Explore Huddersfield
Location, location, location.
Beautiful countryside, independent shops, big nightlife, stunning architecture, sporting legends: they’re all on your doorstep when you’re living in Huddersfield. And did we mention the people? This has to be one of the friendliest places on earth.
Cost of living
Huddersfield is a budget friendly option for being a student. Not only is it one of the friendliest towns, it also offers a low cost of living, including being the second cheapest in the UK for student rent.
Where is Huddersfield?
Huddersfield is in a great central location in the UK. It’s around three and a half hours north of London by car. Leeds and Manchester are both just a quick train ride away.
And good connections to the M62 and M1 mean it’s easy to reach the rest of the UK by car or bus. So, travelling to see your family or friends for a weekend should be a doddle.
Did you know? Huddersfield is a town, not a city. It has a population of around 140,000 people. There’s also a ten-year vision, called the Huddersfield Blueprint, designed to create a thriving modern-day town centre.*
Is Huddersfield a nice place to live?
There are lots of things to think about when choosing a location for university, especially what it's like to live there.
At the centre of it all – Huddersfield is a friendly Yorkshire town, surrounded by the beautiful countryside and with easy connections to neighbouring cities; Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield.
You’ll find plenty of places to eat, drink, shop, relax or catch up with friends, all within a town that has ambitious plans for future development.
Our students’ views on things to do in Huddersfield
Looking for things to do and places to visit? Or to find out what living or visiting Huddersfield is really like? When you’re not studying, Huddersfield has some great places to hang out. From partying all night to enjoying the amazing countryside, we've got it all. Our students blog regularly about their time in Huddersfield, you can read their blogs to find out more.
Here’s a little taster:
Discover my favourite places to visit
by Lily Harvey
From walks in Huddersfield to day trips within easy reach.
Life in Huddersfield
by Wiam Id Boumsoud
My favourite places to eat, socialize, and visit with friends.
Best reasons to study in Huddersfield
by Ana-Maria Chevderara
Find out what I love about being here as an international student.
Nightlife!
Huddersfield has around 20,000 students which means there are loads of options for a night out. From locally brewed ales to expertly prepared cocktails, there’s something to suit every mood.
Clubbing, bars and live music
There are some great party venues for you to dance the night away including student favourites Parish Bar and Camel Club. They have regular cheap drinks and deals, especially for students with TOTUM cards.
Culture
Huddersfield has a strong cultural heritage, from the Grade I listed buildings to long running cultural events including Huddersfield Literature Festival and the acclaimed Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival.
Get your fix of culture at the Lawrence Batley Theatre right across the road from the University. You’ll find a diverse line up of entertainment, comedy, dance, live music, theatre and cabaret.
Looking for something creative to do? Creative Kirklees is a free guide to arts and creative events, news and opportunities in the Kirklees area of West Yorkshire.
Sports and outdoor activities
Enjoy the active life? Huddersfield and the surrounding areas offer no end of opportunities to stay in shape. Hiking, cycling and climbing are all popular outdoor pastimes in and around the Pennine Hills.
Huddersfield also has a proud rugby and football heritage. Rugby League was born in Huddersfield in 1895 and the Huddersfield Giants Super League team plays regularly at the John Smith’s stadium. The stadium is also home to Huddersfield Town AFC, who were promoted to the Premier League in 2017. Both teams have a loyal fan base in the town. It also hosts non-sporting events and concerts, recent performers include Little Mix and Take That.
Huddersfield Blueprint
The Cultural Heart sits at the very centre of the Huddersfield Blueprint – Kirklees Council’s ten-year vision to create a modern-day town centre that boasts a diverse and exciting offer. These plans are about making Huddersfield a great place to live, work and visit, and allowing businesses to thrive.
The Huddersfield Blueprint focuses on six key areas of the town centre, including Station Gateway, St Peter’s, Kingsgate and King Street, New Street, the Civic Quarter and the new Cultural Heart in the Queensgate area.
By strengthening the Cultural Heart in particular, the town centre, as well as the surrounding areas, will become more vibrant and successful. The enhanced offer will increase footfall and will provide long-term support for the area’s already strong collection of small and independent businesses.
Images of Castle Hill courtesy of Alex Beldea. Images of the Huddersfield Blueprint courtesy of Kirklees Council.
*Huddersfield facts and stats source: kirklees.gov.uk