Top 5 things to do at the University of Warwick

Each university is unique, from architecture to student culture, and there are a number of things that are definitively ‘Warwick’. So here are some of the five things that I think define a University of Warwick experience:

Circling:

As far as I know, this is a phenomenon unique to Warwick, a definitive experience, one that begins a night out…

It’s basically the way drinking games are run, prior to going to a club, but the word ‘circling’ has built a bit of a mythos around itself. The SU hosts a number of club nights in the Copper Rooms on campus, and often opens up the space for circling before the event begins. Circles are normally organised by societies and sports clubs, and the way it works is that everyone will sit in a circle and play drinking games, which are normally run by the social secretaries of that society. It’s loud, messy, but a really fun time. I’ve been circling once and even though I don’t drink alcohol I was still able to participate with water instead. I’d recommend going at least once for the experience. 

Cake and hot chocolate at Curiositea:

Curiositea is a quaint little café tucked into the side of the Student Union. It’s got a cottage-core aesthetic, cosy sofas and outdoor seating. They run weekly themed specials, alongside a regular menu of coffee and other hot drinks. They also have a wide variety of cakes, which is the real reason I love Curiositea. My friends and I would often go there after a lecture to get cake as a weekly treat. I’d say it’s more of a social spot, and the tables aren’t very large, so I wouldn’t recommend it for studying unless you vibe well with a busy environment.

Walk on the trails around campus:

Warwick’s campus is really pretty and surrounded by woodland. There are lots of walking trails around the edge of campus that are perfect if you need some peace and quiet.

There are also lots of sculptures scattered across campus. My personal favourite is the strange cat-like man opposite the bus interchange. Perhaps you might even catch sight of the famous Koan. When I first visited for an open day several years ago, I remember seeing it on central campus, but since then it has relocated. It’s been hanging out at the Gibbet Hill campus for a while, but who knows, it may move at any moment and appear somewhere else entirely…

Here’s me with one of the many campus sculptures:

Go on tour with a society:

Getting to go to Budapest for three days with Hip Hop Dance: EQHO was one of the highlights of my time at university. Going on a trip with a big group of people is one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences and it taught me a lot about myself and how I like to travel. A lot of societies run international or domestic tours, and a lot have a dedicated member of the exec who will organise the trip. These trips are often very affordable, so you can go even on a student budget.

Visit the student cinema:

Warwick Uni has its own independent student-run cinema that shows a lot of the latest films, as well as many older classics. I remember going to see Princess Mononoke there, one of my all-time favourite films, on 35mm roll. I’d never seen it in a cinema before, and I cried when the music came on during the opening.

The cinema is on campus in one of the largest lecture theatres. Tickets are cheap compared to seeing a film in one of the commercial cinema chains, and even cheaper if you’re a member of the society. I haven’t been since the pandemic, but before they had loyalty cards where you got a stamp for every film you saw, and once you saw a certain number you got free entry on your next visit. I went to see loads of films there, and it was a great night out whether you went alone or with friends.