London is one of the most expensive cities in the world for students, but the students who plan ahead spend a lot less than those who don’t. Most of the savings come from four things: how you travel, where you eat, what you do in your free time and when you book. All prices below were checked in October 2026.
Getting around for less
Pay for buses, the Tube, the Overground, the Elizabeth line and the DLR by tapping in with a contactless bank card, a phone or an Oyster card. You pay the same fare whichever you use, and London buses no longer take cash.
- Daily and weekly caps. However many journeys you make, you never pay more than the cap. In Zones 1–2 it is £8.90 a day or £44.70 Monday to Sunday. In Zones 1–3 it is £10.50 a day, and in Zones 1–4 it is £12.80. Use the same card or phone every time, or the caps won’t add up.
- Buses are the cheapest way to travel. A bus or tram journey costs £1.75, and with the Hopper fare you can change buses as often as you like within an hour for no extra charge. If you only take buses, you won’t pay more than £5.25 a day. TfL plans to raise the bus fare to £1.85 from 1 November 2026, so check the current price on the TfL website.
- Travel off-peak when you can. Tube fares cost more on weekday mornings and evenings, so a later start can save money on non-class days.
- The 18+ Student Oyster photocard gives 30% off Travelcards and bus and tram passes. To qualify you need to be 18 or over, live in London during your course and study full time at a school registered with the scheme, usually at least 15 hours a week for at least 14 weeks. Ask your school whether it is registered before you apply. There is a small fee.
- Santander Cycles (the red hire bikes) cost £3.50 for a day pass, which covers unlimited rides of up to 60 minutes each.
- Walk. Central London is smaller than it looks on the Tube map. Trafalgar Square to Westminster, or Covent Garden to Leicester Square, is a short walk, and walking is the best way to find your way around a new city.
Free museums and galleries
The big national museums are free to enter: the British Museum, the National Gallery, Tate Modern, the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and the V&A. Special exhibitions inside them usually cost extra, and at busy times it helps to book a free entry slot online. Many of them run free talks and tours in English, which is good listening practice.
Free things to see
- Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace is free to watch. It usually takes place several mornings a week at 11:00, but the dates change and it can be cancelled in bad weather, so check the Household Division calendar the week you go. The steps of the Victoria Memorial give a better view than the palace railings.
- The parks. Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, St James’s Park and Regent’s Park are all central and free. Greenwich Park and Primrose Hill have two of the best views of the city.
- The South Bank. Walk along the river from Westminster Bridge to Tower Bridge and you pass the London Eye, street performers, book stalls and Shakespeare’s Globe.
- Markets. Borough, Camden and Columbia Road are free to walk around, and food stalls are often cheaper than restaurants nearby.
Theatre for less
West End tickets don’t have to be expensive.
- TKTS in Leicester Square is the official half-price ticket booth. It sells tickets for the same day and up to a week ahead.
- Day seats. Many theatres release a small number of cheap seats on the morning of the show, often for £10–£25.
- Lotteries and rush tickets. The TodayTix app runs free lotteries and same-day rush tickets for many shows, again often £10–£25.
- Weekday matinees and previews are usually cheaper than evening and weekend performances.
Eating well on a budget
- Cook where you can. If your homestay includes breakfast and dinner, a packed lunch is the only meal you need to buy. Self-catering students usually spend £40–£60 a week on food.
- Choose the right supermarket. Large supermarkets and discount chains are cheaper than the small “express” shops near stations.
- Ask for tap water. Pubs and restaurants with a licence must give you free drinking water if you ask.
- Use your student card. Many cinemas, shops and restaurants offer student discounts. Ask before you pay.
Plan your weekly budget
As a guide, students in London usually spend £40–£70 a week on transport in Zones 1–3 and £40–£60 a week on food if they cook for themselves. Pay with a card that doesn’t charge fees for spending abroad, and avoid changing money at the airport.
For more on living costs and the best areas for students, see our London city guide, where you can also compare English schools in London with their full prices.
