5 Tips for Starting Student Life in London

Guest post: Rachel Campbell

The start of the academic year has commenced, and many of you will be in the midst of settling into student life in London. This can be one of the most exciting and life-changing experiences, yet student life in London can certainly be a little daunting to start with. Read on for five tips to help you settle into London life, followed by an infographic with more key facts and advice.

1) Make the most of your student accommodation

This will be your home for the next nine months or more, so it’s important to really make the most of it. Think about making your room more homely by adding photos and personalized accessories and fragrances.

Introduce yourself to your new flatmates as soon as possible. They will probably be the first people you meet and the likelihood is that you will be spending a lot of time with them, so make the most of this ready-made community.

Most student accommodations have their own Facebook group, so it’s worth finding and joining it. This offers a chance to meet new friends from other flats in your halls, and information concerning the accommodation itself is often posted on there, too.  

Take a walk with your new flatmates and spend some time getting to know the area around your accommodation. Who knows, you might find a quiet spot to spend some time studying when the weather is nice, or even a tasty takeaway to grab something quick after your nights out.

2) Get as much information about freshers’ week as you can

Freshers’ week is so much more than just the nights out. It’s a chance to get to grips with the year ahead and understand what is expected of you at university.

Head out to find your student union, where you can find out about the best nights out to attend during freshers’ week, as well as information about any student societies you may want to join. Not only that, but remember student union reps are always there to help and support you if you have any questions concerning your studies or student life in London.

3) Try out different ways to travel

London is a big city and while walking is a great way to take in the sights and sounds, you will probably need to use the transport systems to get from one place to another.

There are many ways of getting around the city, including the underground, overground, buses, taxis and bikes. Your university campus is probably where you will be travelling to most often, so use the TFL (Transport for London) website to check the best ways of getting to your lectures on time, and test the route before teaching begins.

It can be a little confusing at first, but the earlier you start, the quicker you’ll become accustomed to the London transport system and feel comfortable getting around town, just like a local.

4) Get yourself a part-time job

Student life in London can be pretty expensive, so to really make the most of your time there, it’s worth considering a part-time job that fits around your studies. This way you will have a little more cash to enjoy the many events and activities that London has to offer, whilst gaining some valuable work experience at the same time.

5) Most importantly, enjoy yourself!

There is an abundance of things to see and do around every corner in London. So whether you enjoy filling your face with multicultural cuisine, giving the latest gig a go, treating yourself to a trip to the theatre, or even finding your latest fashion fix, make sure you spend some time soaking up everything this great city has to offer, to top off what will already be an incredible student experience.

Rachel Campbell is a content writer for Pure Student Living, luxury student accommodation providers in five locations around London.