Universidad de León (UL)

Barrio humedo (quarter of town where most of the tapas bars are) within barrion humedo, the plaza mayor, with a selection of bars, cafes, pubs and dance clubs. Insider info: The Don Quijote (otherwise known as he bucket bar because they serve "cachis" (small plastic buckets) of spirits and mix quite cheap for the quantity of alcohol you get. Usually the place where we start going out. After two of them, and within any budget, you continue to one of the dancings in the city centre like the SOHO club, or club XL. Lively music for every taste and good atmosphere to get the night really started. Because o new legislation, all the clubs shut at 5am whereby they used to be open until 8-9am. The big discos are: OH!LEÓN (close to the supermarket Carrefour outside the city centre and the newly opened PACHA. It would be pointless though giving you a list of all the pubs as there are so many of them. Also don't bother leaving the house before 11pm as people are still eating at that time (it's Spain afterall).

Get a Spanish bank account, Banco de Espana make it dead easy and the staff are really helpful. If you are making credit transfers from the UK, you might even bebefit from the exchange rate!

Eventhough Halls were more expensive than a flat (about £130 per month), they were the ideal basis for meeting people and keeping in touch with all the goings on. They are relatively new and very safe, not that Leon is dodgy, but having securoty entrance was pretty cool. The staff were excellent anc couldnt do enough for you. Internet is available as well, but the computers are a bit eighties! The staff try to mix international students with Spaniards, I shared with a Spanish girl and 2 english girls. Theres always some sort of gathering in Halls before hitting EL Hunedo... if your planning on going to Leon, this is a good start.. at least until you get yourself sorted. Theres a laundry onsite and a cafe/bar downstairs, which is pretty sweet when the sun is shining! oh.. an d a swimming pool right next door from about May!