By Claire Foss, Warwick University student
As a student at Warwick University, chances are even if you don’t live in Leamington, you’ll visit it a fair bit during your university career.
Whether you’re visiting the Sugar nightclub (which last year played host to the legendary Hip Hop DJ Grand Master Flash), trying to impress a date with a walk in the park and a meal at a swanky restaurant or sampling the delights of Vialli’s kebab house, Leamington is the perfect student town.
| |  | The new hot house at the Jephson Gardens
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Your average day of student life in Leamington might begin, if you need to clear your head after a heavy night, with a bracing walk. It might not be a very rock and roll thing to admit, but Leamington is full of parks.
The Victoria Park, the Pump Room Gardens and Jephson Gardens are right in the town centre, and Newbold Comyn Park is just ten minutes walk away. The parks are also the ideal place to impress your parents and show them what a wholesome life you live.
| |  | Balcony cafe, great for impressing dates
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After all that exertion, you’re probably going to want some food. This is where Leamington gets really good. There are over 40 restaurants, 40 takeaways, around 50 bars and dozens of cafes and café-bars.
If you’ve been before, you’ll know that this ensures that staggering distance between bars is next to nil. Best of all, nearly every place has special deals and cheap nights for students. During the day, the best places to check out are the many cafés and coffee shops.
| |  | Budget-master Alvin Hall knows how to eat cheaply!
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As a general rule, the further up the Parade you visit, the more expensive your meal or drinks will be.
Students tend to live in South Leamington, and so this is where most of the cheaper establishments tend to survive, although even the more northerly establishments have deals.
Shopping, shopping , shopping
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| |  | Mmmm... window shopping is great
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Afternoons in Leamington are made for one thing: shopping. As well as all of the regular high street stores, there are some fantastic smaller independent shops.
Alongside all the designer boutiques on Park Street, you’ll find Scott’s clothing exchange where you can find designer clothes for sale prices.
If you have a penchant for a label or two, also try the Revolve boutiques for cut-price designer gear – there are two around the town.
Hang out around the Warwick and Park Street areas of the Parade (and the Royal Priors Shopping Centre) and you won’t go far wrong.
Should you want to escape Leamington at any point (like to squeeze your old folks for a hand-out) South Leamington train station has regular direct trains to London.
But when a town’s got all of this - and it’s full of friendly students! - what more could you want?
Follow the links on the left for more details about things to do in Leamington and to get ideas for other stuff in the area for students.
We've even got a handy budget guide, so you can show your folks you're being sensible!
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