Life in Burnley

Want to know what life is like in Burnley? Burnley is an old industrial town with a bright future. It's home to a growing community of students, who love its food scene and booming nightlife.

Living in Burnley

Burnley has that real Northern soul. It has a proud industrial history - you'll probably be studying in a converted mill. There is heavy investment in the town as part of the Levelling Up scheme, so there's lots of opportunity for students. Plus, there are plenty of pubs, restaurants and bars to enjoy yourself when you're not in uni.

Food and drink

Burnley boasts a great choice of foodie spots. Head to the Market Hall for a selection of international street food, including Bengali, Thai and Chinese. Try Ellis' in the town centre for the best burgers and shakes (or cocktails, depending on your mood). Fancy a sit down dinner? The Palazzo serves delicious Italian food in a beautiful old bank building - the perfect spot for date night. And, of course, there's a Nando's.

Nightlife

Ready to dance the night away? There's something for everyone in Burnley, with pubs, bars and clubs open until the early hours. Plus, they're all close together so you don't have to walk for miles.

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Enjoy everything Burnley's got to offer01 / 03

Ellis' is the place to be.
Ellis' is the place to be.

Sport

Burnley has a great sporting history and there's lots of opportunities to get involved. UCLan students get a discount with Burnley Leisure, which gives you access to the gym, swimming pool and squash court. Golfers can head to Towneley Golf Course or the Prairie Driving Range to tee off. If you're more of a spectator, then you can watch Burnley Football Club or Burnley Cricket Club.

Are you serious about sport?

Find out about our elite sport, leagues and our support for talented athletes

Discover your potential

Green spaces

There are lots of beautiful parks in Burnley, which we encourage students to visit. Towneley Park is over 400 acres, with a mix of woodland, green fields and gardens. It is home to the historic Towneley Hall, as well as a garden centre and cafe. Thompson Park has its own boating lake, which is open every weekend from April to October. If you prefer a more challenging walk, then the Singing Ringing Tree, Pendle Hill and Hurstwood Reservoir all provide a good trek.

Getting about

Our Burnley Campus is close together, so you can walk from class to class. Burnley Manchester Road train station is just a short walk to campus and our accommodation. Burnley also has great transportation links to the rest of the North West. Manchester is just an hour away by bus or train. You can get to Preston in 45 minutes by train, or an hour and half by bus. There are also trains to Blackpool, Leeds and York, if you fancy a day out.

Thinking about commuting to classes?

Many of our students live at home and commute to campus for their studies. If you're thinking about doing the same, we have lots of information that might help.

Find out more about commuting
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What our students say

It is very surprising how close knit everything is here... that's what I love about Burnley. How easy it is to live here and go to lessons and also to shop.
abygale-sandygate-halls
Abygail
BSc (Hons) Medical Sciences
United Kingdom

Let us show you around

Birdseye view of Burnley Victoria Mill campus

Why not discover Burnley town and our campus together?

Explore our fantastic campus and discover what life is like here at the University of Central Lancashire.

Book a campus tour
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