10 tips for thriving in London as a student

1. Link your rail card to your Oyster card

If you have a 16-25 Railcard, you can take it to a Transport for London ticket office and link it with your Oyster card for discounted travel on the tube. If you travel off-peak it can cost as little as 80p for a journey. Find out more about travel discounts on Student Services Online.

2. Always plan your route home

If you're travelling, always ensure that you know your route home and have alternative plans just in case. Check train, tube and bus schedules or book a licensed taxi if you need to.

3. House-share to cut down on costs

Living with others is not only a great way to cut down on bills but also allows you to meet new people. University of London property database is a great place to find housemates and rooms to rent in London as is Spare Room.

4. Walk more

You can produce a mental map of the city by walking around various areas of London and checking out new and exciting places. Walk over Waterloo Bridge between Strand and Waterloo campuses to enjoy the view of the River Thames with the London Eye and Houses of Parliament.

5. Expand your knowledge

Get a British Library or Wellcome Library Reader's Pass for access to books that you can't access from your university library. You can also request journals and chapters as well as suggest books to King’s libraries. Find out more on LibAnswers.

6. Find extra study space

If you want to try a new library, check out The Reading Room at the Wellcome Collection. Part exhibition space, part reading room, it’s a great place to relax and study.

7. Enjoy a trip to a West End theatre

Many theatres offer up to 70% discount on unsold tickets to full-time students. Just bring your student ID and visit the box office.

8. Go along to auctions and see some rare items

If you’re looking for something different to do, Sotheby’s auctions are free and open to the public with no obligation to bid. Pre-auction viewings at Christie's are also free and open to the public, allowing rare items to be viewed close-up before they are potentially bought into private collections.

9. Take advantage of Student Discounts

Don't forget to check out apps like Student Beans, NUS and UNiDAYS for exclusive student discounts. Consider non-student discount sites too such as Groupon, Virgin Experience Days and Wowcher when planning your time out in London.

10. Visit London museums, landmarks and exhibits

Who says you need to break the bank to enjoy London? There are plenty of famous landmarks and museums that you can see for free. Enjoy London life and culture by visiting sites like the V&A, National Gallery, Tate Britain and the Houses of Parliament.