The definitive autumn to-do list for Liverpool students tackling the November blues

November at uni is quite possibly the worst part about being away from home. Everyone has a cold and is coughing through the lectures, there’s a million assignments due, and the Christmas holidays couldn’t come soon enough. It’s very easy to get bogged down with work and missing home comforts, but there are still things to enjoy in the run up to Christmas. Here’s your definitive to-do list of autumn activities that all Liverpool students should have a go at by the end of the semester – we’ll take anything to tackle those November blues at this point.

Having a wander out into nature

I’m sure you’ve heard the “go for a mental health walk” advice a million times and it may seem basic – but there’s a reason everybody says it. For students living in Smithdown, Sefton Park is just be a five minute walk away, and a beautiful place to visit. Whether you go and get a coffee from the Oasis in the park, or simply have a walk round and get some fresh air, you will definitely feel better than you did before. You can take a friend and have a gossip session, or go by yourself and catch up on podcasts. November in Liverpool is grey enough, and I can guarantee that you are not getting your daily dose of vitamin D from your ten minute walk to your lecture. Liverpool is home to a variety of parks across the city, from Princess Park to Wavertree Park, so I guarantee you can find one near your student house – bonus points if you use it as an excuse to debut your new autumn outfits too.

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Try baking some sweet treats

Did you know it only takes 30 minutes to bake cookies? Everyone has those evenings where there is just nothing to do, and the thought of going out into the dark, cold winter night seems just too much effort. Why not try baking a cheeky sweet treat to keep you going? It may seem a lot of work to buy flour and baking powder, but I bet you already have eggs, sugar, milk and butter – that’s pretty much all you need for a basic cake recipe. You will definitely be glad of an evening snack and I’m sure your housemates will thank you for it!

Have a Harry Potter movie marathon

It’s that time of year again when you just need to rewatch Harry Potter. Everyone wants a movie night, but generally in student houses this comes with bickering over what movie to actually watch. Starting a Harry Potter marathon will fill eight evenings without argument – 11 if you count the Fantastic Beasts films! Sometimes you just need to go back to your childhood and watch comfort films you know will bring you joy. Setting aside a couple hours a day to watch a movie is a definitely a requirement for looking after your mental health, in my opinion. 

Give book shopping a go

Personally, going book shopping is half the fun of reading. Whether or not you’re a big reader, you can definitely go and browse your local bookstore. The Liverpool Waterstones has an endless supply of books to look at, and even has a cafe in the middle of it – ideal for grabbing a coffee and a sweet treat mid-shopping trip. You can fill a Sunday afternoon simply browsing books and taking them to the cafe to give them a go. They also have a selection of special editions, for those that love reading a pretty copy of your favourite novel. Don’t write it off just because reading isn’t your favourite hobby, because you never know, you might find a new book that rekindles your love for reading again. And what’s better than curling up during the colder months with a blanket and a nice book?

 Go on a Lake District day trip 

If you have a free Saturday or Sunday, you could spend it in the lakes. You can drive there from Liverpool in under two hours, and can get the train from Lime Street to the Lake District in an hour and a half. In other words, you can leave around mid morning and arrive in time for lunch, take in the sites and head on a walk, just to be back in time for dinner. If you’re stuck for a weekend activity, there is nowhere more beautiful to see in autumn than the trails around the lakes. And just as we said before, nature is such a good healer when you’re feeling down and out.

Have a wander around Chester Zoo

Just a 40 minute drive from the City Centre, Chester Zoo is a great place to explore for all you animal lovers. It can be a fun house day out, and they even offer student ticket prices, which is always a bonus. This is a great option that doesn’t necessarily require good weather to be enjoyable because let’s face it, November in Liverpool isn’t exactly tropical. The zoo can be another refreshing break from the city and is definitely an activity to be taken advantage of when living in Liverpool. 

Treat yourself to a Toby Carvery 

When I asked my housemates what they missed about being home, most of them said they would love a homemade Sunday dinner. As uni students, no one wants to spend their entire Sunday attempting to make a roast dinner just for one person. Why not try a trip to Toby Carvery for an all you can eat buffet for less than eight quid? The number 10 bus goes straight from the city centre, past Kensington and to Toby Carvery, so it couldn’t be easier for you to get your roast dinner.

So if you do decide to take a trip down to Toby Carvery, don’t forget to pile your plate as high as possible with as much mac and cheese as you can handle – it’s just a rule of thumb. There are so many beautiful places to visit during the colder months, so get yourself wrapped up warm and get out there if you can!