Tips and advice for living in Leeds

1. Tips and advice for living in Leeds
2. How to get to Leeds - Getting to Leeds by train, plane or coach
3. Public Transport in Leeds - How to get around Leeds by train or bus
4. First things to do when you arrive in Leeds
5. Student life in Leeds
6. Cost of living in Leeds
7. Save money in Leeds - Tips for living in Leeds on a student budget
8. Accommodation for students in Leeds - top tips and advice
9. Neighbourhoods in Leeds - The most important areas in Leeds
10. The University of Leeds - Everything you need to know about studying at the University of Leeds
11. Top 4 Best Student Events in Leeds
12. Top 15 Leeds Attractions - The best things to do and see in Leeds
13. Activities in Leeds
14. The Best Cultural Attractions in Leeds
15. Sports in Leeds
16. Nightlife in Leeds - Nightclub guide and going out in Leeds
17. Where to eat in Leeds - Leeds specialities and British cuisine
18. Shopping in Leeds
19. Festivals in Leeds - Festivities and celebrations Calendar
20. Music Scene in Leeds
21. Day trips from Leeds - Places to visit and excursions around Leeds
22. Visiting Leeds in 3 days - What to see in Leeds in 3 days?

The language - Get to grips with Northern slang

Chances are that the Northern accent in Leeds is something very different from the formal “Queen’s English” which you have heard in listening exercises in your English lessons. Although it can be harder to get to grips with at first, with this handy list of Yorkshire slang, you will be well on your way to sounding like a Leeds native and impressing all your housemates...

What is the weather like in Leeds?

The UK is notorious for being cold and rainy, and this is even more true when you talk about the North of England. Leeds is actually the 8th rainiest city in the UK, with 152 rainy days a year. Over the course of the year, the temperature ranges from 1.6 degrees Celsius to 20 degrees Celsius.

Leeds does also have some sunny days, where the temperature can hit highs of 20 degrees (which doesn’t sound like much, but let us tell you, heat in England feels like a completely different thing to heat in the rest of the world) and all the students will be out enjoying themselves in Woodhouse Moor (Hyde Park) or on the terrace of Belgrave Music Hall.

However, don’t let the cold put you off, because we’ve supplied you with a great guide of what to pack in your Erasmus suitcase so you can keep nice and toasty, as well as a whole host of cool indoor activities that you can do in Leeds, like playing some Junkyard Golf or go to the Climbing Lab.

English culture

Timings

It is said that Brits have a penchant for timeliness. This is true when it comes to things like doctors appointments, meetings and shows, which you should arrive at the location at least 10 minutes early for. However, there are certain occasions where turning up early, or even on time, is considered a little rude. Here’s a guide of what time it is deemed socially acceptable to arrive for different occasions in the UK.

Meeting / job interview

10 minutes early. It is seen as rude and unprofessional to not arrive on time.

Doctor Appointment

5 - 10 minutes early to give yourself time to check-in. However, bear in mind that appointments in the UK often do not run to time and you may be waiting around for a bit.

University lecture / seminar

5 minutes before to 5 minutes after the hour, beware entering after as some lecturers don’t like latecomers.

Dinner party

Often the timings will say 7 for half 7, meaning for you to arrive between the two times, but not after the latter because that is when the food will be served. It is rude to arrive early.

House Party

At university, nobody ever turns up for a house party on time except for the host! It is very normal for guests to arrive 1-3 hours late, as it is even seen as “uncool” to arrive early or on time.

Things happen, of course, so don’t stress too much if your train was late or you got lost and you don’t turn up on time. Just politely apologise, and if necessary, explain the reason you were late. However, if you were late to an interview due to your own poor time-keeping, it might be better to keep that information to yourself!

Politeness

One thing you should know about British people is that they really do value politeness. I’m talking about saying “I’m so sorry” at least three times if they accidentally bump into you in the corridor.

Using please and thank you is essential in almost any social interaction and it can seem very rude if you neglect to use them.

British people are definitely less upfront or abrupt than their European counterparts, and often disguise what they really mean under a wealth of seemingly polite phrases.

Here’s a little translation table so that you can deduce what a Brit really means:

Queuing

Did you know that the average British person will spend 47 days queueing up over the course of their life? Queueing is a regular part of life in England, whether it be to enter a concert or even board a bus or train.

It will be seen as very rude to cut a queue, and even though as we mentioned above a British person won’t express their dissatisfaction directly; they will most likely tut or shake their heads at you, so if in doubt, ask where the back of the queue is.

Tipping

It is very common to tip after a meal in the UK if you have had a waiter or waitress serving you, even if you didn’t think the food was incredible. A typical tip ranges from 10 percent to 12.5 percent of the total amount of the bill. However, it does not form a part of a servers wage, like it does in countries such as America.

It is also fairly common to tip people who have done you a service, for example hairdressers, builders and taxi drivers.

Always check the menu or the bottom of the receipt before adding on a tip, since sometimes it is already included. However, remember that it is not obligatory (unless it says so on the bill or you have dined in a big group), so you can leave one at your discretion if you are not happy with the service that you have received.

Diversity

The UK prides itself on being a multicultural country, aiming to provide an accepting and safe environment for people of all races, religions and nationalities. This is especially true in Leeds, which is home to more than 140 different Ethnic groups and the University of Leeds welcomes more than 9,000 international students a year.

As for the LGBTQ + community, you can feel safe and at home in Leeds, where you can not only feel accepted but celebrated; with events such as Leeds Pride, a great nightlife scene and a LGBTQ society at the University of Leeds.

What to pack in your Erasmus suitcase for Leeds?

Clothes

Students in the UK generally dress a lot more casually compared to Europeans. A typical lecture outfit would be jeans, a t-shirt and trainers, swapping the t-shirt to a more dressy top for the evenings.

As you have seen above, the weather in the UK can be very unpredictable, so always wear layers and remember your umbrella! Here are some ideas of what to pack if you are studying in Leeds…

• T-shirts and jeans (casual day wear)

  Typical lecture outfit. It is very uncommon to see a British student make a big effort with what they wear to uni, they are too tired!

• Going out tops: Shirts for boys, crop tops and party tops for girls.

  Clubbing outfits are probably a lot more casual in the UK, or at least in Leeds, than you would expect. It is very rare to see girls in dresses and heels, they usually wear trainers, jeans/skirt and a crop top!

• Sweatshirts/ Jumpers

  You will never have enough of these living in Leeds! At least 2 is good idea so you can rotate them during the week.

• A warm coat and gloves

  Self explanatory really.

• Trainers
• Gym clothes

  To make the most of your free membership to The Edge if you’re living in halls.

• Fancy dress and heels/ Suit and tie

  For Christmas/ society balls.

• A dressing gown

  A must for living in halls with shared bathrooms or just to help you brave the cold mornings.

If you want to find out more, why not have a look at How to pack your suitcase for Erasmus!

Documents

• University registration document

• Passport

• Offer Letter

• Accommodation Contract

• Visa (if required)

Other necessities:

Everything listed below are essentials that you can easily buy once you have set foot in Leeds, to save on space in your suitcase. The University organises trips to IKEA (a big home store) in the first few weeks, or they give you the offer to purchase a bedding and or kitchen essentials pack ready delivered to your halls!

• Bedding: sheet, duvet covers, pillow covers

• Kitchen essentials: saucepans, frying pan, cutlery, kitchen utensils, scissors, sieve, vegetable peeler, chopping board and knives, tupperware, measuring jug, plates, bowls and mugs.

• Medicine: up to date prescriptions and general medication for fighting off Fresher’s Flu like paracetamol.

• Toiletries: shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, shaver, toothbrush and toothpaste, soap, towels...

• Stationary: paper, pens and folders.

If you still have more questions after reading this, why not check out the blog of a student about the errors to avoid on Erasmus?

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