University life is not limited to just classrooms, assignments, and exams. While life gives you lemon, it is your job to make a lemonade. Well, following the saying that’s what weekends in the UK is all about. Do you have a long weekend coming up and don’t know what to do? As an international student living in UK, memories are what you’ll create. Take our advice, plan a weekend trip in the UK. After all, sitting idle in your student accommodation in UK is kinda boring right?

So, if you are figuring out how to plan upcoming weekends, we have rounded up the exact solution for you. There are numerous places to explore in different cities across the United Kingdom. Just like any other day, Uninist is here to save your day. So, pack your bags as you are about to make a memory for life. Let’s get into it!

Why Planning a Weekend Trip is Suitable for Students? 

As a student, budget often comes first, but you can plan a perfect trip with the right planning. Before telling you how to plan a weekend trip, let us give you some answers which you definitely should know. Here are some of the top reasons why an affordable weekend trip would be perfect for students in UK:

• Short and Flexible: Studying in the UK gives you plenty of opportunities for travel. Hence, short weekend trips are easy to fit into your academic schedule without missing lectures.
• Budget – Friendly: As we already said, as a student budget comes first. Trips on weekends can be light and you can avoid long accommodation costs as well.
• Great for Mental Health: From constant classes, assignments, studies, and hectic schedules can drain a student mentally. Going on a short trip can give you a break from the hectic schedule and reboot your brain.
• Opportunities to Explore Culture: Every city in the UK is famous for its culture and unique attraction, going on weekend trips gives you a chance to experience the UK’s heritage, food, and local lifestyle.

These are some reasons to make you understand why a short trip on weekend to anywhere can be perfect for students. 

How to Plan An Affordable Weekend Trip in UK: Step-by-Step Guide for Students

Making student life easier is what Uninist do. Here is the step by step guide for you to plan an affordable weekend trip in the UK as a student:

• Step 1 – Choosing the right destination
• Step 2 – Planning your travel
• Step 3 – Budget-friendly accommodation
• Step 4 – Managing food costs
• Step 5 – Creating an affordable itinerary
• Step 6 – Packing smart and light
• Step 7 – Budget planning
• Step 8 – Safety and practical tips

These are the steps you can follow to plan an affordable weekend trip in UK, but these are in a broad sense. Let’s discuss these points in a little more detail. 

Choosing the right destination

• Travel Distance: Selecting what place to visit is the first and foremost step. Pick places within 2-4 hours by train/bus to save time and money.
• Budget Suitability: Cities like Manchester, Liverpool, and York are cheaper compared to London. So, you can pick these places to visit.
• Types of Experience: If you want to experience a cheap city break you can visit Birmingham, Edinburgh. For historic town experience, join the debate between Oxford vs Cambridge, Bath or York and more. For natural escapes visit Lake District, Peak District, Snowdonia. And at last, if you want to experience coastal trips, visit Brighton, Bournemouth, Cornwall.

Top and Best Weekend Destinations for Students

Here are some of the best places to consider for a weekend trip in UK:

• York: Historic streets, York Minster, affordable hostels.
• Edinburgh: Perfect spot for history lovers and photographers.
• Brighton: The city has free beaches, vibrant nightlife, and seaside vibes.
• Bath: Roman baths, Georgian architecture, walkable city.
• Liverpool: Music, football, and cultural museums.

Planning your travel

• Affordable Transport Options: Going to your destination can be a lot cheaper by trains, bus, and carpooling.

1. For trains, book early via Trainline or National Rail and use 16-25 Railcards by which you can get 1/3rd off on fares. 
2. For bus travel, Megabus and National Express are cheaper than trains, and use overnight buses to save on accommodation costs. Use apps like BlaBlaCar for carpooling and divide the fuel costs with friends. 

• Travel Off-Peak: When going on a weekend trip, try to travel after 9:30 PM as it is off-peak hours. Use student discounts on UNiDAYS or TOTUM cards.
• Group Tickets: Book tickets all together if you are travelling with friends as it can help in bringing the cost down. Also, walk or rent bikes at your destination instead of taxis to save money.

Budget-friendly Student Accommodation in UK

• Budget-Friendly Stays: Planning affordable weekend trips is our priority so we have to look for cheap accommodation options like hostels, university halls, airbnb, and cheap hotels. Platforms like Uninist often offer short-term student accommodation in UK. So, all these stays are affordable and you can even go for shared options to make your stay more budget-friendly.
• Book Early: The best way to save money is to book in advance. However, if it’s a spontaneous plan then look for stays, offering free cancellation in case the plan changes again.
• Avoid City Centers: The hotels and stays in the city center are way more expensive than the outside of city centres. So, look for stays which are close to the city centre but not in the city centre.
• Check for Student Discount: Don’t hesitate to ask for a student discount, if available in places you are visiting or exploring.

Managing Food Costs

• Supermarket and Meal Deals: Food cost can be the most manageable aspect of your cheap weekend getaway. Places like Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and Boots can be affordable food options. You can even try street food from local markets as it will be affordable and authentic.
• Fast Food Chains and Budget Restaurants: Go to fast food chains and budget restaurants as it will be cheaper and affordable. Not only this, you can even use food delivery apps in UK for good deals and discounts.
• Pack Snacks: The best way to manage food cost is to pack something lite for the journey and carry a reusable water bottle instead of buying bottled water.
• Look for Student Discounts: Places like Nando’s, PizzaExpress, etc have student discount options, use them and save money on your weekend trip.

Creating an Affordable Itinerary

• Free to Enter Places: Plan which places you want to explore in advance and include places which have no entry cost in your list like museums, galleries, etc. You can also have free city tours.
• University Towns and Historic Landmarks: Explore campuses of Oxford, Cambridge, St Andrews. Also you can go to historic landmarks like Big Ben, Tower Bridge.
• Efficient Itinerary: Make an efficient itinerary which includes everything like tourist attractions, mix of paid and free spots. Also, you can walk between one attraction to another to save transport money.

Packing Smart and Light 

• Essentials for Weekend Trips: Carry essentials in a bag to avoid extra luggage. Essentials that you should carry are student ID, snacks+ reusable water bottle, power bank and charger, shoes and clothes.
• Be Prepared: Before leaving for your exciting trip, be prepared and check things like the weather forecast of the place you are visiting.
• Things to Keep in Mind: While packing, keep a few things in mind like avoid overpacking and only taking essentials, carrying multi-use clothing like jackets, and keep digital copies of tickets and ID.

Budget Planning 

Here is a small budget plan which you can use for reference: 

• Travel: £20 – £40 if traveling by coach and £40 – £80 if by train.
• Accommodation: £20 – £40 per night in hostels.
• Food: £20 – £30 for 2 days.
• Attraction: £10 – £25.
• Miscellaneous: £10 for things like souvenirs, snacks, etc.

The total can be between £70 – £120 for 2 days if you do budget planning and visit budget travel destinations/attractions.

Safety and Practical Tips

• Use Google Maps: Traveling safely is very important so use google maps to avoid roaming charges. Also, keep cash+card with yourself as some places might not accept cards.
• Travel Insurance: One of the top tips for international students in UK is to have travel insurance as well.
• Be Attentive at Night: If you are travelling at night then be aware and attentive. Also, use trusted transport like tram/bus service.

Conclusion

Planning a budget-friendly weekend trip can be tough but not impossible for students. While you have got the step-by-step guide by Uninist, your go-to student accommodation in UK, it is your turn. Plan ahead and understand every aspect to have a good time over a weekend trip in UK. From Birmingham to London, everything is available and our blog is what you want!

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