The LuxeGen University Hot List 2024
University College London
Best Diverse Community
WINNER: University College London
London is renowned as a melting pot of cultures, languages and traditions that make it a truly global hub. This vibrant mix is mirrored at University College London (UCL), where you'll find one of the most diverse student bodies around. With students from over 150 countries, UCL is a place where different cultures and perspectives come together to create a lively, multicultural community. UCL champions this diversity through initiatives to help international students settle in and connect. It has an Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) team to ensure everyone feels welcome and included, as well as a range of events and resources celebrating different cultures. Beyond the university, the city has an extensive network of community centres, such as the South Asian Arts Centre and the Black Cultural Archives, providing cultural support and celebration. And of course there are plenty of cultural events like the Notting Hill Carnival to get involved in.
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City University, another of London’s universities, also ranks highly for diversity – with 63% of its student body from a Black or minority ethnic background as of 2020/21.
Outside the capital, the University Of Birmingham, Aston University and Birmingham City University scored votes for their diversity and inclusion policies.
TATE GALLERY; PETE WOODHEAD
Best Cultural Scene
WINNER: Goldsmiths, University Of London
With alumni like Vivienne Westwood, Steve McQueen, Ali Smith, Damien Hirst, Mary Quant and Katy B, it’s no surprise that Goldsmiths scooped our top spot as a cultural hub. Its student body is famously politically and culturally active, with protests and arty events commonplace on the New Cross campus. Off-campus life is more of the same: the university is within easy reach – via the Overground – of central London with its host of galleries, museums, music venues and theatres at your fingertips. Tate, Serpentine, Saatchi, Barbican… Need we go on? Plus, plenty of the galleries and theatres offer student discounts.
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Queen’s University in Belfast and Ulster University offer the best of old and new. The Ulster Museum – Northern Ireland’s largest museum – covers the area's history from ancient to modern times, with an extensive collection of fine art. The Naughton Gallery, housed in Queen’s, showcases a diverse range of contemporary art, including works by local, national and international artists. Belfast at large has some of the best street art – some of it offering insight into the history of the Troubles. The cool Cathedral Quarter is home to many cultural gems along its cobbled streets, from galleries and venues to public art installations.
Elsewhere, the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University are the gems of the Midlands cultural scene. As well as being the stomping ground of history’s favourite rebel, Robin Hood, and Romantic poet Lord Byron, Nottingham is known for its edgy Lace Market area, independent festivals like Hockley Hustle, and one of the UK’s oldest cinemas,The Savoy, which still plays all the classics. Manchester deserves a hat tip too, with The Lowry gallery – named after the artist – being high on your must-visit list. Not forgetting the city's legendary music scene – more on that later…
Best Nightlife
WINNER: Newcastle University & Northumbria University Newcastle
Is it the northern hospitality or the cheap drinks? Whatever it is, Newcastle University and Northumbria University Newcastle scored the top spot in our polls. If going 'out out' is your thing, the city offers an array of cool clubs and bars to get involved with –every night of the week if you have the stamina. In the centre of town on Times Square, Digital is a must-visit for students, especially freshers. The venue is spread across four floors, boasts a mega Funktion-One sound system and hosts a revolving door of cool DJs and events. Then there's World Headquarters, an independent club – and Newcastle institution – that hosts everything from drum and bass to dance classics nights. We couldn't talk about Newcastle nightlife without mentioning the always-popular Mimo – home of the trebles and the 'three doubles for a tenner' deal. Other spots worth mentioning include the newly opened NX, a crowd-pleasing powerhouse, Greys Club for indie and alternative lovers, and Tup Tup for a more boujee night out.
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First up, University of Leeds and Leeds Beckett University. The city has a plethora of cool bars and clubs including the multi-room industrial venue, Beaver Works, Distrikt and, of course, the cheesy-fun Fruity Fridays at the union.
University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores have the mega-venue Invisible Wind Factory – you can expect to see dance, house and techno DJs there on the regular. University of Bristol and UWE have ex-police station turned club The Island, ’90s rave-style Lakota, Basement 45 and, if you fancy partying on a boat, Thekla.
NEWCASTLE UNIVERISTY
@BANDONTHEWALL; @WHP_MCR; @NIGHTANDDAYCAFE; THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER
Best Music Scene
WINNER: University Of Manchester & Manchester Metropolitan University
Manchester has long been a breeding ground for legendary bands and music, with iconic groups like Oasis, The Smiths, The Stone Roses, The Chemical Brothers and Joy Division all tracing their roots back to the city. Today, the music scene is as lively as ever, thanks to cool venues such as the Albert Hall, a restored church that hosts a range of live performances, and the Night & Day Café, known for its intimate gigs and support of up-and-coming artists. There’s also Warehouse Project if top-name DJs are more your thing. The buzzing Northern Quarter, loved by students from the city's universities, is also home to great live-music venues from Band On The Wall to Matt & Phreds Jazz bar.
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Manchester doesn’t have the monopoly on brilliant home-grown bands. Glasgow has its own notables: Simple Minds, Franz Ferdinand, Belle and Sebastian – the list goes on. For a city of 600,000, its music scene is disproportionately large, with concerts happening every night for University of Glasgow students to get involved in. While big venues like the Hydro are well known, the best music often comes from intimate spots that nurture the independent scene, like King Tut’s, The Oran Mòr, and The Glad Cafe – all must-visits. With The Kooks, Fatboy Slim and Bonobo all hailing from this seaside town, the University of Brighton also boasts a great music scene. Music-loving students should head to Concorde 2, The Mesmerist and the legendary Prince Albert. And of course, London has a whole host of music venues, with King’s College London well positioned on the buzzy South Bank and within easy reach of Soho.
UNIVERSITY OF BATH
Best For Safety
WINNER: University Of Bath
When exploring a new city and planning to enjoy the nightlife, feeling safe is crucial. Campus universities, being self-contained and often equipped with on-site security, generally offer a secure environment. The University of Bath stands out as a top choice among these, not only for its on-campus facilities but also for its commitment to student safety. It has a SafeZone app, which allows students to instantly access support from campus security, get first aid or report an issue. Generally, Bath is a particularly safe city – it was voted the second safest university town by the Complete University Guide last year.
Plus, there’s the Bath Safe Bus initiative. Operating every Friday and Saturday from 10:30pm to 4:30am, and during busy times like bank holidays and freshers weeks, this service provides a safe haven if you’ve had a bad night. The Bath Safe Bus offers medical care, emotional support, tea and coffee, phone charging, spare clothing, sexual health products, female hygiene items, flip flops, food and support leaflets – along with a friendly face to ensure everyone feels welcome and cared for.
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The University of Exeter, Loughborough University and the University of Oxford and Oxford Brookes are all big on keeping their students safe. At Exeter, you’ve got 24/7 campus security and handy safety apps, plus the city itself is known for its friendly vibe and low crime rates. Loughborough has a dedicated security team and offers things like late-night transport to make sure everyone gets home safely in a town that's already pretty safe and welcoming. Over in Oxford, both universities work together on safety campaigns and offer secure housing, with the city itself being well lit, easy to get around, and supported by active community policing, making sure students feel secure day and night.
@MAKARSMASHBAR; @THEDAOLDTOWN; @ELEANORE_LEITHWALK; @OINK_HOGROAST
Best Foodie Scene
WINNER: University of Edinburgh & Heriot-Watt University & Edinburgh Napier University
It might be most famous for haggis, Irn Bru and battered Mars Bars, but Edinburgh has a food scene with something for everyone, including plenty of student-friendly spots. Oink serves great hog roasts, featuring a 'Piglet' pulled pork sandwich for just £5.95. For comfort food, check out Makars Mash Bar, where inventive toppings celebrate Scotland’s love for spuds. The Pakora Bar, founded by three brothers in 2005, is a Canongate favourite for Indian street food, with its haggis pakora being a must-try, especially as a wrap for £10. Chez Jules, a lively basement French bistro, is well known for its unbeatable value: enjoy a three-course lunch – including classics like steak frites and French onion soup, with complimentary salad, bread, butter, pickles and pâté – and you will still get change from £20. If you are looking for somewhere to take your parents when they visit, Michelin-guide listed Eleanore and The Devils Advocate are a great shout.
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Earlier this year, Liverpool ranked seventh in TimeOut’s World’s Best Cities for food. The scene here goes a lot deeper than the meaty ‘Scouse’ stew that gave Liverpool residents their nickname. The Albert Dock area is full of foodie hotspots like the veggie go-to Maray and The Art School Restaurant in a Victorian children’s home.
The University Of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent also have some great places on tap, including certified Neapolitan pizza joint Pizzamisú, Japanese food truck-done-good Everyday People and tapas-favourite Bar Iberico.
Best Queer Community
WINNER: University Of Manchester & Manchester Metropolitan University
Manchester came out on top for our Queer community award too. Once home to gay icons Quentin Crisp and Alan Turing, the city is known for its vibrant support of the LGBTQ+ community, highlighted by its iconic Gay Village on Canal Street, which hosts the annual Manchester Pride festival. The city is home to numerous queer-friendly venues, such as the LGBTQ+ pub The Molly House and too-many-to-name drag performances and events. In the Northern Quarter, you can do some film-location spotting of Channel 4’s gay drama It’s A Sin, and peruse vintage vinyl at the real-life Clampdown Records. Both Manchester Metropolitan University and The University of Manchester have active LGBTQ+ societies, which organise events and provide supportive spaces for students. Additionally, both universities' commitment to inclusion is reflected in their policies and support services, ensuring that queer students have access to resources, counselling and welcoming campus environments.
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Arts University Bournemouth, Cardiff University, Cardiff Metropolitan and Swansea University all do a fantastic job of supporting their queer communities. At Arts University Bournemouth, you'll find a blend of creativity and inclusivity, with LGBTQ+ voices woven into the fabric of campus life. Cardiff’s universities are big on community too, with lively LGBTQ+ societies, as well as mental health support. The city is a queer hub with a large LGBTQ+ population, making up about 12% of residents, and a vibrant nightlife in the Gay Quarter. Over ibn Swansea, the university is all about fostering inclusivity with its LGBTQ+ network and ally programmes, in a city that’s proud to celebrate its queer culture, especially during the buzzing annual Pride festival.
THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER
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