6 Tips for Studying and Living in London as a Student

London is a vast and sprawling metropolis with a great many things to see and do. Making the move to London to begin studying is understandably a hugely exciting time for students starting the next chapter of their lives in our great capital. London is brimming with places to eat and drink, exciting things to do, a rich culture and history, a number of world-renowned Universities, famous landmarks and one of the best student lifestyles in the UK.

However, if you haven’t lived in London before, it is a good idea to do a little research before you move to make sure you are well prepared for life in the capital. Hopefully you will have visited the city beforehand, got to visit a few Universities, and maybe got the chance to explore the area where you will stay. We have put together a list of 6 things you should know about London before you make the decision to live and study here.

1. It’s really quite expensive to live in London

London is famous as one of the most popular cities to live in globally. Unfortunately, it's popularity has meant that the cost of living here is pretty high compared to other cities in the UK. The cost of rent is one of the most pricy aspects of living here, so you may end up paying more than you originally expected for your accommodation.

In 2020, the average cost of rent for a student in London was £182 a week. Compare this to students outside the capital, who can expect to pay on average £126 a week. Students in London also need to account for travel costs. You can expect travel on TFL to set you back about £23 a week if you're studying at a Central London university.

One of the ways to reduce travel costs is to try and find student accommodation close(ish) to your University. This way your journeys on the tube are shorter and cheaper, or you might even be able to walk to your campus.

It can also be a good idea to get hold of a 16-25 student railcard, which offers 33% off all trains. This can be used for journeys home if your family don't live in the capital and can also be used on Overground services in London. Lots of banks offer a 3-year railcard for free when you open a student bank account with them, so keep an eye out for offers like these!

Be savvy and make sure you set out a reasonable budget that you know you can stick to in order to cover costs. There are plenty of cheap places to shop, eat and drink too so do some research on those. Save some money before you arrive to make sure you are not caught short when you do.

2. Make sure you get yourself an Oyster Card

The Oyster card is still the most popular way to pay for travel in London. Whilst the majority of Londoners use one, you can also use a contactless card or Apple pay on your phone to board tubes and buses. Either way, make sure you either use an Oyster, contactless credit card or London Travelcard to pay for travel - don't pay for single tickets each time you travel as this doesn't save you money in the long run.

You can also apply for an 18+ Oyster if you live in a London borough during term time and your University or college are registered with the TFL scheme. Find out more here.

3. Get your student ID

Make sure you have your student ID sorted before you arrive, and show it whenever you can. A lot of students don’t realise how much money they can save if they use their student ID in participating stores.

Many shops restaurants and clubs all offer a student discount so make sure you don’t miss out by showing your student ID.

Whilst most places will accept your standard University ID card, you can get an ISIC card as a more official alternative. What is an ISIC card? It’s an internationally-recognised student ID, which makes card holders part of a truly unique club. Click here to get an ISIC and click here to see the discounts you can take advantage of.

Another one to go for would be the NUS Card from the National Union of Students, now known as a Totum card. These cards basically give you daily, weekly and monthly offers on everything from your weekly shop to eating out, travel, clothing, going out and much more – definitely worth getting one of these!

4. Explore and download useful apps

There are loads of useful apps you can download to your smart phone that will make life in London so much easier. Here are 4 apps that we have found useful:

• Unidays - once you're set up with a student email, you can use this app to gain access to discounts on clothes, food and much more!
• Viber – free messages and calls to anyone else using the App on any device, in any country. Need we say anymore?
• CityMapper - also known as the ultimate pubic transport app, is great for helping you find your way around the city.
• Uber - great for getting taxis at a moment’s notice, and you can set up an account so you don’t need to always carry cash on you to pay! Be careful though, the cashless effect of using Uber can run up expensive bills if used to excess.

We could go on and on because there are so many Apps out there to help with living in London as a student. Check them out!

5. Be safe

London is a wonderful city, but there are areas where crime is known to be a problem so try to avoid them, or at least take precautions if you don’t. Keep an eye on all your belongings wherever you are - pickpocketing, unfortunately, is a common issue. Try to avoid walking alone at night, always let someone know where you are going to be and what time you will be back if you are heading out.

6. Explore the city like a tourist

London is for exploring and there is loads to see and do. Get out there and have fun by exploring all the sights and sounds of the city- and there are plenty of discounts for students! Tower Bridge, the O2, The London Eye, Madame Tussauds, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace - the list goes on! Exploring all that London has to offer is what will really make you fall in love with the city. London has a rich and varied history, and there are so many attractions and arts and cultural sites that there really is something for everyone to enjoy.

If you're interested in vintage shopping, you might also enjoy Portobello Road or Brick Lane. For those looking for great food, there are many markets in London where you can find affordable and delicious treats! Try out Mercato Metropolitano, Borough Market and Maltby Street Market amongst others.