City guides: Ormskirk

The beating heart of rural West Lancashire.

Ormskirk perhaps isn’t the first town on your shortlist of places to live, but Edge Hill University is renowned for its teacher training, making it a prime university for anyone who wants to be a teacher and join this rewarding profession!

Plus, Ormskirk is a short drive from Manchester, Liverpool and Preston, so it’s almost in the centre of the local action. If you’re considering studying in Ormskirk or have already started, you’re going to want to know everything you can about the town and the area. Let’s take a look…

Universities in Ormskirk

There’s only one university in Ormskirk, Edge Hill University. It’s a teacher-training university that used to be women-only and has links to the suffragette movement. It’s now a diverse and fully inclusive university that attracts a lot of applications. Partly because of the quality of the teaching and partly because it won Modern University of the Year 2022.

The university is known for its 11 faculties, biology, business, computer science, English, history and creative writing, geography, law and criminology, media, performing arts, psychology, social sciences and sport and physical activity. Edge Hill University Medical School is also well-known and is fully accredited by the Royal College of Surgeons.

Living costs for students in Ormskirk

As a northern town in Lancashire, living costs are more reasonable and more affordable than down south. You can live well for a lot less in Lancashire than you can in Surrey or Hampshire, without compromising on quality or quantity. That alone makes Ormskirk worth considering.

Property prices are reasonable despite its proximity to the sea and major northern cities. That means rents are reasonable too. The cost of a pint, a taxi ride and life’s essentials are also reasonable here, which makes it a very affordable place to be a student.

Eating out in Ormskirk

Ormskirk isn’t a large city or even a large town but it has plenty to see and do. There are a few options for eating out in town, which is great.

You may have to drive into the country to explore all your options but you do have options. They include: Owd Barn at Bispham, Pimbo Garden Centre & Coffee Shop, The Barn at Moor Hall, The Ship at Lathom, Moor Hall Restaurant, Lancashire Manor Hotel Restaurant, Bennett's Restaurant at Wrightington Hotel, The Cricketers, The Farm, Burscough, Brandreth Barn Tea Room, Sōlō Restaurant, The Tearoom at Scarisbrick Marina, The Bagel Deli, Eden, Master McGrath's, Miller & Carter Aughton, TurQuaz Turkish BBQ Restaurant, The Hop Vine and The Fat Italian.

That’s not an exhaustive list as you can imagine, but it’s a snapshot of what’s available in and around Ormskirk.

Shopping as a student in Ormskirk

Ormskirk itself has a high street with lots of independent stores offering everything from vintage clothes to artisan chocolate. There is also a market. It is one of the oldest around, having started in 1286 when monks at Burscough Priory were granted a Royal Charter by Edward I. Then there’s Two Saints Retail Park, Hattersley Retail Park and Ringtail Retail Park. They are all a short distance from the town centre, offering the usual mix of chain stores, DIY and retail park goodness.

If you’re looking for quaint shops and independents, Lancashire has towns and villages all around offering everything you can think of. If you’re looking for something specific, a trip to Manchester, Liverpool or Preston is probably in order.

Nightlife in Ormskirk

Nightlife in Ormskirk is relatively limited given its size and is predominantly pubs and bars. However, with Manchester and Liverpool a short drive or train ride away, you still have huge scope for hitting the clubs at the weekend.

Ormskirk highlights include Mylo & Co, The Green Room, Styles Bar, Market Cross, Fiveways, The Mustard Bar, Echelon Bar Bistro, Arriba, Tap Room No12, The Railway, 22 Club, The Farmers Club, Queen Inn and The Greyhound Bar.

Considering the modest size of the town, that seems plenty. Plus, if you want to go clubbing, there’s nothing quite like Manchester and Liverpool!

Student accommodation in Ormskirk

Student accommodation in Ormskirk is a combination of good-quality private landlords and halls and low-quality HMOs. Edge Hill University has its own halls, but for your second and third year, you can find your own place to stay.

Sanctuary Students has high-quality student accommodation in Ormskirk at Grange Court & The Ridings. It’s a short walk from the town centre and 10 minutes from the Edge Hill University campus. It provides safe, warm student accommodation that includes all modern conveniences, your own room, social spaces and internet. Rent is fully inclusive of bills too!

Top places to visit in Ormskirk

Ormskirk has plenty to see and do. While it won’t be able to compete with the cities around it, the town more than holds its own. Local highlights include Chapel Gallery, Coronation Park, the Sefton Coast, the Lake District, Port Sunlight, Lancaster Castle, Farmer Teds Adventure Farm, Ormskirk Market, WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre, Windmill Animal Farm, Rufford Top Lock, Natterjack Alpacas, Excel Falconry, Farmageddon, Indoor Super Karting and Fairy Glen Valley.

(Some of these are in town, while others require a drive out).

Getting around Ormskirk as a student

Getting around Ormskirk as a student is easy. There are plenty of walking and cycling options, plus buses and trains. Ormskirk train station has rail links to Liverpool and Preston with local stops all around.

The A59 is the main road through town and links Liverpool and Preston. The M58 is a few miles south and links Liverpool with Bolton and Manchester. The local roads are easy to navigate and while there are traffic jams at peak times, it’s nothing like the city. There are local buses that cover the urban areas. Some venture out into Lancashire too.

Working in Ormskirk as a student

If you want to work as a student, you have a few options. The number of bars and restaurants means you should be able to find part-time work if you need it. Competition can be tough though, so be aware. Otherwise, you can find work in the tourist season around Lancashire in tea rooms, shops, event spaces and attractions. Working in winter is tougher as the industry around town is modest.

We think Ormskirk is a great place to study. Student life in Ormskirk is a great mix of relaxed Lancashire life with the character of an old town with the newness of bars and modern amenities.

Check out more city guides for all the other cities Sanctuary students reside in and get exploring! Share with us any discoveries you make @sancstudents.