Any capital city can be a daunting place to live while you study. If you have moved to London from abroad or even elsewhere in this county, the capital may take some getting used to. It has an exceedingly fast paced way of life, it is very crowded and can prove expensive. However, London is also one of the best cities in the world – it has a thriving cultural scene, it is mostly safe and welcoming and the universities are leaders in their fields. With that in mind, you will want to get the most out of your time in the capital. Here are some tips on how to do that.
Buy an A-Z Guide Book
Many people live in London for years without ever getting to grips with the geography of the place beyond the tube maps. Get ahead of the game by investing in one of these guides. Take opportunities to walk places in order to find new places and sights to see. However, be careful not to wander into any undesirable area on your own. Stay with a friend as much as you can.
Look Out for Discounts
A NUS card will make you legible for many discounts and offers in shops, restaurants and other establishments. With the cost of living quite high it is important to take the deals when they are available.
Keep Up-to-date with What’s Going on
London’s cultural offer is relentless, with bands constantly visiting, new plays coming to the theatres, exhibitions opening and festivals of all kinds going on somewhere in the city. Therefore, it is quite difficult to keep your finger on the pulse of what is going on. The best way to do this is regularly visit a website such as Time Out London and follow their social media channels.
Watch the Weather Forecast
London has notoriously unpredictable weather so just because it is sunny when you step out in a morning doesn’t mean there will not be torrential rain at lunch time. Make sure you are prepared by watching the forecast and if you can, always take out an umbrella.
Find Suitable Accommodation
To get the most out of your time in London you will need to love where exactly you live. That means the people you live with, the facilities in the student halls and the location. Accomodation provided by a company such as Urbanest usually comes with a high standard of facilities and can be found in fantastic central areas such as Kings Cross. If you can organise your flatmates before you make the move.
Download the Useful Apps
There are countless apps which will help you live a productive, less stressed life in London. A few I would recommend is the London Bus Live Countdown, Uber (taxis), London Offical Guide and Barclays Bikes apps.
Organise a Budget
Being a student in London, one of the most important things is to have is discipline. Avoid the familiar trap of spending all your loan instalment within the first week by setting yourself a weekly budget for food, transport, and rent.
Above all, enjoy your time in the capital and make the most of the opportunities your studies will provide you with.