Your guide to this magical city

So, you’re leaving your hometown and moving away for uni.

First things first: congratulations! This is the first page of the next chapter of your life, and there’s no telling what the future will hold. The world is yours for the taking and it’s time to get excited!

Leaving home for the first time is a daunting prospect for anybody, for a multitude of reasons, but there’s something about moving to London that can make this big move feel even bigger. If you’re nervous, don’t worry: you’re not alone. Every year students tell us how London surprised them (we even discussed it in our podcast here!) in ways that are good, bad and somewhere in between.

If only those students had a guide to help them prepare. Or, at least, an article about some of the things you can expect from London life…

Oh, look!

Population

London is the biggest city in the UK in terms of population. Common knowledge, right?

But what surprises many people about London is the sheer amount of people here. According to the United Nations, London is home to just shy of 10 million people. The next largest city in the UK, Manchester, has only a measly 3 million in comparison!

So what does that mean for your London life? Essentially, that you’re one of millions, and you’ll feel it. This can be difficult to navigate at first, especially if you come from quite a small, tight-knit community. Most people you see on the street day to day will be total strangers, and plenty of us struggle to adjust to such anonymity. But trust me, once you get used to it you will feel so free.

You don’t know anyone else, but they also don’t know you. In all likelihood, you’ll never see this or that person again—and if you do, you won’t remember them among a thousand other faces in your area. They’re not paying attention, they don’t notice if you’re having a bad hair day or you tripped on the pavement, nor even if you just had to scrape bird poo off your backpack (speaking from experience, unfortunately).

Cast self-consciousness into the wind because this is London, baby. No one’s keeping score. Do what you like (without harming anyone), dress how you like and be who you want to be: in London you’re free from judgement.

Diversity & Community

This is one of London’s most glorious traits. People from all over the world live here, and the city is alive with culture everywhere you look. Embrace it!

Visit world-famous places of worship like St Paul’s or the Neasden Hindu Temple, watch the Lunar New Year parade in Chinatown and get dressed in your best for Eid. Then, during the summer, the whole city lights up to show its support for LGBTQ+ Pride. London truly makes the world your oyster, and all are most welcome.

And don’t forget, if you’re nervous to try new things alone or just don’t know where to start, ResLife hosts plenty of cultural events all year round! Check back each month for upcoming Residential Life events.

Activities

Where to even start?

Since the year began I’ve tried pottery, watched a medieval joust, walked with dinosaurs in VR, enjoyed multiple exhibitions, attended two book signings by my favourite authors, watched a free comedy show and an open mic jazz night, sang my own heart out at karaoke and have gone swimming every week. Friends do spoken-word poetry, line dancing, horse riding, rock climbing and more, because London truly has. It. All.

The easiest way to get involved when you first move to Queen Mary is by checking out what societies are on offer. We are especially lucky to be based in East London, where there’s so much to do!

As you’ve probably realised, the ResLife website has recommendations galore. Want to go out for a games night? How about a dip in the pool? Everything you’ve ever dreamed of is only a tube ride away in this magnificent city, so put yourself out there!

Animals & Nature

When you think of London you probably think of any big city, right? Tall, grey buildings and long, grey streets—and London definitely has some of those. But did you know that London is “one of the greenest cities in the world”?

The plethora of parks, nature walks and generally green spaces in this city is truly remarkable. (We’ve recommended some here!) And, of course, where there’s nature there will be animals.

Roaming this city you’ll find red foxes and green parakeets, bees and bats and (if you’re lucky) the odd badger! But so many green spaces also make this city well suited for dog owners, and you’ll find cute canines of all shapes and sizes wherever you go. Which reminds me…

Celebrities

True story: I met Claudia Jessie (Eloise Bridgerton herself!) while chatting about her dog on the tube. She was really nice.

Now, I’m not promising anything, but we can’t rule out celeb sightings from London life either! Stars from all over the world work and live in London, and it’s entirely possible that you might spot a famous person going about their daily life. Obviously this is not an invitation for you to approach said famous person (we’re all entitled to a day off from work!) but if meeting celebrities is your thing, try supporting their work on the West End!

Major stars will often feature in West End shows, and audiences are usually welcome to wait by the stage door for autographs afterwards. I got a photo and autograph from Hollywood actor Mike Faist this way after a production of Brokeback Mountain, which I now show off at every opportunity. The best part is, you don’t have to shell out loads of money to see these shows—but more on that later!

Food

As you might have guessed from the earlier section, London’s diverse population has resulted in a truly excellent range of food options. You’ll find restaurants and grocery stores here that are dedicated to food from all sorts of countries, and those of you with dietary needs shouldn’t worry, either! No matter where you are in London, vegan restaurants and many more are just a stone’s throw away.

Public Transport

Locals may grumble about TfL, but don’t let anyone fool you. As someone who grew up elsewhere in the UK, I can tell you that London is outstanding for public transport.

There are 272 underground ‘Tube’ stations with more than 543 trains whizzing around the city at peak times. There are 675 bus routes and over 9,000 vehicles. We’ve got ferries, trams, taxis, cable cars and coaches, plus bikes to rent everywhere you look. We have got public transport, and the low wait times are unlike anything I’ve seen elsewhere in this country.

That being said, London is still extremely walkable. Walking might be your preferred mode of transport at times, because…

Budgeting

London is notoriously expensive, but there are plenty of ways to live your best London life while sticking to your budget.

Alongside the information in our Cost of Living in London article and tips on budgeting (as well as meal prep ideas from this article!) you should first create a budget sheet, or at the very least know how much you have to spend each month. It’s important to be as informed as possible, and you will kick yourself later if you don’t make the time now!

Being informed also means finding out where the deals are. If you’re interested in history and art there are plenty of free museums, but for those that aren’t free the National Art Pass is a great investment. If you love working out, take advantage of time between lectures with a cheaper, off-peak gym membership. Theatre nerd? Sites like TodayTix and SeatPlan offer deals on West End tickets practically year round.

But whatever you’re into, the most important thing is to keep track of your spending. Ignorance does not stay bliss for long, I promise you that!

Tourism

Ah, tourists. Tourism is a genuinely wonderful thing for many reasons, and I hope everyone is having an amazing time on their holiday. But could they walk a little faster?!

If you’re planning to go anywhere in Central London, especially on a weekend, add 10 minutes to your journey time and get ready to weave through the masses. Also, the Tube will be packed. Best of luck.

Nightlife

What’s your flavour? We’ve got it here!

From retro gaming bars to giant ball pits, Taylor Swift to Hard Rock, hoedown to throwdown, ashes to ashes and funk to funky, London has something for everyone. If you’re here to party, you’ll certainly find your people, and if that’s not your scene you’re equally well served.

How about a casual nighttime trip to the zoo? Or a midnight matinee at Shakespeare’s Globe? If you fancy panoramic views of London, try an evening at the Sky Garden.

Whatever you prefer, you’ll be able to get home using the various 24-hour public transport options in this city, including the Night Tube on Fridays and Saturdays. (For the Queen Mary campus, get the Central line to Mile End!)

Safety

First of all, you’re strongly encouraged to read this article and other resources from the Met Police, as they will have the best official guidance. Remember Queen Mary also has lots of places you can use as safe spaces if needed while you're out and about.

Anecdotally, I can tell you that London is a very big city with a lot of people in it. (10 million, remember?) Not all of these people have good intentions, and some of them even make a living off of others’ misfortunes. Being careful is the bare minimum that you must do.

Don’t accept anything from a stranger. Don’t wear noise-cancelling headphones on the street. Keep your valuables close and protected, as pickpocketing and phone snatching is a huge issue. I’ve seen countless friends and family step off the Tube to find that someone unzipped an outside pocket on their bag without any of us noticing; you should keep valuables in hard-to-reach areas and, ideally, hold your bag in front of you when you use public transport.

You should not be scared to go outside in London, as millions of people go about their days in total safety. If anything happens to you, a large part of the reason will probably be plain bad luck. However, you should do what you can to mitigate the damage as much as possible!

In conclusion…

You are going to have an amazing time at university. You are going to have an amazing time in London. No matter where you come from or what you’re used to, you’ll be able to find community and a sense of belonging in this magnificent city as long as you truly embrace it.

We at ResLife hope you have a smooth journey here, and we can’t wait to meet you very soon. (While you’re here, why not pick out which events you’re coming to? We’ll see you there!)