City guides : London

With twenty universities, sixteen football teams and a population of nearly eight million, London is a dynamic and exciting city for students. It may not be the cheapest place to live during your degree, but London’s diversity has something for everyone – from the latest trends in fashion and music to high-class culture, eclectic eating and a never-ending supply of things to see and do.

Bars and clubs

London’s nightlife is impressively varied, and promises a fun night out for the cultured drinker, serious partygoer or hard-up student. South of the river, Putney and Clapham have a great mix of sleek bars and old-fashioned pubs, with the much-loved Inferno’s on Clapham High Street blasting out cheesy tunes until late. Trendy Camden in the north and Shoreditch in the east are popular with students – try KOKO on Camden High Street for a grungy DJ set and live bands, or 93 Feet East on Brick Lane for a more chilled out party vibe. For the well-dressed crowd, Piccadilly’s Mahiki offers great cocktails, and the upmarket Whisky Mist in Mayfair is a stylish celebrity hang-out – all easily accessible by tube (students get a yearly discount), or, after 1am, via London’s comprehensive network of night buses.

Shopping

For the full range of high street stores, you can’t fault Oxford Street as a central shopping venue – stretching between Oxford Street tube and Marble Arch, a walk along this busy street will leave you laden with purchases. The amazing Westfield at the end of the central line is huge shopping complex, complete with cinemas, fashion shows and a delectable food hall; and for students in the east, Canary Wharf has a brilliant underground shopping centre. While lots of London’s shops are reasonably pricey, bargain-hunters will have a ball at the city’s many markets – try Portobello for antiques, Borough market for gourmet food and Camden for just about everything else.

 

Eating out

Foodie students will be spoilt for choice in London, where you can find almost every cuisine under the sun, from Ghanaian to Swiss; Russian to Lebanese. East London is a great choice for Indian food, and curries on the ramshackle Brick Lane are renowned across the country, where cheap-as-chips Beigel Bake offers bagels for just 20p 24/7. In the City, Clerkenwell is perfect for students, offering tapas bars, gastro pubs and American diners; while the South Bank of the Thames plays host to all the 2-for-1 favourites with beautiful riverside views. Bloomsbury is brilliant for afternoon tea and cupcake treats; and, in the south, Brixton boasts the best pizza and Caribbean food in London – try Franco Manca in Market Row for artisan pizza to die for.

Entertainment

With student deals and free entry passes, London’s arts and culture scene is great for the under-26s. The National Theatre does a £5 ticket deal for students, while many of the big museums – including the Tate Modern, National Portrait Gallery and National Gallery – have free exhibitions. Standing tickets to one of the incredible plays at Shakespeare’s Globe are also only £5 a head. For gigs, London is unbeatable, with huge venues such as the Brixton Academy, O2 Arena and Wembley Arena hosting big-name bands like Lady GaGa, The Killers and Bon Jovi; and smaller music halls like the Hackney Empire and Shepherd’s Bush Empire for up-and-coming artists. Leicester Square has more cinemas in its square mile than most cities do, but independent cinemas – such as Shoreditch’s Rich Mix and The Phoenix in East Finchley – are a much cheaper and quirkier option.

Accommodation

Student accommodation is much cheaper than most London housing options, and if you’re offered the choice to live in halls, it will be much friendlier on your purse than going it alone. Student accommodation is generally clean and compact, with some universities offering en-suites and shared options. London’s tube map is a good guide of what prices (and houses) will be like, and if you want more than a box-room, trying to live in Zone 1 is a definite no-no. Studenty areas include Bow in the east, Camden in the north, Angel in the centre and Fulham in the south-west. Expect to pay between £100 and £140 a week for a decent room in a shared house/flat, and slightly less for a university room.

Top 3 places to see

• Street performers on the cobblestones at Covent Garden
• Sunset on the Thames from Millennium Bridge
• The view from the meridian line in Greenwich Park

With so much going on, London is not a place for students looking for the quiet life. But, if you enjoy being where it all happens – whether it’s music, sightseeing, culture, people or places – then this is the university city for you. For tourists, locals and students alike, London is an unforgettable place to live, work and socialise. The easy part is finding something amazing to do every day; the hard part is trying to fit it all in!