The student guide to living in west London
WEST
London
We’re giving you the
low-down on what it’s
side student scene
Y
ou’re heading to London for uni and you’re raring to go. The world is your oyster! But London is, well, massive – and have you heard how much a pint costs these days? Luckily, when it comes to the must-see, do and eat
We’re here to help you with the practical stuff, too. We’ve teamed up with IKEA to help take your student accommodation to the next level. If you don’t have a utensil to your name, no worries: IKEA’s student box is your best friend. For under £50, you’ll get all the cookery gear you need. And once you’ve got the basics sorted, you get to move onto the fun stuff! Yep, we’re talking cosy bedding, lovely lighting, smart ways to organise your desk – the lot. Start getting some inspiration here.
Look out for IKEA’s excellent Freshers Week deals, too – students get £10 off when spending £75 or more in-store or online before October 1, 2023. Nice!
For a quick bite head to no frills Ranoush in Edgware Road for tasty gyros, meze and fresh juices, or, alternatively grab a crazily affordable £7 freshly cooked pizza from the family-run Italian ICCO in Goodge Street. At around £8.50, even their vegan options won’t break the bank.
If it’s a more formal affair that you’re after, Addie’s Thai restaurant in Earl’s Court may not be flashy, but it’s always brimming with happy customers – that’s thanks to the authentic and utterly delicious dishes that it serves from its abundant menu. Ordered too much? Bring your leftovers home, store safely away in this handy container, and munch it from one of these fancy bowls in the morning (there’s no shame in having dinner for breakfast: you do you).
Don’t forget: IKEA Hammersmith is home to affordable and planet-friendly food that’s perfect for keeping on hand when you need a quick snack. We’re talking Swedish chocolate, frozen vegetable balls and lots more.
Written by Time Out
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places on a budget, we’ve got you covered. To get to all of these cracking locations, make sure to link your 18+ student oyster card with your 16-25 railcard (it’s 30 percent off!) and check the night tubes – the Central line is famed for running late – and you’ve got plenty of night buses too if you fancy a late-night kebab with a little entertainment on the journey home.
Hammersmith
Lucky for you west Londoners, IKEA Hammersmith is also not far away. At this cute, smaller IKEA, you can still get all your favourites (not to mention some tasty Scandi snacks at the Swedish deli). Why not get your uni mates together for a little shopping trip?
And if you join the IKEA Family, you get access to a whole range of exclusive deals. Not just £10 off when you spend £75 or more, but free daily hot drinks (filter coffee and tea), and discounts on food (for a limited period) including £1 croissant and coffee or tea, £2 soup and bread at lunch, and dinner of eight plant balls for £3.
Plus, if you’re over 21 you can get 10 percent off Hertz van rental until October 31 – making it even easier to settle into your new place.
Food
Food
Food
Ranoush
Ranoush
IKEA Hammersmith is home to affordable and planet-friendly food that’s perfect for keeping on hand when you need a quick snack. We’re talking Swedish chocolate, frozen vegetable balls and lots more.
Don’t forget...
Drink
Drink
Drink
The Coach and Horses
The sheer number of places to go out boozing in London can be overwhelming. So where are the affordable spots in the west of the city?
Here, pubs are – of course – ten-a-penny, but Soho’s history-steeped, Grade II-listed French House is one of our favourites, as it offers affordable bevvies (in half pints, mind) and a busy, bustling atmosphere where you can fully embrace the most authentic form of London’s nightlife. We also recommend The Coach and Horses, another charming old-timer that serves as a beloved boozer for locals, post-work warriors and students too.
In the mood for cocktails? From Tuesday to Saturday, 4-6pm FAM bar and kitchen’s happy hour in Marylebone has got you covered. It’s an especially welcoming space, particularly considering its snazzy location, and it’ll make you feel right at home after a long day of schlepping around Oxford Street on the hunt for student essentials like kitchenware, fairy lights and wine glasses.
Further west in Fulham, you’ll find The Little Blue Door, a quirky little cocktail bar that boasts board games (and Mario Kart!), DJ-led house parties, two for one drinks from 5pm until sunset on Wednesdays through Fridays, and – oh yes – bottomless brunch on Saturdays.
Culture
Culture
The V&A
The V&A
Thrilled about having the capital’s world-famous arts and culture scene right on your doorstep? Well, if you want to tackle a bunch of the biggies in bulk, west London’s Kensington offers the best of the best for all things art, history and science in its museum quarter.
Here, many of the biggest most renowned national museums, including the Victoria & Albert Museum – known as The V&A – the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum are just a stone’s throw away from one another. After investigating those (if you can still walk), take a quick trip up the road towards Holland Park and find the Design Museum, which previously exhibited IKEA’s ‘Last Straw’, an exhibit that served as a reminder of our responsibility to strive for zero waste lifestyles.
And if you’re looking for something a little off the beaten track, head up north into Marylebone to the Wallace Collection, a stunning palatial townhouse built in 1776 filled with antiques, paintings and artefacts. Even the wallpaper is *chef’s kiss*.If you’re left feeling inspired, IKEA’s range of wall decor items will help you to create your own little art gallery at home.
Fancy yourself as a budding Usain Bolt? Check out TrackMafia – a free weekly session led by a group of fun-loving speedsters every Thursday at Paddington Recreation Ground. If you stick to the four-week training cycle, you’ll soon fun you whittle down your pace to running like the wind.
For just £10, students can make the most of Art Fund’s Student Art Pass and get free or reduced-price entry to hundreds of museums, galleries and historic houses, and 50 percent off major exhibitions for a whole year. Even if you don’t grab one of these, entry to many of London’s world-class museums is totally free. This city may be hella expensive, but at least there are perks.
No money? No problem.
Nightlife
Nightlife
It’s time to boogie, so nip on down to The Roxy. This popular nightclub draws in London students in their droves thanks to its cheap entry prices, nifty drinks deals and a range of nights offering everything from hip-hop and house to indie and disco.
Basically, whatever your tastes, it promises to provide a great evening out without draining your bank account. After tearing up the dancefloor, you’ll be in need of some well-earned rest. Make sure you get yourself some extra comfy pillows and bedding here and get the snooze you deserve.
The Roxy
Shopping
Shopping
Portobello Road
If you’re venturing to west London for the first time, hitting the iconic colour-splashed Portobello Road is a must. The Market itself, which stretches for a mile all the way down Portobello Road and round the corner into Golborne Road, has been in action since the nineteenth century. It’s essentially an Aladdin’s cave filled with – well, everything, and not just the antiques it’s famous for.
Whether you want to grab yourself a bite to eat from the sprawling street-food stalls, while away the hours flicking through second-hand records and books, nab yourself a quirky old item or two or rifle through the rails stuffed with vintage coats, you can easily spend the day here. Make sure you bring a spacious bag along with you to take home all your new treasures.
So there you have it, all you need to know about being a west London student! Ready to settle into your new place? IKEA has everything you need to create your perfect uni set-up, under one roof. Find more inspiration here.
Ultimate savings
Discover university essentials here
Check out other districts
like on London’s west
Written by Time Out
Paid for by
ou’re heading to London for uni and you’re raring to go. The world is your oyster! But London is, well, massive
– and have you heard how much a pint costs these days? Luckily, when it comes to the must-see, do and eat places on a budget, we’ve got you covered. To get to all of these cracking locations, make sure to link your 18+ student oyster card with your 16-25 railcard (it’s 30 percent off!) and check the night tubes – the Central line is famed for running late – and you’ve got plenty of night buses too if you fancy a late-night kebab with a little entertainment on the journey home.
Shopping
Shopping
Food
Food
Food
Drink
Drink
Drink
Culture
Culture
UltimatE
savings
So there you have it, all you need to know about being a west London student! Ready to settle into your new place? IKEA has everything you need to create your perfect uni set-up, under one roof. Find more inspiration here.
Discover university
essentials here
Nightlife
Nightlife
