Student days out: Big cities, tiny budgets

Student days out: Big cities, tiny budgets

So you want a day out, but your bank account looks like it’s been on a hunger strike. Don’t panic. We’ve got your back with up to 25% off for students (yes, really). Which means you can hop on a coach, get out of your bubble, and still have enough left for a posh sandwich that is above meal-deal level.

We’ve rounded up five student-friendly cities where you can spend next to nothing but still pretend you’re cultured. You’re welcome.

Manchester — Mini golf, pizza & cheap pints

Manchester’s got plenty of free culture, but sometimes you just want to whack a golf ball, inhale a pizza, and finish with a pint that doesn’t cost London prices.

• Treetop Adventure Golf — Indoor mini golf in the Printworks. Great for proving you’re “competitive but fun” on a date. Not free, but cheaper than therapy.
  
  
• Rudy’s Pizza — Authentic Neapolitan slices that make Domino’s look like an insult. Affordable, filling, and very “student flat dinner upgrade.”
  
  
• The Courtyard — A bar with cheap drinks, lots of students, and the atmosphere of a fresher’s week that never ends.

Coach tip: We drop you in the middle of the action. With the student discount, you’ll spend more on a round of golf than your actual travel.

Birmingham — Smash stuff, shop weird, play games

Forget what you’ve heard, Birmingham isn’t just roundabouts and shopping centres. It’s also the perfect place to release pent-up uni stress, buy things you don’t need, and lose at board games.

• Rage Room Birmingham — Pay to smash plates and take out your dissertation rage in a totally legal way. It’s cheaper than therapy and much safer than shouting at your group chat.
  
  
• Red Brick Market — A treasure trove of vintage clothes, handmade trinkets, and random stuff you’ll convince yourself you “needed for your room.” Perfect for broke students who still want to feel like hipster collectors.
  
  
• Chance & Counters — A board game café where you can drink coffee, mock your friends’ Monopoly strategies, and pretend you’re not competitive.
  

Coach tip: With your National Express student discount, you can get to Birmingham for less than the price of a smashed plate at the Rage Room. That’s what we call good economics.

Bristol — Banksy, bridges & bars you can’t afford

Bristol is what happens when you mix Banksy, boat pubs and people who own too many tote bags.

• Banksy trail — free urban art tour, unless you pay for an “official” one like a chump.
  
  
• Bristol Museum & Art Gallery — dinosaurs, mummies, art… all the classics.
  
  
• Clifton Suspension Bridge views — best enjoyed while pretending you didn’t just wheeze your way uphill.
  
  
• Arnos Vale Cemetery — a cemetery, yes, but somehow also a vibe.
  

Coach tip: Coaches cost less than the price of a single craft beer in Bristol. Fact.

Leeds — Free culture, cheap pints

Leeds has everything: museums, galleries, endless student nights, and approximately 472 Greggs outlets.

• Royal Armouries — free swords, armour, and medieval weapons. It’s like Game of Thrones but with fewer plot holes.
  
  
• Leeds Art Gallery — free and perfect for pretending you’re artsy on Hinge.
  
  
• Roundhay Park — massive, green, free. Great for lying down and questioning your life choices.
  
  
• Open mic nights — free if you clap politely and escape before they ask for volunteers.
  

Coach tip: Apply your discount and save your money for, well, probably another night at Wetherspoons.

London — Free Museums, expensive everything else

London: the land where rent is a scam, but museums are free. Balance achieved.

• British Museum, National Gallery, Tate Modern — you’ll never get through it all, but hey, it’s free.
  
  
• Sky Garden — free if you book, Instagram gold if you don’t mind queues.
  
  
• South Bank walk — performers, views, and overpriced ice cream.
  
  
• Camden & Borough Market — browsing is free, eating isn’t. Proceed with caution.
  

Coach tip: Coaches get you into central London without selling a kidney for the train. Student discount = smugness guaranteed.

Travel like a student, spend like a student

Here’s the deal:

• Head to our students web page and get up to 25% off your travel.
  
  
• Travel midweek if you can. It’s cheaper, emptier, and fewer stag dos.
  
  
• Bring snacks. Trust us, Pret isn’t always “essential.”
  

So, pack a tote bag, grab a friend, and hop on a coach. Culture, fresh air, and free stuff await, all for less than your weekly Deliveroo bill.

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