Are you someone who loves to explore the taste of China? Well, Chinese food is not limited to spring rolls or noodles as it has plenty of dishes to try. But, where to find authentic Chinese food and culture or the authentic vibes when you are living in UK? Don’t worry as major cities in UK have designated Chinatowns. Moreover, you can just find them by a Google search of “Chinatown near me”. Primarily, every big city in UK has a Chinatown, like London, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, etc.

Chinatowns in UK are a tourist attraction that many foreigners and students love to visit. Not only food, but the students should visit Chinatown once in their lives because of the new culture they will experience. The vibrant atmosphere, budget-friendly restaurants, and the fun moments with your friends make Chinatown a must-visit for students in UK.

Since the first Chinatown opened in Liverpool in the early nineteenth century, at that time it was just an ordinary port filled with Chinese seamen working on ships that were used in trade between Britain and China. But in recent times, Chinatowns are like a tourist attraction and every big city has opened one to attract tourists and college-going students. 

So, if you are living in student accommodation in UK, Chinatown is a must-visit during university life. We guarantee you it will be a great experience. We understand how challenging it is to figure out student housing, groceries, rent and much more. Hence, unwinding at a good Chinatown is all you need. Just like other guides, we at Uninist are here again to help you with your student lifestyle. So, sit back and keep on reading to know what all you need to know about Chinatowns.

Where to Find Chinatown in UK?

Chinatown is a place run and maintained by a large number of Chinese people outside of China. Now that you know what exactly Chinatown is, where to find one in UK? In this blog, we have penned down a list of major Chinatowns all over UK and their relevant information.

The major cities in UK that have a Chinatown are:

•   Chinatown Glasgow
•   Chinatown Manchester
•   Chinatown Birmingham
•   Chinatown Liverpool
•   Chinatown Leeds
•   Chinatown Sheffield
•   Chinatown Newcastle
•   Chinatown Edinburgh
•   Chinatown London
•   Chinatown Dublin

Let’s discuss the abovementioned in a bit more detail. 

Chinatown Glasgow

Just like every Chinatown, the Chinatown in Glasgow is famous for food hubs and exploring new things about the culture. Some of the top things about Chinatown in Glasgow include:

•   Location: The Chinatown in Glasgow is centered around the New City Road, Cowcaddens.
•   Nearest train station: Nearest train stations are Cowcaddens Subway Station, Charing Cross Town   Station.
•   Timing: Public access is 24/7, but the restaurants are open from 11:30 AM to 10:00 PM and the     timings for shops are 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM.
•   Cost: The cost for one person is £1 to £13, depending on the food, store, and restaurant.
•   Nearby colleges: the colleges nearby are the Glasgow School of Art, Glasgow Caledonian University.

Chinatown Manchester

Just like Chinatown in London, the Chinatown in Manchester is a famous spot for students. Here is information you should know:

•   Location: Faulkner Street, Manchester M1 4FH, near St. Peter Square and Piccadilly Gardens.
•   Nearest train station: Manchester Piccadilly station, St Peter’s Square Tram Stop.
•   Timings: you can explore Chinatown at any time of the day but the shops and bakeries typically open   from 11:00 am to 10:30 PM.
•   Cost: the cost for one person usually costs between £3– £18 depending on the type of food and the   restaurant/shop.
•   Nearby colleges: Manchester Metropolitan University, Royal Northern College of Music, University of   Manchester.

Chinatown Birmingham

The next on the list is Chinatown in Birmingham. This Chinatown is famous for its population and for being close to student accommodation in Birmingham. Here are the details you need to get before visiting:

•   Location: Hurst Street and Ladywell Walk, Birmingham B5 4TD.
•   Nearest train stations: Birmingham Moor Street Station, Birmingham Snow Hill Station, Birmingham   New Street Station.
•   Timings: you can access the street 24/7 but the shops open from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Most   vibrant in the evening. So, plan your visit accordingly.
•   Cost: You don’t have to worry about the cost, it is not that expensive. The food ranges from  £4 –   £16. They also offer student discounts.
•   Nearby colleges: nearby colleges to Chinatown are Aston University, University College Birmingham,   and Birmingham City University.

Chinatown Liverpool

Liverpool is the city where the first Chinatown was built in the early 19th century. So, Liverpool’s Chinatown should be on your must-visit list. Here is the information you should know before visiting Chinatown in Liverpool:

•   Location: Nelson Street, Liverpool. Located near Liverpool Cathedral and the Baltic Triangle.
•   Nearest train station: The nearest train stations are Lime Street, Liverpool Central, and Liverpool   One Bus Station.
•   Timings: Restaurants and businesses open from 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM, but you can visit Chinatown   anytime.
•   Cost: The entry is free, but the cost of food can vary from £3 – £15 depending on the restaurant and   the food you eat.
•   Nearby colleges: the colleges near Chinatown arethe  University of Liverpool, Liverpool Institute for   Performing Arts, and Liverpool John Moores University.

Chinatown Leeds

The Chinatown in Leeds is rapidly growing and becoming one of the most famous tourist spots in Leeds. Attracting many students from student accommodation in Leeds, here are the top things about it: 

•   Location: The area is centered around Vicar Lane and George Street, near Leeds Kirkgate Market.
•   Nearest metro station: The nearest train stations are Leeds City Bus Station and Leeds Train   Station.
•   Timings: The Chinese restaurants and supermarkets open from 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM. However,   roaming around Chinatown is open 24/7.
•   Cost: the cost for food is around  £3 – £15, depending on the food and the restaurant
•   Nearby colleges: Chinatown is well connected with famous colleges of Leeds like the University of   Leeds, Leeds Art University, and Leeds Beckett University.

Chinatown Sheffield

Just like Edinburgh, Sheffield also doesn’t have a specific Chinatown. However, there is a specific area that offers Chinese, Thai, Korean, and Vietnamese cuisine. This place is also called “informal Chinatown”. Here are some interesting facts about this place:

•   Location: The area around London Road ( S2 postcode) is the home of various asian food restaurants.
•   Nearby train station: Sheffield Train Station, Moore Street Bus Stop, Sheffield Interchange.
•   Timings: The restaurants and supermarkets operate from 12:00 PM to 10:30 PM in the night.
•   Cost: The cost for one person lies between £3 – £14.
•   Nearby colleges: The University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University are the closest colleges   to this area.

Chinatown Newcastle

The Chinatown in Newcastle is a very popular tourist spot. In fact, it is one of the busiest tourist spots in Newcastle, making it a great attraction for students as well. Some information you need to know before visiting is:

•   Location: Stowell Street, Newcastle, near St. James’s Park and The Gate Entertainment Complex.
•   Nearest train stations: Haymarket Metro Station, St. James Metro Station, and Newcastle Central   Station.
•   Timings: Open to the public 24/7, but the shops and restaurants open from 12:00 PM to 10:30 PM.
•   Cost: £3 – £14 depending on the food and restaurant.
•   Nearby colleges:  The colleges that are near Chinatown are Newcastle University, Northumbria   University. There is also one plus point that the Chinatown is near to many student accommodations in   the city centre.

Chinatown Edinburgh

Edinburgh does not have a designated Chinatown like other cities in UK, but the city still has a place where Chinese food, East Asian restaurants, supermarkets, and takeaways are given a priority. Here is all the information you need to know to find this place:

•   Location: Area around Lothian Road, Nicolan Street, and the southside.
•   Nearest train station: Edinburgh Waverley Station, Princes Street Tram Stop, and Edinburgh   Haymarket Station are closest to these restaurants and shops.
•   Timings: the restaurants and shops open from 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM.
•   Cost: the restaurants and shops charge between £4 – £16 depending on the food and the place.
•   Nearby colleges: the nearby colleges to this area are the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh College   of Art, and Edinburgh Napier University.

Chinatown London

Chinatown in London is a great student attraction because of its vibes, connectivity with colleges, and various shops and restaurants. Here is some information that you should know before planning your visit there:

•   Location: Gerrard Street, Soho, London W1D 5QA, making it close to numerous student   accommodations in London.
•   Closest tube stations: Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus, Tottenham Court Road.
•   Timings: Open 24/7, but the shops and restaurants are open from 11:00 AM–11:00 PM. The peak   vibe is in the evening so you should visit at that time.
•   Cost: Walking around is free but the shops and restaurants usually cost between £3–£15. Some   places offer student discount options.
•   Nearby colleges: University of Westminster, London School of Economics, King’s College, and SOAS   University of London.

Chinatown Dublin

Just like the above two, Dublin is also a city that doesn’t have a specific Chinatown. But, there is always a scope for an informal Chinatown. Dublin does have many spots to explore and enjoy Asian cuisine. If you are a fan of asian food, you can visit different spots from your housing to enjoy great Asian food.

•   Location: The Parnell Street area, especially around Moore Street and Capel Street, is the area where   you can find Asian food.
•   Nearest train station: Abbey Street Luas and Connolly Train Station.
•   Timings: Restaurants operate from 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM. But the best time to visit is in the   evening to enjoy the nightlife vibe.
•   Cost: The cost for one person is around £4–£16.
•   Nearby colleges: Trinity College Dublin, Dublin Business School, and Technological University of   Dublin are the closest to this place.

Job Opportunities You Can Find in Chinatown

Not fancy, but you can also find a few part-time jobs in Chinatown. Here are some of the job opportunities you can find in Chinatown.

•   Restaurant staff: You can find part-time jobs as a waiter/waitress, cashier, kitchen assistant, and   food runner in Chinese and Asian restaurants in Chinatown.
•   Cafe shop worker: Making and serving drinks, handling customers, or operating the counter are   some of the part-time jobs you can find to support your expenses.
•   Store assistant: Grocery stores and other utility stores have some part-time job options, like helping   with stocking, billing, and assisting customers.
•   Delivery driver/rider: Students searching for some job opportunities to support their expenses can   work as a delivery boy for these restaurants.

Conclusion

Living alone in a student accommodation is quite a task, we get it. However, visiting a place that feels like home is something every student wants. To bring that feeling to you, we have tried to mention all the major cities in UK to find gorgeous Chinatowns. From location to nearby student housing in UK, we have covered every detail. Whether you like Chinese, Thai or Vietnamese, every student must explore new food, culture and vibes. So, get out of your student flat and head to Chinatown to experience the hype yourself!

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