Living in London

Living in London can be pricey and you should allow at least £800 per month to cover your living costs, according to British Council guidelines. This includes accommodation, gas and electricity, food, clothing, books and daily travel expenses. However, you should remember that many of London’s wonderful attractions, including museums, art galleries and parks are free or heavily discounted for students.  

Living Costs in General   

Here is a sample of current prices in London (in Pounds Sterling) for some common goods and services. Remember these are only approximate costs and you are likely to find quite a lot of variation.

Average Cost of Accommodation in London
Flat-Share Rental per month		One Bedroom Flat Rental per month from
East London	£290 - £390 (single), £430 - £600 (double)	East London	£650 - £750
West London	£280 - £430 (single), £459 - £690 (double)	West London	£700 - £800
South London	£280 - £500 (single), £350 - £650 (double)	South London	£600 - £700
North London	£300 -£400 (single), £430 - £550  (double)	North London	£650 - £750

Cost of Food & Drink
Average weekly grocery bill (including food, basic laundry and toiletry items for two people)	£60
Average pub meal	£6 - £10
Average restaurant meal	£12 - £20
Pint of beer	£2.50 - £3
Average bottle of wine	£10
Average meal for two in mid-priced restaurant	£40

Cost of Transportation
Monthly Zone 1-2 Travelcard, London	£78.40
Train trip to Edinburgh	£110 (standard single)
Train trip to Cambridge / Brighton	£17 - £20 (single)
Mid-sized car rental for a weekend	£100
Return budget flight to Spain	£120 - £150 (budget carrier)
Eurostar return ticket to Paris	£125 (standard class)
Return flight to Ireland	£50 - £60 (budget carrier)

Cost of Entertainment
Movie	£7-£10
West End Theatre	£25+
Club/Pub Entry	£5 - £20
Live music/concerts	£10+
Chart CDs	£8 - £12
New release DVD rental	£3.50

Tip: A student 18+ Photo Oyster Card offers 30% off on weekly, monthly and annual travel cards, tube, bus and tram tickets. Low budget train, bus and plane operators offer great discounts. You might want to try Easy Bus, Megabus, Easy Jet or Ryan Air. 

Things to see and do

There is a lot to see and do in London. We encourage all our students to make the most of what London has to offer during their time here. Speak to our student welfare officer for recommendations.

London Attractions

With so many attractions, both historical and contemporary, London is one of the world’s most exciting cities to explore. These are the top 10 attractions (according to visitor numbers in 2010) that you won’t want to miss.

1. The British Museum, 2. Tate Modern, 3. National Gallery, 4. Natural History Museum, 5. London Eye, 6. Science Museum, 7. Victoria and Albert Museum, 8. Madame Tussauds, 9. Royal Observatory, 10. Tower of London

Museums & Galleries

Most museums in London are free of charge except for special exhibitions. At some museums you may be asked to show a student identity card to obtain free admission. You will certainly enjoy the huge variety of museums, which includes the National Gallery, the Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A), the Science Museum, Natural History Museum and Geological Museum (the last 3 are located within walking distance of each other). Be sure to visit the British Museum in Holborn as well as the Tate Modern on the River Thames Embankment.

London on a Budget

Visiting the capital on a day-out needn’t cost a king’s ransom. London offers something for every budget. Why not head to one of its free cultural institutions such as the Tate Modern and catch a West End theatre show at spectacular prices? Or bag a bargain in the annual winter and summer sales or attend a free classical music lunchtime concert at St. James’s Piccadilly (Mon, Wed, Fri at 13.10) and at St. Martin-in-the-Fields churches (Mon, Tue, Fri at 13.00)? Another cheap and healthy way to get around is with the Barclays Cycle Hire scheme (journeys can cost as little as £1 a day).

Entertainment

Nightlife, theatres, clubs, bars and much more are available to fit everyone’s taste. Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus are the most popular night spots. If you are keen on films, there are many cinemas throughout the city such as the Virgin Cinemas (junction of Fulham Road and Beaufort Street), the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith and the spanking new Vue in Westfield itself.

You can easily check the weekly Time Out magazine (www.timeout.com) for up-to-date listings on what's on at the cinemas, theatres etc. The magazine gives you plenty of details on what is worth seeing as well as lots of helpful suggestions.

Keeping Fit

There are lots of ways to improve your fitness without having to join a gym. Joining a local sports team is a great way to spend your spare time and keep fit. You also get to meet lots of new people. You may also want to consider walking or riding a bike to the College if you live close-by or many parks have basketball hoops, tennis courts and football pitches that you can use free of charge. Please contact our student welfare officer for information on how to keep fit.

Transport

The following website includes information on London's underground network, bus, and river bus services. It also includes real time travel information and journey planning details. www.tfl.gov.uk (Transport for London)

Shopping areas

Explore London’s famous Oxford Street in the centre of the city where department stores and high street shops open their doors to shoppers from around the world every year. Every area of London - south, west, north or east is bursting with shopping streets for everyone’s taste. Europe’s biggest inner-city shopping mall, Westfield, is only a two-minute walk away from the College. However if you only need a bottle of milk for your breakfast cereal, local corner shops and convenience stores provide you with a 24-hour service. Supermarkets such as Asda, Sainsbury, Morrisons, Tesco and others provide a wide selection of food and non-food items.

The Royal Parks

These beautiful open spaces, many of which were once the grounds of royal homes, are the property of the Crown. They are some of the biggest green areas in London, and are normally open from 07.00 until dusk. We recommend that you visit Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park which are only a short bus ride away from the College (Bus 148 or 94). You might also want to explore Holland Park – an enchanting park with a Japanese-style Kyoto Garden (15 mins walk from the College or 5 mins bus (94 or 148) ride away).

Eating Out

Dining options rival London’s shopping and sightseeing options and every budget and taste is catered for. Whether you are looking for a tasty and cheap takeaway meal, food from around the world or would like to enjoy a nice restaurant meal, Shepherds Bush where the College is located has plenty of restaurants, cafes, eateries and sandwich bars to offer

Shows

A visit to London is not complete without enjoying a world-class stage show. Visitlondon.com has a secure online booking service for a range of events. Half price, discounted, full price, same day and advance tickets are also available for many shows at the Tkts booth in Leicester Square (Check the notice boards before joining the queue!).