We all know that it’s hard to drag yourself out of bed when it’s below zero outside and every time you leave the house you risk injury-by-deceptive-footpath-frost.

London never stops, even in winter. So it’s time to pull on your third layer of thermals and head to some of these free activities happening around the city this January.

‘Alternative’ Walking Tours

You won’t be seeing Tower Bridge or Big Ben on this walking tour. Take a walk through East London with one of the city’s most acclaimed walking companies for free. Discover the street art and history of Brick Lane and Shoreditch, areas which have surprisingly only recently been gentrified.

Alternative London has won a Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence for the past four years, so it’s fair to say these tickets will sell out fast.  Book your ticket here.

Chinese New Year

The Year of the Rooster kicks off on the 29 January, prepare for a month of music, acrobats and pyrotechnics! Begin your celebrations by watching the Chinese New Year Parade, starting at 10 am. Keep checking the London Chinatown Chinese Association’s website for more information.

Teenage Bedrooms

Has your mum already turned your room into a yoga sanctuary or guest bedroom? Never fear, you can visit 26 different teenage bedrooms at this exhibition at the Geffrye Museum in Hoxton.  Maybe you can find one that resembles your own…

January Markets

If you enjoy all things vintage and crafty, you should definitely visit The Old Dalston or Hackney Flea Market this January. Both markets offer a selection of hand-picked stall holders selling handmade crafts and everything retro, vintage and antique. You might be able to find a few new things for your flat (or maybe a present for your great grandma).

Markets are taking place 7, 8 and 15 January and are free!  Find out more information here.

It’s just about that time of year when all the people who refuse to make plans for NYE start freaking out about not having plans for NYE. Never fear! We have four cheap, easy ways that you can easily avoid FOMO.

KCLSU New Year’s Eve Party

Head KCLSU’s BRAND NEW Philosophy Bar for their annual New Year’s Eve Party to end 2016. You’ll be ringing in the New Year right in the centre of London, alongside some of the biggest celebrations in the city.

What’s included? Your £18 ticket gets you a free drink (non-alcoholic or alcoholic), light food options and low drink prices throughout the evening. The Union is currently offering two tickets for £25 on their website.

London Mayor’s Fireworks

If you live at Stamford Street Apartments, boy do we have news for you! You have access to one of London’s most popular New Year’s Eve events. Stamford Street Apartments is in the ticketed event area for the London Mayor’s Fireworks, which means as long as you have a wristband, you’ll have a great view of the event. The fireworks start at 7.30 pm, see the Major of London’s website for more information.

Even if don’t plan to watch the fireworks, we advise that all Stamford Street residents collect a wristband from reception before 31 December. Wristbands are limited so make sure you get in quick. You will not be allowed to enter the ticketed area if you do not hold a wristband or an ID card that includes your Stamford Street Address.

The Global Lounge

If you have no plans and are worried about being alone, join the Global Lounge Facebook group and see how other King’s Students are celebrating.

The Global Lounge is your Winter Break space at Franklin-Wilkins Building. It will be open until 6 pm on New Year’s Eve, so you can head to Waterloo and play some Nintendo Wii or table tennis to kick off your night.

On New Year’s Day Bridget Jones’s Diary will be playing at 6 pm, the perfect way to start the New Year!

 Winter Wonderland or Kew Gardens

If you are more of a Christmas person and feel as though the season has ended too quickly, you can still visit two of London’s best Christmas displays on New Year’s Eve. Kew Gardens is beautiful all year around, but at Christmas, it really makes its mark.  Think beautiful nature inspired Christmas lights, a Santa’s Grotto and a vintage carousel.

Winter Wonderland is also open on New Year’s Eve until 10 pm, book your tickets now to secure a place!

Lastly, between 23.45 and 4.30, you can travel for free on the Tube, Overground, bus, DLR and TFL rail. Stay safe and see you in the New Year!

No matter whether you are in residences or back at home it is always important to stay safe. Christmas is a busy time of year. There are holiday parties to attend, copious amounts of food to be eaten, Christmas shopping to do and family to see.

However, during this time it is also important to look after yourself, whether you are heading home or staying in your residence.

Out on the Town

We all know it’s hard to avoid excessive consumption of both food and alcohol over the Christmas period. It’s the one time of the year where even gran might get a little tiddly.

If you’re planning a few big nights out make sure you remember to stay safe. The city might seem a whole lot more inviting at Christmas, but reports show that crime increases over this period. Make sure you:

• Walk with friends
• Take a taxi if you’re alone
• Avoid dark alleyways (harder than it sounds when it gets dark at 3.30pm!)
• Always tell someone where you’re going
• Always shield your pin when withdrawing cash
• Look out for your friends
• Ensure there are no tailgaters when returning to your home or residence
• Be responsible and don’t take unnecessary risks

In your Residence 

If you’re heading home over Winter break make sure you hide your valuables and make sure your doors and windows are secure.

To help maintain a safe, secure and sustainable residence please ensure the following are done before heading home:

• Switch off any electrical appliances, an indoor fire isn’t very enjoyable without a fireplace.
• Turn off your heating, lighting and any taps to avoid excess electricity and water consumption over the break.
• Clean out the fridge, disposing of any produce or items that may become a serious health issue if left alone for three weeks.
• Let us know if you are leaving. We have a duty of care to make sure all our residents are safe, whether you are with us or at home.

Do something different

When classes start back on the 15 January many of you will be ready to break ground on a new term. With that in mind, now is your opportunity to make the most of this downtime. Use the break to catch up on that best seller you haven’t had the chance to read. Visit friends or go to a local café and people watch. Remember that this is the time of the year where you can put your feet up and recharge those batteries.

Keep well!

It’s a cold, dark time of year, which makes locking yourself up in your room with a jar of peanut butter and Netflix seems very inviting. If you’re trying to beat the winter blues remember that exercise helps improve your mood. There’s a bunch of Christmas-themed walking tours taking place all over London, check them out here.

If you’re staying in your residence, make sure you get together with your flatmates or neighbours for a glass of mulled wine or a hot chocolate.

Get involved

There’s no need to be alone over the Christmas period. King’s College London and KCLSU have joined forces to create the Global Lounge, a Winter Break space with games, film nights and more. Attend one of the events or simply bring some friends along and celebrate the English Winter over a free cup of tea and a sandwich.

Merry Christmas! We can’t wait to welcome everyone back in the New Year. Remember, if you’re staying with us over the break you can still contact your Residence Welfare Team (RAs and Wardens) through email and phone. You can find out more information about Christmas at King’s here.

It’s that time of year. Time to bunker down with a cup of tea and the hundreds of pages of university readings.

So Reading Week is supposed to be about getting work done without the pressure of lectures and copious group assignments and not about lying in bed and binge watching Stranger Things on Netflix (by the way,  if you haven’t started watching it you really should!)

We have compiled some tips for you to get through the week and come out of Reading Week with your sanity still intact.

Give yourself a break

Whilst Reading Week is designed to give you time to get through your many readings for your many classes, it is also an opportunity for you to realise you made it through your first month of University. You, a fully-fledged adult made it through Fresher’s week, dorm life, group projects and Monday mornings at 8am. Give yourself a break and remember to not overload yourself with more than you can handle.

Make a plan / to-do lists

You know it is getting serious when “Write To-do List” is actually an item on a separate To-Do list. Make sure you have a plan of how you are going to tackle the different readings on different subjects. A great way of doing this is by writing down all the things that need to be done by the end of the week, breaking these out into smaller goals and giving yourself deadlines. Remember to always prioritise those things with the shortest timeframe and the earliest deadlines. This ensures you don’t panic. You’ve got this!

Once you complete a task, cross it out. Once you start making lists this way it becomes a habit and you won’t believe how beneficial it is later in life.

Find your study space

Everyone has a place where they are able to sit down with a textbook that hasn’t been opened all semester and immediately absorb the information. For me this is in bed, with a bag of Jelly Beans and reruns of Gilmore Girls on in the background. For others, it is Starbucks. Everyone is different. Find your place and make it a routine. This will become your new home come exam period.

Don’t forget to go outside once and a while

There is such a thing as too much reading. Remember to take a break once in a while and do something different. Go to the gym, join that yoga class or just go for a walk through the park. It’s amazing what fresh air can do to your productivity levels. The work will still be there when you get back but clearing your mind for an hour or so will have a positive effect. And writing notes is much easier whilst the endorphins are still pumping through your body after that spin class.

Check out the BeActive Halls timetable for their upcoming classes.

Stay positive

Don’t let the study get you down. Just remember that there are thousands of students going through the same issues. We have a number of services available to help you handle the stress of study. These services have been specifically designed to assist King’s College students and any questions you may have around studying and life in general.

For a complete list of King’s Support service click here.

Make time for yourself

Do what makes you happy. If you are reading and your brain is not taking in the information, it is less likely it will come back to you later on. Don’t stop doing the things you like to do. Take time out of your reading schedule to do things like going to coffee with friends, Netflix, wine and cheese night and cooking.

Connect with others

Chances are there are other people in your residence studying the same things as you. Put the call out via your Facebook group. There are people looking for learning groups and study partners. This is also a great way to make friends and enjoy the aforementioned wine and cheese night.

Don’t forget that life is about new experiences and learning is one of those experiences. Look at the support around you and remember that Winter Break is only 45 days away.