Liverpool Life
This page covers the following sections:
Cost of Living
You will want to plan your finances as far ahead as possible. The following offers some guidelines to help you establish your budget (figures are approximate).
For the period of your study: to cover basic living expenses such as daily travel, food, medical cover and other necessary items, we recommend that you allow the following:
£600 to £800
If you plan on doing a tour of Europe many students recommend that you have as much as £1500 to cover costs.
Please remember that the living costs are in addition to your course fees. British Council offices also provide information about the cost of living in the United Kingdom.
Currency - the unit of currency is the pound sterling (£1) which is divided into 100 pence.
The coins in circulation are 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 50p and £1 and £2 coins.
Notes in circulation are £5, £10, £20 and £50.
Climate
Like the rest of Britain, Liverpool's climate is largely unpredictable! However, it is quite sheltered and often milder than other parts of northern England. Generally speaking, the summer (June to August and sometimes early September) is warm, though rarely hot. The winter months can be cold and frosty with temperatures falling as low as freezing, and there is usually some snow around January. Typical daytime temperatures are 68F (20C) in the summer and 42F (5C) in the winter.
Clothing
You should consider carefully the clothing you will need. Even though you will be studying during the English summer make sure you have warm clothes that will protect you in all types of weather. “Layering” is one way of doing this.
You will definitely require woollen sweaters and a warm overcoat for the winter and a waterproof coat. An umbrella is also very useful. Keeping your head, feet and hands warm, will help you to keep heat in the rest of your body, so think about buying a woollen hat and some gloves.
If you do not have suitable items such as these, it is advisable to wait until you get to Liverpool, as you may be able to buy them much more cheaply here. Here are some examples of the minimum cost of clothes.
Shoes £30
Jeans £30
Sweatshirt/Jumper £20
Gloves £5
Jacket £50
Dress around the University and elsewhere is very informal. Students usually wear jeans, a jumper and a jacket. If you are invited to a special event, it will be made very clear to you how you are expected to dress. If you are in doubt just ask the host what is usual for such functions. If you wish to wear your national or traditional costume, you are free to do so. However, you may find that your clothing is not always suitable in the British climate and you might have to adapt accordingly.
Buying Food
A cosmopolitan city such as Liverpool offers a wide variety of shops and restaurants. There is also a number of cheaper fruit and vegetable markets. You will be living in self-catering accommodation so you will need to buy and prepare your own food.
You will find supermarkets near University buildings and near to your accommodation. Normal shop hours are 9.00am-5.30pm, but most supermarkets are open until 8.00pm most evenings. A list of opening times is usually displayed at the entrance to the store. You should expect to spend around £35 per week on groceries. Halal and Kosher foods are available in specific shops in the city, and there is a selection of Chinese supermarkets close to the city centre. These shops will stock most of the things you are used to buying at home, but please ask the staff members for further information on the availability of specific items you are keen not to have to do without.
Chung Wah Supermarket Ltd
Hardy Street, Liverpool
L1 5JN
Matta's International Foods
51 Bold Street, Liverpool
L1 4EU
W H Lung Supermarket
Great Howard Street, Liverpool
L5 9TZ
Driving in the UK
You will need to bring your driving licence if you intend to drive in the UK. If you hold a valid driving licence or international driving permit from your home country, you will be able to drive in the UK for 12 months. After one year the licence is no longer valid in the UK.
Your car will need to be taxed, insured, registered and road worthy. It is an offence if any of the documents confirming these facts are not up-to-date.
If you want to hire a car this is relatively easy - see below for companies which are near to your halls of residence.
Hertz Rent-a-Car
141, Vauxhall Rd, Liverpool, Merseyside L3 6BN
Tel: 0151 227 2222
Reservations: 0870 040 9000
Thrifty Car & Van Rental
Waterloo Road, Liverpool, Merseyside L3 0BH
Tel: 0151 236 0050
Europcar
Mount Pleasant Car Park,
8, Brownlow Hill, Liverpool, Merseyside L3 5RE
Tel: 0151 708 7563
Delete Arnold Clarke info please below
Arnold Clark Hire Drive
104, St. Anne St, Liverpool, Merseyside L3 3EB
Tel: 0151 298 1811
Police
If you are lost, need advice or have any other difficulties, a Police Officer should be approached for help. The UK police are a civilian force and generally do not carry firearms. Police Officers or Community Support Officers can generally be found patrolling Liverpool and are easily identified.
Electricity and Appliances
The British electricity supply works on 240 volts/50 cycles and uses the same socket as you currently use in Malaysia.
Religion
All major religions have places of worship in Liverpool, a city with an open heart and mind to diversity. The University itself offers facilities and staff associated with various religions.
For LJMU’s Chaplaincy see: http://www.ljmu.ac.uk/chaplaincy/
Shopping
Liverpool's transformation into one of the UK's top shopping destinations Liverpool ONE is open for business. You will find almost every form of retail therapy in Liverpool and elsewhere in the City Region. City Centre Liverpool boasts some of the largest big-name High Street stores in the country. The size of 28 full-size football pitches, Liverpool ONE brings the best in fashion, home and leisure to the city! Liverpool ONE includes 160 exciting new shops, cafes and restaurants overlooking the stunning Chavasse Park, two new hotels, a 14-screen Odeon cinema and more than 600 stylish apartments.
Liverpool also has further shopping complexes at The Met Quarter, The Albert Dock, Cavern Walks, St John’s Shopping Centre, Clayton Square, Church Street and Bold Street. Further details can be found at http://www.visitliverpool.com/site/what-to-do/shopping
Nightlife
Live music venues, clubs, restaurants, cafes, and an enormous variety of drinking bars ranging from superb, traditional public houses to the latest designer-chic cafes and cabaret venues, all combine to make Liverpool's night scene one of the liveliest in the UK. Performing arts in Liverpool have a substantial reputation and famous city theatres like the Playhouse, Everyman, Empire and Royal Court have a host of fabulous performances scheduled for 2010.