So you have slaved away for years getting top notch grades for G’C’S’E’s, A-Levels, BTEC’s etc, and finally landed a place at university in Liverpool. Time now to relax and settle into student life at one of the UK’s most outgoing and exciting student cities.

Magnet is one of Liverpool's best bars

Part of the fun being a ‘fresher’ is discovering all the cool new places to go. But now that you're a poor student and have to watch the pennies, here's the low down of the best and cheapest student places in the city.

Firstly, get yourself down to your local Student Union. You'll need a student card to get in but once inside you’ll find cheap drinks, great atmosphere and a good crowd of people. Liverpool John Moores Union on Myrtle Street is a stones throw away from the University Library and five minutes walk from the city centre. Liverpool University Guild opposite the Metropolitan Cathedral is much larger and frequently plays host to some of the biggest and best bands in the country.

The Palace contains all manner of shopping delights

Hardman Street has a range of bars including Magnet, Flute and Firkin, Flying Picket’ and The Varsity which all cater for student budgets. This street is a little outside the central bar area but close to both student unions and populated by a large student following. With favourite student bars within the city centre being La’Go, Modo, Baa Bar and Camel Club.

Live Music can be viewed any night of the week at various locations throughout the city centre. The cheapest of these are Jacaranda, Zanzibar, Flying Picket and Masque. All of which are either free or charge a minimal entrance fee.

The multi-coloured, mullet inhabited Krazy House

Don’t despair despite the news of Cream reviewing its future in Liverpool, there are still places to go if you like to have a bit of a dance. RSVP, VR bar, Walkabout, Society, and many more offer modern dance music venues and are all situated within a stones throw of each other. The Krazy House on the other hand offers three floors of alternative music for the more ‘rock’ instead of ‘pop’ amongst us.

Now that you're a student you need to start dressing like one. Retail in Liverpool has improved greatly over the past few years, and you'll find most high street names have premises on or around Church street. But for anyone with alternative ideas for a dress sense there is something for you. The main areas of interest are Quiggins shopping centre and Slater Street. Both are situated in the city centre and house independent retail outfits offering alternative clothing.

Keeping to a budget and eating out generally means McDonalds for dinner, but that’s not necessarily the case. Your local union will have a restaurant selling affordable food all day. Also Wetherspoons and Baa Bar in the city centre offer a range of meals which can be accompanied by a pint! Quiggins café is a funky eatery selling reasonably priced vegetarian food but is only open during normal retail hours. For something a bit alternative, the Egg café offers vegan and vegetarian food which can be washed down by your own alcohol (with a corkage fee). The Egg also doubles up as a gallery for local artists to exhibit their work.

All that is left to say is to enjoy yourself as a student in Liverpool, these will be the best years of your life.

Words:Susan Clews