London Art, Culture and Nightlife

London is a cultural hub for you to explore and enjoy! Here is a list of some of the capital’s best bits…

Art Galleries Tate Modern and Tate Britain London is lucky in having two ‘Tates’. The Tate Modern, located on the Southbank, has some of the most cutting-edge contemporary art and many exciting exhibitions. The Tate Britain, located near Pimlico, showcases some of the best British artists, both up-and-coming and classics. Both Tates are free for general admission, though for some exhibitions you have to pay. If interested, check out Late at the Tate, where you can go after ‘after-hours’ with your friends to see art/music put on especially. British Museum, located on Great Russell Street, boasts many vast collections, comprising of millions of objects. Popular attractions include the mummies, the Rosetta Stone, Lindow Man, the Lewis Chessmen and the Sutton Hoo ship burial. Wellcome Collection, set up by Sir Henry Wellcome in 1936, combines medicine, life and art into contemporary and historic exhibitions, usually free to attend.

Especially inviting is the reading room on the top floor where you can study or relax. Alternatively, there is the Hunterian Museum which documents the history of surgery and includes thousands of anatomical specimens including the skeleton of the ‘Irish Giant’ which stands at 7 ft. 7 in. Paintings and sculptures with medical themes are also on display.

National Gallery & Portrait Gallery Both these amazing galleries are located a 10 minute walk from Kings’ Strand campus, near Charing Cross, so ideal for a break between lectures. Some of London’s most famous paintings are held at either gallery, and unless you are attending a specific exhibition, both have free admission!

Victoria and Albert Museum The Victoria and Albert Museum is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects. One of the more grandiose options from our list, the V&A also holds performances and a wide array of art installations. The Saatchi Gallery for contemporary art is located in the beautiful borough of Chelsea. Why not make a day of it? – Stroll along King’s Road, window shop at Sloane Square, and visit the gallery, including lunch at their popular café overlooking the green. Whitechapel Gallery is an underrated spot which was once home to Picasso’s Guernica. Having undergone a recent refurbishment, the gallery now displays temporary contemporary exhibitions and also has art film screenings. Somerset House is home to the Embankment Galleries which displays a series of exhibitions dedicated to art, fashion, design and photography. Previous collections include that of famous fashion photographer Tim Walker. No wonder it’s often the location for London Fashion Week. Ideally located next to King’s College London Strand campus, most exhibitions are free!

Buckingham Palace Buckingham Palace has served as the official London residence of Britain's sovereigns since 1837 and today is the administrative headquarters of Queen Elizabeth. Although in use for the many official events and receptions held by The Queen, the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace are open to visitors every year. You never know, you may just catch a glimpse of one of the Royals! Hampton Court Palace This is one of the most underrated and beautiful places in London. Perhaps one of the best places to go on a sunny day, the extensive gardens include a maze designed back in 1700, notorious for its twists, turns and dead-ends. Tower of London If you are wanting a bit of a fright, the tours up the Tower of London, where traitors to the Crown used to be tortured, hung and beheaded, will keep you on your toes. They also offer student concession tickets if you show them your King’s ID card. Palace of Westminster By visiting the Palace of Westminster, you can see Big Ben and Westminster Hall in one day! These world-famous buildings are a must for anyone wanting to cover the basics of London’s historical sights and to see first-hand a sight that has been used in countless films.

Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world, and is an official residence of the Queen, whose standard flies from the Round Tower when she is in residence. St George’s chapel is particularly stunning, and if you are lucky you might stumble in on their world-famous choir rehearsing.

History

Brick Lane is probably the best place in London for vintage shopping and hipster

spotting. Some of the best shops that fit within a student budget to go to are Blitz, Beyond Retro and Rokit. You can also try their world famous bagels, with some bagel shops now offering rainbow bagels!

Columbia Road Flower Market Not far from Brick Lane, Columbia Road Flower Market is one of East London’s most colourful offerings. Open on Sundays 8am-3pm come rain or shine, as well as plants and flowers, Columbia Road also boasts sixty independent shops. Leake Street If you like graffiti, this is the place to go in London. As a designated graffiti alley, Leake Street is a constantly evolving creative hub, with different political tags often revealing words specific to London which you may not have heard before. Portabello Road Market For all antique aficionados, Portabello Road Market will be your favourite discovery in London. The best days to go are Friday and Saturday, since these are the days with the biggest range of items available, ranging from fashion and food to collectables and bric-a-brac. National Theatre Students can get £5 tickets at the National theatre, which is on the Southbank almost next to Kings’ Waterloo campus. They also host workshops for aspiring actors and theatre buffs if you want to brush up your thespian knowledge. Sitting on the Thames, you can also find amazing street food along the Southbank.

Barbican The Barbican is Europe's largest multi-arts and conference venue presenting a diverse range of art, music, theatre, dance, film and creative learning events. Despite its perhaps unwelcoming concrete exterior, the Barbican’s reputation precedes itself, holding multiple festivals throughout the year.

Southbank Centre Located extremely close to Kings’ Waterloo and Strand campuses, the Southbank Centre is a complex of artistic venues in London that offers world-class exhibitions and performances at affordable student prices. The summer Meltdown Festival is a particular favourite.

Royal Opera House If you sign up to the Royal Opera House’s mailing list, you will be notified of their student standby offer, which has a limited number of £10 tickets in seats that would otherwise be too pricey to purchase. Book quickly though, as the tickets often sell out quickly due to their amazing value. Sadler’s Wells Perhaps the best place to see a dance performance – of any kind – in London, Sadler’s Wells is in Angel and always has something interesting on. Top Secret Comedy Club You can buy a membership for just £5 and go to unlimited performances for a whole year! If that isn’t reason enough, famous comedians occasionally perform at this club, so you never know who you might see! Bloomsbury Farmers’ market Located next to Senate House and ULU just off Malet Street, the award-winning Bloomsbury Farmers’ Market boasts an array of gourmet food items, from venison burgers to delectable donuts. You could always go and reward yourself after some hard work at the library!

Nightlife

Bars Gordon’s Wine Bar This classic wine bar is one of London’s old-school gems: located at Charing Cross, Gordons has a downstairs ‘cave’, an upstairs and a large outdoor area. An amazing place to take friends for a drink, or maybe even a date. Be at One If you download the Be at One app on your phone, you can get 2 drinks for the price of 1 with a personalised ‘Appi Hour’ – always a nice respite from expensive London drink prices! The cocktails are a highlight, with a ridiculously long menu! The Lyceum Practically opposite Kings’ Strand campus, the Lyceum pub has affordable prices, not to mention its typical English pub décor and recently renovated toilets!

Bounce - a bar where you can play ping pong. Best to go with a big group of friends! LAB Bar Soho LAB stands for ‘London Academy of Bartenders’. Due to this, all of the best bartenders go here, so the quality of drinks is always amazing! The variety of cocktails and skill of the bartenders is impressive, both visually and in taste!

Clubs Dalston The Dalston Strip, as it is known to club kids, includes most clubs that you need to have a truly brilliant night. The Nest, Birthdays and Vogue Fabrics are some of the best, and because they are in the East, you are less likely to be ripped off by entry/drinks prices than if you were to go out in the West of London (e.g. Mayfair.) Bussey Building The Bussey Building, in trendy Peckham, hosts a monthly funk/disco night called Soul Train, which is popular among students, since it is so close to Goldsmiths. ‘Bussey’ is sure to keep you dancing all night long!

Corsica Studios ‘Corsica’, when mentioned by friends who like electronic music, is usually referring to the club in Elephant and Castle rather than the small island off Italy. This up-and-coming venue hosts some of the best house, garage and electronic music names in London, and attracts the best from around the world. Though it is small, its intimate vibe will keep you coming back for more. XOYO has gained a reputation in the last few years as being a solid night out in East London, and with the addition of their student night ‘Sneak’, it is now cheaper than ever. Whirl-y-Gig If you want a fun colourful festival all in a night, this is the place for you! Whirl-y-Gig has been going strong for more than 20 years, and when you go, you will see why! Perhaps the most visually impressive club night in London, there are rainbow lights, hanging fabrics and a massive turning globe. Sink the Pink Sink the Pink is a place to go if you want unadulterated fun with no judgement. The night has risen to prominence in recent years because of its wild parties and free supplies of glitter! Regression Sessions will bring you back to your infancy – here you can bounce on space hoppers and jump into ball pits! The club night moves from location to location, so look out for where your next event is!