Tartu is an idyllic university town 185 kilometres south of Tallinn. Mass tourism hasn't really taken off there yet, so you can enjoy the best of Estonia without the drunken stag dos.

It's only a few hours by train from Tallinn.

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The University of Birmingham's own botanical gardens. Much more interesting than the nearby Botanical Gardens.

Several acres of charming gardens and glass houses in the grounds of an old Victorian house. Adjacent to a small lake and woodland in the heart of Edgbaston. Absolutely delightful.

Winterbourne Botanic Garden
University of Birmingham
58 Edgbaston Park Road
Birmingham B15 2RT

0121 414 3832


www.botanic.bham.ac.uk/

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It's a really nice university town with some great coffee places, like the Java House and the Prairie Lights Bookshop which also has a small Java House, perfect for working on your laptop. The centre has a funny fountain which keeps children sweet for hours. There are some decent Indian place (like always, they are run by Sri Lankans) where you can have a lunch or dinner. The university library is huge, and you can easily spend days in it. It's always open, I think. I spent many nights there. America being a very Christian country, there are a lot of churches. I went a few times to First Mennonite Church of Iowa City and experienced a very warm atmosphere. When a good friend of mine died, they helped me to go through it. They are great.

Iowa City's airport is the one from Cedars Rapids. You can also take a Greyhound to Iowa City, f.i. from Chicago.

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One of the finest small art galleries in Europe, hidden away in south Birmingham. When Lady Barber set up the gallery in memory of her husband, she specified that the artworks collected should be of the standard of the National Gallery and Wallace Collection. The result is an exquisite, wide-ranging collection with works by many of the greatest Old Masters and Impressionists. Entry to the gallery is free. There are also regular concerts in the splendid wood-panelled concert hall in the centre of the building. While visiting the gallery, take a short wander around the attractive adjacent campus of Birmingham University, the original 'redbrick' university.

Off Edgbaston Park Road, Birmingham B15 2TS. www.barber.org.uk/ +44 (0)121 414 7333. 10 minutes walk from University Station, on the Cross City Line from New Street.

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Mackintosh masterpiece building of the last century. A granite wonder to come upon as you wander an ordinary street: huge northern windows with rose & sword ironwork, long library windows on the west; a structure that continues to influence contemporary architecture.

167 Renfrew Street
Glasgow G3 6RQ
www.gsa.ac.uk

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With 250,000 students, 50% of all scientific research in Mexico, five internal bus lines, a cultural centre, an olympic stadium and a nature reserve (among other things), University City is an often overlooked but most fascinating spot in Mexico City.

Southern Mexico City. On Insurgentes, or at the Universidad Metro Station.
www.unam.mx

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As a university exchange student in Madrid, there was no better place to hang out and meet new people. Very laidback and no-frills vibe, almost like a local. Open beer and calimocho bar most nights.

Luchana,15, Bilbao Metro station, right next to the Palafox cinema

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