Experience in Bangor, United Kingdom, by Libby

What is it like to live in Bangor? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

I live in Bangor as a student at their University, studying two languages. Living in Bangor is great, it is a mini city right on the coast of Wales, 10 minutes from Anglesey (an island on the north-west coast of Wales). It is an incredibly safe feeling city and although it doesn't have the bright lights and many attractions of a larger city, it provides many other things in a humble way: it has stunning scenery of the nearby Snowdonia National Park mountain tops, a beautiful long pier, it is prime location to visit nearby cities such as Liverpool, Cardiff and Manchester, to name but a few of the perks of living here.

What is the student lifestyle like in Bangor?

Student life in Bangor (in my opinion) is great. The people who come to Bangor uni have a great mixture of backgrounds and lifestyles. Despite its smallness, in Bangor it is possible to make many connections and regularly see familiar faces, but also constantly meet new people too.

How much does it cost to live in Bangor?

Student accommodation (Halls) is fairly priced (between £79 - £120 is fairly standard, unless you book one of their apartments) and housing itself to rent isn't too bad. Many of the pubs and cafes do deals (not just for students) which are very reasonable, take-out is cheap, standard supermarket prices as well.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Bangor? Is there any advice you can give?

It isn't difficult at all, Bangor has easy to spot estate agencies dotted all over and websites are easy to find too. There are always places available - there is however always a rush to accommodation from students between November - February, which is when most students sort living arrangements for the following year so if you have your eye on somewhere, book it quickly during this period as it may get taken swiftly.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

Bangor doesn't really have any delicacies but it does have some take-away places; a Bangor classic, well known by many students, is Pizza House which does fairly priced takeaway food. Another is Mikes Bites, which is known for selling the one and only hangover cure: the best fry up you'll ever have.

What places would you recommend visiting in Bangor?

• The pier
• the pebbly beaches
• Pontio
• Main Arts Building
• Snowdonia
• Penrhyn Castle

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Is it good to eat out in Bangor? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

Bangor has some good take-away places and the pubs do some standard pub grub - every now and then you'll find a diamond in the rough but there's a really nice place in Anglesey called 'Ye Olde Bulls Head Inn' or sometimes just referred to as 'The Bull', they do very good food.

Is the nightlife good in Bangor? Where is good to go?

The nightlife isn't brilliant, there are 2 night clubs that everybody goes to: 'Academi' and 'Peep'. Other than that, there are lots of great quirky pubs and a couple of good bars (Bar Uno, Feral Cat, Varsity), all nicely decked out. If you go out with a good group however you can have the best night of your life; just don't expect a big city night out.

Fortunately nearly everything is within walking distance in Bangor so you're never stuck at one place + if you do need to get a taxi, you know you won't have to pay much.

What advice would you give future students heading to Bangor?

Try and embrace Bangor, go out and try everything it has to offer, especially embrace the people you will meet. They are of gold standard and nights out are made just that bit better if you get involved with other students and student events going on; going out with a good group can make the night unforgettable. You'll also find a very friendly atmosphere at Bangor so don't worry about fitting in. Our student support network at the University is amazing as well so you can turn to them for anything.