The student guide to living in east London
East
London
How to survive living
in London’s trendiest
student district
A
hhh, east London. Home of jellied eels, Brick Lane, and Idris Elba, this iconic end of the capital has evolved into the trendiest spot in the city. Shoreditch is packed with ridiculously cool bars and boutiques – and it's
Basically, if you’re lucky enough to be a student at places like the University of East London, Queen Mary’s University or London College of Fashion, then you’re about to have an excellent time.
Below, you’ll find top tips on how to make the most of east London on a budget. But before you start getting to know the area, you’ll want to have your own digs sorted. That’s why we’ve teamed up with IKEA to bring you everything you need to know about curating your perfect accommodation situation.
If you’re looking for something affordable, there are delicious meatballs, veggie balls, hot dogs and legendary cranberry sauce whenever you at IKEA Greenwich. Treat yourself to some delish scran at the onsite Swedish Restaurant, or swing by the deli for lighter bites and stuff your fridge full of Scandi goodies.
East London boasts a platter of budget-friendly restaurants. Singburi offers a mishmash of classic Thai dishes and lesser-known specials, a BYOB policy, and is the perfect spot for a chilled dinner.
We also love Brick Lane for its smorgasbord of options when it comes to a delicious bargain curry – Sheba, the Monsoon and Aladdin / Nazrul to name a few. Broadway Market and Shoreditch are both great spots for some incredible street food. One pop-up which has found a permanent home is Randy’s Wing Bar, a taste of good ol’ American buffalo chicken in Olympic Park.
Palm Vaults in Hackney is a super aesthetic spot and alternative cafe offering red velvet lattes and soft-serve ice cream. A calming alternative to a busy coffee shop, it's decorated with gorgeous greenery, a proven method to boost creativity and improve your mood. Why not emulate the peaceful vibes with IKEA’s sick house plant collection?
Alternatively, Le De Beauvoir Deli in Hackney is the perfect spot to treat yourself to all the ingredients for the perfect boujee ‘girl dinner’ — ideal night-in plans.
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spots like Hackney Wick, Dalston and Bethnal Green where you’ll find even more cutting-edge talent and edgier spots to hang out. Getting around this social hub is easy as pie. You’ve got click-clacky Lime Bikes galore, as well as excellent buses and tube links (which run early into the night). Plus, if you link your railcard to your Oyster, you’ll save a third on off-peak pay as you travel.
Greenwich
Your nearest store is IKEA Greenwich, which not only offers goodies to fill your digs with but there’s free drinks (filter coffee and tea) for IKEA Family members, and wifi for students, just in case you need a cram sesh. You can also get a brekkie croissant with tea or coffee for £1, soup, bread roll and butter for £2 at lunch and eight plant balls for £3 at dinnertime.
First, you’ll want to know about IKEA’s student box, which packs every cooking utensil you might need for under £50.
What’s more, you can get £10 off a spend over £75 when you sign-up to IKEA Family using your student email (before October 1). This makes it very tempting indeed to start browsing IKEA’s range of cosy bedding, great desk organisation gear, pretty lighting and more.
The best bit? If you’re over 21 you can hire a van with 10 percent off until October 31, helping you get everything back home with ease.
Food
Food
Food
De Beauvoir Deli
Randy's Wing Bar
IKEA’s range of Scandi staples is not only highly affordable – it’s also super-tasty. You can put together amazing salads, impressive platters and more.
Staying in?
Drink
Drink
Drink
Hackney Bridge
The post-uni pint is a staple of British student culture, and east London does not disappoint when it comes to pubs. Some of our favourite beer gardens include the Leyton Star, the Chesham Arms and the Eagle.
Barrio has awesome happy hour deals, with a different cocktail on offer every evening from Sunday ‘til Thursday. Number 90 hosts a classic 5-7pm happy hour, whereas Hackney Bridge’s runs between 3-7pm.
Both locations are trendy hotspots for drinks as well as food, but if you’re after a more authentic East End boozer, Palm Tree or Prince George are so classic you can practically hear Peggy Mitchell telling some poor Geezer to get out of her pub.
Culture
Culture
Columbia Road Flower Market
Castle Cinema
We all love a pint and a pub quiz. However, it would be a waste not to make the most of the abundance of culture on offer. Columbia Road Flower Market is a must-see of the East End and a gloriously colourful spot to find yourself on a sunny Sunday morning.
The art scene is plentiful: the Whitechapel Gallery is a gem, offering free entry six days a week. The Young Barbican scheme is also one worth checking out: it offers students and young people up to the age of 25 discounted entry to tonnes of exhibitions and creative events. And the vegetarian Gallery Café in St Margaret’s House offers art displays, plus the option of a coffee and pastry for £5.50.
Alternatively, nothing quite beats a good movie to chill out after back-to-back lectures. The Castle Cinema is a retro refurbishment of a classic picture house which offers a student-friendly concession membership to independent films and blockbusters.
Join the growing population of amateur mountaineers in east London. Mile End Climbing Wall offers £10 climbs for students and offers a 30-day pass for £55 if you find that you love it.
Feeling sporty?
Nightlife
Nightlife
East London’s nightlife is unmatched. From super-club Fabric to clusters of smaller underground music venues, there’s something for everyone who’s down for a night out. Queer fave The Dalston Superstore, is a buzzing and varied venue, hosting everything from drag brunch to club nights, with student offers on constant rotation.
FOLD is famed for its simple set-up, consisting of little more than some LEDs and a sound system, but it has hosted some killer marathon parties since opening in 2018.
Nightlife can entail wholesome alternatives to the club, too. Knock2Bag East in Bethnal Green is a chilled, budget-friendly choice, offering value tickets to shows.
Knock2Bag
Shopping
Shopping
Paper Dress Vintage
East London is home to a thriving bounty of second-hand shops: Beyond Retro in Dalston, Atika in Spitalfields and Paper Dress Vintage in Hackney are some of our personal faves, but the long list of options doesn’t end there.
Brick Lane Vintage, Old Spitalfields Antiques, and Hackney Flea Market are some standout markets to scout some second-hand trinkets and furnishings. In addition to all the quirky knick-knacks knocking around, the ever-reliable IKEA will inevitably be the go-to for furniture to personalise your space — you’ll almost definitely need a new rail for all your thrifted pieces, anyway!
So there you have it, all you need to know about being an east London student! Ready to settle into your new place? IKEA has everything you need to create your perfect uni set-up, under one roof. From the student box to getting 10 percent off Hertz van hire, these deals are not to be missed.
Ultimate savings
Discover university essentials here
Check out other districts
Written by Time Out
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hhh, east London. Home of jellied eels, Brick Lane, and Idris Elba, this iconic end of the capital has evolved
into the trendiest spot in the city. Shoreditch is packed with ridiculously cool bars and boutiques – and it's spots like Hackney Wick, Dalston and Bethnal Green where you’ll find even more cutting-edge talent and edgier spots to hang out. Getting around this social hub is easy as pie. You’ve got click-clacky Lime Bikes galore, as well as excellent buses and tube links (which run early into the night). Plus, if you link your railcard to your Oyster, you’ll save a third on off-peak pay as you travel.
Shopping
Shopping
