Top five autumnal hot spots for students
This is not a drill, I repeat, this is not a drill! Leaves are falling, pumpkin spice is in the air, the coats are coming out. Autumn is back, and it’s the best time of year to romanticise your time as a student. Here at John Moore’s Student Union, we are here to cover all the best student hotspots and hidden gems that give the ultimate autumn vibes. Here are some of our top picks:
Valerie Coffee – South Road, Crosby.
This stunning family-owned café is an absolute hidden gem in Liverpool. You are first hit with the additive smell of coffee and greeted with a friendly smile (and a beautiful array of cakes and pastries). Someone said, ‘I need Autumn décor’ and this place really said, ‘hold my reasonably priced matcha.’ I mean, who doesn’t want to drink an autumnal hot chai under a ceiling of leaves? I know I do! Not only does this place look a vibe, but it is also a cosy co-working environment with free Wi-Fi and plug sockets to keep you working if you need. The best part? There is an option to upgrade your drink to a drink WITH A BUNDLE OF FLOWERS! It makes sense, considering this place is connected to a garden centre for you to wander round and shop for seasonal home goods ‘til you drop!
Cheap food and drinks? Tick. Cute décor? Tick. Ultimate autumnal vibes. Tick.
Rough Handmade Bakery – Albert Dock, City Centre.
This place needs no introduction. An all-brick interior and croissants the size of your head, you’ve got yourself a perfect morning pick-me-up. Cosy up with a hot drink and a sweet treat as you watch the crisp, autumn morning break into the daily buzz of the city. Not in the mood for sweet? This place has a wide range of homemade focaccia and sandwiches for you to takeaway. Be careful though, this place is popular! If you want to ensure you get that blueberry and white chocolate pastry hot off the rack (and yes, it’s as nice as it sounds) then get there bright and early. Race y’a!
Artefact – Roscoe Street, City Centre.
Want to get away from hustle and bustle of the busy hotspots? Look no further than Artefact. Tucked away at the top of Roscoe Street, this place is a blend between a thrift shop and a coffee house. Floor to ceiling second hand décor (most of which you can purchase for yourself) with leather couches that you melt into, or tables for group (or solo) study sessions. The prices aren’t too bad either. The only downside to this place is that once you go, you will never find a cooler place, I have never been anywhere like it.
Picton Reading Room – Liverpool Library.
We couldn’t not include the best place to get your work done and dusted! Located on the first floor of Liverpool Central Library, this room is dedicated to studying in peace, away from the natter and crinkling of crisp packets (stress snackers, I see you <3). I’m not joking when I say whenever I have completed uni work in this room, I have been super productive. There is something about this place that hypnotises you to get stuff done. Afterall, who doesn’t romanticise assignments by pretending they’re in a dark academia novel, whilst listening to classical music? just me? If you procrastinate your assignments, I recommend trying a change of scenery – the reading room is a great place to start.
Mount Pleasant Food Market – Mount Pleasant, City Centre.
In the mood for food? Just across the way from Student Life Building and down the road from the John Foster Building, this place has a little something for everyone. With four different vendors and cute indoor and outdoor seating (suitable for autumnal rain or shine), you will not leave this place disappointed. Burgers, ice-cream, crepes, coffee and more. It’s important to remember to fuel your body after a long day of learning as we start moving through the colder months, and Mount Pleasant Food Market is a student friendly option whatever you fancy.
There are so many autumnal spaces we could recommend but start with our top picks and you will no doubt find more as you go through the year! We would love to hear your thoughts on our top picks so make sure to follow and tag us in your stories/posts of you at our favourite autumnal student spaces.
✍ Bethany Malone, Student Content Creator
