Getting the gang back together: the best cities to reunite with friends after uni

University is a multi-faceted experience; there are highs and lows, struggle meals and sumptuous takeaways, late nights in the library or in the Cut, but one of the few constants are the friends you do it all with. Never before – and probably never again – have you co-existed so closely with another set of people, your chosen family in many ways. So, it’s understandable that one of the hardest parts of uni coming to a close is the end of this shared experience – but does it have to be?

While it may be more difficult to see friends as regularly as you previously could, it does mean that each reunion is special – requiring a special reunion location. What better way to catch up with old friends than on a fun little city break? Followed then by a whole new set of questions – home or away? One of your mates wants to see the sights, but the other would rather have a quiet catch-up over some nibbles…whatever to do! Here, we walk you through some of the best cities to get the gang back together in.  

When reuniting with friends that you maybe haven’t seen in a while, it’s important to have a balance of entertaining activities and quiet spaces to chat and catch up. Cities such as Edinburgh and York offer such a balance – their fascinating history and touristy nature means there’s no shortage of fun activities, while both cities have excellent national train links. Edinburgh classics such as the National Gallery, Edinburgh Castle or the Royal Botanic Garden offer some gorgeous scenes, while York has no shortage of cafés, restaurants, pubs and bars to while away the hours catching up.

However, there are times when the reunion is long overdue, and needs that something extra to mark the occasion. Enter, the European city break – complete with matching luggage tags and the Instagram boomerang of prosecco at the airport. Regardless of the destination, there still needs to be sufficient activities to keep you and the gang entertained, and nowhere says entertaining like Amsterdam. Deemed overly touristy by some, the real ones know that Amsterdam has something for everyone – for those with a history degree who ended up as marketing managers, a plethora of museums ranging from Van Gogh to the NEMO Science Museum. For those English Lit grads (everyone should have one), bookshops galore! And of course, the Red-Light district, for those who feel like shopping for a new lampshade…

As acknowledged, these cities are all “on the map” so to speak – tourism pervades their every street. In opposition to this, I place Nancy – the former capital of the Duchy of Lorraine, boasting one of the most beautiful squares in Europe and some of the best gelato vendors I’ve ever had the pleasure of doing business with. Each summer after the sun has set, Place Stanislas becomes a wonderland as the sound and light show is projected onto each of the faces of the square's 18th century architectural mastery. It’s an unforgettable experience, one sure to make your reunion memorable.