The A-Z of Durham: An alphabetised guide to the Durham experience

Arrival

Greeted by a series of hyper-friendly freps waving pom-poms, before being shown into an entirely empty room. Arriving at Durham is sensory overload and there’s very little time to breathe, because icebreakers must be completed. Be ready to state your name, course and former location more times than you think possible (and forget everyone else’s).

Billy B

The iconic library (officially the Bill Bryson library). An endless wealth of books, filled with information that students are reading the same information on the internet nearby. They have excellent muffins, though. And it’s warm in winter.

Chapters

A coffee shop excellent for three things. A. People/dog watching on the bridge, B. Cake, C. a summative based crash out made better only by a well-priced cappuccino and the old lady a table over giving you sympathetic looks as you sob over the fact that you didn’t manage to reference your reading properly.

Disco Water

Chad’s College drink, and, dare I say, one of the best. Three shots of vodka, elderflower cordial, and soda water – it will make the rest of the night feel like a disco, whether you make it to the club or not.

Elvet Riverside

An ugly heap of brick and concrete that unfortunately houses lectures for English, history and languages. It combines a temperate climate – hotter than the sun, rooms harder to find than the Holy Grail, and technology from 1970s.

Formals

Time to whip out your gown to drink overpriced wine, and eat, inevitably, a cheesecake. An excellent evening all round.

Greyhound

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Truthfully the best college bar (no I am not biased and, yes, there are frequently free chips).

Hills

No one needs a Stairmaster when you have Durham hills, because inevitably, wherever you need to be is at the top of one.

Indigo

The colour splashed across the whole of Durham. Some say it’s purple – they’d be wrong. Especially for the purpose of this list.

Jimmy’s

A multi-level club channelling very much a dungeon aesthetic. Dancing to DJ Dave’s tunes may end up being more of a workout than anything else, but that doesn’t stop the queue taking up an entire road most nights.

Klute

Claims to be the “second worst nightclub in Europe.” But how can it be, with free entry, emo Thursdays (playing hits like the What’s New, Scooby-Doo? theme song), and quaddies (at only £4!!)?

Locked-in

Whether it’s relationships, work, or for plans for a social, Durham students never fail to profess that they are in fact “locked in.” Unfortunately, “locking in” to night outs proves to be far easier than to summatives, leaving many tragically “locked out,” or worse, “cooked.”

Matriculation

Because freshers deserve the chance to swan through the cathedral, beginning their university journey with the Harry Potter aesthetic of their dreams.

Nine AMs

I’m told they exist. Many believe them legend, as their content remains unknown.

Observatory Hill

Because after staying up and dancing all night at the summer ball, why would you not want to hike up a hill in heels at 6am? It’s also good for sledging.

Paddy’s

The go-to spot to wait 45 minutes for a fried treat to settle the stomach after a night-out.

Quarter Zips

An epidemic spreading across the students of Durham. Whether it’s from Ralph Lauren, or sports stash, no one can be seen without.

Regatta

Because there are many people who row in Durham. There are also many more people who enjoy talking about rowing.

Spags

Why mess with the supreme date spot of Durham? I’m told their tiramisu is worth any relationship-induced turmoil.

Turnitin

A software that makes uploading any kind of work a uniquely stressful experience. Particularly when attempted in a panic in the late hours, relying on Durham’s patchy signal.

Undies

The most unfortunately nicknamed college bar in Durham, belonging to University (Castle) College. It’s open to other students only when you least expect it and closed when you most want to go.

Vennels

A café, made far superior by the fact that you have to disappear down a mysterious passage to get there. Whimsical, with the best sausage sandwiches around.

Wetherspoons

It really is there for whenever you might need it. Plus, the bathrooms are perfect for mirror selfies.

X-tremely long induction talks

For the college, wellbeing, societies, JCR – everything comes with an induction talk, placed desperately early in the morning, when everyone is most alert…

Yeah… I did apply to Oxbridge

Would it truly be Durham without this sheepish confession? But seriously, no one really cares whether you were pooled or not. (I was – not that it matters).

Zinc

Because after doing/going to/drinking all of the above you’ll need it to kick that freshers’ flu.