BEDDING DOWN

Nearly all freshers choose to live in halls, unless they're commuting from home (which is more common than you'd think). Many choose to live in the giant orange castle that is Founders. Great if you're a Harry Potter fan, Founders has recently renovated, catered rooms on single sex floors with shared bathrooms and pantries. Perhaps the most sociable hall, Crosslands bar is just downstairs so you can go for a drink in your pyjamas. Reid and Runnymede are the older and cheaper alternatives to the shiny new Williamson, Tuke and Butler and Wedderburn and Gowar halls. Both are almost identical but Wedderburn and Gowar are slightly further away and as a result there are more rats running around outside. You should know now that if you're coming to RoHo, you will have to grow to love rats and deer...and wildlife in general. The campus is in the middle of a forest and next to Windsor Great Park. The newest halls may be the most expensive but they have double beds, ensuites and really swanky kitchens. Be prepared for noisy 4am flat parties by having the number for security saved on your phone. If you didn't fancy living on campus, or missed out on your first choice accommodation, Kingswood is the place to be. Because it's a decent walk away from campus, Kingswood freshers tend to form their own friendship groups and can be found hanging out in their own bar, 8Bar9. 

THE BIG NIGHTS OUT

Despite what the prospectus might tell you, Royal Holloway is not a great place to come if you're expecting to go clubbing three nights a week. Coaches are arranged into London, but it's often expensive. Most people hit the SU to get their kicks, but predrinking is essential as the queues at the bar waste precious dancing time. On Thursdays there is a bus to and from Liquid Windsor which will almost always end messily. Monkey's Mondays at the Monkey's Forehead is a staple in everyone's week with a live DJ and great deals on drinks. 

WEEKENDS

A huge amount of Royal Holloway students live nearby and it's common for campus to go deathly quiet at the weekend when everyone goes home. For those who are left, Saturday night is the time to go to Medicine. It's usually packed and can get pretty toasty; many a cold has been caught from queuing outside in the winter without a jumper. Sunday is the time for a roast dinner and a quiet night in one of the many local pubs. 

THE PUBS

If there is one thing Egham is great for, it is the traditional English pub. Every student has their own personal favourite, so it's worth trying them all out in first year. Most societies will arrange a pub crawl at some point in first term for this purpose! The two most popular pubs are the Monkey's Forehead and the Happy Man. Both owned by the same people, they do great food and are regularly used by sports teams and societies for socials and committee meetings. The Happy Man has a more intimate, chilled out vibe but Monkey's is bigger and better for partying. Other options include the Foresters Arms with its friendly landlord and pub quizzes, and the Barley Mow which is great if you fancy something quieter (it's quite far from campus).

LATE-NIGHT MUNCHIES

A lot of the best nights at uni are when you order in takeout and have a movie night with friends. Luckily, Egham has a vast array of takeaway options. After sampling three local Chinese restaurants, I can conclude that the best takeout is from Empire House - they don't have a website so look out for the orange menus appearing in halls. For a cheaper alternative to Dominos, call Village Pizza. Their gloriously greasy pizza is a huge guilty pleasure but great for those late night cravings. If you fancy Indian, order from Mango Chutney; their restaurant is also great if you want to go for a celebratory meal with friends. If you want to splash out, Sopranos cooks expensive but authentic Italian food either to eat in or for delivery. 

WHAT TO WEAR

Egham is a pretty chilly place for the majority of the academic year. Bring lots of jumpers, unless you're a Drama student in which case you will end up buying at least three production or society hoodies. You'll also need shoes which will withstand mud for when you decide to take the shortcut up the steep hill from Wedderburn to Founders, or if you drunkenly decide to go on a late night 'adventure' in the forest. You should also be prepared for fun in the snow - last year lessons were cancelled due to weather conditions and were replaced by huge snowball fights and sledging. 

WHAT NOT TO WEAR

Girls, I would generally advise against wearing heels. Campus is pretty hilly and I've had to walk home barefooted on several occasions with sore feet from the SU. If you're desperate to dress up, take flats in your bag for walking there and back. 

TOP TIP

Join sports teams and societies! From Humans vs. Zombies to Fencing, there really is something for everyone, and there are great nights out to be had with like-minded people. Your society is the key to making friends and succeeding at uni; committees arrange everything to be tailored to members' interests and you will meet tons of new people.

FAMOUS ALUMNI

Example, KT Tunstall, David Bellamy, Sophie Christiansen, George Eliot, Lenny Henry (currently taking PhD). 

Many of my friends don't believe this, but despite my vague accent, I am actually from the North West (not Kanye's child, the place). Since going to university I have heard many Southern friends say that they're not really aware of anything interesting between Birmingham and the Lake District. So to prove them wrong, and as a loyal tribute to my Northern roots, I have compiled a list of the places I long to go when I'm stuck in Surrey, the county of manicured lawns and London commuters. 

1. Blaze Farm, Wildboarclough, Cheshire

Just a half hour drive from my hometown, seemingly in the middle of nowhere but deceptively close to civilisation, lies the magical retreat that is Blaze Farm. My friend and I drove here a few weeks ago for a day of relaxation in the countryside. I can't speak highly enough of this place: it is a true haven. From the outside it appears to be a normal farm with chickens running around in the courtyard where you park your car (no fancy car parks here thank you very much), but behold! Lo there appeareth a tearoom and homemade ice cream. And beautiful ice cream at that. We sat on one of the many outdoor picnic benches in the sunshine enjoying ours with a view of the surrounding countryside, but there's indoor seating for those all-weather visits, and they're open all year round. Take the kids or younger siblings in Spring and there's a lambing barn where you can watch the lambs being birthed (quite frankly disgusting, if you ask me, but my vet student friend likes that kind of thing). There's also a nature trail with a long or short route option, with cards along the way telling you helpful facts about trees. My friend and I, despite our £9000 a year university education, failed to follow the arrows and got a little lost along the way, but in countryside as beautiful as this, it really doesn't matter.

2. Alderley Edge, Cheshire

You may have heard of the famous Alderley Edge. If you've read Alan Garner's novel, 'The Weirdstone of Brisingamen', seen the MTV television series 'Living on the Edge', or stalk Manchester City/United football players, it is likely you will recognise the name. Alderley Edge is known for its WAG appeal and bright orange 'milfs' in Range Rovers, but if you are visiting or live nearby, it's the perfect place for a classy night out. The main street is lined with shops, bars and restaurants, all of a considerably higher calibre than in your normal village. We like to park at Waitrose (free after 6pm) and go for a lovely Italian meal at Gustos, which is far better and more reasonable than Pizza Express, followed by drinks at my favourite bar, The Botanist (or The Bubble Room if it's packed, which seems to be a regular occurrence). The streets are lined with taxis waiting to take you home if you've given your driver the night off or you couldn't be bothered to find a parking space for your Mercedes, and there's a train station just down the road. The trick is to plan which day you're going carefully to avoid overcrowded bars, and book tables in advance. One of our favourite games is 'spot the champagne' when we see how expensive the bottles are that people have in their ice buckets on the surrounding tables. Fun for all the family.  

The Botanist, Alderley Edge

3. The Artisan Meat Company, Cherry Tree Farm, Cheshire

I discovered the Artisan Meat Company on a trip to pick up my Christmas tree - in fact it is almost directly opposite the Christmas tree farm we use (which I also highly recommend), and after spotting it I immediately dragged my mother out to look for our turkey. I can confirm that the organic turkey we ordered was excellent despite being slightly more pricey than your regular supermarket bird...think Kate Middleton compared to Kerry Katona. As well as all the tasty steaks and sausages they sell other non-meaty local goods. I can't express how much I support the ethos and values of this place, so I will leave you with a few words from their website instead.

"Our ethos is to be the antithesis of the supermarket. [...] All our meat is from our own land, or at least locally sourced, meaning a fabulous quality product at a great value price. [...] We love being able to provide customers with a level of detail as it is important as where the meat comes from and how the animal is treated. We really want to be able to explain what things are and how the animals have been looked after from field to fork."

The Artisan Meat Company. Photo from didsburylife.com

4. Buxton, Derbyshire

Buxton, Oh Buxton, an Ode to Buxton. There is so much to say about Buxton. An acquaintance recently confessed via Facebook that she had never realised Buxton Water was named after a real place until she visited. This tickled me but I also worry that not enough people know about the town. My GCSE English teacher once presented us with an essay she had written on why Buxton is the best place to live and she convinced me wholeheartedly (there was probably an educational point to the essay but it obviously hasn't stayed with me). For me, the best thing about Buxton is that the journey there is half the fun. To drive there you have to traverse the most dangerous road in the country, the Cat and Fiddle. But if you forget about the danger, it truly is the most beautiful road I know. Once you're in the town centre there are quaint tea rooms and local shops aplenty, the Buxton Opera House (famed for the annual Buxton Festival and the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival), and the Pavilion Gardens, a free attraction complete with lovely café and art gallery/gift shop. The best thing, though, is the cultural and historical atmosphere. There is now a Buxton Fringe for the edgy hipsters among you, and as it is a spa town (from whence the water cometh), you can 'take the waters' just like Mary Queen of Scots did back in the day. 

The Cat and Fiddle Road. Photo from drivingroads.co.uk

Buxton Crescent. Photo from partyhouses.co.uk

5. The Peak District

There are so many beautiful bits of the Peaks that I couldn't choose just one. Between our Year 9 camping trip to Pindale, Bronze D of E and a one night camping/drinking stay at a site near Lathkill Dale, I have seen and appreciated many of the various hills, valleys and ridges that keen hikers rave about and photographers risk pneumonia for. Amongst my favourites are Mam Tor, The Roaches, and Stanage Edge. 

Mam Tor a.k.a. "Shivering Mountain" is, essentially, a pointy hill. It's a bugger to climb and rather windy at the top, but the views are well worth it - on a clear day you can supposedly see Manchester city centre. Just don't join the hoardes of cyclists on Winnats Pass...it is a long uphill climb and apparently haunted. 

The Roaches is a big craggy ridge above a reservoir. Extremely popular with climbers and hikers and suchlike, I tackled it in ridiculously strong wind and rain and ended up trying to shelter behind the rocks...it didn't work. Apparently in good weather you can see Snowdon. If that hasn't tempted you, some wallabies live there. WALLABIES. 

Stanage Edge is a local rock climbing spot where Keira Knightley filmed that windswept 'I'm visiting Derbyshire look how thoughtful I am' scene in Joe Wright's 'Pride and Prejudice'. Need I say more?

Plus if you like that kind of thing, Harry Potter and Jane Eyre amongst many others have been filmed in the area. You can do some snooping here: 

http://www.visitpeakdistrict.com/see-and-do/film-and-tv.aspx

Stanage Edge. Photo from nationalparks.gov.uk

6. Cherry Blossom Bakery, Macclesfield, Cheshire

A friend recently took me to this place for tea, cake and a long catchup, and I am completely converted. I have many favourite spots in Macclesfield, but being served tea in a proper china teapot and floral cups and saucers has bumped this one to the top of the list. The cupcakes are to die for and if you book 24 hours in advance they'll do you a proper afternoon tea with finger sandwiches, crumpets, scones and cakes for £10 a person. Friendly to a student budget and beautifully decorated, what more could a girl want?

Cherry Blossom Bakery. Photos from cbbakery.co.uk

7. Stately Homes

If there's one thing we're good at in Cheshire and Derbyshire it's stately homes. There are so many I can't even count. At my school we had four houses named after the local grand halls: Adlington, Tatton, Capesthorne and Gawsworth. All are beautiful in their own right but being loyal to my house I find myself drawn to the wondrous Capesthorne Hall and Gardens in Siddington. Managed by the National Trust, the estate is known for its lovely fishing lake, bluebell woods and impressive interior decor. 

Another massive house to ogle at is Chatsworth in Derbyshire, famous for playing Mr Darcy's crib in Pride and Prejudice. The Duke of Devonshire lives there (not Colin Firth, unfortunately) and plays host to a load of events throughout the year - including a local favourite, Chatsworth Country Fair, where you can pick up a new flat cap and tweeds whilst watching the hot air balloon race. Tickets are a whopping £20 but you get to see Mary Berry. Win-win!

Capesthorne Hall. Photo from widecow.com

Chatsworth. Photo from www.chatsworth.org

8. Bakewell, Derbyshire

Bakewell, home of the pudding and tart! My friend and I roadtripped to this lovely town specifically to get tarts just before we went to university. It's very cute and there's a market on Mondays, but the most fun is trying to figure out which bakery claiming to have 'the original recipe' is telling the truth.

Photo from geograph.org.uk

9. Cinemac, Macclesfield, Cheshire

There is very little that I miss more than cheap cinema tickets when I'm in the South. My local cinema in Staines-upon-Thames is heinously overpriced even with a student discount. When I'm at home, I drag friends to this cosy independent cinema in Macclesfield where tickets are £3.50 on Sundays and Mondays, and you can sneak in your own refreshments if you're feeling rebellious. Located in the old silk mill, the Heritage Centre, there's a convenient pub across the road where you can sit and natter about the film. Always a fantastically chilled evening.

Cinemac. Photo from treaclemums.co.uk

10. The Snow Goose, Macclesfield, Cheshire

There are so many great pubs in Cheshire, but this list wouldn't be complete without my favourite. Café by day, pub by night, this place - inspired by the French Alps - can magically transform itself from a cosy, log-fired, sofa-filled haven into a full on live music venue with ease. When it's not being used for gigs, the Snow Goose is filled with battered old acoustic guitars, a few colourful upright pianos and enough board games to make even the most awkward gatherings entertaining. The managers even organise outdoor activities like abseiling and cycling where they provide lunch and dinner. Amazing.

The Snow Goose. Photo from ingeniouscreative.com

Not truly intending to find anything sensible enough to use, I found myself looking at fashionblognamegenerator.com, a very prettily presented web page that claims, "AT A LOSS FOR WHAT TO NAME YOUR FASHION BLOG? JUST HIT THE BUTTON AND WE'LL DO IT FOR YOU." Under this promising tagline is a shiny big button emblazoned with the words, 'Name Me'. How could I resist the Alice in Wonderland simplicity of this command...

Five minutes later and I had seen multitudes of random combinations of words deemed appropriate to describe fashion content; a few of my favourites were 'Mimosas and Shallots', 'Cookies of Turquoise' and 'Farmer of Curvy'. When the true gem of a heading, 'Washed Silk is Freedom' came up I genuinely considered naming my blog just that to demonstrate my love of irony. But I think it might come across strangely on a Google search. 

The vast quantity of websites like this using computers to fake originality struck a harrowing chord in me. Are we really so devoid of creativity that we have to let a random generator decide a few words which are intended to define our (probably very imaginative) written work online? It confirms my suspicion that 'randomness' is now the norm for most Internet moguls. 

A few years ago, quirky names, song titles, and indeed fashion sense were the domain of the cool ones among us who were brave enough to break out of stereotypes and embrace the alternative: the original 'hipsters'. In my earlier teenage years when the cool kids were listening to chart hits by Ne-Yo, Cascada and 3 of a Kind ('babycakes, you just don't know know...'), I was into Alanis Morissette and a little known pop-punk band called Sugarcult. I always considered myself to be somewhat ahead of the curve on the music scene because I discovered the YouTube channel WatchListenTell, which showcases up and coming new bands in beautiful sepia-toned HD acoustic video recordings. They now have over 54,000 subscribers and I no longer feel part of an elite group of "in the know" music lovers. 

It is becoming increasingly difficult to stand out from the crowd without looking absolutely bonkers - see Helena Bonham Carter, below, for inspiration - so how do we express our differences? For me, my key to originality is literature. The Guardian stated in February 2013 that 'four million UK adults never read books for pleasure'. That's a quarter of the population. So, I'm naming my blog after the first novel of one of my favourite writers, F. Scott Fitzgerald. Because it's still cool to be clever. 

Read the article in the Guardian here: http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/feb/14/4-million-uk-adults-never-read-books

Photo from fashionlover.com