Hi there KCL! For the second day of National Student Money Week, we thought we’d make a post focusing on our chosen theme of “hidden gems.” London is a fantastic city to live in as a student, but we all know how expensive things can get. In this short post, I’ll go through some of the best current deals for students to save money, which you may or may not have heard of.
Discounts
This one may seem a bit obvious, but it’s worth making note of the different platforms that offer student discounts. There are three main ones to remember. Make sure to check out UNIDAYS, Student Beans and Totum as they can be very useful to help you save money, whether it comes to buying clothes, technology or eating out. If you’re studying a healthcare-related course, you could also consider getting a Blue Light card. This costs £4.99 for two years and you’re entitled to discounts on a large number of brands. All you need is a valid NHS ID to register.
Travel
We have a separate blog post dedicated to travel costs but one tip that I learned too late would be to link your Oyster card to your Railcard. Doing this will allow you to save one third on off-peak travel prices! Off-peak times are from 9:30am to 4pm and after 7pm. Travel between these times where possible as public transport will be less busy and travel costs will be lower. I’d recommend downloading the King’s Move app too, especially if you enjoy walking. You can earn points for walking, running, swimming and cycling and redeem these for rewards such as hot drinks and KCL branded clothing!
Food
In addition to the student discount apps mentioned above, you could also download the Too Good To Go app. This app allows you to buy food and drinks from local restaurants, cafes and bakeries that have extra food at the end of the day at a discounted price! Another great app is First Table which, as the name suggests, allows you to book the “first table” of the evening at participating restaurants. In return for securing a spot at the first table, you’ll receive a significant discount on your meal!
Activities
Finally, there are so many activities in London that you can make the most of without spending any money. While the Shard offers great views of London, an alternative option is Sky Garden, which offers 360-degree views of London’s skyline, as well as indoor gardens, cafes and bars! Entry is free – just make sure to book in advance. There are also plenty of comedy nights all around London, which don’t charge an entry fee. If you’re an art or science lover, you can visit the National Gallery and the Science Museum at no cost! These are all great options if you want to try something new with your friends without breaking the bank account.
So there you have it! A short guide to some of London’s hidden gems, allowing you to make the most of your time living in and exploring London at an affordable price. Hopefully after reading this, you’ll feel encouraged to try out some of the options mentioned and let us know how you find them!
Aanchal Raina
King’s Student Money Mentor
Part of Money & Housing Advice
The King’s Student Money Mentors blog shares our students’ personal experiences and thoughts on money-related topics. Any reference, opinions or recommendations on a particular company/brand are only the views of the student(s) who wrote the blog post. King’s College London, the Money & Housing Advice service and the Money Mentor project do not share the views in the blogs nor endorse any of the companies mentioned. Readers should conduct their own research before using any companies mentioned in our blog posts.