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Loughborough is the largest town in Leicestershire, and a popular place to attend uni for good reason. Diverse and dynamic with a population of around 55,000 people, Loughborough is home to one of the best universities in the UK. Famed for its sporting prowess but with consistently excellent performance across the board, the university attracts a large student population to the town. Loughborough has a vibrant cultural scene, and great access to the surrounding countryside and nearby cities. If you’re thinking about studying here and would like to know a little bit more about what to expect, then read on. Our guide will explain further.
- Student activities in Loughborough
- Nightlife in Loughborough
- Student accommodation in Loughborough
- Transport in Loughborough
- Student costs in Loughborough
- What Loughborough is famous for
- Universities in Loughborough
Student activities in Loughborough
Did we mention sports yet? Okay, maybe a bit. But what we’d like to add is that despite the elite level of competition in Loughborough, there are a huge number of opportunities for you to get involved on a recreational level.
From local jogging clubs to Sunday league football, weekly swimming meets, or even outdoor adventure groups in the nearby countryside or Peak District National Park, the town has an amazingly inclusive culture of having fun while getting exercise. As a student, it can be super beneficial to take part in sports and exercise activities, for your body and brain health as well as making friends and forming social groups. Give something new a try, there’s so much you can do!
Read our guide to the top 10 student activities in Loughborough.
Nightlife in Loughborough
With more than 19,000 students, Loughborough University’s student population drives a nightlife scene which caters heavily to university timetabling and budgets. There are loads of student pubs, clubs and events, with weekly weekday club nights and discounted drinks deals all over town. Here’s a few of the best and most infamous places to get wild:
Echos - A much beloved Loughborough nightclub, frequented by students and locals alike. It’s big, it’s loud, it’s open late, the drinks are inexpensive, and it’s one of the places you’ll probably get introduced to pretty quickly into your time in Loughborough. Expect club classics as well as house music and tech-house, with a spectacular array of lighting and lasers, disco balls, confetti machines, and UV madness. Echos opens until 4am at the weekend, so check out their timetable to see what’s on.
The Basement - Another iconic Loughborough nightclub, The Basement is run by the university’s Students’ Union, and they really know how to throw a party. It’s been a staple of the Loughborough student scene for more than 40 years, and hosts weekly events and cheap drinks, ideally suited to the university timetable. Their upstairs Treehouse dance floor room is not to be missed.
Firefly Club - A relatively new kid on the block, swiftly cementing itself into Loughborough’s lively nightlife scene, this two-floor venue has a slamming sound system, with VIP tables and celebrity guest appearances. They run a diverse schedule of events including hip-hop, house, R&B, old school anthems, 80s and 90s cheese, and much more.
Student accommodation in Loughborough
Finding good accommodation is crucial to a good uni experience, and it’s worth taking some time to get it right. Fortunately, there are a few options which are cost-effective and super convenient, and the first of these is living in halls. These are university-owned housing locations which are worth considering for their obvious social advantages, relatively low cost, and supreme convenience.
At Loughborough University, halls of residence are located within easy walking distance of your classrooms and lecture theatres, and all hall fees are inclusive of utilities, cleaning services, unlimited high-speed internet, and contents insurance.
You can rent a single self-catered room in a shared apartment for £118 - £234 per week, with various options for room size, bathroom facilities and location. Catered halls are also available, ranging from £160 - £240 per week, and these may be worth considering once you factor in the time that you’ll save by not buying ingredients, cooking, and cleaning up after your meals. Remember, it’s first year and you’re in a new city. You may decide that the extra time you gain is worth the additional cost.
At some point, you’ll be renting locally, and you can expect to pay around £1,000 per month for a three-bedroom apartment. If you’re sharing with friends then this works out at less than £350 per person, per month. Remember that you’ll need to budget for utilities bills, internet, insurance and other services, since these are not included in the rent amount.
Transport in Loughborough
The quickest way to get around Loughborough is by bus. The university runs a free shuttle bus service which means you can travel from one end of the campus to the other without any difficulty. Sometimes you’ve got to go a little further into town though, and when you do, you can expect to pay £3.10 for a single journey ticket. If you’re going to be relying on the bus for transport in and out of uni, then it’s probably in your interest to get a monthly pass, which starts around £54 working out at £1.80 per day for unlimited travel.
Alternatively, you can walk or cycle. Loughborough is a famously sporty town and is well set-up for cycle travel. It’s cheap and fast, and you’ll get loads of free exercise. Perfect for getting the blood flowing around your body and into your brain before those early morning lectures!
Student costs in Loughborough
As a student in Loughborough, there are a few main areas where you’ll need to manage your spending, even after your tuition fees and rent are paid.
Self-catered grocery shopping should run to about £35 per week, according to Loughborough University estimates. There are lots of low-cost supermarkets in town, so shop wisely and you should be able to stay within budget.
The other big expense you’ll have to account for is socialising. Fortunately, Loughborough isn’t too expensive for this, so you can expect a pint of beer to be around £4, and a meal at an inexpensive restaurant will probably be around £15.
Learn more about the cost of living in Loughborough.
What Loughborough is famous for
Sports, sports, sports! Loughborough is an absolute force to be reckoned with when it comes to training world-class athletes and sports professionals. Where many cities specialise in one or two events or disciplines, Loughborough has fantastic training facilities across the whole spectrum of competitive sports and produces some of the UK’s most successful international and Olympic sportspeople. You’ll have regular opportunities to see the best of the best compete in local and international competitions and live matches, so if you’re a casual follower or a seasoned fanatic then you’ll be thrilled at the variety of events you can attend.
Universities in Loughborough
Loughborough University is a top 10 UK institution. With over 19,000 students and superb teaching and research credentials, it’s an educational powerhouse. Students at the university represent more than 130 countries worldwide, making it one of the most diverse unis in Britain.
It’s world-famous for its sports teams, who are among the best in the UK and Europe, producing many top professionals and Olympic athletes. Loughborough delivers excellent graduate prospects and has an overall student satisfaction rate of 80% according to the Complete University Guide's 2025 League Tables. It’s a genuinely fantastic place to study, and a strong choice for all kinds of student aspirations.
If we've convinced you that Loughborough is for you, start searching for courses now.
