Excellent 4 years but long enough (University of Wales, Aberystwyth in general)

Member Name: tibby17

Product:	University of Wales, Aberystwyth in general
Date:	28/03/02 (1142 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Friendly, Seaside, Prices

Disadvantages: Poor transport links, Small

After not being offered a place at University I went through the clearing system. Aberystwyth was on my list and invited me for an interview. When I arrived in the town I went straight to the seafront and immediately fell in love. I spent the next four years of my life their which were excellent but long enough.

Accomodation - In your first year their are three places you are likely to stay in:
Seafront Halls
Campus Halls
Student Village

Seafront halls ~ as the title states these are located on the seafront. I was accomodated here and lived in Ty caron. Advantages - cheap rent, very close to the pubs/shops/town generally, Sea views, Chinese takeaways, Old college (Especially helpful if doing Education or Drama), close to beach (but not as much fun in winter)
Disadvantages - Penglais hill which needs to be walked up to reach campus (A free bus was provided when I was there), Most rooms are shared ( this can also be an advantage because you have an instant friend), Sports facilities are on campus

Campus Halls ~ Rosser, Cwrt Mawr and the like.
Advantages - modern compared to most seafront halls, Internet connection in some rooms, close to lecture theatres, close to sports facilities
Disadvantages - Penglais hill which has to be walked up after a night on the raz, walk to town/pubs/shops

Student village - student houses for 6/7 people
Advantages - On campus
Disadvantages - falling down the hill, quite expensive

Nightlife ~ Aberystwyth is not a city and so there is not an amazing amount of nightlife but because the town is small you are gauranteed to see somebody you know whilst out and you can get around most of the pubs.
P0pular night spots:
Pier Pressure - A nightclub of sorts located on the pier. Good for a dance and definite flirting possibilities but beware of fifteen year olds
The Bay - Open until 1am. £1 a pint most nights and used to get free vodka with that. The be
st place to go to get drunk cheaply. Small dance area.
The Glen - Right at the end of the seafront so quite a walk. Various drink promotions. Small dancefloor. Open until 1am.
Varsity - Used to be a cool old pub called The White Horse now just a vast open space. One of the most expensive places to drink
Bar Essential - Quite expensive again
The station - Train station converted. Newly opened Wetherspoons. Good drink promotions as with all pubs in the chain.
The Cambrian - World famous for its pint cocktails. Price of them keeps going up but you can't go there without having one.

Shopping ~ Don't expect Marks and Spencer or Next. Biggest names include Dorothy Perkins, Burton, New Look, Woolworths, WHSmith and Evans. There are some good individual clothes shops including Franks which is good for jeans and party gear.
Supermarkets - Iceland, Lidl, Somerfield and Safeway which is slightly out of town so make friends with someone with a car.

Other things to do ~ Bowling alley (NOWHERE NEAR LIKE A MEGABOWL but does thejob), Cinemas (Commodore, old and out of date, and New one in Arts centre on University campus), Beach.

Favourite places to eat ~
Lunch - Spartacus for the best takeaway baguettes and The Upper Limit Cafe for your traditional English Breakfast
Dinner - Little Italy, very popular so advisable to book

ANyway, I have given loads of information so now I just want to say that if you can survive without your big shops and big nightclubs then go to Aberystwyth. The best thing is that you get to know so many people with it being so small. That can also be a bad thing because you always seem to bump in to old conquests. I really did love the four years I spent there and I met by boyfriend there too. A poll once showed that Aberystwyth produces the most couples that get married so if your looking for love maybe the sun setting over that gorgeus sea will help it along.

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