LONDON CALLING

LIVING IN LONDON

International Orientation 2014-5

Test your knowledge!

1. How many languages are spoken in London?

a) 120

2) 200

3) 250

Test your knowledge!

ANSWER: C – 250; London is the most linguistically diverse city the world!

2. Where is the best Underground station for spotting mice?

a) Waterloo

b) Victoria

c) King’s Cross St Pancras

Test your knowledge!

ANSWER: A – Waterloo (apparently!)

3. How many bathrooms are there in Buckingham Palace?

a) 28

b) 78

c) 118

Where to start?

• Get to know your surrounding area• Consult My Campus and My Local Area guides• Make the most of KCLSU and college events• Explore with new friends• Find out what’s free!• Try different places – food, entertainment, etc.• Compile a list of all the different things you’d like to do,

then start doing them!

(The answer was 78, by the way)

Getting Around

Expansive transport network across London:

• Underground• Bus• Train• Taxi• Riverboat• Tram• “Boris Bikes”• Walking!

Discounts

• A student (18+) Oyster card might save you money

- Apply online

- For students on a course lasting more than fourteen weeks

- Savings available on weekly/monthly/yearly travelcards only

- See www.tfl.gov.uk and www.kcl.ac.uk/funding

• An 18-25 Railcard will save you a third off rail travel across

the UK

- Useful if you’ll be travelling outside of London

- See www.16-25railcard.co.uk

Top Transport Tips

• Download a good transport app (e.g. Citymapper)

• Make use of your student discount if you’ll be travelling

around London every day

• Buses MUCH cheaper than Tubes

• Plan alternative routes to college and home

• Only use black cabs and licensed taxis. Cabwise is a helpful

app. And NEVER try to dodge your fare!

• Get a Young Person’s Railcard

Things to Do and See

• Students’ union – clubs, events, societies

• Museums and galleries – over 300 in London!

• Concerts, plays, musicals

• Football, cricket and other sporting events

• Festivals and other music events

• Parks

• Public buildings and monuments

• Cinemas

• Pubs and clubs

• Restaurants

What’s free?

Most major museums and galleries give free admission, including:

•Tate Modern and Tate Britain•National Gallery•British Museum•Imperial War Museum•Victoria and Albert Museum•Natural History Museum•Science Museum

You will only have to pay to enter special exhibitions.

What else?

• BBC TV and Radio online – iPlayer – www.bbc.co.uk

Free concerts and other events:

• Somerset House and the National Theatre (both near to King’s!)• Music venues such as the Barbican, Wigmore Hall and Royal Festival Hall often host free lunchtime concerts – look in Time Out for information• Many churches have regular free lunchtime concerts• Open-air events in summer

And what’s cheap?

• Cinemas – if you avoid Central London! Many offer student discount and are cheaper on weekday afternoons.• Theatres often run student and last-minute offers• Even restaurants can offer student discounts – always check• Lots of London parks have lidos which offer cheap swimming and are great in summer• Students’ union facilities will often be cheaper than public ones (e.g. Gym)• Lower-division football matches and twenty20 cricket

Top Tips for Going Out

• Check for student discounts.

• Sign up for loyalty cards and check for vouchers

• Find out what’s free

• Visit the KCLSU website and sign up to mailing lists to find out about discounts and special events

• Get to know your local area and check out the area guides and community guides

Top Tips for Going Out

• Free papers, Time Out magazine, and their websites• Half-price ticket booth at Leicester Square• Venue mailing lists• Online ticket sales – www.ticketmaster.co.uk • Ticket exchange - www.seatwave.com • Freebies and discounts – www.vouchercodes.co.uk (and

other sites!) • Meal deals – www.toptable.co.uk • www.lastminute.com – good for gigs and shows• Returns at venues – best seats for lowest price!

Shopping

• Big supermarkets: Sainsbury’s, Tesco, ASDA and Morrisons. Waitrose is more expensive.

• Argos: cheap for essentials like kettles and crockery – large store on New Oxford Street

• Brilliant markets!• Lots of second hand bookshops – check out Charing

Cross Road and Marchmont Street (WC1)• Waterstones Gower Street – big academic bookshop• Sales!• Student discounts• ...oh, and obviously online!

Don’t forget...

If you have a television it is against the law to not have a current television licence. For information and to get a licence go to www.tvlicensing.co.uk or pick up a form in our information room

Even if you are in College halls MAKE SURE YOU GET INSURANCE!!! If you don’t and your belongings are stolen or damaged you will lose a lot of money (www.endsleigh.co.uk specialise in student insurance policies)

Phones and bills

• Shop around for good deals (price comparison

websites)

• Save money – call using Skype

• Go to The Carphone Warehouse or Phones4U for deals

from different providers – more options!

• Be careful of special deals – they are often only cheap

for the first few months!

• Open a UK bank account – otherwise you have to pay to

withdraw money!

Top Tips for Shopping

• Find your nearest large supermarket and check out own-brands

• Check out some price comparison websites for the best deals for mobile phones etc.

• Explore your local area for local shops/markets

• Ask for student discounts in shops

• Get insurance!

KCLSU•Located at Guy’s, Strand and Waterloo campuses

•Runs the clubs, societies and volunteering opportunities

•Lots of events and activities throughout the year

•Bars, venues and shops

•Job opportunities on-campus

•Academic Advice Service – for problems such as appeals, disciplinaries and complaints

•Campaigns

• www.kclsu.org

Stay fit!

• King’s Health and Fitness Centre, Stamford Street• Great value for students• New equipment and regular classes• http://www.kcl.ac.uk/campuslife/sport/facilities/fitnesscentre.aspx

Alternatively…• EnergyBase (on Malet Street, near Goodge Street tube and Senate House Library) is a student gym with a large pool: http://www.student-central.co.uk/energybase/

Exploring further afield…

• Lots to see in the UK

• On Europe’s doorstep!

• Make the most of Young Person’s Railcard and cheap flights

etc

• Join the International Students’ House Travel Club

• Remember that Haggis and Shamrocker offer 15% off tours

for King’s students if you type “KCL” into the promo box

• Keep an eye on the Facebook page for tips on where to go

But….

• Don’t forget to have documents with you when passing through

immigration

Some Useful Links

Transport:www.tfl.gov.ukwww.youngpersons-railcard.co.uk www.thetrainline.com and http://uk.megabus.com/

Discounts and deals:NUS card - www.nusextra.co.ukwww.vouchercodes.co.uk (and others)www.timeout.com

Price comparison – www.pricerunner.co.uk

www.facebook.com/kingsinternationalstudentsupport

Help!

If you are unhappy, looking for more information, or have a problem and need help or advice…

You’re probably not the only one!

• Don’t ignore the issue

• Don’t pay someone for advice

• Do make use of the services at King’s:

- Student Advisers, Counsellors, the Compass, Health Centre, Chaplains and the Students’ Union are here to help!– all are free, confidential and impartial

My London

“When a man is tired of London he is tired of life, for there is in London all that life can afford.”

- Samuel Johnson

QUESTIONS?

OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE:WWW.KCL.AC.UK/ADVICE