If you’re one of London’s students-to-be this autumn, we’re here to help make your move as smooth as possible. We’ve partnered with Dunelm to bring you a guide to the best places to socialise, study and make the most of your new city. Plus, we’ll show you where to pick up everything you need to turn your student accommodation into a space that feels truly your own for just £60 and even get 10% off* so you can hit the ground running from day one.
From surprisingly affordable, stylish bedroom decor and bathroom must-haves, to kitchen staples and study essentials, Dunelm has your move-in check-list totally covered. What’s more, the Click and Collect service is a great way to make moving even more stress-free. Simply shop online or in the app ahead of time, then pick up your bits from your nearest London store when you arrive. Alternatively, you can order online and enjoy 10% off your order and free delivery when you spend £60 or over*. But if you do fancy some IRL shopping, a number of London locations have a Pausa cafe including Westfield, Wandsworth, Staples Corner, Greenwich, Catford and Colliers Wood, where you can get lunch, a coffee, or a sweet treat to keep you going.
Coffee shops and study spots
If you want more atmosphere than a library but less hustle and bustle than a busy café, head to the Reading Room at the Wellcome Collection. Just a five-minute walk from Euston and 10 minutes from King’s Cross and Russell Square, this free study spot offers a bright, spacious reading room with large communal tables, comfy armchairs and free Wi-Fi. When it’s time for a break, grab a coffee, sandwich or pastry from the café downstairs before settling back in for another study session. Whether you’re heading from lectures to the library or squeezing in a study session, keeping your laptop protected in this laptop case (available online & in-store) makes carrying it around the city that little bit easier.
If deadline season has caught up with you, the British Library is one of the best places in London to hunker down and get some work done. Alongside free public study spaces, anyone over 18 can sign up for a free Reader Pass to access the quieter Reading Rooms. Open until 8pm Monday to Thursday, it’s the perfect place for a full day of studying – so packing your lunch in this lunch box (available online & in-store) is an easy way to save money without interrupting your study session.
Tired of battling for a table in London’s busy coffee shops? Host Café offers all the café vibes in a much calmer setting. Housed inside the beautiful St Mary Aldermary church, this ethical, non-profit café is a peaceful place to study with plenty of seating, free Wi-Fi, great coffee and fresh pastries. And be sure to bring all of your Dunelm study essentials for the full set up, from notebooks to water bottles (both available online & in-store) .
Pubs, clubs, and bars
If you’re studying in London, a night out at Scala is practically a rite of passage. The King’s Cross venue hosts student nights throughout the year, including Freshers events and its legendary Wednesday student night, where sports teams and societies from universities across the capital come together. Expect themed socials, cheap drinks and five dance floors playing everything from commercial hits and club classics to grime, garage and R&B.
A Shoreditch favourite, XOYO has been hosting one of London’s biggest Monday student nights since 2014. The club’s weekly Motion night serves up hip-hop, R&B, trap, rap, Afrobeats and bashment, with tickets typically starting from just £3.
The Marian Anderson has earned a reputation as one of the best-value pubs in central London. Located in the heart of Clerkenwell, it serves a selection of £4 pints all year round, alongside live sport and a relaxed neighbourhood atmosphere. If you’re after an affordable pint without ending up in a chain pub, this is a great shout
Best student discount deals
Calling all art lovers! Studying in a city as culturally rich as London means you’ve got some of the world’s best galleries on your doorstep. While big exhibition tickets can quickly add up, Tate Collective gives 16–25-year-olds access to major shows for just £5. Membership is completely free, so it’s a no-brainer if you plan on making the most of London’s art scene. If you’re a keen learner and want to take notes while you’re there, this notebook (available online & in-store) is perfect to pop in your bag and bring along with you.
Late-night deadlines and early morning lectures call for good coffee—and thankfully, Black Sheep Coffee has students covered. With 20% off the entire menu and £2 drinks every Monday morning through UNiDAYS, it’s one of the best coffee deals in the city when you need a caffeine boost. And with a Dunelm travel mug in hand, your coffee will stay nice and warm all morning!
Travelling around London has a tendency to add up pretty quickly but students living in a London borough during term time can get a student Oyster card and save 30% off of an adult travel rate so you can save a bit of money while you travel.
Where to get your essentials
Before you start exploring all London has to offer, making your new accommodation feel as homely as possible should be first on the agenda. But you’ll be glad to know you can find everything you need at Dunelm – from bedroom and bathroom bits to kitchen equipment. For your room, a supersoft mattress topper and bedding is a must for ensuring you get the best sleep possible, while a table lamp is a simple way to transform the ambience with lovely warm lighting.
Cooking with housemates is a great way to bond (not to mention a great source of home comfort!), so you’ll want to make sure you’re well prepared to make your favourite food and drinks. From sieves and peelers to pod coffee machines, rice cookers and mini air fryers, you’ll find everything you need to make cooking at uni as fun and as seamless as possible. And for the bathroom you can find overdoor hooks to hang your towels, collapsible laundry baskets, shower corner caddies all of which are available online, in app and in-store!
*With a code from Student Beans or UNiDAYS. Ends 12th Oct. Minimum spend £60. Full T&Cs here: https://www.dunelm.com/info/help/terms-and-conditions