Fun Things to Do in London for Students
10 Fun, Free Things to Do in London
Most students have one thing in common. They want to have fun, but they don’t want to dig too far into their overdrafts. This can be especially difficult when studying in London, as attractions, entertainment and even food tend to be more expensive here than elsewhere in the country.
Fortunately, though, there are still many ways for students to occupy themselves in London. Here is a quick list of ten fun things to do in London for students.
1. Visit Tourist Attractions - Believe it or not, a lot of tourist attractions in London are completely free. Head over to Buckingham Palace to witness the changing of the guard or you could walk over the Abbey Road crossing, made famous by the Beatles. Stop by to see the stone lions of Trafalgar Square, or visit Piccadilly Circus. There’s plenty to do, see and explore!
2. Go to the Parks - Urban though it is, London is home to many large, sprawling parks. There is Richmond Park, where you’ll share your space with over 630 Red and Fallow deer. There is also St James’ Park, where you can see pelicans, water birds, woodpeckers and, if you’re there later in the day, owls and bats. A few other popular park destinations include Wimbledon Common, Park Vista and Hyde Park.
3. Pay a Visit to a Museum - This suggestion may not be to everyone’s liking, and we realise that this is a list of things to do in London for students, but we’ve got to mention the extensive range of museums that are available. There is the Natural History Museum, where you can view huge dinosaur skeletons and even experience an earthquake simulator, as well as Sir John Soane’s Museum and the Museum of London.
4. Go for a Walk - Not everyone will associate London with beauty, but it can be a wonderful place to go for a walk. If you’re looking to escape the city, there are Highgate Wood and Epping Forest. Or, if want a slightly more urban scene, there is the South Bank, an incredible walking location, and Little Venice.
5. Spoil your Inner Child - There are a few attractions that might not immediately spring to mind looking for things to do in London as a student. Museums and walking destinations may be interesting, but why not spoil your inner child by visiting platform 9 ¾ at King’s Cross station? Or, you could visit some of the animals at Vauxhall City Farm!
6. Explore the Culture - London is home to a rich variety of culture. If you’re keen to explore it, you could visit the British Library, see the vivid art depicted at God’s Own Junkyard, or, if you have an interest in theatre, you could visit the Sherling High-Level walkway, which can provide an insight into just some of the backstage work that goes into performances at the National Theatre.
7. Visit the Art Galleries - London is famous for its art galleries, and it’s easy to see why. There is the Tate Modern, which houses art produced by, amongst many others, Bonnard and Picasso; the National Gallery, where you can view the work of Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt and van Gogh; or, if you’re interested in more contemporary works, there is the Saatchi Gallery.
8. Learn the History - You won’t be surprised to hear that London is a very historical city. To learn more about its ancient beginnings, you could visit the remains of its Roman amphitheatre, which you can view from the basement of the Guildhall Art Gallery. Or, you could stop by the London wall, which was believed to have been built in 200 AD, explore the historical Southwark Cathedral, or pay a visit to the 18th-century Kenwood House.
9. Enjoy Live Music Shows - You can pay many hundreds of pounds to attend live music shows, or you could get in for free! There are many things to do in London for students when it comes to music, such as at Hootananny Brixton, which offers a whole array of folk and reggae performances for free. Or, if you’re into a more classical scene, you could visit the Royal College of Music, where you can discover a large range of student performances.
10. Have a Laugh - If you like comedy, then you can bag free access to many of the live shows hosted by the Angel Comedy Club. If you’re lucky, you may also be able to book a seat at an improv performance at the popular Top Secret Comedy Club, which has housed gigs from popular comedians such as Russell Howard, Eddie Izzard, Rob Beckett and Sara Pascoe.
We hope that you have enjoyed our list of ten fun things to do in London for students. This is certainly not an exhaustive list, so if you’re heading off to London for your studies, then you can be sure that there will always be something to entertain you. Besides, most of your time should - hopefully - be taken up by all that studying that you’ll be doing!
For more advice and ideas on life as a student in London, why not take a look at our blog?