Metal Reviews

This is for the UK people around here. I'm on the brink of a big decision, to choose between 3 unis in 3 cities.

They are:

Imperial College
Uni Of Southampton
Uni Of Bristol


Is living in London really as bad (and expensive) as people say? Is Southampton a beautiful green city or just a sleepy seaside town? On one hand I'd get a kick from living nextdoor to the museum of natural history. On the other hand Bris and Soton's rolling green fields look tempting.

Coursewise they're all similar, and each has different strengths.

I hate London. "Ooooh I don't have time to avoid bumping into you on the escalator, for I am a rushed off my feet businessman - just look at the Starbucks in my hand for proof!" That plus, yeah, its really expensive, but if you get a job their you'll get paid more than you would in other parts of the country.

I'd say London. As Craig said, it can be annoying, and is expensive, but it's the capital, you'll get more money, and more bands play there than the rest of the land. I don't like Bristol, especially.

Crowded, eh?

London is expensive, and a lot of hassle, but if you're prepared to put up with that then it's an amazing place- I mean for gigs, bars etc, it's way, way ahead of anywhere else in England.

Dunno about Southampton. But my cousin and friend both go to Bristol and I hear good things. A very active city with good venues, clubs etc.

I'd recommend London, but it's the most "intense". ie the hardest to live in, but potentially also the most rewarding.

Hehe are there lots of BM gigs?


Hmm whats with Bristol?

I just don't like it. Birmingham either (sorry, Pete). Probably just my snobbyness coming out...

Basically if a band plays the UK, they will definitely play London. Most non-famous/trendy Metal bands' European tours consist of a single London date as the UK 'leg'.

Not that I'm bitter. Snotty won't-hold-the-door-open-won't-say-thank-you-for-providing-their-shop/bar-with-money-for-the-product-you-just-paid-for bastards.

Pete's not from Birmingham. :? Is he?

London sounds nice, and I'm quite used to living in a big city. What about shops and stuff? Just about every university prospectus has the "you can get just about anything here blablabla" but from experience only the capital has the best places.

How big are Bristol and Southampton? Or to put it another way how less bigger are they compared to London?

Populations:
London 7,074,265
Bristol 399,633
Southampton 214,859

London is massive. Bristol is big by UK standards but nowhere near London. Southampton's a little bit smaller than that. I guess about 8 million people in London, compared to maybe 1 million in Bristol, although that is a total guess!

That's your order for everything- shopping, gigs, general activity:

London>Bristol>Southampton.

If you want to add Birmingham, put it between London and Bristol.

EDIT: I see Craig got there first with accurate populations... not too bad a guess on my part I suppose.

I was thinking of that "OMG! Black Sabbath and Napalm Death and Jimmy Hendrix and Children Of Bodom come from Birmingham!!!!111" post he made once...

What about Manchester? I hear it's great there, but I've never been.

lawlz

Hey Praetor, man, come to Glasgow - we just banned smoking in public places here!

I live there! It's alright, probably second only to London in my book. Whatever you do, Praetor, avoid Newcastle.

Well coming from Kuala Lumpur, where its residents are largely rude, impolite, blindly religious and 3rd world minded. Anywhere will be fine

shouldn't you make your choice depending on the universities themselves?

London's the only venue on the leg of the trendy art-fuckhead tour.

i've lived in Bristol. don't pick Bristol.

@ Radagast

Heh I applied to Glasgow U, but the offer they gave was so ridiculously low I thought something must be wrong. Plus Scottish courses are one year longer than English and Welsh ones.

@ Azrael

I'm actually running out of things to compare, since they are quite similar coursewise. Actually no, Bristol has the least appealing course. And from the CD they sent, the least appealing place as well.

@ Otakon

Very true. Can't wait to get far away.

@ Zad

I'm not going anywhere near Manchester. Too many Malaysians hehe.