Fix the course before voting for a city
Write down learning goal, course type, weekly hours, level, start date and campus address before comparing cities. London has broad school and activity choice but complex housing and commuting; Manchester, Reading, Brighton and Edinburgh have different rhythms that no city photograph can decide.
Use one accommodation basis for complete costs
Use the same study weeks, similar room type and move-in date for each city, listing tuition, housing, deposit, food, local transport, transfer and one-off charges. Then add early- and late-class routes from home to campus to see whether ‘low rent’ is offset by a long commute.
Put weekend reachability after the course
London venue density, Manchester rail links, Brighton coast and Edinburgh cultural pace are each attractive, but weekends must follow attendance, coursework and rest. Check opening and return through current official venue and operator information rather than treating the number of intercity trips as a city ranking.
Keep written confirmation and reversible room before choosing
Confirm actual campus, start, fees, housing and cancellation terms with the school, and applicable terms with travel or housing suppliers. Leave buffer between course dates, immigration preparation, move-in and flights; individual routes remain questions for official requirements and written evidence.