The Broke Girl’s Guide to Going Out in London

London universities often get a bad rep for being antisocial, and this is largely due to the staggering costs of going out in the city as opposed to going out, well, anywhere else! Obviously, drinking is absolutely not required as part of meeting new people; however, for those of you who do, here are my top tips for having a great night out without breaking the bank.

1) It’s all about the pre-drinks.

Pre-drinking is an essential part of any night out, but even more so when you’re trying to avoid the stupid prices of any London club – expect to pay at least £7 for a shot of tequila on a good night.

A £10 bottle of Tesco basic vodka can go a long way. It may taste like paint stripper, but if you invest in your mixers, you can pretend you’re drinking Ciroc.

In my opinion, this is the best part of the entire night, and there are so many drinking games out there – me and my friends even made a Peep Show drinking game! Ring of Fire, however, I will NOT do. Yuck.

2) Don’t count out student union bars and nights out.

Yes, I know, they can be cheesy. But the prices at student bars are miles cheaper than anywhere else, and they often have deals on so you can get an even better price. Plus, when you’re a few drinks in, you’ll have a great time wherever you are – you don’t have to be in Café de Paris to have a good time (and, in my opinion, it’s very overrated!).

The Institute Bar at the IOE at UCL is a hidden gem, and offers an extensive wine list and cocktail menu at very affordable prices. Other UCL bars offer nights such as karaoke night, and Glittoris club night at Phineas is an LGBT+ night with drag queens, lip-sync battles, cheesy tunes and FREE ENTRY. It is a must go.

3) Student nights: Wednesdays are the new Fridays

I cannot emphasise enough how good of a deal going to clubs on a student night is vs. going on another night. Clubs make a lot of money from the student crowd, and so will offer low or even free entry fees on certain nights of the week as well as drinks offers. A lot of the central London clubs with big names offer this, so make sure you look on the websites BEFORE you go.

As well as this, student nights often take place on weekdays, so you might find yourself going out on a Wednesday night rather than the typical Friday/Saturday is a lot cheaper. At UCL, sports clubs take place on Wednesdays, and go out later on for Sports Night, which is held across the UCL bars and in clubs too. This is a great opportunity to mix with a lot of new people, have a wild night out and not break the bank.

4) Bars are the new clubs.

London is a tourist trap, and rent is high, and this combination makes for extortionate club entry fees. However, London is nowhere near short of great bars, and many of them have a club-like atmosphere without the unpleasantness of an actual club – long queues, terrible music and being packed into a room of sweaty people. Be At One, for example, have bars all over London with dancefloors and a club-like atmosphere, and bartenders that often get up and dance on tables themselves. There are so many bars catered to so many different tastes that you won’t find yourself short of choices, no matter where you’re living in London.

5) London clubs are casual.

Sure, if you’re going out to a fancy club in Mayfair or somewhere like that, they will have a dress code. However, you’ll find that as opposed to places like Liverpool (where I’m from), Londoners tend to take a more laid-back approach to dressing for a night out. You’re more likely to see girls wearing sneakers than heels here – which was a great relief to me. Obviously, if you want to dress up, that’s up to you – but the fact that it often isn’t required means that you can relax and wear whatever you want to! Although – do check beforehand.

6) Download the DUSK app.

When I first arrived in London, I was overwhelmed by the choice of pubs and bars - I had no idea where to start. Luckily, I discovered the DUSK app, which I still use to this day. This is the best guide to the top bars and pubs in your area. Even better? In selected bars and pubs, the app offers you credits to redeem for a selected free drink – this could be anything from a pint to a pornstar martini. It is well worth getting as a way to explore different places in your area, with the perk of free drinks. Use my code, SNORMAN5, for an extra free credit!

Do you have any tips or tricks for having a great night out on a low budget? Let us know over on Instagram!

Until next time – Saskia x