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Studying Abroad in London? Tips and Tricks for Thriving on a Student Budget!

In terms of partying, beauty, and entertainment, London is actually hiding a very important secret that not many people realize - if you're smart about it it's cheap! Here are the best, lesser known tricks to living a budget-friendly life studying abroad, while not sacrificing any fun.

1. Design My Night

       Design My Night is a UK nightlife guide where you can discover bars, restaurants, pubs and events. Ranging from boozy brunches in a ball pit to a nice dinner by the Hudson - this website has everything. And the best part is, it has special student deals it advertises, most events don't even cost above 10£. On top of that, some events/venues offer free food or drinks when buying the vouchers from here. Overall, this website is a great way not only to know whats going on, but also for cheap tickets and entry.

2. Club Emails

       Now this one may seem surprising, and it was something I stumbled upon completely randomly. All of the biggest clubs in London have email newsletters - and signing up will save you many £££. If you've heard of Ministry of Sound, Egg, and The Gallery, just to name a few, signing up is a lifesaver. Often times, these clubs will send out early access tickets which are cheaper, or even just free tickets. During Easter, I scored 10 free tickets to Ministry of Sound, which has been named the most popular club in the UK, and it was one of the best nights ever! Sometimes they'll even have raffles for tables at clubs. Normally, each club entry is around 20£ per person, so this is the smartest way to get into big night clubs that I haven't seen mentioned anywhere before!

3. Student Nights at Bars

       Along with the emails, bars often have student nights. They're normally during the week - but we're studying abroad so it doesn't really matter right? During these nights entry is usually no more than 5£ and they have great drink deals. Here are a few of popular student nights:

Picadilly Instritute Throwback Thursdays: 8£ and 4£ jagerbombs + more

Roxy Tuesdays and Wednesdays: 4£ entry + happy hour all night like half priced pitchers

Cargo Tuesdays and Wednesday: FREE Entry and £2.50 drinks all night!!

4. Treatwell

       If someone asked me what was the most surprising thing I found living in London, it would be this website. Treatwell is almost too good to be true! It has offers and discounts for every beauty service you could image. If you are someone who gets their nails done every two weeks, you'll actually save in London. I would get high quality full sets for 15£. Sometimes you may have to travel far out into zone 2, but hey its so worth it, and the double-decker bus rides were very enjoyable.

5. Travel Smart - Do the Math!

The last tip I want to share is assuming your going to want to explore the rest of Europe. Usually this includes flying EasyJet and Ryan Air for the cheapest flights , which honestly is not that bad in my opinion. The most inconvenient part about the ordeal is usually these airports include Stanstead or Gatwick Airport. Normally you can use the National Express Coach bus to get to these locations, however depending on how many people you are traveling with Uber could be cheaper! With six people coming back from Stanstead airport our Uber split between us was only 15£ compared to the 25£ for the bus. The train is even more costly at 30£ each way.  When traveling throughout Europe, try FlixBus if your locations are close instead of flying! My friends and I took a 4 hour bus from Prague to Vienna for only 15 euros. It's a great way to see the country and taking buses saves airport transportation fees too, since buses usually travel from city center to city center. Costs add up so it is important you consider all the options when planning your trips.

I hope these tips were new and helpful. Currently, amidst Covid-19, I understand many people's study abroad plans have been halted or uncertainly suspended. I hope that we as a society, will rebound from this better than ever, and that those who are looking forward to studying abroad in London are able to go and enjoy their time there. Studying abroad in London was an amazing experience, so make sure to make the most of it. Saving and being cost efficient can help you enjoy more adventures inside the UK and out!

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An Introduction to Can’t Wait: A Travel + Experiences Blog

I am so excited to be starting my own blog! Traveling has been a huge part of my life, and at this point has become a personality trait. However, I wanted this to be something tangible, and use and dispense some of the knowledge I’ve gathered out to others as well. Here is a little bit about me! I am currently 20 years old, in my last year in university. I’m studying in the New York city which has infinitely helped grow my desire for new experiences. I am addicted to watching YouTube, have a wicked sweet tooth, and really enjoy researching and learning about new cultures. I am not the best writer but I am interested in it, and I am definitely not a literature student in any way - but I’ll do my best! I’ve been inspired by so many other travel channels and content creators and am so excited to start this incredible journey, which is a new type of other-worldly experience itself!