LONDON CALLING!

1. LONDON CALLING! International Orientation 2013

2. Welcome to London! • Test your knowledge! • Roughly how many languages are spoken in London? • a.) 100 • b.) 200 • c.) 250

3. Welcome to London! • Answer: 250 – London is the most linguistically diverse city in the world! • 2. Where is the best underground station to spot mice? • a.) Waterloo • b.) Victoria • c.) King’s Cross

4. Welcome to London! • Answer: Waterloo…apparently! • And finally… • 3. How many bathrooms are there in Buckingham Palace? • a.) 15 • b.) 78 • c.) 126

5. Where to start?! • Get to know your surrounding area • My Campus and My Local Area guides • Make the most of KCLSU and College events • Explore • Find out what’s free! • Try out different places – food, entertainment etc. • Make a list of all the things you really want to do, and start doing them • *(The answer was 78, by the way!)

6. Transport • Expansive network through London of: • Underground • Bus • Train • Taxi • River Transport • Tram • Student Oyster cards – apply online. Gets you 30% off weekly/monthly passes. Upload these onto your card. • Young Person’s Railcard 30% discount on trains – useful if travelling out of London • (But never forget to pay your fare!)

7. Top Tips – Transport • Buy an A-Z or good phone app • Use your student discount – cheaper to get a weekly/monthly travel card if you are travelling on public transport most days • Buses: much cheaper than tubes! • Always ensure you know an alternative route to College/home in case of problems on public transport • For travelling around the UK: Young Persons Railcard (trains) or try the Megabus! (£1 fares to UK cities!) or National Express • Never try and dodge your fare!

8. Things to do and see • Students’ Union – clubs, societies, volunteering and events • Museums and galleries – over 300 in London! • Concerts, plays, musicals, cinema • Football, the London Marathon and other sporting events • Festivals and major celebrations • Public parks • Public Buildings and Monuments • Pubs, clubs and eating out • Trips and tours around the UK & Europe

9. What’s Free? • Most major museums and galleries including: • Tate Modern and Tate Britain • National Gallery • British Museum • Imperial War Museum • Victoria and Albert Museum • Natural History Museum and Science Museum • (You will usually need to pay for special exhibitions.)

10. What else? • BBC TV and radio tickets – watch a show being recorded. See www.bbc.co.uk for tickets • Free concerts: • Open air concerts in the summer, including Somerset House and the National Theatre (Both near King’s!) • Free lunchtime concerts at music venues such as the Barbican, Wigmore Hall and Royal Festival Hall – look at Time Out for information. • Free lunchtimes classical concerts in local churches, including St John’s Waterloo and St Martin in the Field

11. And what’s cheap? • Cinemas – much more expensive in Central London; cheaper on weekday afternoons. Student discounts!! • Theatres often run student offers/last minute offers • Even restaurants often offer student discounts, so always check just in case! • Lidos – outdoor pools which are cheap for swimming and wonderful in summer! • Students’ Union facilities – cheaper than public facilities • Lower-division football matches and league and twenty20 cricket matches

12. Top Tips – Going Out • Always ask about student discounts. Are there other loyalty cards you could get? • Find out what’s free • Visit KCLSU’s Freshers’ Fair and sign up to mailing lists to find out about discounts and special events • Make use of KCLSU facilities and events • Get to know your local area – is there a cheap cinema nearby? • London’s great for gigs and events – make the most of it!!

13. Top Tips – Going Out • Evening Standard and Metro (free!) and Time Out magazine and website • Half-price ticket booth at Leicester Square • Sign up to venue mailing lists/Facebook for notifications • Freebies and discounts – www.vouchercodes.co.uk • Ticket exchange - www.seatwave.com • Meal deals – www.toptable.co.uk • Returns at venues – best seats for lowest price! • BBC filming and recording – www.bbc.co.uk

14. Shopping • Big supermarkets often cheaper for essentials. Major supermarkets: Sainsbury’s, Tesco, ASDA (Walmart) and Morrisons. Waitrose is more expensive. • Argos is very cheap for essentials like kettles and crockery – large store on New Oxford Street • Lots of markets in London. Great for bargains! • Second hand bookshops – check out Charing Cross Road and Marchmont Street (WC1 – near ULU) • Waterstone’s Gower Street – biggest academic bookstore in London • And of course… online

15. Don’t forget… • If you have a television it is against the law not to have a television licence. For information and to get a licence go to www.tvlicensing.co.uk or pick up a form in our information room • Even if you are in College halls of residence MAKE SURE YOU GET INSURANCE!!! If you don’t and your belongings are stolen or damaged you will lose a lot of money – www.endsleigh.co.uk

16. Utilities and Services • Shop around for good deals (price comparison websites) • Private accommodation you may have to pay for utilities (e.g. gas and electricity) • Save money – call using Skype • Go to Carphone Warehouse or Phones4U for deals from different providers – more options! • Direct Debit discounts for your bills • Be careful of special deals – they are often only cheap for the first few months!

17. Top Tips – Shopping • Find your nearest large supermarket and check out own-brands • Check out some price comparison websites for the best deals for mobile phones, utilities etc. • Check out your local area for local shops/markets • Check for student discounts in shops – even some major store such as Top Shop and HMV have student discounts • Make sure you get insurance!

18. KCLSU • Student Centres at Guy’s, Strand or Waterloo: • Sports Clubs, Societies, Volunteering • Buy tickets for (cheap!) events • Part time work opportunities • Bars and cafes • Academic Advice and support • Don’t forget to go to the Freshers Fair – 19th and 20th September at the Barbican! FREE ENTRY! • International Student Mixer on 19th September at Ruby Blue, Leicester Square www.kclsu.org

19. ULU • University of London Union in Malet Street (near Goodge Street tube and Senate House Library) • Free membership for King’s students! • Lots of facilities onsite, including a large swimming pool and a gym • Clubs, societies and activities in addition to those offered by King’s

20. International Students House • You are all members – FREE!! • Travel club – trips around the UK and Europe! • Regular events – talks, dinners, quizzes, karaoke nights, traditional Christmas party • Great facilities – gym, bar, restaurant, student accommodation • www.ish.org.uk

21. HOST programme • Great way to see other parts of the UK, including Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland • Stay with a British family • Visits last Friday-Sunday. Christmas visits also available – apply well in advance • First visit FREE! You just pay your travel • Can go on a visit alone or with your family/friends • To find out more or apply, visit www.hostuk.org

22. Useful Links: Transport: • www.tfl.gov.uk • www.youngpersons-railcard.co.uk • www.thetrainline.com and http://uk.megabus.com/ Discounts and deals: • NUS card - www.nusextra.co.uk • www.vouchercodes.co.uk • www.timeout.com • Price comparison – www.pricerunner.co.uk • Us! – www.facebook.com/kingsinternationalstudentsupport

23. Help! • If you are unhappy, looking for more information, or have a problem and need help or advice… • You’re probably not the only one! • Don’t ignore the issue • Don’t pay someone for advice • Do make use of the services at King’s: • Student Advisers, Counsellors, the Compass, Chaplains and the Students’ Union are here to help! – all free, confidential and impartial

24. My London “When a man is tired of London he is tired of life, for there is in London all that life can afford.” (Samuel Johnson)

25. Your friend is coming to stay with you! They are arriving on Friday evening and leaving on Sunday afternoon. They have never been to London before. Plan your weekend together, sticking to the budget you have been given. (And don’t forget to eat!)