Moving to London as a student can be all types of exciting and stressful at the same time. Looking back on my time as a fresher, I made many mistakes – especially when it came to choosing where to go on a night out. It definitely took me a while to find the places which I found myself going back to week on week.
Finding a fun place to go out in London as a student can sometimes be difficult when you don’t know where to look, but there is a little something for everyone. And don’t let your fear of entering your overdraft ruin your night. A good night in London doesn’t need to cost the earth: this city has many nights out to fall in love with, from your bog-standard student nights to drum ’n’ bass nights and classic indie discos, many carrying a price tag that won’t bankrupt you by the end of the semester.
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Get out there and appreciate what nightlife London has to offer – after all, you’re only a student once. Unless you do a masters degree. Or a PhD. Or another undergraduate degree. But that’s not the point! Ditch the overpriced freshers wristband and check out some of these London nights. You might not expect them to cater to students, but trust me they do. Just be ready for the 9am lecture hangover.
A classic haunt for in-the-know students in Borough, this part-Irish pub, part-sports bar and part-student bar is a night out guaranteed to work on a budget. On sports night (Wednesday nights, for the uninitiated), entry is reserved for students. With a budget menu of pints and shots under £4, opening hours until 2am each night, and classic student tunes playing over the speakers, there is a little something for everyone in this pub.
One for: when you just need somewhere to go
Helmed by Rhythm Section boss Bradley Zero, JUMBI is a hi-fi bar in Peckham where dancing is not just encouraged, but irresistible. JUMBI sees a steady stream of weekly events – from DJs to live music, open decks and quieter book clubs – making it the perfect place to go as a student who is not restricted to weekends.
One for: the ones with a big vinyl collection
Lay out your Doc Martins and put on your fishnets. The Lexington is a small venue in north London that provides a cheap and cheerful Friday night out. Open until 4am with free entry, the venue’s White Heat Club night is perfect for the more indie students among us, playing all the typical bangers you would expect from an indie disco, like The Cure, Arctic Monkeys and Nirvana.
One for: the people who never grew out of their indie phase
Up to north of the river now to King’s Cross and the warehouse-style club Egg, which throws various student nights throughout the week and is open until 4am. Music played here typically spans house and R&B staples, as well as the latest chart hits. Entry is free before 12am with a free shot on early entry, and the club additionally has a dedicated student membership via a mailing list that offers a variety of deals. What’s not to love?
One for: a big night out without breaking the bank
This small club nestled under the railway arches by Elephant and Castle station guarantees a more alternative student night out and is a great time for anyone who enjoys D&B and techno. This year’s freshers event takes place on a Wednesday night, and beyond freshers week, Corsica is well known among London students for hosting student DJ societies over the years on Tuesdays (such as King’s College London’s DJ soc). Advance entry prices range from around four to six pounds, making it a fun, friendly and intimate venue that won’t break the bank.
One for: when you want a more hardcore boogie
Whichever genius decided to convert a scruffy store halfway down a traditional London marketplace into a tiki dive bar deserves a medal. It’s resolutely egalitarian (no reservations, no guestlist: just show up and get merry), the decor is almost laughably DIY, the hooch is as cheap as you’ll find in Dalston and the tunes – reggae, motown and party pop – keep the joint solidly jumping until 3am at the weekend.
One for: when you really don’t want to pay entry
Also close to King’s Cross, Scala is a music venue that hosts various club nights as well, including a few specifically for this year’s freshers week with entry costs starting at £6. During the rest of the year, there is a recurring alternative emo night on Fridays for those who are impartial to some headbanging. While the typical entry prices are slightly higher for Scala than some of the other places on this list, going up to £10, you are still pretty much guaranteed a great time.
One for: the black nail varnish kids
With venues in Shoreditch, Brixton and Camden, Blues Kitchen hosts the same soul night at each with a live band until 2:30am. Entry is free before 9pm but becomes a tenner after, so get there quickly to save yourself some money. A perfect night out for jazzier students, with a range of funk, soul and R&B covers to boogie to. Blues Kitchen also has a £6 cocktail deal all day Wednesdays, a great option to consider if you prefer a cocktail evening out.
One for: a slightly chiller night with soulful tunes
One of the longest running LGBTQ+ clubs in London, Heaven may not be one of the first places that you think of when you think of student nights out, but if you bring your student ID with you, the entry price is just £1. Music is, of course, camp, fun pop music that you just can’t help but dance the night away to. Heaven is not strictly a student club though and can get very busy very quickly: a good tip is to get there before 11pm to increase your chance of getting in.
One for: the girls and the gays
Fancy something a little different, or a bit of variety in your London night out catalogue? The George Tavern is a live music pub close to Shadwell station that hosts late night karaoke every Thursday from 11pm-2.30am with free entry. It’s a great time for anyone who wants to belt their lungs out to their favourite song, whether that be in tune or out of tune (we promise we won’t judge).
One for: the wannabe pop stars
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