Affordable things to do in Huddersfield on a student budget

Ola El-Jack

Law student

Hello, My name’s Ola. I'm a Law student at the University of Huddersfield.

Hi everyone! I’m Ola, a Law student at the University of Huddersfield. In this blog, I’ve written about all the affordable things students can do in Huddersfield. Living here and going to the University has been an experience I’ll never forget. I’ve met people from around the world on campus via societies and friends of friends who have taught me things I’d have never known elsewhere and I’ve made long-lasting friendships! Huddersfield, which is 20/30 minutes from Leeds and Manchester, offers both a bustling student life and a relaxed vibe – which is the perfect balance for many!  

Cafes

As a student, I enjoy grabbing a coffee and some food after a morning of studying. I like going to places that are aesthetically pleasing, relaxing, and affordable. I also like to take a photo for my Instagram story and Locket shot. In Huddersfield, there are so many hidden gems that you’ll find on your daytime/evening walks. Distance won’t be an issue as all these places are in the town centre, less than a 10-minute walk from campus!  

A favourite of mine is the Arcade Coffee and Food Café located in the Byram Arcade, which is so grand and luxurious! Not only is there a vibey café but you’ll find many craft and vintage stores next door too! My friends have travelled from afar to try this Café and have since come back to satisfy their cravings again. Another delicious place is the Northern Tea House, just a 5-minute walk from campus. It’s a perfect also find many craft and vintage stores next door place to indulge in delicious brunches and a wide selection of cakes and drinks! For music lovers, there’s the Turntable Vinyl Café which offers great coffee and sandwiches. Vinyls are available to buy in the shop too! This place scores 10/10 for the tasty food, the kind, helpful staff, and the brilliant customer service provided.  

Cafes are nice to meet up with friends, spend time alone, journal, or simply get a change of scenery. If you want somewhere new to study, these good coffee shops create a homely feel and at the same time create spaces where people can sit and work in privacy. Many students spend their time studying at the library on campus as well as the local coffee shops, and luckily Huddersfield has so many. 

Turntable coffee house Turntable Coffee & Vinyl

Food 

Who doesn’t love a good meal? You may not know this, but Huddersfield has so many different tasty restaurants with cuisine from across the world, including Indian, Japanese, Chinese, Caribbean, and Mediterranean – these cuisines are dotted around the centre such as Lalas, Rivers, Jerk House, Pan Asian Street Food and TJ Thai and Japanese. I can vouch that they all provide great food and excellent service - what’s not to love? For all the bubble tea lovers, there’s a newly built Ai Tea Drinks store that’s perfect for not only its drinks but the Instagram shot! 

 

 

Societies

I met most of my friends from university societies. There are loads of societies that range from academic societies like the Law Society, the Business Society and the Marketing Society to global societies such as the Sudanese, Pakistani, Egyptian, Algerian, and Nigerian societies. There are also lots of religious societies too such as the Islamic, Christian, and Jewish societies. You can join the societies and attend fortnightly events to meet friends and people that share the same interests. At Huddersfield, there is a large international community as well as home students. From the wide range of societies, you’re bound to find one that interests you and if not, you can start your own with three members and expand from there.  

Huddersfield truly feels like a second home because of its people and there are so many friendships you can make and experiences you can have. You can join any society via the Students’ Union’s website, and I can guarantee you will take something from it. Everything’s made simple for you at the University, and there’s no lengthy process to creating a society or joining one as the Huddersfield Students’ Union prioritises making student life the best it can be at Huddersfield. Why not look at all the societies currently on offer?  

Two students representing global societies There are lots of different types of societies.

Lawrence Batley Theatre  

Fancy an evening out? Then why not watch a performance at the local theatre and discover something new about yourself? There’s something magical about watching a performance and sharing that experience with the audience. The Lawrence Batley Theatre is always evolving to engage the local community with modern-day performances. It’s located just 5-minutes away from campus and on the same street as Pan Asian, a delicious restaurant that can cater to your cravings after an eventful performance. 

Escape Rooms 

The Escape Room, located near the train station, provides a fun and unique experience that can challenge you both mentally and physically. If you’re looking for an exciting activity, then Stuck in the Riddle is for you! Don’t worry it is not mission impossible – you’ll find a way out. This is very popular amongst students and locals.  

The great outdoors 

Huddersfield is well known for its beautiful landscapes and outdoor spaces. If you fancy a change of scene from campus and the town centre, take a stroll through Beaumont Park’s picturesque woodlands. Beaumont Park was Huddersfield’s first public park, which officially opened in 1883. It’s rich in woodland space includes several paths and even has a Visitor Centre, which is run by the Park’s Friends voluntary group. If you ever want a break from your studies and fancy a stroll into nature, I recommend visiting this place with a friend. You could even have a picnic. It’s a couple of miles outside of the centre but its views are worth an exploration. If you’re wanting something closer to the town centre, we have you covered! Greenhead Park is one of the most beautiful parks in West Yorkshire and it's only a 10-minute walk from the town centre. It’s so grand, with beautiful flowers and mini lakes. There are so many different things to do, such as walks, practising your skateboard skills and enjoying picnics. 

a shot of the bridge in Greenhead park Huddersfield a good summery shot of local facilities Greenhead park

Sports and gyms 

There are lots of gyms dotted around Huddersfield with affordable student prices. Gyms such as TruGym have jacuzzies, saunas and swimming pools and are a perfect escape from stress. There is also the Kal, Huddersfield Leisure Centre, which has a swimming pool, gym, astroturf track, studios, cycle studios, squash courts and a sports hall! It’s a great place to go and has great facilities. There’s even a great gym on campus too, called ActiveHud, which is very popular with students. You can find out more here. 

To wrap up 

To conclude, Huddersfield is a wonderful place to study and live! There is a great community of people on campus, which you get a feel for the very second you step foot on campus. Everybody is so welcoming, and I’ve been made to feel at home. A huge perk of studying here is its location, as there are lots of affordable things for you to do in the town centre and surrounding areas, where everything is easily accessible. There are large cities that are very close by too like Manchester and Leeds, which are just around a 30-minute train ride if you fancy exploring them!  

To hear from other students about what it’s like to study at Huddersfield, visit https://blogs.hud.ac.uk/students/.