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Living in London

London is a great city with so much to do, so much to see...
London Center students at Shoreditch in front of street art by Ben Eine.

Free and Cheap in London

Many are surprised to learn that there are lots of free and cheap activities to take advantage of in London.  Students benefit from advice shared by the London Center staff members who have lived in the City for many years. They will help students to discover cheap deals, hidden gems, and other great ways to make the most of their time in London. Check out the links below for ideas for things to do in London, from food, art, music, and other fun events in the capital. 

  • Time Out is the weekly guide to all things happening in London from art to theatre to LGBTQ+ life and music.  The ICLC always has hard copies of Time Out in the Common Room and on the table outside the front office for your use, please be sure to return copies when you're done so that everyone can benefit from it. You can also pick up a free copy every Tuesday at tube stations
  • Londonist has lots of ideas of things to do and see, including a 'Free and Cheap' section which is updated every week
  • London For Free has lots of ideas for things to do in and out of London
  • Free London Events is a website listing free annual and daily events in London
  • Visit London lists a number of attractions in London that are free to visit

Museums: Most of the museums in London are free entry. You can check out the likes of the Natural History Museum, the British Museum, the Science Museum, as well as Tate Britain and Tate Modern.

Markets: London markets are ideal shopping destinations for everything from food to flowers, modern art to antiques, clothes to jewellery, and more! 

Parks: London is home to plenty of green open spaces, all free to enjoy!

Supermarket Shopping: Look for bigger supermarkets such as Aldi, Lidl, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, or Tesco where you'll find the groceries are a lot cheaper than smaller, local stores. Local markets are also great for cheaper fruit and vegetables (depending on what's in season).

 

Staff Suggestions

Many people love London for the food.  Have a meal made up of free samples in Borough Market or eat some of the best pizza outside of Italy at the super cheap Franco Manca. See below for more staff favorites:

Orla enjoys spending her free time visiting London’s most famous markets, whether it be discovering new food delicacies in Borough Market or finding random knick-knacks on Portobello Road on a Saturday. London is most beautiful in great weather so a stroll along the Richmond riverside on a weekend is a must!

Caroline is involved in musical theatre so loves going to see shows in the West End, where there are lots of exciting, diverse productions on offer. She likes hanging out in London's coffee shops, writing, and drinking her caramel latte.

Becca loves exploring the city's green spaces and enjoys participating in park runs to stay active. She can often be found either wandering around a museum or picking up a bargain at a charity or second-hand shop.