Student Accommodation

Manchester

Manchester Universities

The vast majority of students moving to Manchester will be studying at either the University of Manchester or Manchester Metropolitan University, although our student accommodation in Manchester also serves students studying at the University of Salford, and The Manchester College.

The University of Manchester is the largest university in the city, and with 40,000 students, it is in fact one of the largest single-site universities in the UK. It is widely regarded as one of the top research institutions in the country, with many courses designed and taught in a way that feeds into the needs of industry and long-term thought.

City Centre Campus

The campus is all in one, single-site, city centre location, and with all of our accommodation options, you are in close proximity to the University of Manchester, either on foot or via local buses. The library at the University of Manchester is one of only five National Research Libraries and there are over 4.2 million printed books and manuscripts within the university libraries.

The Mancunion, Fuse FM and University TV Channel provide ample opportunities for students to try their hand at media, whilst there are over 450 clubs and societies that meet the interests of all students.

Manchester Metropolitan University

Manchester Metropolitan University is home to over 38,000 students and is based on a modern and aspiring approach to higher education. It’s accessible to a large number of national and international students from all backgrounds, and especially those with a passion for learning and the dedication to strive for knowledge and to build on potential.’

The Students’ Union

The Student’s Union is one of the largest in the UK, with the specialist Advice centre achieving national recognition for its work with advice, and casework for students involving housing, finance, and academic service issues. The Student’s Union is located at the heart of the campus with a shop, bar, café, media suite, and a venue for events. The Mancunion, Fuse FM and University TV Channel provide ample opportunities for students to try their hand at media, whilst there are over 450 clubs and societies that meet the interests of all students. Students can make the most of access to over 150 sports clubs.

Students who are planning to study at the University of Salford, Manchester Medical School, Royal Northern College or The Manchester Business School are all catered for in our superb Manchester student accommodation.

Culture In The City

For arts, culture, museums and galleries, Manchester has it all in abundance (read our article on things that Manchester is famous for if you don’t believe us!).

If you are looking for a day out at art galleries and museums, you have a wealth of choices, from The National Football Museum to the Museum of Science and Industry for your museum needs. For art, look no further than the Whitworth Art Gallery, Victoria Park or The Lowry in Salford. With such a treasure-trove of culture, you’ll never find yourself bored-we promise!.

A city for Sport Lovers

Manchester is well-known around the world, and if you speak to anyone, they’ll most likely recognise it for its prestigious sporting teams and events.
Being the home of Manchester United and Manchester City Football Club, this area is buzzing on match days as fans flock from around the world. Retrieving a ticket for one of these matches is like gold dust, but if you’re heading for university here, we recommend that before you leave to go and watch a match (if you can!).

Old Trafford is an iconic cricket ground and many sporting events are held here. Looking to catch some test matches or T20’s? Make sure to head to their website and book now, they sell out super quickly!

Plenty of Shopping Centres

Manchester city is great for shopping, with a wide and varied selection of shopping centres including the best and the biggest of the high street brands. Not only this, they’re also home to affordable places such as smaller, independent stores and boutiques that add character to any city. Shopping is one of the main reasons this metropolis has such a positive reputation, and as a student living our student houses, you’ll be literally seconds away from some of the best shopping options in the city. Whether you are searching for the high street brands in the Trafford Centre, the Arndale Centre or around Spinningfields, or you are in search of one of the many independent stores, Manchester has something for every student with a penchant for shopping.

Manchester Arndale Centre

In recent years, the Manchester Arndale Centre has been modernised and extended to make it a pleasant experience on the eye. It is a large, city-centre shopping mall with everything that you would expect to find from the high-street brands and chains, as well as a large food hall to cater for all tastes.
These days it really does feel like a clean and calm environment where you can find everything you need without feeling rushed and overcrowded. As well as the high street chains (and a large Aldi), there is also an expansive market with fruit and veg providers, fantastic fishmongers, and fresh produce everywhere you look.

Plenty Of Options

In terms of independents, Greater Manchester has a lot to offer. You’ll discover a wide range of boutiques offering vintage clothing, large independent bookshops, record stores galore, as well as many independent arts and crafts stores (such as Fred Aldous). There really is a genuine choice within the vintage and independent shopping scene.

Afflecks Palace is the perfect example of this vibe, with a multi-storey set-up of vintage, chic, retro-style spread across each floor. From independent boutiques to vintage vinyl and the smaller Pop Boutique, to tattoos and piercings to classic 1920s scarves, brooches and top hats at Kuhl Vintage, this place is an absolute gem that you can wander and get lost in for hours at a time.

The Mecca of Music

The vinyl revival has been in full swing for a few years now and this city is a mecca for lovers of music in the North West. There are shops serving thousands of music lovers throughout the city, including the most famous of them all – Piccadilly Records. Running for over 40-years, it is the original independent record shop, with a large collection of brand new records and classics in every genre of music you can think of. It’s certainly worth a trip each week to delve through the crates of records.

Likewise, Vinyl Exchange has been selling second-hand vinyl for over 30-years and has two floors of great records from disco classics, to soul, techno and hip-hop.

What festivals can you find in Manchester?

As for annual events, there is a wide range of opportunities to get involved to enjoy a big day out. Parklife Festival in Heaton Park takes place each June and is a popular event that sells out really quickly. It is a weekend that is home to several stages and some big names in music visiting the city each year to help get the party started.

In August, the longest-running LGBT festival in the UK takes place with Manchester Pride. With the main festivities taking place in Gay Village there is 10-days of celebrations culminating in the Big Weekend over the August bank holiday weekend, including a 72-hour party with full-on parades, concerts and a Candlelight Vigil in Sackville Gardens.

Albert Square

Albert Square is home to a couple of large festivals on the annual Manchester calendar that shouldn’t be missed. The Manchester Food and Drink Festival has been running for over 20-years in September and October each year. It is the largest urban food and drink event in the country, and has samples and stalls from over 250 restaurants, cafes, bars, gastro pubs, and other pop up food stalls. You’ll find cooking classes, live events, kitchen tours, and so much more during the festival.

At Christmas, Albert Square is the centre and main hub of the Christmas markets, which are the longest-running in the UK, although market stalls and food offerings are spread throughout the city centre during these few weeks each year. It is a wonderful time to see the Christmas lights and enjoy some mulled wine.

Manchester International Festival

The Manchester International Festival brings together many of the leading exponents of art, film, music, and culture each year, with many different venues being used to create a truly unique experience for each festival, from the large concert venues, to car parks, disused railway depots and churches. It has been home to some unique exploration of art since it was first launched in 2007, including projects from Bjork, Steve McQueen, The XX, Marina Abramović, Maxine Peak, and David Lynch to name just a few