Travelling in the city on a budget

Travelling in a sustainable way has many environmental and health benefits including reducing carbon emissions, improving local air quality and reducing traffic congestion.

Travelling sustainably will also help to save you money, so here are our tips for keeping your travel costs low whilst getting out and about in the city.

Make use of public transport

Liverpool has a fantastic public transport network of buses and trains.

One of the best ways to get around the city region is by train. The nearest central mainline station is at Lime Street which provides frequent services for long-distance journeys such as London and Manchester and Liverpool Central train station is the nearest for local journeys using Merseyrail.

If you are living outside of the city centre and need to commute to campus bus travel can be a cost-effective way to do it. Several bus stops are located around the perimeter of the campus and Arriva offer a range of different discounted passes for students so do your research first and find the best deal for you.

The Arriva 699 service runs to and from Greenbank Halls of Residence. The Greenbank Bus Pass is heavily subsidised by the University as part of your rent package in halls and can be purchased for just £55 at the shop in Liverpool Guild of Students.

Get on your bike

Cycling is an environmentally friendly way to get around Liverpool and a great way to exercise. Hire a LivCycle bike from Liverpool Guild of Students for a full academic year for just £60 or one semester for £40 (plus a £50 refundable deposit).  All bikes come with a very sturdy D-lock and are serviced regularly by trained mechanics at the Bikosk.

The Guild also work with Peloton, a local bike co-op that aims to create a cycle industry which serves the people of Liverpool. Through the Guild’s successful ‘Give it a Go’ scheme, Peloton offer bike maintenance sessions, beginners’ bike events, city bike tours and Joy Ride bike events. Check out the upcoming Give it a Go sessions to find out about upcoming events.

The University’s bike service centre is currently open on Mondays and Fridays at Greenbank Bikiosk and Tuesdays and Wednesdays at Crown Place Bike Workshop (9am – 4pm).

Using the city’s e-scooters

E-scooters are available to hire in the city centre and surrounding areas including Toxteth, Dingle and Kensington, as well as key transport hubs and hospitals.

The scheme is a joint initiative run by Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Liverpool City Council and e-scooter company VOI.

Information about hiring an e-scooter is available on www.voiscooters.com where you can also download the 'VOI Scooters: Get Magic Wheel‪s' app.

Don’t forget you need at least a provisional driving licence to hire an e-scooter and they can’t be used on the pavement. The scooters cost £1 to unlock plus 20p per minute to use although unlimited daily and monthly passes are available if you wish to use them regularly.

Make the most of the city’s walking routes

Liverpool is a beautiful city and walking is a brilliant way to enjoy it. If you are looking for a completely free mode of transport and you don’t live too far from campus then give it a go. Try using Google maps to plan your journey or check out the cycle and walking maps showing routes in and around Liverpool.

You can also download the Campus map app which will help you explore the campus on foot and locate the beautiful green spaces such as Abercromby Square Gardens and The Quadrangle.

Help with managing the cost of living

As a student at the University of Liverpool there are a number of things we can do to help you manage the challenges of the rising cost of living, whether it is with unexpected short-term costs, or with long-term financial management.

Financial challenges can be a significant cause of anxiety, affecting your mental health, ability to focus on study and general wellbeing.

If you are in immediate financial difficulty and require support please contact our Money Advice & Guidance Team on money@liverpool.ac.uk or book an online confidential one-to-one appointment. If you are an international student, please contact our International Advice and Guidance Team on iagteam@liverpool.ac.uk or book an online confidential one-one appointment.