By Chelsea Davies
The prospect of trying the make the most of London’s incredible nightlife on a student budget might seem a difficult task – but with our handy list of the cheapest spots for students, you’ll be out before you know it with plenty of money to spare for chips on the way home. From late night clubs, to wacky pubs and the odd cocktail bar thrown in, you’ll be spoilt for choice in the UK’s capital city!
The Knights Templar, Chancery Lane
JD Wetherspoons pubs are always a firm favorite among students in the UK due to the chain’s incredibly cheap and cheerful prices, making it the perfect place for pre-drinks. However, this one is perhaps one of the fanciest Wetherspoon’s in the country, with a golden bar and huge chandeliers – they even filmed some of The Da Vinci Code in here! Most importantly though, the prices still can’t be beaten, so you can pretend to live the high life while smugly sipping your bargain beverage.
The Roxy, Fitzrovia
The Roxy is an unpretentious and fun basement bar and the perfect place to meet fellow students from many London universities. All flock here for the cheap entry prices (make sure you bring your student ID!) and amazing drinks offers! Head there on a Monday for London’s biggest student RnB night, or check out their hip-hop, house and indie nights on during the rest of the week.
CLF Art Café, Peckham
Found in a 120-year-old, multi-storey warehouse, the interior of this club/art gallery/café ceaselessly changes from one day to the next and always promises a fun, unique night out. The South London Soul Train on every Saturday makes for an incredible night, with live music, soul, funk and disco tunes going on into the early hours. Keep your eye out for big name DJs, secret festival gigs and cutting-edge art installations all happening throughout the year.
The Four Quarters, Peckham and Hackney Wick
If quirky pubs with bags of character and activities to accompany your drinking is more to your taste, then The Four Quarters promises an excellent night out. They offer craft beers, original cocktails and most importantly, video games. Their Peckham venue was London’s first ever arcade bar! Both bars are packed with classic arcade games and retro consoles, all operated using US quarters you can get at the bar.
Piccadilly Institute, Piccadilly
There is something for everyone at Piccadilly Institute, a labyrinth of rooms with mind-bending décor and music of every genre blasting. They have an impressive Happy Hour, with 50 percent off everything, every day, from 5pm until 9pm. Order a quirky cocktail at any one of the whopping six bars in the place!
Little Nan’s Bar, Deptford
British nostalgia, home comforts and award-winning cocktails are all on offer in this quirky bar tucked away in South London. The décor is a mix of 80’s furniture and pop-culture pieces and the food is a take on classic British favorites. Order a cocktail in a teapot and throw yourself into their karaoke night or take part in the pub quiz. And watch this space, as they’re continually opening up new venues across South London.
Corsica Studios, Elephant and Castle
An independent art organization tucked away under two railway arches in Elephant and Castle, Corsica Studious delivers experimental house and electro music from its renowned sound system well into the early hours. Come here to find Europe’s up-and-coming DJs that you are unlikely to hear anywhere else. Book your tickets early and you can get in for as little as a fiver!
The Doodle Bar, Bermondsey
Open from Wednesday to Saturday, you can spend a fun evening here sipping on their in-house pale ale, playing ping-pong and doodling all over the walls. At the weekends street food vans can be found just outside, enjoy anything from delicious burgers to Argentinian steak sandwiches, before carrying on with a game of table football back in the bar!
Ladies and Gentlemen, Kentish Town
For a partly classy, partly strange evening, head to what used to be the public toilets in Kentish Town for a wonderful cocktail experience. Don’t be fooled by the unassuming sign above ground, head downstairs and you will be rewarded with incredible cocktails. Whilst not as cheap as some of the other options, this makes the list for its sheer uniqueness and quality.
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