London is one of the most exciting places in the world to live. Coming to London to study is also a brilliant choice as there are many great colleges and universities in London.
You can never get bored in London as there is always something to do in London. With all of that said, London can be expensive and as a student, you may not have too much money to spend. Today we will be looking at some of the top tips for living in London so you can enjoy your experience, save some money and make the most of your time in university.
London is Expensive
So let’s look at the elephant in the room. The cost to stay in London is one of the highest in the UK. Students can easily spend £200+ to live in London per week and that’s without transport or food included.
Although the tube is a great way of getting around London and it does offer good value for money it can still be expensive for a student. So our advice would be to get accommodation as close to your university as possible. Not only does this cut down on the cost of travel but it also means you can get out of bed a little later to make those early morning lectures.
Staying close to the university could also allow you to walk there every day, this would save you even more money while allowing you to get your daily steps in.
If you can’t live close to the university it’s worth checking what deals are on for students for travelling. A 16-25 rail card for example will save you 33% on all train fares in London.
Get an oyster card for convenience
You may be tempted to pay for single tickets but in the long run, they don’t save you money and they’re an inconvenience. Instead, get yourself an Oyster card, top it up and use it when you need it. Don’t put too much money on there in case you lose it but put enough on so you don’t have to keep topping it up every time.
Download apps for students
There are many apps that you can use as a student to make your time in university more productive but we are talking about apps that will make your time in London more efficient too.
Apps such as:
Unidays
Uber
Citymapper
Vouchercloud
TimeOut London
Bus Times
Tube Map
E-Scooter Rentals
Opentable
Get a student ID as soon as possible
To make the most of staying in London you are going to need to make your money stretch as far as it can. With a student ID, you can save money on everything from clothing to university supplies and you can even get free food from various fast food chains.
There are various student cards available, your official Uni card should be enough to get most of these discounts and offers, but if for some reason it isn’t you can apply for an NUS card or an ISIC card, both of which are highly recognisable and accepted in London and the rest of the UK.
Get used to cooking and eating in
London has some of the best restaurants in the world and has more fast food outlets than most cities, but if you fall into the trap of eating out all the time then your budget won’t go too far.
Get used to eating in and cooking your own food and you will not only eat healthier but you will last your money out too. We know that eating in isn’t as cool as eating out with your friends but you will have more money left each month and you will learn vital life skills in cooking.
Student meals are often thought of as basic but you can create some of your favourite dishes for a fraction of the price. If you have never cooked before we would recommend getting a recipe book or our favourite method is to look at recipes on Youtube and TikTok. There are many channels suited to student recipes.
Keep safe when walking around London
London is a beautiful city but it also has its crime like every other metropolitan city. As a student, you could become a victim because criminals know that students carry around expensive equipment. If you are walking around London be sure not to show off expensive items such as laptops and just stay vigilant.
We also would recommend staying in groups at night and letting others know when you leave a location and when you expect to arrive.
Finding a job in London
When staying in London as a student you can make your stay more enjoyable by getting a part-time job. A part-time job will bring in a little extra money each month and will allow you to eat out, go out partying with friends or just pay the bills without having to worry.
Coffee shops, restaurants, hotels and cinemas often offer part-time jobs for students in London so go and check them out as soon as you get to London to see who is hiring.
Final thoughts
Moving to London as a student can be a great choice and with the tips above you should now have a better idea of how you can live in London as a student and make the most of it. At Urban Locker, we offer student storage which is affordable and convenient. If you would like to learn more about our self storage options please get in touch with us today.
