For live performance and theatre there are several performance venues in Leamington, including The Royal Spa Centre, Royal Pump Rooms, and the Town Hall. Here, you’ll find a range of community entertainment, performances, and events, aimed at inspiring everyone to be creative. The Loft Theatre Company has a long-standing tradition of delivering live theatre in Leamington Spa since 1922 and it is here that you will find a 200-seat auditorium and smaller 50-seat theatre, each showcasing many different theatrical styles.

One of the biggest events each year in the town is the Leamington Food and Drink Festival. This takes place in September of each year and is a full weekend of extravagant food, workshops, demonstrations, tasters, and discussions with some of the leading lights of the British culinary world. On top of the delicious food to taste and purchase there is also a fun kid’s cookery school, a master class area, and live music and performance. It all takes place at the Royal Pump Gardens. Other annual events in Leamington Spa include the Caribbean Fiesta at Bedford Street, and the always highly anticipated ‘Art in the Park Festival’ – a free-curated arts festival showcasing independent food and drink arts and crafts.