Your Guide to Living in London as a Student

Living in London as a student is magical. The culture, food, people and nightlife make it a truly unique city but it can be overwhelming when you have never lived in a city as big as London before.

We have created the ultimate guide to living in London including the best and most important things you need to know to help you make the most of your uni life in London.

Travel Smart in London

Travel costs in London can easily start to add up so in order to explore all the amazing things this city has to offer (while completing your degree of course) you’re going have to do a lot of travelling. There are various ways of getting your hands on some discounted travel on public transport – whether you choose to buy an 18+ Student Oyster Photocard, a 16-24 Railcard, or both! Individually, the two cards get you at least 30% off travel.

Part Time Jobs in London

By working a part-time job in London during university, you would not only make extra cash, but it would also look great on your CV.

You would obtain skills and experience in terms of teamwork, reliability and references by working part-time while still at uni. But to be able to find a part-time job that suits you, first, you need to decide what it is you want to do.

If you’re just starting out with the job hunt you may not be sure about where to look. Checking company pages directly and applying through their interface is often a good way to start applying for the job you want. Also signing up to student job sites and uploading your CV in their websites would make it easier for employers to find you.

Make The Most of Student Discounts

The best part of being a student whether it is at University College London, Kings College, The School of Arts or any other University in London has got to be the perks of student discount! The best piece of advice we can give is to make sure you have UNIDAYS and Student Bean downloads and always carry your student card around just in case you can save some money while out and about whether its for a retail store, restaurant, student bar or a tourism attraction like the London eye that offers students 35% off your ticket.

Student Living Essentials

If you’re an international student you won’t be buying homeware till you touch down in London so it is important you know where to go without spending a lot of money. Buy very affordable towels, linen, pillows, blankets and other homewares from Primark and Home Bargain (just avoid the Oxford Street store where possible for cheaper items). We recommend setting aside a small budget for essential homewares so you deck your space out when you arrive

Grocery Shopping in London

Some of the main supermarkets in London are Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Co-op, Morrisons, Lidl, Aldi and Iceland. Most of these supermarkets deliver in London with a £40 minimum spend, so just create an account online and have your groceries come to you. It’s easier than having to carry all your groceries back to your flat and it could be a great way to stick to a budget!

Finding Student Accommodation in London

Most students agree that studying in London is a fantastic experience. Some of the world’s highest-regarded academic establishments are here, such as Kings College, UCL, LSE and Westminster, to name just a few.
Your accommodation is a major part of this university experience. Find the right place, that works within your budget, and it will directly benefit your studies (and your social life). The best place to start is checking what your wants and needs are within an accommodation in London and seeing what accommodations have those points whether it be a gym like at Vega, A study space like Atlas, a roof terrace like at the Lyra it’s important the accommodation ticks your boxes.

Keeping Fit in the City

The cost of living in London can often be expensive so it’s great to save money where you can with student discount and many gyms across London such as the gym group and Better Gym. They offer membership benefits for students. Both our Vega and Atlas student accommodations are situated next to Vauxhalls better gym and across from Vauxhall country park so whether you fancy a swim or just to hit your 10,000 steps it’s right on your door step.

See The City for Free

From fantastic museum collections such as the National History Museum in South Kensington’s Museum district West of Central London which is most famous for the stunning Hintze Hall, dominated by the suspended skeleton of Hope the Whale to the gorgeous parks and gardens like Queen Elizabeth’s Olympic Park in East London which was home to the 2012 summer Olympic Games.

We cannot forget the trendy markets to walk around in London like Camden Market, the must-see place for a London student’s bucket list with an eclectic collision of counter-culture, street food eats and indie sellers touting artisan products, there’s nowhere quite like Camden Market. There are some fantastic free attractions to discover in London.

Nightlife in London

There is something for everyone when it comes to London nightlife with so many different clubs, bars, pubs and music venues to choose from. You could easily spend years in London and still not experience London’s nightlife in its entirety.

The best way to start your student nightlife journey in London is signing up to fresher week festival, there is over 35 events so there is something for everyone including foam raves, terrace parties, Ministry of Sound launch party and Battle of the Unis parties. If you do need more places to explore check out our latest blog seven Tiktok famous places in London – you need to visit.

If we had to recommend just one bar then it would have to be Ballie Ballerson. Entry is just £5 and you’ll find everything from candy inspired cocktails, pizza slices and massive ball pits, what more could you ask for?

There is plenty to explore in London, with cool street markets, great student bars and fashionable shops. You can enjoy it all whilst living with us at any of our London properties (Vega, Atlas or The Lyra), all centrally located.

For more information about student accommodation London, visit our page today.