Our campus is a stone’s throw away from the welcoming local town of Ormskirk and a train ride away from to the vibrant cities of Liverpool and Manchester as well the local scenic towns and villages of Southport, Formby and Crosby. Take the chance to study in and enjoy the North West region, a region with real personality.
Our local town of Ormskirk is only a 15-minute walk from our campus (or two-minutes if you take the free shuttle bus).
From vintage shops to chain retailers, from board-game bars to cosy pubs, from green spaces to independent coffee shops, join our students in exploring the student life of our bustling market town.
Get to know your local town and the North West region
The North West is renowned for its lively and diverse music scene. You can enjoy live music and dance the night away in venues and bars to suit your mood and taste.
Music and nightlife in Ormskirk
Life moves fast here on our campus. With plenty of social events on offer, there is something that will appeal to everyone. The Arts Centre run regular music, dance and theatre performances while our new Students’ Union (SU) bar offers something for everyone, whether this be a quiet drink with friends or a themed night out.
Get involved with fun evening activities with our SU events, run by students for our students. From singing at karaoke nights to Monday night quizzes to themed nights in the SU bar, there are always opportunities to socialise and get involved.
You can also enjoy Ormskirk’s local bars and cosy pubs for an affordable night out with friends.
Brunch dates, farmers markets, or cheap nights out with friends. Whatever the occasion, there’s plenty to choose from in and around Ormskirk. Make sure you take some time to try some of the area’s local dishes, like Lancashire Hotpot, or a bowl of Scouse.
Eating out in Ormskirk
When it comes to food and drink, Ormskirk has a lot to offer at just a 15-minute walk from Edge Hill.
There’s also lots of local restaurants, cafés, gastro pubs, and well known chains to choose from. This includes:
- Nordico
- Cobble
- The Bagel Deli
- Starbucks
- Subway
- The Fat Italian
- The Cricketers
- Moor Hall Restaurant
- McDonald’s
- Greggs
There’s no better way to improve your wellbeing than spending time in nature. Ormskirk and the surrounding area offer some great opportunities to embrace the great outdoors.
Explore outdoors in Ormskirk
If you’re a bit of an explorer, or just like walking and finding local hidden gems, Ormskirk is the place to be. On campus, we’ve introduced ecological features and wildlife habitats linking mixed-woodland areas and footpaths to Ruff Wood.
Aside from our beautiful campus grounds, we’re also surrounded by several nature reserves that are perfect for unwinding after a busy day of lectures. These include the likes of Gorse Hill Nature Reserve and Martin Mere Wetland Centre.
The North West is home to a variety of exciting attractions, with exciting day out activities and adventure spots.
Attractions across the North West
- Closer to campus, take a trip to Lime Tyger in Ormskirk offering cool cocktails and fun social activities including beer bong and arcade games
- For a unique day out experience, consider a visit to Gravity Max in Liverpool, where could can take part in e-cart racing and VR Arenas. You could also drop by the Boom Battle Bar for some axe throwing, Golf Fang for mini golf with a twist or ArCains and NQ64 to play some retro arcade games
- Crack codes and solve puzzles with Lockdown – Ormskirk and Breakout Liverpool, or consider the more immersive experiences in Manchester including The Cube and Crystal Maze. Manchester is also home to the ultimate karting experience, a mix of go-karting and video games, Chaos Karts
- If you’re feeling more of an adventurous day out, you could take on Ninja Warrior adventure park in Wigan
- If you’re looking for an adrendaline rush, consider a day trip to Blackpool Pleasure Beach where you’ll find thrill-seeking coasters and rides
The North West is rich in art and culture. The area’s many museums, theatres, and galleries are ideal for days out with friends and family.
Art and culture in Ormskirk
Our on-campus events, hosted by the Arts Centre, include exhibitions, visual arts, comedy shows, theatre and music. And for film fanatics, they host recent cinema releases every Friday at 7pm. We also offer the chance for you to showcase your own talents or enjoy those of your friends with open mic nights, student talent nights and poetry slams.
And if you enjoy performance nights, check out the open mic and karaoke nights in Ormskirk’s local pubs.
It’s easy to incorporate sport into days out around our campus, whether you’re wanting to keep fit and active, participating in a recreational or competitive sports club or heading out to watch the match.
Sport across the North West
As well as our incredible sports facilities and classes on campus, you can get involved and play sport for fun with our Campus Sport programme, or compete against other universities and in our annual varsity with Team Edge Hill.
There are also plenty of local options to keep your sporting regime in check. You could take part in the local Parkrun events, try out our area’s outdoor cycling or walking routes, or see what Ormskirk’s local sports clubs have to offer.
And you can’t discuss sport in the North West without talking about the area’s footballing giants – Liverpool FC, Everton FC, Manchester United, and Manchester City. Grab tickets for a local derby, or take a tour of the stadiums and learn more about each club’s history. If you’re a football fan, you could also consider a trip to the National Football Museum in Manchester city centre.
As well as football, the North West also is home to landmarks from other sports. This includes Aintree Racecourse in Merseyside, home of the Grand National, which is just a 15-minute train ride from Ormskirk. The Royal Liverpool Golf Club is also located in Hoylake in The Wirral, and is one of the most famous golf courses in the UK.
The North West is host to a range of diverse shopping options to suit all budgets and styles.
Shopping in Ormskirk
Ormskirk is home to a variety of chain retailers, unique local shops, charity shops and vintage stores, and family-owned businesses. From food and homeware to study essentials and clothing, you can find everything you need at reasonable prices and at just a 15-minute walk from campus. You can also find something new close to home with a short train ride to the nearby coastal town of Southport or shopping parks in Aintree.
In Ormskirk you’ll find also a range of supermarkets that provide both quality and value. From M&S Food, Morrisons, Lidl and Aldi to B&M and Food Warehouse, there is a place for all the everyday essentials and to suit all budgets.
Ormskirk is a hub for affordable accommodation, bargain buys and cheap travel. Live and explore the area with ease knowing that there are options to suit all budgets. Whether you’re looking for a reasonably priced day out or a budget friendly place to catch up with friends, Ormskirk and the local area have a lot on offer.
Find out more about how to cut costs in Ormskirk
