LIFE in London Programme

Let’s be real... London is scary and isolating.

Yes, London is one of the world's most exciting cities, but it can also feel intimidating, unfamiliar, and costly to navigate. Through LIFE in London, we want to remove those barriers and make the city's opportunities accessible to every student. Our aim is to help you experience the very best of London and provide you a welcoming community where you can explore with others, build friendships, and feel more at home in your new city.

London is a city for everyone, and LIFE in London can help you find your place in it!

We organise events throughout the year, including multiple trips during Welcome, weekly activities during term time, and additional events during non-term time. All of our events are advertised on the LSE LIFE Events page, so it's well worth checking regularly for the latest opportunities.

• Use the events search bar on the events page linked above, to search for "LIFE in London".
• Browse the upcoming trips and select any event you'd like to join.
• Follow the booking instructions on the event page to secure your place.

Places are often limited, so we recommend booking early to avoid missing out.You can also stay up to date through the LSE LIFE Newsletter so be sure to keep an eye on your inbox so you never miss an opportunity to explore London, try something new, and connect with other LSE students.

LIFE in London is a partnership between staff and students, delivered by the Student Communities Team in collaboration with our fantastic Student Facilitators.

The programme is co-designed with input from our Student Facilitators and the wider student community, ensuring that the trips, events, and activities on offer reflect the interests, aspirations, and experiences that matter most to LSE students. As a result, LIFE in London is shaped by students, for students, creating opportunities that are relevant, engaging, and meaningful.

Meet our lovely Facilitators and learn a bit more about them below!

Hey, I am Sofia! I am a second year BSc Politics and International Relations student.

My favourite London spot: Bermondsey Street, in South London. It’s filled with independent boutiques, cafés, shops, and restaurants with outdoor seating. Perfect to have drinks with friends on summer evenings!

A London pro-tip: Walk, walk, and walk some more, especially without a destination in mind. It’s the best way to discover the city and stumble upon restaurants or stores you’d never have found otherwise! 

Hey, I am Shelby! I am a second year Masters of Public Administration student.

Your favourite London spot: The Postman's Park near St Paul’s. It's a small garden that holds the Memorial to Heroic Self-Sacrifice - a wall of Victorian ceramic plaques commemorating an ordinary person who died saving someone else's life. 

A London pro-tip: Use 'Too Good To Go' for affordable takeaway dinners! 

Hey, I am Iman! I am a third year BSc Sociology student.

Your favourite London spot: There is this street near Elephant and Castle station called Sayer Street that has this amazing vibe. It is an entire chunk of a completely new area and vibe crammed in between the chaotic Elephant and Castle!

A London pro-tip: London has something going on all the time, try new things and push yourself out of your comfort zone!

Hey, I am Sara! I am a third year BSc International, Social and Public Policy & Economics Student.

Your favourite London spot: Parkside Farm (Pick Your Own) - A place to pick your own fruit and vegetables in the spring/summer time!

A London pro-tip: Get the18-24 Railcard and travel off-peak to save money on travel!

Here are some of our upcoming trips for September and October 2026. All of them can be booked via the LSE LIFE Events Page:

Do you have a question about LIFE in London? Check out here if your query has already been answered LIFE in London FAQs

Over the years we've enjoyed everything from BBC Proms concerts, music festivals, cinema screenings at the Barbican (or the Rooftop Cinema Club in Peckham!), and West End shows, to exhibitions at the V&A and British Museum, visits to London Zoo and Kew Gardens, festive trips to Winter Wonderland, and days out beyond London such as Brighton. It's a varied mix of culture, creativity, and fun, and a lovely way to discover new places, meet people, and make memories during your time at LSE.

Here are some photos from some past LiL trips:

Have you missed out on a LIFE in London trip but still want to get out and do something without spending too much? Well, you are in the right city as there are still a plenty of low-cost (or even free) options that you can pick from independently!

One of the great things about London is that it’s a very walkable city, so why not explore it on foot? You can discover famous landmarks, hidden corners, parks and riverside routes without spending a fortune. An easy place to start is by picking out one of these self-guided walks:

Self-Guided Walking Routes

• City of London walk
• Art based walk
• Law themed walk
• Politics and diplomacy walk
• Gardens of London walk
• Charles Dickens Themed walk
• Film and Movie walk
• Shakespeare themed walk

Arts & Culture 

• Young Barbican is free to join for anyone aged 16–29 and gives you access to discounted tickets across theatre, music, film and art with prices from just £5, £10 or £15!  

• The National Theatre offers tickets for £10 and under for 16–25 year olds, as well as standby tickets from £20–£30 are available in person at the box office 60 minutes before each performance with valid student ID. 
• Tate Collective is free to sign up for 16–25 year olds and gives you access to £5 exhibition tickets across all four Tate galleries.  
• The Student Art Pass costs just £10 for the whole year and gives free or reduced-price entry to hundreds of museums, galleries and historic houses across the UK, plus 50% off major exhibitions.  
• The BFI Southbank offers £4 tickets for 16–25 year olds (one of the best deals in London for film lovers!). 
• Shakespeare's Globe offers £5 standing tickets for every performance, giving you world-class theatre at an unbeatable price.  
• London is home to some of the world's greatest museums and the best news is that most are completely free. The British Museum, Natural History Museum, Victoria & Albert Museum, National Gallery, Tate Modern, Tate Britain, Science Museum and National Portrait Gallery all offer free permanent collection entry, no student ID required. 

Student Discount Platforms 

• UNiDAYS and Student Beans are the main platforms offering free discounts across shops, restaurants and entertainment.  The TOTUM card offers discounts on food, fashion, travel and tech, plus a free 12-month International Student Identity Card (ISIC) (particularly useful for international students as it is recognised in over 130 countries)! 

Hidden Gems and Tips

• The Sky Garden offers stunning 360° views of London from the top of a skyscraper completely free, but must be booked in advance online. 

• The Too Good To Go app lets you collect surplus food from restaurants and cafes at up to 70% off, a brilliant way to try London's best food on a student budget.
• Subscribe to the OneCity Newsletter for monthly updates on what’s on in the city.
• You may have already heard of Dice and RA, but add Outr to your list of apps to download to see events and workshops on in London. 

What's On in London this Autumn Term

October 2026 

Event: Black History Fitness Jam 2026 
Date: 4 October 2026 
Cost: Free 
A social Black History Month option focused on movement, music, culture and community. Good for students who want something active and welcoming. 

Event: African & Caribbean Heritage Tour: Past Meets Present 
Date: 3 October 2026 and second Saturday monthly 
Cost: Free 
The tour explores liberation, resilience, freedom, migration and African/Caribbean diaspora histories through the V&A collection. 

Event: Black History Month and What it Means to Southwark Exhibition 
Date: 4–28 October 2026 
Cost: Free 
A local exhibition giving students a way to explore Black history through Southwark’s communities and cultural history. 

Event: Audio-described tour and workshop: Black History Month, National Portrait Gallery 
Date: 20 October 2026 
Cost: Free 
It highlights portraits from the Gallery’s collection as part of Black History Month. 

Event: Talk and draw: Celebrating Black History Month, National Gallery 
Date: 30 October 2026 
Cost: Free 
A creative online workshop exploring representations of Black and minority figures within the National Gallery collection. Good for students interested in art, identity and visibility. 

November 2026 

Event: London Museum Smithfield opening and free galleries 
Date: From 28 November 2026 
Cost: Free 
The new museum opens with free permanent galleries covering London’s history, culture and communities. 

Event: History Day 2026, Senate House 
Date: 18 November 2026 
Cost: Free 
Very relevant for students. It is designed for students, researchers and the “history curious” to explore library, archive and museum collections. 

Event: Wavelengths: November, Southbank Centre 
Date: 26 November 2026 
Cost: Free 
A relaxed under-25s evening of live performance, workshops and more, with an accessible format where students can enter and exit during the session. 

Event: St Martin-in-the-Fields: 300 Years at the Heart and on the Edge 
Date: Until 15 November 2026 
Cost: Free 
Central London exhibition exploring one of the city’s most recognisable buildings and its history. 

Event: Beauty and Destruction: Wartime London in Art 
Date: Until 1 November 2026 
Cost: Free 
Free exhibition on London during the Second World War, shown through artists’ perspectives. Good for students interested in history, art and the city. 

December 2026 

Event: Trafalgar Square Christmas carol singing 
Date: Throughout December 2026 
Cost: Free 
Classic festive London experience, easy for students to attend independently in central London. 

Event: SoLo Craft Fair festive market at Between the Bridges 
Date: 6 December 2026 
Cost: Free entry 
Festive, central and social. Good for students who want a low-cost Christmas market experience near Southbank. 

Event: Londoners on Trial: Crime, Courts and the Public 1244–1924, The London Archives 
Date: Throughout December 2026 
Cost: Free 
Interesting law/history-themed exhibition, especially relevant for LSE students. 

Event: Tenderness and Rage, Wellcome Collection 
Date: Throughout December 2026 
Cost: Free 
Exhibition exploring HIV and AIDS through stories of protest, care and activism. Strong for students interested in social history, health, politics and community. 

Event: Designing the V&A: The Story of our Museum 
Date: Until 31 December 2026 
Cost: Free 
A free V&A tour exploring the history, design and development of one of London’s major cultural institutions.  

Do you have an idea for a London-themed event? Do you have any comments or concerns? We want to hear from you! Please get in contact with us by sending an email to lselife.london@lse.ac.uk.