Living in London: Transport

London has one of the most extensive transport systems in Europe. It is made up of the London Underground (also known as the tube), buses, Tramlink, Docklands Light Railway (DLR), boats, trains and taxis. It can seem very daunting at first but you will soon get used to it.

For most services London is split into six zones. Tickets and travel passes can be bought for individual or adjoining zones.

Travel Cards

The most economical option is a Travel card (daily, weekly, monthly or even annual periods available). Travel cards are valid for travel in specified zones on the buses (except certain special bus services and excursions), Tube, Tramlink, DLR and National Rail services (excluding Heathrow Express).

Travel cards also entitle you to 1/3rd off the cost of travel on scheduled Riverboat services by showing your Travel card at the time of travel. Remember that when using the Tube, Tramlink, DLR or National Rail, the Travel card you hold must be valid for all the zones you travel in, as shown on the ticket.

The cheapest option of all is a bus-only pass. This will allow you unlimited travel on all the buses (except certain special bus services and excursions), for a fraction of the cost of an integrated Travel card. Buses are very convenient if you are only travelling a short distance, particularly within Central London. If you have a longer journey to make, it could become time consuming due to high levels of traffic congestion.

A useful tip when traveling by bus – if you are waiting at a bus stop, you need to put your arm out in order to signal to the bus driver that you want him to stop so that you can get on the bus. If you do not do this, there is a good chance the bus will go by without stopping.

It’s worth remembering that Transport for London offer a Student Photo card which allows you to get discounts on certain travel cards and bus passes. Once you have arrived in London you can pick up the application form for this from the Student Centre.

Accommodation Officer
LONDON SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
1/11 Bache's Street
London
N1 6DL
United Kingdom
Tel: +44(0)20 7608 2024, +44(0)20 7608 2025, +44(0)20 7608 2026
Mobile : 077 91151766
Fax: +44(0)20 7608 2035
info@lsbuk.co.uk

Off Campus Housing
Most postgraduate students choose to live off-campus during their studies. There are a variety of off-campus housing options available to students in the area surrounding the college, including residence halls, shared apartments and home-stays. You should contact the accommodation office for further information. Contact details as above.

Living in London: Cost of Living
Although London is undoubtedly an expensive city in comparison with many others around the world, it is possible to live within a modest budget if you are sensible and make yourself aware of the ways to save money. Here is just a rough guide to what you could expect to pay for things.

Accommodation

If you are looking for a Studio Flat on your own, you can expect to pay an absolute minimum of at least £140 per week. Most students choose to live in shared houses or flats. In general the more people you share with the less you will pay. A small single room in a shared flat could cost about £80 - £100 per week although it is possible to find cheaper places if you are prepared to really work at it and do not mind sacrificing a few luxuries.

Entertainment & Leisure

As a student in Britain you can benefit from a wide range of student discounts. This includes many venues such as theatres, cinemas, museums and exhibitions. You can normally get discount theatre tickets for around £10, the cinema will be around £5 with a student card. Entry to many museums is free of charge. Bars and clubs hold special "student nights" with special offers on entry prices and drinks. High street shops often offer a discount of approximately 10% for students if you show them a valid student ID card. On the other hand, however, it is possible to spend vast amounts on entertainment. There are many exclusive and highly priced clubs, bars and shops in London which may not be within your budget.

Books & Study Materials

It is not necessary to purchase many books, as most lecturers will make copies of relevant sections or will leave notes for students to download from the College network. All course books will be available in the library. You could budget for between £100 and £200, which should be plenty.

Food

It is recommended that you buy food and other essentials from one of the big supermarket chains (Tesco and Asda are good ones). You may find cheaper goods from street markets, although the quality may be more variable. You could easily manage on £30 per week if you have to.

Living in London: Leisure & Entertainment

Whatever your interests, you can be sure you will find plenty to entertain you during your stay in London.

Museums & Galleries

The museums and galleries, some of which are world renowned, are numerous. Practically all of them are free of charge and are well worth visiting.

Nightlife

For nightlife there is every possible type of club, pub and bar imaginable. There are also excellent plays and musicals in theatres all over London, but especially in the West End. If you want to eat out, you will find a very wide range of restaurants and cafes to choose from, many of which are excellent value for money. All the music lovers out there will not be disappointed. London is home to an enormous amount of music venues, which host everything from world famous opera singers to up and coming pop bands.

Shopping

London has excellent shopping. You might fancy strolling around the street markets (for example in Portobello Road or Camden Town) hunting for bargains. Or you could check out some of the famous department stores such as Harrods or Selfridges. There are endless possibilities!

Health/Travel Insurance

Make sure you take out appropriate medical insurance to cover any medical expenses that may occur while you are abroad. You should also make sure you take the appropriate medical precautions (e.g. vaccinations etc.) before your departure.
Check with your doctor and the consulate of the country where you are going if you are unsure about what you need.

Be sure to take all of your medical insurance documents with you, as most universities/schools abroad will want you to provide evidence that you have adequate medical cover. Please note that certain institutions have their own health insurance plan which exchange students are required to take out.

Apart from the insurance that covers you during your stay, you must take out travel insurance that will cover you until you arrive at the host institution and for any travel/sightseeing you decide to do at the end of your exchange.

Living in London: Money & Banking

Before you leave home get advice from your bank in your home country. Find out how you can transfer money and whether your bank can help you to set up an account in the UK. Find out if a cash card from your bank at home can be used to withdraw money from UK cash machines.

Opening a Bank Account

You will almost definitely need to open a bank account while you are in the UK. To do this, you will need to complete an application form from the bank and provide any documents that they request e.g. passport, a letter confirming you are a student (available on request from the International Programmes Office), proof of your address in London or at home. The Student Centre on campus can help you with this.
Avoid carrying large amounts of cash with you. If you need to bring a large lump sum over with you, use travelers cheques or wait until you have arrived and then have it transferred to your British account.