tips for moving to london as a young adult

[Curiositykilledthecat113]

Hi I'm moving to London to take a masters degree, my accommodation is sorted so no tips needed on rent. I'd just like to hear any recommendations of restaurants which are reasonably priced, places to visit (Museums, art galleries, theatres etc), how on earth to use the underground and get an oyster and any general tips! Things you wish you knew before moving to London, if you will.

Thanks a lot! :)

There's a great market near Brick Lane - I think it's on a Sunday quite early. Other markets too, google 'street markets London near Camden' or similar and you'll find out the days and times.
When you get over, pick up a physical map (small little leaflet) of the underground and put it in your travelcard wallet with your shiny new student oyster card! I think the big stations like Euston, Kings Cross/St. Pancras have offices where you can sign up for student oyster thingy. It needs to have your photo on it - not sure whether they do that digitally now or what - you'll find your feet no bother.

Here's a list of restaurants in Camden from Time Out

Jump on northern line to Highgate walk through the woods and up to Alexandra Palace.

Which uni is it? I used to walk from Camden to UCL. It took about 35 mins I think. People often took the bus as it was cheaper than the tube and took about the same time once you walked to the tube.

Sadly it's too long since I lived there to give recommendations! I suspect my old haunts are long gone or very different.

Sorry - I've presumed you're moving country. You might be just moving from Liverpool lol in which case ignore anything irrelevant.

Walk everywhere (or overground train/bus) as it’s the best way to find your bearings. When I moved down there was a lot of bomb scares in the underground so was always getting turfed out in areas I didn’t know (so kept an a-z in my bag!) but google maps are great. There are some good ‘hidden London’ books for walks which are great for discovering interesting bits.

This is where you apply online for a student Oyster

photocard.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/showLogon.do?selection=student

And info page about it here-

tfl.gov.uk/fares/free-and-discounted-travel/18-plus-student-oyster-photocard?intcmp=54727

Note : it says the discounts are for seaon tickets only, not PAYG

The blues kitchen in Camden is great food and reasonably priced too

Central Tickets for cheap theatre.

Find a good street market - go with a friend and split what you buy - eg 10 peppers for £1. Much cheaper than supermarkets.

I am a London resident. You must go to:

Sir John Soane's museum in Holborn www.soane.org/home
My second home is the National Gallery www.nationalgallery.org.uk/
Chinatown Bakery chinatown.co.uk/en/bar-cafe/chinatown-bakery/ The rude service is part of the experience!
Stables Market, especially the food stalls and Collectif, who make 1950s and 60s style dresses, skirts and blouses.
Hampstead Heath and Kenwood House. www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/kenwood/?utm_source=Google%20Business&utm_campaign=Local%20Listings&utm_medium=Google%20Business%20Profiles&utm_content=kenwood%20house
Jewish Museum Camden (closed since March, but hopeful they will re-open) jewishmuseum.org.uk/
London Zoo is in Regents Park, a short bus ride from Camden.
Neasden Temple
When the theatres are back up and running the ticket booth in Leicester Square offers on-the-day half price tickets.

The Stockpot and the won kei!

If you are under 25 the national theatre does great cheap tickets

www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/16-25-tickets

Other theatres do good student deals too.

Food it's hard to say as a lot of cheap places just won't be there any more when things reopen.

As a student we used to haunt the Barbican and the south bank.

To answer one comment I'm from the UK with a UK bank account so I won't need a new NI number or bank account. However I'm from a rural area so no experience of London or bigger cities. Some really great suggestions on this thread I'm currently reading through and searching them all. @SquirmOfEels great suggestions I'm up for trying anything, some new things there I hadn't heard about. Thanks for food recommendations @Divebar I am a fan of chinese food so that'll be great.

If you are a fan... don’t try the won Kei (it’s really just for the atmosphere!) in Chinatown. Famous for sharing tables and the rudest staff anywhere.

Another thing I'm quite concerned about is loneliness, I've heard that London can be quite an isolating city and that it's less 'friendly' than the area I currently live in. Probably stereotypes but any perspectives on that would be great to hear!

Appreciate all of the suggestions I'm bookmarking the thread for future reference too, so many to look at already! Glad I asked here. For those of you who live in London, is it always extremely busy or does it ever quieten down in less touristy times? Just out of curiosity.

In the olden days my you'd get tourists year round. Not much at the moment, do it's a good time for Londoners to see the sights. It's surprisingly easy to never get round to,what's on your own doorstep

You'll probably be able to find clubs/activities through your university, which is one way of meeting people. Otherwise, just keep looking at 'what's on' listings and just go along to stuff, be brave and talk to people. Or let us know something of your interests and perhaps we'll have suggestions

Always busy - especially if you live in touristy areas (Camden is busy). I came to do a post grad and found that most people were new to London too so there was always a crowd of people to hang out with.

I never get taxis anywhere in London, I always walk or get public transport.

Bus is useful for learning the routes above ground, but the tube is usually quicker. I like sitting at the front of the bus on the top deck and looking out of the window for new and interesting things to see or go to.

What sort of hobbies do you like doing? Whatever you enjoy, there’s bound to be alum in London which you can join to combat loneliness. Also, there will be clubs associated with the university.

If you're living in Camden there's a really nice canal walk/ bike ride you can do through Regents Park and the axon, to Little Venice and Notting Hill. London is the most wonderful city - you'll have so much fun.

Walk the canal the other way to coal drops yard kings cross
Very young and trendy
Post covid join a meetup gym hiking choir book club or uni soc

Best advice I had was to think of London as a series of villages of communities, which is much less daunting that trying to get to grips with a world city.

Make really good use of the facilities which are on your doorstep. It's exhilarating to go into the British Museum or the National Gallery and look at just one object. 15mi s out of your day to do something that would just not be possible anywhere else

Rather than cover all the usual touristy things, look out for things that interest you already and of things which are quirky and unique. Making contacts in your immediate neighbourhood is always more fun than having to travel long distances

Enjoy.

p.s. my vote for a rainy days is to visit the south bank centre. Always something happening and the worlds only singing lift. On the eastern side of the building. The note gets higher as you ascend , lower as you descend. Genius.