When studying in the UK people choose where to study i.,e. they are not allocated a random university. Where you go depends on your grades and how you rank your preferences. For example, if you do not place Oxford at the top of the list you are significantly less likely to be accepted even if you are Einstein personified!
Where you study determines your lifestyle to some extent, because there is a significant difference when studying in a large city such as London, Birmingham, Manchester or Liverpool or a university that is based in a smaller town such as Buckingham, Derby or Halifax. Similarly, there is considerable difference when choosing a campus university (all buildings and many living quarters are in one large area i.e. little travel through town is required for example Warwick University) or a university that has building across the town or city (for example Sheffield).
Irrespective of this you will find that being in halls of residence (like large blocks of flats) will help you get to know people very quickly, but equally, it can get quite noisy. If you prefer to be with fewer people a house (either owned by the university or a private landlord) might be more suited for you. However, finding private house-shares can be quite tricky if it is your first year or you are only in the UK for one year!
The Student Union and Student Clubs often have as much an effect on a student’s life as the course studied. The Student Union is not only the committee of students who represent the student body, but also a building which is the centre of a university as there are often offices that provide help and advice and, most importantly, the student subsidised bar and canteen. If you have hobbies and want to meet likeminded people, it is a good idea to go to the club fair during the first week of each academic year where you can enrol in clubs. There are as many clubs, hobbies and interest groups that you can think of and more at pretty much every university, ranging from anything to do with politics, music and theatre, sport, religion, all the way to Quidditch! 
Please note, that universities that run a collegiate system, especially Oxford and Cambridge, will have all the above on a smaller but by no means watered down scale for each college! So if you are not careful, you can find that the none-academic life can take over the academic life!
Overall, life in the UK is similar to life in other European countries, but you may wish to look out for the international student association as they will have a meeting and provide advice for none UK students during Fresher’s Week (the first week at uni but not the first week of studying!) and will be a port of call in need of help during your year in the UK.