Written by Priyal (India), MSc Business Analytics and AI (Online)
Living in London as a student doesn’t have to mean spending a lot, some of the best stuff here doesn’t cost anything, and the paid stuff is usually a lot cheaper than people assume, especially with student discounts.
The best way I’ve found to do London on a student budget is to save the money for the things I genuinely want to try, and fill the rest of my weekends with everything the city lets you do for free.
Here are some of the activities that I’ve tried and tested as a student in London, and would 100% recommend to my friends:
1. Make the most of London’s green spaces
I’d say one of the best things about London is that so much of it is free, and the parks are where that really shows. Hyde Park and Clapham Common are the easy, obvious choices when you just want space to sit outside, while Primrose Hill is worth the walk up at sunset in the summer for one of the best skyline views in the city.
If you’re craving something quieter, Hampstead Heath, Richmond Park and Epping Forest let you disappear into proper woodland without ever leaving London.
In a city as urban as London, Holland Park feels like a welcome change of scenery, especially with the Japanese-style Kyoto Garden tucked away inside. It’s smaller and easy to miss, but with its peaceful setting and peacocks wandering around the park, it feels magical.
Lastly, for a slow Sunday away from the noise, Golders Hill Park has a tiny, free zoo that’s a lovely way to reconnect with nature while still being in the city.
2. Free ways to see the city
- Visiting Portobello Market is worth an early Saturday morning, before the crowds arrive and it’s just you, the stalls and some of the best people watching in London.
- St Paul’s Cathedral is free to admire from the outside, and if you happen to catch evensong, that’s free to attend too.
- Instead of paying for views over the city at The Shard, book ahead instead for free viewing platforms such as the Sky Garden, The Garden at 120 or Horizon 22.
3. Paid experiences on a student budget
On the paid side, Sea Lanes in Canary Wharf has an £8 student swim for ages 18-25 with valid student ID, which feels particularly worth it during the heatwaves London has in the summer!
London is also big on immersive experiences, with Outernet by Tottenham Court Road offering its huge digital art displays for free. But if you’re happy to spend a little more, Bubble Planet is £20.90 with a student discount and is a more playful option, with immersive rooms filled with giant bubbles, ball pits and interactive installations.
For a group outing that doesn’t feel like a standard night out, escape rooms and arcades get a lot cheaper the more of you there are, and Prison Island in Canary Wharf or an F1 arcade session are both solid picks if you’re planning a group booking.
The Postal Museum and the London Transport Museum are both worth it on a rainy day when the parks aren’t an option, and the world’s longest tunnel slide at the o2 is one of those things you should just say yes to once.
Then there are the smaller, odder things worth trying at least once, like the old school £1 photobooth tucked inside German bar Albert’s Schloss in Soho. If animals are more your thing, Puppy Yoga in Shoreditch runs puppy yoga and kitten therapy sessions for £29.
If you want something on the craftier side, Omo DIY London does tufting and candle making, similar to Class Bento, which has loads of craft activities options at different price points, from different candle types to aromatherapy blends. Social Pottery is also a great place to visit to make and paint pottery, costing usually somewhere between £29 and £69 depending on what you’re making. They even have DJs playing in the background while you throw a pot, which makes it feel a lot less like a class and more like a night out!
