Byron Central (Liberty Central)

Housing 445 students, Bryon Central (formerly Liberty Central) has a community feel to it. Being just a few minutes away from Northumbria University and a 10-minute walk from Newcastle University, it’s an ideal base for students staying in the city.

Byron Central provides students with a choice of en-suite accommodation, all of which come with their very own bathroom. Beyond that, you can also expect a comfortable bed, a study desk and plenty of storage space, while a fully-fitted kitchen and living area is shared with your flatmates. Away from the flat, you’ll also find a common area with activities such as pool and foosball, which is an ideal spot for getting to know your neighbours.

Step outside and you’ll find a vibrant city just waiting to be explored. The city centre is home to hundreds of shops, restaurants and bars, so you’ll never be at a loss for something to do. Don’t want to spend any money? Head down to the banks of the River Tyne and take a stroll along the Hadrian’s Wall Path, enjoying views across the water and to each of Newcastle’s iconic bridges.

When you stay at Byron Central, you’ll enjoy the fun student vibes this northern city has to offer just a short distance away from your front door. You’ll be located close to the city centre and only an 8 minute walk from Northumbria University, the City Campus and their Students’ Union. And, if you’re studying at Newcastle University, the campus is just a 14 minute walk from the residence.

Looking for those student staples? You’ll find local bars and pubs close by offering great value deals for students – the options are endless. A popular place is Nancy’s Bordello bar and restaurant, which is only a 7 minute walk from Byron Central; it’s known for its delicious food, cocktails and quirky interior. There are also hundreds of bars, restaurants and music venues at Princess Square, just a 9 minute walk from the residence.

Newcastle’s iconic Millennium Bridge is just 16 minutes’ walk from Byron Central. It’s located in the Quayside, a great place to enjoy a relaxing walk along the River Tyne. Places you can visit include; Pitcher and Piano, The Quayside, Slug and Lettuce and the Baltic Café Bar – they’re great spots to get some of the best views across the water – especially at night.

Located near Grey's Monument, you'll find restaurants such as The Botanist and the famous Jamie's Italian.

Newcastle is well-known for its nightlife and its many live music venues, such as the O2 Academy, The Metro Radio Arena and The Sage Music Centre in the Quayside. A sophisticated night out can be found in Collingwood Street, known to the locals as the Diamond Strip. It’s only an 18 minute walk from Byron Central and you can choose from elegant bars and clubs including Madame Koo, Revolution and Perdu.

There are lots of things to do in Newcastle, so you’ll always have something different to explore in your spare time. Why not visit one of the many theatres, museums, galleries or entertainment venues? If you want to watch the latest movie releases, head to The Gate cinema and leisure complex, which is a 20 minute walk away from Byron Central. It includes a 12-screen cinema and even has three floors of restaurants, bars and nightclubs. For live music, you can visit the O2 Academy and the City Hall which features some well-known bands and artists.

Learning the history of Newcastle can also be a fun day out and can be enjoyed at The Discovery Museum, it’s a 25 minute walk from Byron Central. Alternatively, if you venture just a 15 minutes’ walk away, you can visit The Great North Museum, the Natural History Museum or explore the science of life in the Life Science Centre in the city centre.

Newcastle is great place for sightseeing thanks to its iconic Millennium Bridge in the Quayside, and you’ll never get bored either, thanks to its many restaurants, hotels, pubs and nightclubs. Just across the bridge you can also explore contemporary art in The Baltic Centre.

There’s a great range of shopping outlets in Newcastle too with Eldon Square just a 14 minutes’ walk away from Byron Central – the centre’s open late until 8pm! There are styles and brands to suit everyone’s taste, with over 150 shops to choose from; including John-Lewis, New Look, Apple and Topshop. If you’re looking for quirky indie-type shops then Northumberland Street is the place to go.

When you get a break from your studies consider taking a walk in Leazes Park, it’s a great place to meet with friends during the summer months. Another beautiful piece of nature is the coastline in Whitley Bay and Tynemouth. All you have to do to reach it is simply catch the Metro from Manners station. It’s so easy – you’ll be there in just 20 minutes!

Hitting the gym can be a great way to keep fit and relax, too. Luckily, you can do this at Northumbria University Sport Central, which is only a 2 minute walk from the residence. It has many different sporting services in addition to their fully equipped gym, a 25m swimming pool and even a 12m climbing wall.

If you’d prefer to go elsewhere, you’ve got a range of gyms right on your doorstep. You’ll find 24-hour gyms in PureGym, just 14 minutes away from you on foot, and The Gym at just 18 minutes’ walk – they’re both super convenient for people with busy schedules and on the go. Then there’s The Fit Buddha; an awesome yoga studio which only takes 15 minutes to walk to, if that’s your thing!

Like football? Newcastle United is the city’s professional football team, and in just 20 minutes you can walk to their stadium in St James’ Park to watch a match and soak up the atmosphere. Or, if you want to play some football with friends you can visit the Exhibition Park, which is 20 minutes’ walk away from Byron Central.

For fans of basketball you have the opportunity to watch live games from the Newcastle Eagles, a successful British Basketball team based at Northumbria University, which is only a 5 minutes’ walk from the residence.

Located on Byron Street, Byron Central is only an 2 minute walk from Northumbria University at the City Campus, and a 10 minute walk to Newcastle University.

The nearest train to the residence is Manors station, which you can get to in a short 5 minute walk or Jesmond or Haymarket stations which are a 10 minute walk away. Newcastle’s main train station is 20 minutes’ walk away or 13 minutes away if you catch the metro from Monument Metro station. Newcastle’s main station offers links to other cities in the UK, so in less than 3 hours you could be in London, Scotland or Manchester.

Newcastle’s Metro train system is another great way to get around, it connects the city centre with Gateshead, Jesmond, Sunderland and the coast, all in under 30 minutes.

The Metro is also the most convenient mode of transport to take you to Newcastle International Airport, which is 6 miles north of the city. Make sure that you keep a look out for cheap fares at bus stations and at the main train station, too!

If you’re looking for an adventure why not take a trip to Amsterdam? Just catch one of the daily ferries from the International Ferry Terminal at North Shields to Amsterdam.

All your essential shops for food and groceries are located close to Byron Central. Simply walk 5 minutes to a Sainsbury’s local or in 6 minutes there’s a Tesco Express. If you’re visiting the city centre, you’ll find a range of supermarkets, including a Tesco and Waitrose or you can also visit some of the local markets on offer.

High street banks such as NatWest, HSBC, Barclay’s, and RBS can also be found in the city centre. There you’ll also find a Post Office where you can send your parcels, plus there’s a Bureau de Change service, too.

For a quiet place to study or to pick up some stuff for your coursework, the residence is a 9 minute walk away from either Northumbria University’s library or The City Library, which is open 6 days a week.

Your Wellbeing
Your University will be able to advise you on finances, employment or general welfare issues.

The local GP surgery for Byron Central is Saville Medical Practice, located next to Northumbria University and only 7 minutes’ walk from the residence.

In case of an emergency, The Royal Victoria Infirmary is an 18 minute walk away and offers an Accident and Emergency unit – which we hope you’ll never need, but it’s there if you do! The hospital also has a GP walk-in service if you need urgent medical assistance.

For sexual health and family planning services you can visit the The New Croft Centre, it’s just 10 minutes’ walk from Byron Central.

If you ever need a friendly chat or someone to ask for advice, remember you can always speak to the Residence Team at Byron Central – we’re here to help.