Guest Writer Did you know York is considered the best University for falling in love? According to a survey run by The Knowledge Academy, 63.3% reported that they met their partner while studying here.
We decided to dive into this theory and explore the top spots to meet the love of your life at York! Whether it’s on the revolving dancefloor at Popworld or even on the U1 bus, our alumni shared the places they fell in love…
On the dancefloor
A late night at Flares, a sporting social at Ziggy’s, or after prawn crackers at The Willow… many of our alumni met their match on a night out in York. For one alum, Anna, it was the revolving dancefloor at Popworld that led her to love!
“I first met my partner on the revolving dance floor of Popworld during a student night
The moment our eyes met, I felt an instant connection, as if the universe had brought us together. From that night on, we’ve been inseparable.
We’re now engaged and living in a house we’re proud to call our own. Wedding planning is in full swing, with our cat always nearby, making sure they’re part of the process.” – Anna
On the bus
Is there anything more romantic than the bright pink campus bus? Okay, the U1 (formerly the 66) is probably not the first place you think of when you daydream about meeting someone on campus. But for alum Jade, a chance encounter on the 66 was where she met her now partner:
“We met on the 66 bus on the way to our part time jobs. Weirdly, we were already friends on Facebook and we’re still not sure why!
After seeing each other on the bus, he messaged me asking me out and the rest is history.
Six years later we got engaged, bought our first house and welcomed our baby girl.” – Jade
On your course
Acting out a scene from a romance with your future partner might sound like something from a film, but for alumni Siena and Martin, it was the start of a connection that has lasted over 10 years:
“Our first proper encounter was in our second year when we both volunteered to act in a romance scene during a directing seminar (some serious foreshadowing!) We became close friends until we got together a year later.
That period was not without its ups and downs, so all our friends were relieved when we finally became official! We’ve now been together for nearly 9 years and something I love, which hasn’t changed in all those years, is how much we laugh together.
We got engaged in September when Martin surprised me with a roadtrip through the Scottish Highlands before we travelled down to York. He proposed outside York Minster, following a ritual we’ve had ever since our uni days of seeing the Minster from the same exact place.
We are getting married in York in 2027, 10 years after we graduated and fell in love and we’re delighted that many of our close friends from University will be bridesmaids and groomsmen. ” – Siena
At a society
With over 200 student societies at the University, there’s many chances to meet someone who shares the same interests. For alumni Dave and Nicola it was Band Society’s ‘Battle of the Bands’ where the pair met… and the pair have now been together over 25 years!
“We met at the ‘Battle of the Bands’ final held at Derwent College in February 2000. Our bands were both in the final.
When we recount the story, the first question everyone asks is ‘who won?’ One of us was in a victorious band that night, but since we’ve now been together 25 years… we were both winners in the end.
We now have two children who are 7 and 8 years old. We often re-visit York as it’s where we got married. The music continued, and we occasionally share the stage, but usually in the same band.” – Dave
In your student halls
Your student flat: either friends you have for life, or people you never end up talking to again. For the lucky few, it’s also led to lifelong romance! As chance would have it, York’s algorithms have led to many a romance:
“We were both placed in rooms directly next to each other. From the moment we met we had a connection and by day three, we were inseparable.
We made it official after our first date in the cinema in town. We have a very rare connection and love, one that will last a lifetime. Now, we’re married and living in Shanghai together.” – Warren
We hope you enjoyed reading this! If you met someone you love at York, you can submit your own alumni love story through our online form.
