student profile

16
Queen Mary, University of London
London for students
London is one of the world’s
great cities. It’s an exciting,
beautiful, lively place to live
– especially if you’re a student.
That’s because there’s always
something going on, much
of it free.
Your student card will get you reduced entry to a
surprising number of places, as well as discounts
on clothes and food. Check London’s listing websites
for the most up-to-date information on free and fun
entertainment in the capital. For example:
www.timeout.com/London • www.allinlondon.co.uk
• www.studentbeans.com
Museums and galleries
London has more art galleries and museums than
any other UK city offering free entry, with a
discretionary donation. This means that you have
access to The British Museum, The National Gallery,
The Science Museum, Natural History Museum, Tate
Britain, Tate Modern, Victoria and Albert Museum
and many more.
See: www.britishmuseum.org • www.vam.ac.uk
www.nationalgallery.org.uk • www.tate.org.uk
www.sciencemuseum.org.uk
Theatre
You can often get discounted tickets for West End
shows by buying them on the day. The same goes
for opera: the English National Opera for example,
offers discounted day tickets. There are also lots
of great (and affordable) fringe performances
from up and coming stars.
Brewery. A short tube ride away, Westfield Stratford
City, Europe’s biggest urban shopping centre, has
all the high street shops you could want, as well
as many designer boutiques
See: www.ladenshowroom.co.uk
• www.sundayupmarket.co.uk •
http://uk.westfield.com/stratfordcity/
Markets
The major markets include Petticoat Lane, Portobello
Road, Covent Garden (not strictly a market anymore,
but still a great tourist attraction with buskers, street
artists and stalls), the Columbia Road Flower Market,
Borough Market, Camden Market and Spitalfields
Market.
See: www.boroughmarket.org.uk
• http://columbiaroad.info
www.spitalfields.co.uk • www.londonmarkets.co.uk
Music
There is always live music in the capital, and it’s
often free. As well as all the large and well-known
venues (like 93 Feet East on nearby Brick Lane,
and the O2 Arena) you’ll often find good live
music in pubs and bars.
See: www.93feeteast.co.uk • www.theo2.co.uk
Food and eating out
London is a food lover’s paradise, with cuisine from
around the World, and restaurants to suit all
budgets. There are also great fresh food markets,
including Queen Mary’s very own Farmers’ Market.
Held every week, students can shop for free range,
organic and locally farmed produce on the Mile End
campus – from bananas and beetroots to hot bacon
butties.
See: www.eno.org • www.londontheatre.co.uk
www.thestage.co.uk/listings
Shopping
London has shops to suit all tastes and budgets.
From the world-famous Oxford Street, where you’ll
find flagship high street shops and department
stores, to niche boutiques selling creations from
the latest young designers, and vintage gems.
Close to Queen Mary’s Mile End and Whitechapel
campuses, Brick Lane has many such small shops,
as well as a weekend market next to the Truman