Preston - the good, the bad and the ugly
A realistic Guide to life at UCLan - written by students!
By Sofie Fowler, aged 21, UCLan graduate
Preston is one of those rare places surrounded by greenery and hills but is a little cluster of activity. You can go half an hour in one direction and hit Manchester, half an hour in the other and you’re on Beacon Fell, the nature-walk school trip location of choice for all Preston schools.
Because Preston is the size of a small town, it feels safe and quiet. If you get to know the venues you’re visiting, you’ll soon be a part of the crowd that frequents it where you’ll find they’re friendly people.
Obviously, if you’re used to the bright lights of bigger cities like London, Birmingham or Leeds then you’re going to feel like a big fish in a small pond, but if you like being a part of a scene, Preston’s perfect. There are dedicated music bars like the Mad Ferret and BitterSuite, art galleries like PAD, independent cinemas like the Mitchell and Kenyon at the Uni, and plenty of parks, golf courses and community leisure centres. You can’t really say you’ve got nothing to do!
One thing to bear in mind is that Preston, like every city, has its rough areas. It’s common sense really, but if you start wandering into areas you don’t know, you might meet a few unsavoury characters! Always explore with a friend- if you’re a girl, take a guy. And definitely don’t go on a wander at night unless you’ve been there in the day and sussed it out. Trust your instincts, if something feels dodgy, it probably is.
If you use a bit of common sense and have a good look around the city, you’ll find the places you’ll enjoy the most. Whatever you’re into, there’s somewhere for you.
Useful starting points for events listings are the Lancashire Evening Post’s ‘What’s On Where’ supplement and this helpful resource
