Student Guide: How To Survive As A Student In London

London, the UK's capital city has got to be one of the most exciting places for a student to call their home.  

With an abundance of people, jobs, opportunities, culture and more, London has one of the most diverse student populations in the country and was even recently ranked as the best student city in the world!

While all this is incredibly exciting, a move to one of the busiest cities in the world is also bound to come with a few reservations: Where shall I live? Can I afford it? Is London safe for students?

So, to help get you clued up, we’ve pulled together our Student Guide to London which answers some of the most common questions people have to ask.

Which universities are in London?

1. London School of Economics (LSE)

2. Imperial College London

3. University College London (UCL)

4. King’s College London

5. Queen Mary, University of London

6. SOAS University of London

7. Brunel University London

8. St George's, University of London

9. Goldsmiths, University of London

10. City, University of London

11. University of Roehampton

12. University of West London

13. University of Westminster University of the Arts, London

14. London South Bank University

15. Kingston University

16. University of Greenwich

17. St Mary's University, Twickenham

18. Middlesex University

19. University of East London

20. Birkbeck, University of London

21. London Metropolitan University

The Best Universities in London

According to the Complete University Guide, in 2024 the best universities in London are:

1. London School of Economics (LSE)

2. Imperial College London

3. University College London (UCL)

4. Kings College London

5. University of the Arts London

6. City University of London

7. Queen Mary University of London

8. University of West London

9. SOAS University of London

10. Goldsmiths University of London

Where are the best places for students to live in London?

With universities and student areas spread across the city, it can be confusing to know where’s best to live while you're studying.

But, while London may be big, it’s also very well connected with buses, the London Overground, National Rail services and of course the London Underground, meaning that within a couple of hours you can be pretty much anywhere you like!

The best area will differ for everyone, so you should sort out what your priorities are: Do you want to be close to your uni? What is your budget? Do you want to be close to the centre or somewhere a bit quieter?

Here are what some different areas of London have to offer for students.

Bermondsey

If you’re into your food and drink, Bermondsey in the southeast of the city is a good shout. 

Home to the world-famous Borough Market, which boasts a huge selection of speciality foods, delicious coffee and independent breweries, you can take the Jubilee Line into central London and both South Bank University and King’s College are about a half hour walk away.

Docklands

Docklands is a much more affordable area of central London compared to others - so if you’re a student on a budget it could be the ideal place to live. 

Within easy reach of city centre via the Docklands light Railway (DLR), it’s within tpuching distance of the University of Greenwich and you can get to all other universities on public transport no problem. 

You’ll also be near the lovely district of Greenwich, where you can enjoy historical buildings and antique markets in your down time! 

Camden

A hotspot for students despite being a little on the pricey side, Camden has everything you want right on your doorstep. 

As well as the incredible Camden Market which boasts an enticing array of artwork, street food, boutique fashion and more, there’s also a lively local music scene and loads of great pubs and bars. 

The Northern line provides fast links to other areas of London and the Royal Veterinary College, Central Saint Martins and University College London are all within walking distance of Camden. 

Richmond

If a bit of peace and quiet away from the city centre is what you’re after, Richmond could be the perfect place to unwind after a long day of lectures.

With Richmond Park offering 2,500 acres of grassland, hills and gardens, the picturesque scenery means you really can get the best of both worlds! 

Richmond University is close by, and you can reach other London universities pretty easily on the District Line.

Brixton

If nightlife, community spirit and affordability are on your checklist, look no further than Brixton. 

Brimming with small live music venues, clubs, cafes, pubs and more, Brixton is within walking distance of Kings College London and is well connected to other unis via the Victoria Line. 

How much does it cost to rent student accommodation in London?

Obviously the amount of rent you pay as a student in London will vary a lot depending on the area you to choose to live and the type of accommodation (shared house, univerity halls, private halls etc).

But, to give you an idea, in 2020, the average student rent for the UK was £126 per week, or £547 a month, however, students in London can expect to pay an average of £182 a week, or £640 a month.

How much does a pint of beer cost in London?

According to research conducted in 2020, the average cost of a pint in London is currently £5.19 – well above the UK's national average of £3.94. 

So, the next section could be very useful for you...

How can I save money as a student in london?

As you can see, when you put being a student and London together, money can start to feel a little tight!

But don't worry, there are plenty of things you can do to save money and help you make the most of your time as a student.

Make the most of student discounts - It just so happens we can help you out with this one...

Become a TOTUM Student member for FREE to get the very best offers hand-picked from the brands we think you’ll love the most. Get huge savings on everything from music and technology to, beauty, fashion and sustainability for FREE!

Alternatively, you can join up as a paid member (it's just £24.99 for three years) and get access to hundreds of great student discounts on huge brands like Apple, Samsung, Boots, ASOS, MyProtein, Amazon and more!

Also, you should ALWAYS ask about student discount when buying something - you'll be surprised how many businesses offer student discounts, and how much you can save by consistently making sure to take advantage of student deals!

Eat Cheap - Takeaways and eating out are obviously quick, easy and damn tasty, but a couple a week are really going to add to your food bill - cooking at home is much more financially sensible. Preparing food in advance will save you loads of time and cooking big batches to portion up and freeze - especially if you can share with housemates - is a really cost-effective way of eating.

And what is more, TOTUM members get FREE tastecard included in the membership, giving you 2 for 1 dining at 25% off at thousands of restaurants including Prezzo, Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Café Rouge, Burger King and more, as well as 1,000s of local restaurants.

You also get 50% off Pizza Delivery at Domino’s, Pizza Hut and Papa John’s as well as up to 50% off days out and super cinema savings too!

And as if that wasn't enough you'll also get a FREE Coffee Club membership, giving you 25% off barista-made drinks at 1,000s of coffee shops including Caffè Nero, Black Sheep Coffee, Krispy Kreme and loads of local independents.

Bargain Hunt - Charity shops, thrift stores and bargain-hunting apps are your best friend! Team up with mates to make the most of 2-for-1 deals, and keep an eye on deals from provider-specific services like o2 Moments to save you even more cash!

Do free stuff...

What is there to do for free in London?

There’s no doubt that living in London is expensive - King's College London estimate that the funds needed to live to a reasonable standard in London is currently approximately £1,250 per month for living costs, in addition to tuition fees - however, with so much on your doorstep there’s literally hundreds of things hard-up students can do for free.

The top 21 best things students can do for free in London

1. British Museum

2. Natural History Museum

3. Chocolate Museum

4. Free gigs at Rough Trade on Brick Lane

5. Top Secret Comedy Club

6. Food samples at Borough Market

7. The National Gallery

8. Tate Britain

9. Tate Modern

10. Designs of the Times London Architecture walk

11. Regent’s Canal Walk

12. Relax in Richmond Park

13. The Sky Garden

14. Stroll through Notting Hill

15. South Bank Skate Park

16. Hyde Park

17. Catch one of the Royal Opera House free ‘Live at Lunch’ Performances

18. Take a free acting masterclass at the Theatre Royal Haymarket

19. Kyoto Garden at Holland Park

20. Paddle the waters of London with Moo Canoes – free if you attend their monthly canal litter picking events

21. See cute animals for free at a city farm – try Hackney, Spitalfields, or Kentish Town.

How can I save money on public transport?

It’s inevitable that as a student in London you’re going have to do a lot of travelling, so anything to save a bit of money will be very welcome!

There are various ways to bag yourself some cheap and/or discounted travel…

Should I get an Oyster card?

The cheapest way to travel round London is with an Oyster card. An Oyster card allows you to travel between all parts of London on the Underground, Trams (DLR), Overground, some river boats, Emirates Air Line, and red London buses. 

As a student you may be eligible to apply for an 18+ Oyster which will give you 30% off on weekly, monthly, and annual travel cards! 

Find out more about Oyster cards here.

Does the time of day make a difference?

Yes, for sure. The Underground has two different prices for peak and off-peak hours. It won’t always be possible, but if you can, try to avoid travelling on the tube between 06:30 to 09:29 and from 16:00 to 18:59 for the cheapest fares. 

Are buses and trams cheaper than the tube?

Although the tube is certainly convenient, London buses and trams are often a cheaper alternative - especially with the introduction of the ‘Hopper fare’. With a Hopper Fare, passengers can take a £1.50 bus/tram journey and then change onto another bus/tram for free within an hour of starting their journey. 

So if you can plan your journeys prior to travelling, you can save yourself some money!

Can you walk and cycle around London?

Yes. Cycling infrastructure is always being improved in London. One suggestion we’ve seen is for people to walk/cycle the tube map - as it’ll help you realise that a lot of tube stations are actually quite close together. 

You can pick up Santander (formerly Boris) bikes around London which you can hire for free for up to 30 minutes. And if you want to borrow a bike for the whole day, it’ll only cost £2 - a real bargain way of travelling round London!

Can I use a 16-25 railcard in London?

If you want to use the National Rail services to get around London - or for trips to the rest of the UK, a 16-25 Railcard is what you’ll need! The 16-25 railcard gives you 1/3 off the price of rail tickets - but not London Underground!

Another tip is to book tickets 12 weeks in advance to take advantage of some of the cheapest train tickets available. 

If you don't have a student oyster card - you can go to a manned ticket office and link up your rail card to your regular Oyster card to enjoy 30% discount on off-peak fares! 

What is the best app to find my way round London?

We reckon this is quite easy to answer - Citymapper! There are a few apps out there that can help you navigate London, but Citymapper is widely considered to be the best of the bunch.

It's really easy to use and constantly updates with live data to show you any delays or cancellations that are currently affecting the London transport system. If you want to get somewhere fast, Citymapper is the app for you.