We’re excited that you want to tour the beautiful campus of UCLA! We have compiled some helpful information for you to make the most of your tour and visit here, including information about dining, shopping, entertainment, accommodations, and transportation. UCLA’s campus is not only inviting, but very convenient for students, parents and other visitors to access and explore.
TOURING UCLA
You can visit UCLA year-round on weekdays and weekends, but you’ll find the campus service limited or closed during major state and federal holidays. Also, during times of reduced student traffic (such as between academic quarters), you’ll find services limited as well.
UCLA Bruin Day
UCLA Bruin Day for freshman is on Saturday, April 14, 2018, and is your chance to not only visit UCLA, but to celebrate it! A number of activities, events and presentations are planned on this day, to make your decision to attend UCLA so much easier. These include: attending academic lectures, attending presentations highlighting specific academic departments and programs, and learning about UCLA’s community, benefits, and other student opportunities.
The BruinDay website also has a great portal for all campus landmarks, museums and gardens, athletic and recreation centers and arts and entertainment venues that you might like to visit. UCLA Bruin Day for Transfers is on May 12, 2018, with similar informative and fun events for prospective students. Visit the UCLA Bruin Day website for all information about both days.
UCLA Campus Tours
You can schedule individual tours and group tours easily at the UCLA Campus Tours website. These tours offer a fun way to explore all the major points on campus, with helpful guides that provide you with fun facts and helpful information about key buildings, facilities, departments and the university itself – as they walk you through North, Central and South points on campus. If you are a newly-admitted student, UCLA has even organized a special tour program, the Admitted Student Presentation and Tour, that can be accessed on the UCLA admissions portal.
For a self-guided tour, this handy map provides you with information about all the key points on campus designated into different zones. We hope that you’ll use this guide when exploring the campus and all it has to offer, for the best experience.
DINING AT UCLA
The UCLA dining scene is among the best in the nation for students – and it’s great for parents and other visitors, too! UCLA has many fast-casual and other quick dining spots throughout its three segments of campus: North Campus, Central Campus, and South Campus. If fine dining is your thing, then there’s even an acclaimed restaurant serving Mediterranean-inspired, California fresh cuisine at the UCLA Luskin Conference Center. Plateia Restaurant is open seven days a week and has excellent menus, and even a full bar, for visitors to the campus.
Central Campus
Ackerman Union Food Court, UCLA Website
Central Campus refers to the main core of campus at Ackerman Union – the university’s student union. Here, there are two main food courts where you can find popular local chains like Rubio’s or Wolfgang Puck’s. At the same time, the Kerckhoff Coffee House is a student-favorite on campus, serving a wide selection of different coffees.
North Campus
North Campus is the uppermost part of campus near Royce Hall and its vicinity. There are two main dining areas in this part of campus: North Campus Student Center and Lu Valle Commons. Aside from the usual selection of fresh salads, sandwiches, pizza and other quick meals, Northern Lights is a great stop for coffee if you’re trekking this part of campus.
South Campus
To every student who frequents this part of campus, they’ll tell you the place to be for food is the Court of Sciences Student Center – formerly known as “The Bomb Shelter” (when it actually served as that, during the Cold War). These days, you can grab a quick meal – from rotisserie chicken to noodle bowls, and even visit Northern Lights’ cousin to the south – Southern Lights – for some great coffee!
Plateia Restaurant
Plateia Restaurant
Finally, the jewel of fine dining on campus is Plateia within Luskin Conference Center. The selection of freshly prepared foods is as impressive as the ambiance. Whether you’d like to dine in its amazing interior or on the patio near the calming fountain, Plateia is a great place to experience the best of dining on the UCLA campus. Plateia is also most convenient for parents and other visitors to the UCLA campus who are staying at the UCLA Luskin Conference Center. Plateia is conveniently located on the lobby level and has menus for all meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner and even a special menu for weekend breakfast. They also offer happy hours daily from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
SHOPPING AT UCLA
When you visit UCLA, there are two great options for shopping. These include visiting the UCLA Store or nearby Westwood Village, with a wide selection of boutique and chain stores.
UCLA Store
UCLA Store interior,
Show your UCLA spirit by stopping by the main shopping center on campus – the UCLA Store – to buy anything Bruin. From UCLA apparel to posters to books and other merchandise, you’ll find it in this hotspot for shopping on campus. Also, everything you purchase at the UCLA Store benefits the UCLA campus. A percentage of all proceeds goes to supporting UCLA campus services, activities and even athletics. Visit the UCLA Store website for more information or hours!
Westwood Village Shopping
Westwood Village is the community of shops, restaurants, and entertainment surrounding the UCLA campus. Here, you’ll find boutique stores and national chain brands like Target, where you can find almost everything you are looking for while visiting UCLA! The Westwood Village local business directory is an excellent way to find a particular store in the area.
ENTERTAINMENT AT UCLA
As a world-renowned academic and cultural institution, UCLA invites some of the top musical, acting and other performing arts talent in the world to campus. At the same time, UCLA’s departments also hold shows and screening in Westwood Village, just a 5-10 minute walk from UCLA.
Performing Arts
The UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television showcases some of the finest live theater in Los Angeles at the Little Theater, Freud Playhouse and Royce Hall on the UCLA campus. Performances are always ongoing, so we recommend checking the performing arts calendar prior to your visit or the Center for the Art of Performance website for all information about performing arts events at UCLA!
Movie Theaters
Performance at Royce Hall, Photo courtesy of UCLA Newsroom
UCLA has produced many famous actors, actresses, producers, and directors. Its proximity to Hollywood also means that it is around some amazing movie theaters. In fact, two signature theaters are within walking distance from UCLA in Westwood Village. They are the Fox Village Theatre and Bruin Theatre. If you’re lucky, you might catch a movie premiere happening live in front of the Fox Village Theater – a popular place for movie premieres.
Athletics
UCLA’s storied men’s basketball program has won 11 national championships and cemented its place as one of the premier programs in the nation. It joins other UCLA athletic programs in having a strong history and winning tradition. See which sports are in season and if you can catch a game while on campus!
Pauley Pavilion, Home to UCLA Men’s Basketball
Museums
There are several acclaimed museums on campus and off-campus. UCLA Fowler Museum is a fine collection of art and artifacts celebrating the culture of the Americas. See the museum celebrating the history of the Internet (started at UCLA), the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame, or even the UCLA Meteorite museum on campus. If you feel like venturing nearby off-campus the Hammer Museum is also home to great art and performances.
STAYING AT UCLA
Visiting UCLA from a distant city means that you’ll most likely want to stay on or near campus. Los Angeles is an amazing city yet a very large one! So, we recommend staying as close to UCLA as you can, so that you can easily tour the campus without having to commute. In fact, the best advice is to stay on the campus itself at the UCLA Meyer & Renee Luskin Conference Center. The conference center has world-class accommodations available for prospective students and their families.
UCLA Meyer & Renee Luskin Conference Center Accommodations
Staying at UCLA is a simple decision to make, with the UCLA Meyer & Renee Luskin Conference Center and its offering of comfortable single and double rooms. These rooms were designed with complete comfort in mind, and have modern amenities for your enjoyment. The UCLA Meyer & Renee Luskin Conference Center is also conveniently located at the center of campus, where you can easily start exploring everything UCLA has to offer!
Single King Room
Single Rooms at UCLA Luskin Conference Center
Stay in one of the single, king rooms at the conference center, furnished with a king bed, an armchair, a desk with an ergonomic chair, and a flat-screen HDTV. The bathrooms also include a full-size walk-in shower and a marble vanity. King rooms at the UCLA Meyer & Renee Luskin Conference Center are 300 square feet and can sleep up to two guests.
Double Rooms at UCLA Luskin Conference Center
Double Rooms
Double rooms are larger than the single, king rooms and have 340 square feet of space with two queen beds, an armchair, a desk with an ergonomic chair, and a flat-screen HDTV. The bathroom has a full-size walk-in shower and marble vanity.
Hotels Near UCLA
Neighboring Westwood Village offers budget and luxury hotel accommodations for visitors to the UCLA campus. Some popular hotels include the Hotel Angeleno near the northern-most point of campus, the W Los Angeles-West Beverly Hills hotel and Hilgard House Hotel & Suites near the eastern edge of campus and the Kimpton Hotel Palomar Los Angeles Beverly Hills south of campus on Wilshire Boulevard.
GETTING TO & AROUND UCLA
Getting to the UCLA campus from major airports like Los Angeles International Airport(LAX) is much easier than other places throughout the city. UCLA is just 12 miles from the airport. Hailing a rideshare like Uber or Lyft is also simple, as they pick up and drop off at several designated points on campus – including at the UCLA Meyer & Renee Luskin Conference Center.
Visitor Parking
If you prefer to drive yourself, you can park at Lot 8 or Lot 7 and Lot 4, some of the most convenient structures for visitors. Lot 8 is most convenient, as it is located just steps from the UCLA Luskin Conference Center and its accommodations and restaurant. A daily parking pass is $12 and includes unlimited in-and-out access. Please see the full campus parking map for all your parking options.
Shuttle Service (BruinBus)
BruinBus
The local shuttle service for UCLA is BruinBus. It’s an energy-efficient, clean fleet of buses that are also wheelchair accessible, air-conditioned and pick-up and drop-off on and off campus in nearby Westwood Village. If you want to get to points north or south of campus without walking or driving, BruinBus is an excellent option. See the BruinBus map or find other information about BruinBus.
MORE INFORMATION
Again, we’re happy to have you visit UCLA and look forward to you having an amazing experience! For any additional information or details to help you on your trip to UCLA, visit the official UCLA Visitor Website. Best of luck and have a wonderful time at UCLA!