[CCSC_STRIKER20]

I have traveled to Europe, but I have never been to England, Ireland, or Scotland. I know a few people on this board live in/lived in/have been too a lot of the areas I am about to ask some questions about. Any advice or opinions would be very welcomed.

I am looking to study abroad for a whole year next year. My plan is to go somewhere in either Scotland or England. I really would like to study in Liverpool, but it would be more work to find a program and a family friend (former Blackburn coach) that lives between Manchester and Liverpool said I shouldn't live there. Right now my options are as follows in order of possibility. 1,2,3, and 5 are where the progam offered at my university can take me, and well 4 is pretty self-explanatory.

1. Lancaster
2. Leeds
3. Glasgow
4. Liverpool
5. London

I am excited to go because my family friend has ins with a lot of clubs, coaches, players, managers, and journalists (big for me because that is what I am studying) and has the ability to get me tickets for loads of matches (not just Liverpool) and inside access to players and such.

I have researched the cities on wikipedia and other sites, but I would like to hear first hand information from others. Anything will be appreciated, cheers!

[liverbird]

Never been to Lancaster (is there even a town called that?)

London is a big city. So it has all the amenities, but is rather pricy for everything (food, beer, lodging etc). It also has some quite dodgy areas too -- like any large city. Lots of football from League 2 up to EPL.

Leeds is a surprisingly nice city center and a very large university and banking center of an agricultural region. For hiking and the like its a very nice center. The footbal sucks although Elland Road is a big ground which still turns out big support in League One -- they'll probably go up next year. No where near as expensive as London.

Glasgow is a large port city recovering from down times. I only spent an afternoon there to see Celtic play at Parkhead. Of course, you know about the football from the Old Firm. Seemed to have done a fair job cleaning the city center up. I suspect there are some very dodgy areas to avoid. I would much prefer Edinburgh or St Andrews if I was going to live and study in Scotland.

Liverpool has a large university community and housing seems available and reasonable. The food is good although you won't find award winning restaurants -- I bet as a student this isn't too important. Nightlife is pretty good in the city center although judging by the stories in the Echo late at night there are places one should avoid. The people are welcoming, but remember it is a town that has gone through some tough times and is still rebounding. There are definitely some dodgy areas where your accent might make you a mark. However, on 5 seperate trips I have found it to be a great city to visit. As to football, over and above LFC its simply as good as London. With Wigan, Bolton, Blackburn, Citeh, the Scum and the Bitters there is lots of EPL football within easy commuting but there is also plenty of Championship and lower football as well.

This is all I can do to help -- maybe others will step up

[usscouse]

Lancaster: Wonderful 'small' up and coming city. Outstanding history, fairly close by motorway to all the major football cities in the north west. If you like the outdoors and hiking then you've got it made, the "Lakes" to the Northwest. I take a trip up there every time I'm home. The moors to the East, Last day there in October I took my old mum a ride through the "Trough of Bowland" and Forest of Bowland. Nice old pubs for beer and meals in all these areas. Some nice beaches to the West. (Don't count Blackpool in that) More business is going that way because it has room to expand as a consequence the city is growing.
Don't know much about school or lodging but it shouldn't take much to find out.

Hey, I was born in Liverpool and most of my family live there. It didn't do me any harm, any harm, any harm.

[liverbird]

Originally Posted by usscouse

Lancaster: Wonderful 'small' up and coming city. Outstanding history, fairly close by motorway to all the major football cities in the north west. If you like the outdoors and hiking then you've got it made, the "Lakes" to the Northwest. I take a trip up there every time I'm home. The moors to the East, Last day there in October I took my old mum a ride through the "Trough of Bowland" and Forest of Bowland. Nice old pubs for beer and meals in all these areas. Some nice beaches to the West. (Don't count Blackpool in that) More business is going that way because it has room to expand as a consequence the city is growing.
Don't know much about school or lodging but it shouldn't take much to find out.

.

See, I thought it was just a shire

[usscouse]

Just took a look in at the Lancaster U web site. I'd take it, I doubt they'd want an old bugger like me though.
Your friend was probably right, living in cities like Liverpool or Manchester (shudder!!!) wouldn't be right. Always nice to visit Liverpool though.

What would you be taking...sorry "reading" there, Is this grad study time. Or just a time for valuable overseas experience?

Lots of interesting web sites of the Lancaster area on google but you already know that...

If you're into outdoor life rather than city, then this would be my choice of the 5. There are some outstanding old English towns and villages and beautiful rolling hills. Not quite Fargo!!!

The girls aren't bad either, an American accent goes a long way as an introduction.

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

Originally Posted by usscouse

Just took a look in at the Lancaster U web site. I'd take it, I doubt they'd want an old bugger like me though.
Your friend was probably right, living in cities like Liverpool or Manchester (shudder!!!) wouldn't be right. Always nice to visit Liverpool though.

What would you be taking...sorry "reading" there, Is this grad study time. Or just a time for valuable overseas experience?

Lots of interesting web sites of the Lancaster area on google but you already know that...

If you're into outdoor life rather than city, then this would be my choice of the 5. There are some outstanding old English towns and villages and beautiful rolling hills. Not quite Fargo!!!

The girls aren't bad either, an American accent goes a long way as an introduction.

I am going there as "valuable overseas experience". I will hopefully be doing something along the lines of journalism (don't crucify me). But as long as I am occupying my time with something other than my favorite past-times (girls, soccer, and booze, yes those are past-times) I think I will be alright.

Yeah rolling hills would be the exact opposite of Fargo.

Finally I will be the guy with the accent. Damn foreign exchange students in high school taking all the ladies because of their fancy foreign accents.

I will be making many trips to Liverpool and I thought Lancaster was my best option university and city wise. It has what I will be "taking" and it's also close enough to plenty of footy.

Is it bad to say that I am more excited for the football, girls, and beer than I am for school. Oh wait, I am already that way in the states. This could get interesting.

[usscouse]

Originally Posted by CCSC_STRIKER20

I am going there as "valuable overseas experience". I will hopefully be doing something along the lines of journalism (don't crucify me). But as long as I am occupying my time with something other than my favorite past-times (girls, soccer, and booze, yes those are past-times) I think I will be alright.

Yeah rolling hills would be the exact opposite of Fargo.

Finally I will be the guy with the accent. Damn foreign exchange students in high school taking all the ladies because of their fancy foreign accents.

I will be making many trips to Liverpool and I thought Lancaster was my best option university and city wise. It has what I will be "taking" and it's also close enough to plenty of footy.

Is it bad to say that I am more excited for the football, girls, and beer than I am for school. Oh wait, I am already that way in the states. This could get interesting.

Paraphrasing [georgiebest]Yes I spent a lot of money on booze, girls and fast cars.... The rest I just frittered away.[/georgiebest]

Damn foreign exchange students in high school taking all the ladies because of their fancy foreign accents.

Now you can be one of these in college.

I'm jealous, mind you I came to California in the late 60's. Wonderful times of cheap booze, free love, no bra's and hot pants. AIDs was still 20 years in the future.... Ah the good old days.

London, could be a good choice but only if you have someone as a 'mentor' on where to live and where to hang. Lot's of life there. Lancaster would still be my choice though.

Whatever you do, I know it'll be something that you can look back on in 30 years and give advice in "Big Soccer World league" thread.

Journalism......shakes head walking away.......

The castle

[MJ-inBRITAIN]

I would have to say Glasgow wins hands down (especially if you're yank). I lived there for 2 years and had a fantastic time. It has great culture and the people are very nice in a small town way even though it's one of the biggest cities in Britain.

You're about half an hour away from great spots in the country and since your'e going to be a student the clubbing seen is fantastatic. It's one of the only places left in the world where being an American is A - interesting, and B - a good thing (they have the English to despise).

If you're worried about that sort of thing, it's easily the safest from the spots you've mentioned, the "bad spots" are concentrated in areas out of the centre and also they are much fewer than liverpool or manchester or london.

I played ultimate with the Glasgow and Strathclyde uni kids and they were fanstastic. Learn to caleigh dance as that's sooo much fun when pissed.