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With a dozen unis and over a thousand undergraduate courses on offer across the region, you’re spoilt for choice in the North West. According to Complete University Guide’s 2025 league tables, three of the North West’s unis come in the top 30 UK unis overall – Lancaster University, the University of Manchester and the University of Liverpool. The region is known for its bustling cities, lower cost of living and vibrant nightlife. If that’s not enough to convince you, here are our top 16 reasons to study in the North West.
1. Amazing educational opportunities
With three of the UK’s top 30 unis in the North West, it’s obvious you can get a great education here. As well as ranking highly overall, Complete University Guide’s 2025 league tables also have three North West unis in the top 40 for student satisfaction, and two North West unis in the top 30 for graduate prospects.
2. Vibrant nightlife
Cities in the North West such as Manchester and Liverpool are known for their vibrant nightlife, with students from elsewhere travelling to these cities for nights out. Living in the North West, you won’t have far to go to check out some of the most popular student nights out in the UK.
3. Strong transport connections
The North West is well-connected to the rest of the UK by rail and road, with direct trains running between London and many different North West towns and cities. As well as this, there’s a strong local transport network of buses so you can check out those places that are just a bit too far to walk to. In Manchester, there’s also a local tram network, so you can enjoy the novelty of a tram ride around town.
4. Birthplace of the Suffragette movement
Emmeline Pankhurst was born in Manchester in 1858 and in 1903 she founded the Women’s Social and Political Union at 62 Nelson Street, Manchester. This movement started in a family home quickly gained momentum and led to a lot of political protests and campaigns which eventually resulted in women getting the right to vote in the UK.
5. Art galleries and museums
There are loads of art galleries and museums across the region to check out. If you’re into art, you might want to visit the Walker Art Gallery or the Manchester Art Gallery. If you’re more of a museums person, there are lots of museums covering different niches, from the Museum of Science and Industry to the Liverpool Beatles Museum to the People’s History Museum.
6. Lower cost of living
It depends on exactly where in the North West you’re living as to how much you’re likely to be spending each month, but generally speaking, it’s one of the cheaper areas of England to live in. The larger cities such as Manchester and Liverpool will be pricier than the smaller towns in the region, but you can expect to paying far less on rent and other expenses than if you were living in the south of the country.
7. Close to the Lake District and Peak District
This one’s for the fans of the outdoors. Both the Lake District and the Peak District will be basically on your doorstep if you’re studying in the North West, and both of these National Parks offer loads of opportunity for hiking, walking, picnicking and exploring (or all at once). The Lake and Peak Districts are both known for their beautiful scenery, making them the perfect place to visit for a relaxing weekend break.
8. Blackpool illuminations
If you’re in the habit of turning a lot of lights on, someone’s probably said to you “It’s like the Blackpool illuminations in here!”. It’s a classic phrase that parents and carers love to bring out. Studying in the North West, you can go to visit the actual Blackpool illuminations, and snap a pic so in future, when someone brings out the iconic phrase, you can say “well, actually…” and show them what the illuminations truly look like.
9. Miles of beaches and coastline
If walking in the countryside isn’t your thing, how about a daytrip to the beach? The North West has miles of coastline and offers plenty of different beaches to visit. If you’re looking for a more exhilarating trip, check out Blackpool Pleasure Beach for rollercoasters and rides by the coast. If relaxing in the sun is more what you’re after, you might want to take a trip to Morecambe.
10. Music
You’ll have loads of chances to catch some live music across the North West, whether it’s at festivals such as Liverpool Sound City and Parklife, or in venues including Old Trafford and M&S Bank Arena. There’s also a lot of smaller venues offering live music in the North West, from jazz nights in local pubs to intimate gigs in clubs.
11. Famous musicians
Of course, Liverpool is known for The Beatles, but did you know there are loads of other famous musicians and bands from the North West? Some well-known names include The 1975, The Fall, Oasis, Circa Waves and The Wombats.
12. Highest peak in England
If all the walking we’ve already suggested isn’t enough for you, how about being able to climb the highest peak in England? Scafell Pike in the Lake District is the highest mountain in England, standing at an impressive 978 metres above sea level. There are a range of different routes recommended for different abilities, with the shortest and most direct route taking around 4.5 hours to complete and the longest taking up to 8 hours.
13. Festivals
There’s more than just music festivals happening in the North West. The region’s events calendar is packed with food and drink festivals, cultural events and much more. Festivals are a great way to get ingrained in the culture of your local area, find out about independent businesses trading there and have a fun day out with your mates.
14. Sports
The North West is home to legendary football teams including Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool. As well as football teams, you’ll also find rugby, cricket and basketball played professionally across the region. There are also lots of opportunities to get involved in sport yourself, either by joining a club run by your uni or by looking for any local groups open to students and non-students alike.
15. Best of both worlds – rural and urban
The region’s big cities like Manchester and Liverpool offer great opportunities for bustling city life, but that isn’t everyone’s thing. If you’re looking for a calmer pace of life so you can make sure you stay focused on your studies, you might want to look at the smaller cities of Lancaster or Chester, or even University of Cumbria, which has a campus located in the Lake District for the ultimate rural student experience.
Hopefully by now you’re convinced that the North West is a great choice for your uni home. There are so many unis and courses on offer that we’re sure you’ll find something that suits you, and the range of towns and cities on offer means you can opt for something by the coast, or something in a bustling city. No matter which of the unis on offer in the North West you pick, you’ll have plenty to keep you busy during your studies thanks to everything the region has to offer.
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