As one of the UK’s most exciting and upcoming city, Manchester always has something fun to offer – especially for students! 

If you’re looking to become a student in Manchester (or maybe you already are one) here is a guide of some of the best things to do in Manchester as a university student.

1. Freight Island

Freight Island is your one stop shop for entertainment, food and fun. It’s located in the heart of the Depot, Mayfield and is free entry so it’s perfect for students! They always have something new happening there depending on what season you visit, from DJ sets to Christmas light shows, so it’s definitely worth checking out when you’re in Manchester.

photo of different colored clothes on a rail hanging against a white background

2. Shop til you drop!

Manchester is a great city when it comes to a little bit of retail therapy as it’s known for its amazing shopping district. Manchester Arndale has a huge selection of stores to fill your bags in, not to mention its large food court on the top floor which is ideal when it’s time to rest your legs after a long shopping day. Keep on walking down Market Street and you’ll find Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and House of Fraser too for all of your designer favourites if you’re looking to splurge a little more!

Students exploring Manchester's canals

3. Student deal activities 

With Manchester having a student population of over 100,000, there are always a range of deals on to keep students busy on a budget. For example, students who visit Junkyard Golf Sunday to Thursday can play a 9 hole game for as little as £6 with a valid student ID. It’s one of the first student activities I ever did when I moved to Manchester so I definitely recommend it. Another one I recommend is Tenpin Bowling in Printworks, where you can book to bowl 2 rounds for only £6.50! If you go with a group, this is bound to be a fun long-lasting activity and I don’t doubt that you’ll return!

Photo of Niamh hanging out with her friends in an outdoor café

4. Romanticise your studies by trying out a new coffee shop

Being a student myself I know studying can get a little boring from time to time, so why not make it more fun and use it as a chance to try out a new coffee shop in the City! There are so many aesthetic cafes to choose from in Manchester and who doesn’t love to romanticise their degree from time to time? My recommendations are Black Sheep, Loaf MCR and Grindsmith in MediaCityUK.

5. The Warehouse Project 

If you love the rave scene and know your DJ’s then The Warehouse Project is the perfect place for you. Located in Depot Mayfield, the Warehouse Project is a series of music events, organised from September to December, covering the likes of House, Techno and DnB music genres. Ravers travel from all over the UK to come here due to its popularity and well-known name to watch their favourite DJ’s, so it’s definitely worth checking it out if you like your music. 

6. NQ64 

NQ64 is a gaming themed venue in the Northern Quarter where you’ll find all of your old retro favourites like Mario Kart, original arcade games and Pac-Man and it’s the perfect place to visit with your friends and let loose after a long day at uni. You can purchase game tokens from the front of the venue and there are also even some games you can play for free, like the infamous Mario Kart, so you can still stick to a budget whilst you’re in there – perfect for students!