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The Welcome Fair is a really central part of LUU’s Welcome experience, as students are given the chance to meet our 300+ clubs and societies over the course of a week. This is your chance to browse what’s on offer and get inspired by the clubs and societies you can join over the coming years – and there’ll be big brands and local businesses on hand too, dishing out freebies and helpful information about their products and services.

You can also find out more about our Give it a Go programme, where you can get involved in club and society activities without signing up. Visit their stall at the Welcome Fair, and keep an eye on our events listings for details of sessions coming up. The scheme – as well as student groups’ own taster sessions – are a great way to keep the fun going after Freshers’.

A society that might be of particular interest to non-drinkers is High on Life, who regularly run a range of alcohol-free events for students. Check them out here.

From clay modelling to sustainable jewellery making, and sessions to create a herb garden or Macramé plant hanger, there are plenty of workshops for you to get crafty while chatting to new people. These free sessions run regularly, and you can just turn up.

If getting moving is more your thing, we also have a variety of wellbeing-focused exercise classes, covering everything from HIIT to Kung Fu or Pilates. There’s mindfulness too, and some of the sessions take place online so students who are isolating or studying remotely can also get involved.

Wellbeing Officer Beth is running two biodiversity walks for Welcome 2021. These walks will get you out in nature and spotting pollinators, and are a great way to meet new people while doing something good for the environment. Spaces are limited so book as soon as possible. They’re taking place on 21 and 24 September.

We regularly run day trips for Leeds students to places in the local area, and over the next few weeks we have ones going to the beautiful city of York, as well as to the homeware and furniture heaven that is IKEA. It might not be the most glamorous trip, but Leeds IKEA can be tricky to get to without a car (especially with lots of bags on the way home), so this is a super convenient way to get there. And what’s a better way to bond with new friends than to pick out room decor together? Just make sure to book your place in advance.

Local independent cinema Hyde Park Picture House is currently closed for refurbishment, so they’ve taken their screenings on the road – and we’re proud to be one of their partners. Expect plenty of screenings of great films here on campus, ranging from new releases like Candyman, to favourites like Lady Bird.

These aren’t strictly alcohol-free, but are a more relaxed way than club nights to spend an evening with friends who might be more up for typical Freshers’ activities. Try the Night Market for great food, great music, and great vibes.

There’s also no reason why you can’t head along to our more traditional nights out if you feel comfortable doing so – while there will be alcohol present, there are always lots of alcohol-free options in our clubs, bars and venues, so you can enjoy the music and dancing without the drink.

Leeds is a fantastic place to be a student, and there’s loads going on here. We’ve pulled together some of our suggestions for free and cheap things to do, from art to parks, so why not take a look and then grab some new pals to explore together? There are also art galleries located right here on campus if you don’t want to go too far. Check them out here.