London life

London is a diverse, multicultural city with all the attractions of a major capital. It has many fine museums and galleries and rivals any city in the world for theatre and concerts. London has style and sets the trend – in music, in fashion, in food. It is an exciting place to live and safer than many capital cities.

Student life

Your free Students' Union card is a passport to countless discounts on entry to cultural and sporting events, entertainments, eating out and other services. So, even if you have lived in London all your life you can enjoy the city afresh and make as much of studying here as anyone coming to the capital for the first time. London 's attractions are easily accessible to students and you can enjoy life here without having to spend a lot of money. But there are also expensive traps for unwary tourists. So be on your guard for high-priced food or souvenirs, particularly near major tourist attractions.

Getting around

You will find an A-Z of London street map useful, available from most bookshops or newsagents. Driving in London is difficult, with frequent traffic jams and few parking spaces. The best way to get around is by public transport. Rail services and underground services are fast and frequent – and the maps and travel directions are clear. Buses are good for short journeys.

Details of rail services are available from rail travel centres at Euston, King 's Cross, St Pancras, Liverpool Street, Waterloo and Victoria stations.

Underground and bus route maps are available from London Transport (LT) information centres at Euston, Heathrow, Kings Cross, Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus, St James 's Park and Victoria underground stations.

UK students qualify for one-third off the price of rail travel with a young person 's railcard – £18 a year, available from main rail stations. Take two passport-size photographs and a current Students ' Union membership card with you.

The British Travel Centre, 12 Regent Street, London W1 has information about the rest of Britain.

Seeing the sights

London Transport (LT) publishes a visitor 's guide to London which can also be obtained from LT information centres. From 9.30am, the one-day Travelcard gives unlimited bus, underground and rail travel.

The London Tourist Board has leaflets and maps detailing hundreds of things to see and do in London. They have information centres at Victoria Station, Harrods and Selfridges stores, the Tower of London (summer only) and the underground station concourse at Heathrow airport.

If London is new to you, a good way to see the main tourist attractions is to take one of the many tours offered by different companies. Choose a tour accompanied by a Blue Badge guide, as this indicates the guide has received training by the London Tourist Board.

Theatre, concerts and exhibitions

London has been called the cultural capital of the world and supports an impressive variety of artistic activities.

Most national newspapers have good listings guides detailing events and activities, as does the Evening Standard. Weekly magazines like Time Out are also good sources of information.

The Society of West End Theatres (SWET) operates a half-price ticket booth at Leicester Square which sells tickets for same-day performances at reduced rates. It opens at midday for matinees and 2.30pm for evening performances.

Eating out

You can eat out in style in London – almost any style you please. Prices vary enormously. By law, all restaurants must display a menu outside the door giving prices and whether service charges are included. Where service is not included, it is customary to leave a tip of 10 to 15% of the bill.