Thrills and spills of studying in London

[stoneysongs]

A thread for supporters of DC heading to London unis - was originally going to be UCL which seems very popular this year, but expanded at @Needmoresleep's excellent suggestion.

For chats about moving in, what to take, living in London, whether an Oyster card is worth bothering with, how to do a big shop, where to park at drop off, the dreaded search for 2nd year accommodation etc etc etc

Tagging people I've spotted from the ex Oxbridge thread but all welcome including those with DC currently in London who can share their wisdom and anyone thinking of it for 2025 or beyond

@catmomof3
@lifeturnsonadime
@PotentialUCLmum
@CoffeeMugShot
@space99
@FebruarySmith
@mynameisnotmichaelcaine
@Summertimer

By way of intro I have a DD going to UCL to study BASc Arts and Sciences.

I'm already looking forward to Christmas - and I hope we can get a few days in London just the two of us.

Everyone keeps saying it's just a matter of time before it feels normal ....but I don't really want a new one! I quite liked the old one!!

I know it has to happen though and I am so very excited for her!

I just found this chat, super helpful! We dropped DD1 in London a week ago. She is at RCM, just finished fresher's week. Her halls are in Ravenscourt Park. I am most interested in the safety tips. I am worried about her taking the tube alone at night. I'm American, and when I went to uni my mom gave me a tube of pepper spray for my key ring! I know that's not allowed here, but what are some good guidelines for girls making their way home at night?

The tube is pretty busy at night with plenty of people around and security cameras. I feel safe when on tubes. Always wise to travel home with a friend tho

That is so good to hear! I do imagine there will be times when she will be coming home at night after concerts and things where she may be on her own, and I'm not sure if it's worth insisting she get a taxi? Are black taxis considered safer than Ubers? I don't mean to sound neurotic, I just want to give her the best advice and I don't know what's considered normal and what's considered risky for London.

If a concert ends at say 1030 the tube is fine! It will be busy. Ubers are very safe as they are tracked and journeys recorded.

DS been at Kings for a week (freshers week). We live a 50 min train ride away, so went up for brunch today and to deliver a couple of things he needed. Also, zip on his backpack broke and there was a spare at home.

He filled us in on how the clubbing for freshers week worked. They were going back and forth to stuff as a group from accommodation. Those on his landed have bonded and someone in their second year suggested sharing tasks and having kitchen rules etc. He was doing laundry when I arrived and the amount of cooperative figuring out how laundry payment app worked was impressive

Relieved to see DC safely back in halls this morning after MOS event last night. Although they're v independent, and done a fair bit of travelling etc without us, it's still an adjustment having absolutely no idea who they're out with and how they'll figure out logistics of getting home etc.

Still v early days in terms of settling after we dropped on Sat. Has met some but not all flatmates, "cool" apparently but we'll see. Slightly annoying that they have one small cooker between 8 (I thought there'd be two), which feels a bit stingy.

Already had to send a parcel up via next day delivery as DD forgot her retainers and she wanted her old trainers as her new ones are killing her toes, along with some fluffy socks. She's also asked when am I coming up to visit 😅.

She has her welcome lecture today and I know her course mates were gonna meet for breakfast beforehand. She's then meeting up with a new friend for lunch then meeting up with another new friend to go and watch a fashion show this evening.

I know these daily updates will fizzle out so making the most of her texting me while I can.

Admin and eating concerns here too. Ds isn't the most organised - just hoping he gets up and out on time for lectures. Looking at his timetable, Thursdays and Fridays are full on but there's quite a bit of time off Mon-Weds. Reallly hoping he can squeeze in a few hours to get a part time job.

Re; safety @indigopotion, London is so busy day and night that it feels quite safe centrally to me. I think just advise your dc to take all the usual precautions. If travelling late, be with a friend or get a black cab or Uber, no headphones clamped on so they're aware of their surroundings etc.

I'm not sleeping that well now the time is drawing near. I'll be feeling a bit empty when I drop ds off but knowing he's only an hour away really helps.

My DS loved MOS during his UG days. He used to take the night bus back.

Once he took a taxi back and they took advantage of how drunk he was by not giving the £5 change.

DD said there is a residential overnight trip next month to Windsor and when I said how much will it cost she said she thinks it's free. Surely UCL don't do free residential trips to fancy lodges?

@catmomof3 I can see trips to Oxford and Cambridge for £35 each? There is a linktree if you Google Flourish UCL (few hits down).

But if the trip is part of the degree course, then it's included in the fees and your DD won't have to pay for it, is my understanding (apart from meals out etc).

Yes it's part of her degree, involves pre reading etc. I just assumed you'd have to pay extra like if they was at school 😅

My DC has trips included in the fees at UCL, just not extras during the trips (these would need spending money). Don't think it's the same course though as no trips to Windsor coming up!

my student was pre warned about budgeting for transport and entry fees for London trips but told there is funding if cost an issue.

Yes, my DC was also told that transport to London event/trips are the student's responsibility, but those will just be Transport for London costs, tube etc. I guess these are local trips and students live in different parts of London anyway.

My son and his new friends decided to cycle back from MOS last night 😱

I’m not impressed.

Do you know the details about the night bus as I’d feel much happier with that .

DS felt perfectly fine on the night bus. I think in central you can get on and tap the card near both entrances.

Night buses are fine, there is just a lot of them. Their route map looks like the tube map.

Night buses are usually packed as are the last trains, tubes out. Known colloquially as the 'shit faced express' 😄

You just tap once on the bus when you get on.

@lifeturnsonadime, the cycle lanes in London are really good now but I must admit I probably wouldn't chance it if I'd been out drinking but plenty do I think. Or they use those scooters that are just scattered everywhere.

I’ve debated as to whether I should pop in with my small bit of London wisdom as it’s not very fun but I just couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t.

Please tell your DC that they must not ever cycle the intersection of road which is Kingsway/Southampton Row and High Holborn. Get off and push their bikes on the pavement if need be. And if they are pedestrians at that crossing then never, ever jaywalk, always wait for the lights.

@lifeturnsonadime

I think that it's near Elephant and Castle.

The N171 goes from Elephant and Castle to Tottenham Court Road.

Would that be the right route for him?

https://tfl.gov.uk/bus/route/n171/

Thanks yes that’s much closer I was struggling with this last night because I’m not from London so don’t know the area names. He’s based opposite St Pancreas on the Euston road.

Of all the things I thought I’d have to worry about , this one wasn’t it! 🙄😂

@lifeturnsonadime

The TfL Plan A Journey might be handy for you - it will show you the routes at any time of the day or night.

https://tfl.gov.uk/plan-a-journey/