If you want to go to uni in England, you might be overwhelmed by the choices on offer. Let us give the lowdown on some of the best universities in England.
Updated: 30 Jun 2026
The largest nation in the United Kingdom, England offers a huge range of universities, courses and cities for students to choose from. Whether you’re looking for a city-based uni experience, or if you’d rather be in a smaller seaside town, there’s something to meet your needs. In fact, the amount of choice is overwhelming. To help you make a decision that’s right for you, we’ve put together a list of some of the best unis in England based on student-focused criteria. Using Complete University Guide’s league tables, we’ve found some of the best universities England has to offer.
There are too many universities in England for us to list them all out here, but rest assured there’s plenty of choice. In England, you’ll find some of the world’s oldest unis, such as the University of Cambridge, but you’ll also find a lot of modern universities, including Anglia Ruskin University, and plenty in between, such as the University of Nottingham.
Let’s be honest though, very few students are picking unis based on how old they are. Instead, students want to know whether other students enjoy the uni, whether they’re likely to get a job after they graduate and whether the nightlife is any good. While Complete University Guide’s 2026 league tables can’t answer the last one for you (though our student reviews might give you an idea of what you can expect), they can answer the first two.
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Lincoln Bishop University
Students are clearly happy with their experience at Lincoln Bishop University. The uni is situated in Lincoln, a small and picturesque city. The campus itself is beautiful and offers students plenty of green space to study and relax outdoors, and you'll also find a modern library and state-of-the-art teaching spaces. The recent investments into the campus are surely contributing to how much students are enjoying their studies here.
NEXT: Read what students think of Lincoln Bishop University
Imperial College London
Coming in top with an impressive 92%, Imperial College London has the best graduate prospects of any university in England. The high quality teaching and international reputation almost certainly contribute to the high employability of graduates of this uni. The uni also offers a careers service which students can benefit from, which can help students to network, find job opportunities, plan their careers and receive advice and support on all things career and employment related.
NEXT: Read what students are saying about Imperial College London.
Imperial College London
Imperial College London is well-known for its world-leading research. The university also places a big focus on international collaboration, bringing together some of the best minds across the world to collaborate on research projects, which gives it a unique edge over other unis in England. The university is focused on the sciences, and carries out research projects focused on the biggest issues faced in modern society, from climate change to antibiotic resistance.
University of Cambridge
Top of the league tables for England (and the whole of the UK), is the University of Cambridge. With its prestigious reputation and illustrious history, it's little surprise to see this uni coming out in the top spot. You can be sure you're receiving a world-class education if you study here, as the research is highly acclaimed internationally and the university's courses are designed and taught by some of the world's leading academics.
NEXT: Read what students are saying about the University of Cambridge.
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