Liverpool, Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol - Your opinion please!?

Question

Hi,
I’ll be doing a university exchange year in one of those cities. All 4 universities I’m considering are great, but the city itself is extremely important to me. Because I'm not from the UK I feel like I have to pick blindly.
If you live or go to school in one of those cities, could you give me some insider info? Like the general atmosphere, art/music scene, city reputation, or how the city is aesthetically (are there nice old areas? etc.) anything that only people who live in the city really know.
Thanks so much!

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

Liverpool is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in UK, is well used to visitors, is a happy city with two magnificent Cathedrals linked by Hope Street, has the oldest Chinatown in Europe, the biggest Chinese Arch outside of China, a night-life unmatched by any of the other cities you mention, and a very large student population catered for by the many attractions and events in the city, and is cheaper to stay in than Bristol or Manchester. Far from being isolated, it has good transport connections to the whole of UK, including a fast train service to London (2 1/2 hours), excellent bus and long-distance coach connections, and a modern airport serving many domestic and European destinations. It is officially the 5th safest city in UK. Manchester is much less safe, being 21st on the list, and is easily visited from Liverpool by frequent buses and trains since it is only 30 miles away. It is a regular and busy commuter route.
Liverpool life
http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/ind…

Birmingham is more central, is cheap to stay in, very cosmolitan, and has some excellent attractions, including a large and busy international airport, is a major hub for National Express coaches, has three excellent railway stations, and a totally re-built city centre, the best concert hall acoustics in UK in the Birmingham Symphony Hall,and a great arts Festival.

Both cities offer a great variety of entertainment, history, surrounding countryside and historic towns, and either of them would make an excellent base for exploring Britain and for studying.

Bristol is a beautiful city and is in a beautiful area, but the West Country is more prone to severe weather and to flooding than the other places you mention. Students at Bristol have a history of militancy, and student troubles have been quite severe in the past. Much quieter now, but students are not as well liked by the city's general population because of the past troubles.
At one time Bristol was Britain's leading port, a role later taken by Liverpool.
It is the most expensive of the four places for living in, but has some scenic compensations for it.
The West Country has easy access from Birmingham, with many of the historic towns like Bath and Wells, north and east of Bristol, and famous beauty spots like Symmon's Yat being easily visited from both cities..
http://www.wyenot.com/yatrock.htm ..
Birmingham, however,unlike Bristol, is far from the sea, so if coastlines are a favoured landscape, Bristol will suit you well.
The glorious coast of Somerset and easy access to South Wales and the rugged and beautiful Pembrokeshire coast make it a winner for landscapes.
Liverpool has good and fast access to the Lake District, and Birmingham has Cannock Chase nearby as well as the good services to the West Country, both particularly favoured by walkers and cyclists for the good scenery they offer.
Manchester's nearest large scenic attraction is the Peak District just south and east of the city, which is a rival to the Lake District for fell walking and for beautiful scenery, though it's lakes are the three Derwent Reservoirs, the largest being the lovely Ladybower Reservoir.
http://www.kayukay.co.uk/ladybowerreserv…

To be honest, any of the four cities could give you a great stay in England and offer you easy travel to scenic and historic areas as well as fast and frequent transport into London. Cheapest is Birmingham, then Liverpool, Manchester, and lastly Bristol.
For racial harmony, Liverpool wins easily, then Birmingham, Manchester, and lastly again is Bristol.
The west of England in general is sadly, like some of the more conservative areas of the south, like Chichester, not as friendly as the north. The most cosmopolitan city in the south of England, apart from London, is Brighton, on the south coast. I have family nearby, and in other parts of southern England.I am a southerner now living in the north, so I am not being unfairly biased.
I know both north and south , and visit all over the UK frequently.
However, how you do is also a matter of your own input into where you live.
Many people of other cultures live happily in the west, including in Bristol. Some are not happy in Liverpool, though by far the majority are very happy to have chosen it as a place to study, and likewise with Birmingham. Those two would be top of my list, with Manchester trailing well behind in third place, and sadly the lovely Bristol in fourth place despite it's attractions, because of the higher cost of living and lower expectations of social happiness, but everyone is different. My brother lived in Bristol for a while, and enjoyed it, but moved back to the equally lovely Chilterns where we come from.
Best of luck and enjoy where you live.

Answer 2

manchester

Answer 3

Well it's nice that you are seeing other parts of the country than London, which is what most visitors only sample.

I live in Liverpool, which meets all of your criteria. we have three universities,and a massive student population.

Liverpool is getting renowned for it's entertainment, the city centre is packed most weekends with clubs and pubs catering for most tastes. Liverpool was last year designated as the European capital of culture and attracted over 3 1/2 million new visitors many of whom are returning after being surprised by what they see. We have more galleries and museums than any city outside of London and more listed buildings than any city outside of London. Galleries range from The Tate North at the Albert Dock with its modern art, to E. Chambre Hardman's photographic studio's who's landscapes are world renowned, and who's studio's in the centre of the city has been refurbished by the National trust.

Music, well lets get past the Beatles, did you know that more number ones have come from Liverpool artists than any other city?

Liverpool internationally is a world famous trading port, but after decline in the 80's its reputation within the Uk has been unfairly depicted. This is unfair because the latest govt stats show Liverpool to be one of the safest cities in the UK.

Liverpool is different from other UK cities with much Celtic American and influences from cultures all over the world. There is a somewhat Bohemian feel to the Lark Lane area of Sefton Park a few miles out side the city centre were many students choose to live (oh and Liverpool has the largest percentage of land given up to parks of any UK city). The area north of Hope St is nice with more 18th century Merchant houses than Bath which is famous for it's 18th century Merchant houses.

Source(s):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._Chambr%C…

http://www.visitliverpool.com/

Answer 4

Bristol or Manchester. If you like old and history, I'd plump for Bristol which is not far from Roman Bath, yet has been around for a long time - the Cathedral has Norman architecture, for example and the name Bristol is Anglo-saxon for Bridge at the crossing place - "Brigestowe" shortened to Bristowe, then (being Bristol!) they had to add an 'L'! Lovely holiday areas in Devon and Cornwall. Plenty of night life especially around the old Docks area.
Liverpool is a great place, but it is a little geographically isolated and gets pretty cold and damp in the Winter.
Bristol might also be said to be out on a limb, but it is the gateway to the SW and has easy access to London by road and rail.
Why don't you contact the Tourist Information Offices for each of the Cities and ask them to send you as much information as possible about "What's On", "What to do in ......."

Answer 5

You have to come to Manchester, it will totally blow your mind , the other places are simply not in the same league....
It's got the best
Architecture( including stunning modern buildings )
Culture - lots of museums / galleries, theatres , cinemas, events
Night- life
History
Food & Drink venues
Shopping
Music heritage
People ( dead friendly)

Answer 6

LIVERPOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!

It has an international feel to it yet still has a sense of a community that you wont feel in Birmingham. It also has a great night life and a long history tied to the British empire. Manchester and Birmingham were built around Industry so they still have an industrial feel to them and Brighton is just a pleasure town. Liverpool has a great history of diversity and lots of things to do and see.