We've been looking for ways to make renting more accessible for students without a guarantor. That’s why we’re excited to announce our new partnership with Housing Hand, a trusted guarantor service that helps tenants secure accommodation even if they don’t have a UK-based guarantor.
Getting around Swansea as a student can feel like a challenge at first, but honestly, it’s way easier than it seems. Whether you live in halls, a flat, or at home, there are plenty of options to get you from lectures to the city centre, the beach, or a night out with mates. Buses Buses are the lifeline for most students. First Cymru runs the majority of routes, and if you’re a student, it’s worth checking if you can get a discount on weekly or monthly passes. Routes like the 4, 5, and 6 go through all the main areas, from Uplands and Mount Pleasant to the city centre and Swansea University campus. Make sure you download the First Cymru app real-time updates are a lifesaver, especially when it’s raining (which, let’s be honest, is often). Trains If you’re planning a day trip or heading home for the weekend, Swansea train station is your friend. Direct services run to Cardiff, Bristol, and even London. For students, booking in advance usually saves a bundle. It’s a comfy option compared to a long bus ride, especially if you’ve got coursework to catch up on. Cycling and Walking Swansea is actually pretty cycle-friendly. If you live near the university, walking or cycling can be quicker than waiting for a bus. There are cycle racks all over campus and in the city centre. Plus, it’s free exercise and a nice way to clear your head between lectures. Taxis and Ride-Sharing Sometimes you just need a lift home after a late night. Local taxi firms like ABC Taxis and Uber operate in the city. They’re more expensive than buses, obviously, but perfect if you’re running late or heading somewhere buses don’t go. Tip for Students: Invest in a student bus pass if you’re relying on public transport a lot, as it’s cheaper than paying per ride, and you won’t have to stress about exact change.
Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus!
In dire need of a cooked meal that reminds you of home? Trying to find new ways to spend time with your flatmates? Or maybe you just want to show off the cooking skills you have developed since moving out to your family groupchat. Either way, no matter the reason, here is the guide to cooking the ultimate Sunday roast for your flat. Improving your cooking skills Whether you’re a Gordon Ramsay in the kitchen or brewing up a pot-noodle is as far as your culinary skills reach, cooking your first ever Sunday roast can be quite the ordeal, especially if you live in a chaotic student house. But don’t stress (mainly because students will eat anything, so it’s actually not a big deal if it doesn’t turn out to be Michelin star worthy.) Where to begin First thing’s first, try and count how many people you are cooking for. Rounding up all of your flatmates and getting them to confirm attendance can be quite the task in itself, but will save you some effort in the longrun if you find out that only one person likes vegetables or not all ten people can make it to the meal. It’s all in the prep Next, it’s time to get the ingredients . If you’re cooking for the entire flat, it’s unfair for the financial burden of this to rest solely on you, so try to find a way to split the cost but make sure it’s stated from the beginning. Cooking for a lot of people can often make you feel like you don’t have enough food for everyone, but it all goes further than you think. So the trick is not to buy too many ingredients and to plan out what you are making so you can ensure that everything is bought beforehand (there’s nothing more stressful or frustrating than running out of an essential ingredient just as you’re about to plate up!) If you’re wondering how much veg is needed per person, VegPower says that 80g of vegetables per day is the recommended amount. Take a look here to see how it’s portioned . Peeling and chopping If you’re cooking meat, that is usually the first item to put in the oven. Most packets say how long to cook it for, but as a general rule, a chicken needs approximately 45-50 minutes per kilogram, plus an additional 15-20 minutes at the end, at a temperature around 180°C. When that’s in the oven you can start with preparing all the veg. Potatoes usually take the longest but remember that you will need enough time to make gravy at the end too. Timings To boil potatoes: 20 minutes To cook cauliflower: 5-7 minutes Carrots: 4-7 minutes Broccoli: 3-5 minutes Cabbage: 3-5 minutes Peas: 2-4 minutes These are just rough timings and depend on how high the heat is as well as the quantity, but if you keep an eye on them whilst cooking you can usually tell when vegetables are done by giving them a poke to see how tender they are. What to do with leftovers A Sunday Roast sit-down meal is a great way to spend time with your flatmates, especially around the Christmas holidays before everyone goes home. If you overestimated how hungry you would be, you can either refrigerate a portion of Sunday lunch or freeze it. Some people also like it in a fry-up the next day. Either way it can save you some cooking time for the following week!
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Halloween is nearly here and it’s always a good time to add a little spooky fun to your day, whether you’re hanging out with friends, getting your place ready, or just enjoying the autumn vibes. Before you dive into the celebrations, we thought it would be cool to share some interesting things about Halloween in the UK and some local Swansea stories to get you in the mood. Halloween actually has really old roots here in the UK. It goes back to an ancient Celtic festival called Samhain. People used to celebrate the end of the harvest season and the start of the cold, dark winter. Back then, they believed that the boundary between the living world and the spirit world was thinner around this time of year. Because of that, they thought ghosts and spirits could cross over and roam the earth. It was a time to light bonfires and wear costumes to keep those spirits away. The pumpkin carving tradition that’s so popular today actually started a little differently. In Ireland and Scotland, people used to carve faces into turnips or other root vegetables to scare off wandering spirits. When Irish immigrants came to America, they discovered pumpkins were easier to carve and much bigger, so the jack-o’-lantern as we know it was born. But if you want to keep it authentic, you could always try carving a turnip this Halloween. Trick or treating is another interesting tradition. It didn’t really become popular in the UK until the 1980s. Before that, kids went “guising” which meant dressing up in costumes and going door to door to perform songs or jokes in exchange for treats. It was less about threats and more about entertainment. So when you’re knocking on doors this year, you’re taking part in a tradition that’s only a few decades old here but has deep roots in earlier customs. Swansea itself has plenty of spooky stories and places that make Halloween feel a bit more real. For example, Swansea Castle is said to be haunted, and people have reported strange noises and ghostly sightings there. The Maritime Quarter has its own legends of mysterious figures wandering the docks late at night. If you’re up for a bit of local adventure, grabbing a few friends and exploring some of these spots could be a fun way to get into the Halloween spirit. If you’re staying in your student house, adding some decorations like cobwebs, spooky lights or even a hand-carved pumpkin can transform your place without much effort. You don’t have to go over the top to make it feel festive. And maybe set up a horror movie night with your housemates. Whether you prefer classic chills or silly scary comedies, it’s a great way to relax and have some laughs. One more fun fact - did you know that in some parts of the UK people still follow the old tradition of “snap-apple” at Halloween? It’s a game where apples are hung from a string and you try to bite one without using your hands. It’s messy but a good laugh with friends. Whether you’re planning to head out, stay in or just enjoy some snacks and spooky stories, it’s a great chance to take a break and have some fun. We hope your Halloween is full of good times, a few surprises and plenty of treats. If you come across any great local events or have some cool decorations or costumes to show off, we’d love to hear from you.
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