An essential guide for grabbing coffee on campus

Emily Parker on 2 November 2022

We have all been in the situation when you are walking to that dreaded 9am lecture and you realise that you are in desperate need of a morning coffee to get you through the day. So, whether you are new to university or have known campus for years, this list will point you in the direction of some of the best places on campus for coffee, so you will always be equipped for the day ahead.   


1. Café Nero – Business School

Scattered around campus you will find a selection of Café Neros, which means that wherever you are on campus you are never far from caffeine. However, a personal favourite of mine is located in the Maurice Keyworth building, within the Business school. If you are walking through Hyde Park, this offers the perfect early morning coffee so that you never need to attend a lecture without a coffee in hand. Not only this but due to its 19th century architecture, this is one of the prettiest buildings on campus and a mesmerising place to study. When sitting here, sipping at a warm drink, it is difficult to not feel like the main character in a historic movie. Students also get 25% off with the Café Nero App!

2. Common Ground

Located in the heart of Leeds University Union, Common Ground is potentially the most apt spot for a midday coffee. This spot caters for all needs, whether you’re in need of a quick coffee before darting off to your next lecture or looking for a cosy spot to set up for a productive study day. With its pastel walls, Common Ground breeds a positive atmosphere which makes it the perfect spot for those gloomy days on campus. If that wasn’t enough, Common Ground (alongside its partner Balcony) provides one of the cheapest coffees on campus so is the perfect everyday coffee stop.   

3. 1915

This is tucked away on the East side of campus, within the Sir William Henry Bragg Building, which makes it a perfect first stop off from Woodhouse. With ivy trailing down its walls, it provides a calming atmosphere, perfect for studying on those stressful days. Furthermore, this also features a swirling light feature to lose yourself in  – just make sure to not get distracted!   

4. Hugo’s 

One of the most unique places to get coffee on campus is Hugo’s café. This is a must for any Leeds student because, let’s be honest, you don’t see campervans selling coffee every day. With its bright blue walls, this café can’t be missed on campus. However, if you are still unsure about its whereabouts, Hugo’s can be found opposite the Union. Around here you will find many chairs and benches which makes this a perfect outdoor spot to meet friends for a coffee on sunny days. Or, if it is less sunny, this is simply an ideal place to pick up a coffee in a rush, whether on your way to a lecture or as you walk towards home. 

The best places to study on the University of Leeds campus

Jessica George on 2 November 2022

Are you struggling with productivity? I personally find that I can accomplish more when I am studying on campus, away from all the distractions at home. Finding a place to study on a campus as big as the University of Leeds can be difficult, but here are my five favourite places to study on campus:

1. Common Ground

 This is a great place to study in the student union. It has drinks and snacks available as well as charging ports with cute, cosy seating! I also like that it is close enough to the hustle and bustle of the Leeds University Union, whilst far enough away that the noise does not become a distraction when studying. This the ideal place to go if you fancy quiet but not silent studying.


2. Edward Boyle Library

The best thing about the Edward Boyle Library is the huge amount of seating it has inside. Studying  in ‘Eddy B’ means that you can choose from a wide range of study space options, from single desk spaces to comfy chairs, to group spaces. You are also surrounded by an extensive amount of library resources, ‘Eddy B’ is filled with books, computers and printers, so you have everything you need to study successfully.

3. The Edit Room 

Attached to the Edward Boyle Library, the Edit Room is a lovely café that is the perfect spot to get some work done while grabbing a bite to eat. Located on the ground floor of the Edward Boyle Library, this is a central and accessible space that benefits from all the library resources that make Edward Boyle so brilliant. The Edit Room is a livelier and more relaxed environment than being in the library itself.


4. Laidlaw Library

Laidlaw library is a great place to study for all the same reasons as Edward Boyle. It has all the same resources, computers, charging ports, printers, a range of desk spaces and loads of books to choose from. As well as this, Laidlaw Library also has a Café Nero located on the ground floor, so when you need a break from studying you can go downstairs and grab yourself a drink and a snack!

5. Balcony

This is my favourite place to study on campus! On the top floor of the LUU, this study space is the perfect balance of quiet and nosy as it overlooks the  Refectory. Tucked away on the second floor of the LUU, Balcony is the perfect place to hang around campus and study between lectures. It also has charging ports and a cute cafe area where you can grab a drink and some food while you study.

What I wish I had known before Uni

Lottie Passmore on 29 September 2022

As the leaves turn brown and the nights begin to draw in, Leeds once again fills with the buzz of returning students and the prospect of a new term. Navigating university can be daunting, and even going into fourth year, I am still figuring it out! So, whether you’re setting foot in Leeds for the first time or returning, here are some essential pointers I wish I had known earlier. 

1. You don’t have to be best friends with your flatmates

It may be that you walk into your halls kitchen and fall head over heels with every one of them, (in which case, skip to no. 2). However, just because they are the most convenient to hang out with, it’s more important that you just get on enough to share living spaces. You’re more likely to meet people with similar interests on your course, at societies, or at your favourite pub or club. 

2. Don’t sleep with your flatmate/s

Although I didn’t learn this first-hand, I’ve seen the problems it can cause not only for those directly involved, but the whole flat. The likelihood is that it won’t last, you’ll ruin the flat dynamic and it’ll probably end in tears.

 3. Budget! 

I am determined to stick to it this year, fourth time lucky? (I’ve heard) that even writing down everything you spend is a great way to become more aware and supposedly shocks you into cutting down on expenditures. Watch this space. 

4. Invest in a proper water bottle

In first year, my second week of lectures was rudely interrupted by a cheap water bottle leaking in by bag; writing off my laptop. Not only was this tremendously expensive but also seriously inconvenient, just as I was settling in. It also saves you buying single use plastic so often. Economical and environmentally friendly, what’s not to like?

5. Use your Lecturer’s office hours

This one is particularly important if your contact hours are lower than your friend’s doing maths, for example. This year I have four. A week. Yes, I’m shocked too. Speaking one-to-one with your lecturers allows you to ask any additional questions you didn’t think of in the seminar and means you can clear up any concerns about the subject and course at large. 

6. There is more to Leeds than Hyde Park

Whether your halls are on campus or as far out as Clarence Dock, it can be very easy, especially in first year, to limit your sphere to a rotation of halls, Uni, pub, halls, Uni, pub… Whilst Leeds, as a city, has an extensive and exciting cultural scene, from music to museums, a stone’s throw beyond the city centre provides a number of neighbouring towns and villages, perfect for a wholesome day out. Look up Skipton, Harrogate, and Knaresborough, to name just a few!

7. First year probably won’t be the best of your Uni years

There is far too much hype surrounding the First Year, let alone Freshers Week. First Year is particularly overwhelming, and many people don’t meet their best friends until later on in their Uni experience. Remember that everyone is in the same boat so don’t worry if it seems that you’re the only one struggling to stay afloat! 

Freshers: A Guide to Budgeting 

Livia Garrod on 29 September 2022

Last year I adopted, in what I hope is in an endearing and affectionate way, the nickname ‘Budget’ from my friends. This is perhaps a slightly generous and hyperbolic label and is my only qualification to give my advice on this topic, but these are just some opinions on how to budget, from a student who enjoys the stereotypical student experience. 

It is important to note that I can only speak from my own experiences, and naturally, this is not representative of every student’s experience or inclusive of every student’s financial situation. 

Firstly, try not to get too carried away when you see the first student loan instalment reach your bank account! Depending on how much you receive, it can look like a lot, especially to a student, but remember this has to last you until Christmas. My advice would be to try and roughly estimate how much your loan permits you to spend on a weekly basis on top of rent and open a second bank account to transfer this money into – Monzo works amazingly for me.  This way, it is easy to see how much you are spending and on what. You can set the app to tell you how long your money needs to last, either updating it weekly or monthly. Having tried both, I find using a monthly allowance much more attainable, as naturally, your spending on a weekly basis will vary more. 

Monzo, as well as other banking apps, is also great because you can easily request and send money to your friends, making cashing in on night-out Ubers and drinks easy and stress-free! 

Moving away from turning this into free advertising for the aforementioned banking platform, here are some other things to think about during freshers to protect your bank balance:

  • Do things for free! The Fresher’s Fair is a perfect place to collect as much free stuff as possible, and it is also free to go to. It can feel slightly intimidating approaching all the different society stands on your own, so going with a new friend gives you a cost-free opportunity to learn more about your friend and learn more about how you would like to shape your life at Leeds. 
  • Other free activities could be sitting on Woodhouse Moor, if we’re lucky enough to get a nice enough day, or taking a walk along the Woodhouse Ridge. 
  • Although I wholeheartedly encourage joining one if not multiple society’s, don’t feel pressured to pay the membership fees right away. Assess all of your options first. Unfortunately, you can’t fit everything so use the ‘Give-It-A-Gos’ to test the water and work out your priorities before committing to paying the fees. 
  • If it’s not too late already, I would urge you not to buy wristbands or tickets for Fresher’s events before coming to Leeds. Blocking off too much of your week before you arrive can sometimes restrict you and skipping pre-paid events is sometimes inevitable but still a waste of that precious budget! 

Most importantly though, have fun! Fresher’s week is always going to be more expensive than your general week-to-week, so try to not feel guilty for spending more. Say yes to things, and if that means spending a bit more than your bargained for then that’s ok. 

A Guide to Surviving Freshers Flu

Tharushi Wijesiriwardena on 29 September 2022

The annual flu season is almost upon us and with it, the start of the new term. Having survived a global pandemic, the threat of the freshers’ flu is stopping nobody from enjoying their night out this year. 

There’s no doubt that the mass convening of students, from across the globe, to live in student accommodation with questionable hygiene standards can make you ill. Moving into university is not only a big step in your social and academic life, but also a big change for your body. Your body is introduced to a cocktail of germs, viruses and bacteria from the new environment, new diet, and new people. Often, the fresher’s flu is similar to a bad cold, but the impact of the fever, sore throat and headaches can be exacerbated by the late nights, alcohol consumption and poor diet that is common amongst students. The lifestyle choices you make can weaken your immune system and make you more susceptible to the fresher’s flu.

The flu-like symptoms can be very similar to that of COVID-19 so make sure you do a test to check if you’re positive. Also, make sure to consult the NHS meningitis page if you notice a rash, sensitivity to light or a stiff neck. Fresher’s flu symptoms, like the common cold, can last around a week and shouldn’t be too difficult to get through – if you’re struggling, consider consulting your GP for further advice or treatment.

There are many ways to prepare for fresher’s flu to make your recovery as quick as possible. The following prevention tactics may even help you to avoid the flu altogether: 

1. Sign up to the GP as soon as you get here

Get all the admin work out of the way as soon as you can. In case you catch something more serious than fresher’s flu, it’ll be good to have all the forms already filled out so that you can contact your local GP, should you need to.

2. Make sure your vaccines are up to date

Checking that you’ve had all your vaccines and that they’re all up to date will keep you safe from a lot of the more serious viruses that could be travelling around uni. Cases of mumps were rising in my first-year accommodation, despite many of us having had the MMR vaccine, so make sure you keep an eye out for any bodily changes. 

3. Eat healthily 

Maintaining a healthy diet can be difficult at university, especially during Freshers. Eating a lot of vitamin C-rich foods, like oranges, tomatoes, and broccoli can help support your immune system. 

4. Drink lots of water (and maybe less alcohol!)

Staying hydrated can help prevent illness by helping your body flush out toxins. It can speed up the recovery process if you do fall ill and can help ease hangovers! 

5. Sleep

Sleep not only recharges your body, giving it a much-needed period of rest during a busy time, but also enhances your immune system. When you sleep, certain types of protective proteins and antibodies help fight off infection. 

Like with the common cold, there are no fixed cures. The best things that you can do to treat your fresher’s flu are below. 

1. Warm drinks

Staying hydrated, particularly with warm drinks, can help loosen congestion. Many people recommend warm lemon water drinks that you can make at home or pick up sachets in a pharmacy.

2. Rest

As with prevention, rest and sleep help your body recover, so make sure that you take some time off socialising when you start feeling ill.

3. Soothing your sore throat 

To prevent discomfort and reduce congestion, try taking sore throat lozenges or gargling saltwater.

Fresher’s flu is the unofficial initiation for all those starting university, so don’t be worried if (or when) you start feeling a bit ill, it’s all part of the uni experience! Stay aware of any significant changes to your health and let your GP know if you encounter further issues.