LONDON CALLING LIVING IN LONDON International Orientation

Test your knowledge! 1.How many languages are spoken in London? a) 120 2) 200 3) 250

Test your knowledge! ANSWER: C – 250; London is the most linguistically diverse city the world! 2. Where is the best Underground station for spotting mice? a) Waterloo b) Victoria c) King’s Cross St Pancras

Test your knowledge! ANSWER: A – Waterloo (apparently!) 3. How many bathrooms are there in Buckingham Palace? a) 28 b) 78 c) 118

Where to start? Get to know your surrounding area Consult My Campus and My Local Area guides Make the most of KCLSU and College events Make the most of Unlocking London Explore with new friends Find out what’s free! Try different places – food, entertainment, etc. Compile a list of all the different things you’d like to do, then start doing them! (The answer was 78, by the way)

Getting Around Expansive transport network across London: Underground Bus Train Taxi Riverboat Tram “Boris Bikes” Walking!

Discounts Tubes, buses and trains within TFL zones - GET AN OYSTER CARD! Cheaper than single tickets -Student oyster card: savings available on weekly/monthly/yearly travelcards if travelling regularly -Apply online -See -See A Railcard will save you a third off rail travel across the UK -Useful if you’ll be travelling outside of London -See

Top Transport Tips Download a good transport app (e.g. Citymapper) Make use of your student discount if you’ll be travelling around London every day Buses MUCH cheaper than Tubes Plan alternative routes to college and home Only use black cabs and licensed taxis. Cabwise is a helpful app. And NEVER try to dodge your fare! Get a Young Person’s Railcard

Things to Do and See Students’ union – clubs, events, societies Museums and galleries – over 300 in London! Concerts, plays, musicals Football, cricket and other sporting events Festivals and other music events Parks Public buildings and monuments Cinemas Pubs and clubs Restaurants

What’s free? Most major museums and galleries give free admission, including: Tate Modern and Tate Britain National Gallery British Museum Imperial War Museum Victoria and Albert Museum Natural History Museum Science Museum You will only have to pay to enter special exhibitions.

What else? BBC TV and Radio online – iPlayer – Free concerts and other events: Somerset House and the National Theatre (both near to King’s!) Music venues such as the Barbican, Wigmore Hall and Royal Festival Hall often host free lunchtime concerts – look in Time Out for information Many churches have regular free lunchtime concerts Open-air events in summer

And what’s cheap? Cinemas – if you avoid Central London! Many offer student discount and are cheaper on weekday afternoons. Theatres often run student and last-minute offers Even restaurants can offer student discounts – always check Lots of London parks have lidos which offer cheap swimming and are great in summer Students’ union facilities will often be cheaper than public ones (e.g. Gym) Lower-division football matches and twenty20 cricket

Top Tips for Going Out Check for student discounts. Sign up for loyalty cards and check for vouchers Find out what’s free Visit the KCLSU website and sign up to mailing lists to find out about discounts and special events Get to know your local area and check out the area guides and community guides

Top Tips for Going Out Free papers, Time Out magazine, and their websites Half-price ticket booth at Leicester Square Venue mailing lists Online ticket sales – Ticket exchange - Freebies and discounts – (and other sites!) Meal deals – – good for gigs and shows Returns at venues – best seats for lowest price!

Shopping Big supermarkets: Sainsbury’s, Tesco, ASDA and Morrisons. Waitrose is more expensive. Argos: cheap for essentials like kettles and crockery – large store on New Oxford Street Brilliant markets! Lots of second hand bookshops – check out Charing Cross Road and Marchmont Street (WC1) Waterstones Gower Street – big academic bookshop Sales! Student discounts...oh, and obviously online!

Don’t forget... If you have a television it is against the law to not have a current television licence. For information and to get a licence go to or pick up a form in our information roomwww.tvlicensing.co.uk Even if you are in College halls MAKE SURE YOU GET INSURANCE!!! If you don’t and your belongings are stolen or damaged you will lose a lot of money ( specialise in student insurance policies)

Phones and bills Shop around for good deals (price comparison websites) Save money – call using Skype Go to The Carphone Warehouse or Phones4U for deals from different providers – more options! Be careful of special deals – they are often only cheap for the first few months! Open a UK bank account – otherwise you have to pay to withdraw money!

Top Tips for Shopping Find your nearest large supermarket and check out own-brands Check out some price comparison websites for the best deals for mobile phones etc. Explore your local area for local shops/markets Ask for student discounts in shops Get insurance!

KCLSU Located at Guy’s, Strand and Waterloo campuses Runs the clubs, societies and volunteering opportunities Lots of events and activities throughout the year Bars, venues and shops Job opportunities on-campus Academic Advice Service – for problems such as appeals, disciplinaries and complaints Campaigns

Stay fit! King’s Health and Fitness Centre, Stamford Street Great value for students New equipment and regular classes Alternatively… EnergyBase (on Malet Street, near Goodge Street tube and Senate House Library) is a student gym with a large pool: central.co.uk/energybase/ central.co.uk/energybase/

Exploring further afield… Lots to see in the UK On Europe’s doorstep! Make the most of Young Person’s Railcard and cheap flights etc Join the International Students’ House Travel Club Remember that Haggis and Shamrocker offer 15% off tours for King’s students if you type “KCL” into the promo box Keep an eye on the Facebook page for tips on where to go But…. Don’t forget to have documents with you when passing through immigration

Some Useful Links Transport: and Discounts and deals: NUS card (and others) Price comparison –

Student Advice Service What do we do? One-to-one advice and support Immigration, funding, housing and general welfare Workshops and activities Webpages and advice leaflets Phone:

Counselling The Counselling Service is here to help you cope with any personal, emotional problems, whether or not they actually affect your studies. One-to-one appointments Drop-ins available Group sessions on a range of different issues Self-help information via the website Confidential Contact: Tel: Apply online for an appointment:

Chaplaincy The Chaplaincy team is a pastoral resource for the whole College community, with chaplains on every College site. There for everyone Trained listeners with experience in supporting students Events and activities throughout the term International lunches at different campuses in term time Visiting chaplains from other faith traditions and chapels, Quiet Rooms and prayer facilities available across College

Health Should have insurance if here for less than 6 months Emergency treatment free, but not follow-up treatment College Health Centre available for private treatment Walk-in Medicentres quite cheap – closest to King’s is at Waterloo Station For serious illnesses and accidents, call 999 for an ambulance Health information at

Opening a bank account Why open an account? Somewhere safe to keep money Cheaper than withdrawing from your home account Necessary to pay certain bills (e.g. mobile phones) or be paid for part-time work Need bank statements for student visa extensions Banks close to campus include: HSBC, Lloyds, Natwest and Santander. Bank of China also offer special deals to overseas students.

Opening a Bank Account Some accounts not available for international students Check what services the accounts offer and if there are monthly charges. Basic bank accounts are free and easy to open When you have chosen an account: Check what documents you need to open the account You usually just need your passport and a letter from King’s, which you can obtain from the Compass

Immigration: Tier 4 students Tier 4 students: Obtained before you came to the UK Visa should last for length of course +7 days Can extend your leave within the UK if you decide to study here for longer Can work up to 20 hours a week in term time and full time in the vacations, but you cannot be self-employed, take up a permanent full time post or work as a professional sportsperson or entertainer! Must have Tier 4 visa if doing an internship/work placement module

Student Visitors Either obtained this before travel or were stamped in at the airport for free! Should be studying in the UK for less than 6 months Cannot extend your leave in the UK Cannot work, paid or unpaid Need to request permissions to re-enter as a Student Visitor each time you leave and re-enter the UK

Tier 4 Visa Conditions Visa issued for study at King’s. If you have a visa for elsewhere speak to a Student Adviser King’s is required to report you if you change your course, move institution, interrupt your studies, leave the course or stop attending and your visa could be cancelled by the UKVI If visa is wrong, If you need to make changes to your study talk to a Student Adviser

Police Registration “Relevant foreign nationals” entering the UK for more than 6 months are required to register with the police Your visa should state if you are required to register Registration / registering of change of circumstances (e.g. new address/extension of student leave) must be done within 7 days £34.00 fee. Take evidence of student status, 2 photos, copy of passport and visa Register at the Overseas Visitors Records Office – Borough with any

Travelling via Ireland Entering via the Republic of Ireland can be problematic as there are no border controls between Ireland and the UK Even if you have a student visa, this won’t be activated if you enter the UK via Ireland – nobody will know you’re here! If you are seeking entry as a Student Visitor you cannot get this if entering from Ireland – will have been stamped in as a Visitor to Ireland but not the UK, so… Might need to explain this when re-entering – keep your tickets just in case!

Travelling Make the most of being on Europe’s doorstep! But... Check if you need a visa well before travelling – can take time to obtain. See our website for guidance. Ensure you have a letter from King’s and a bank statement to show immigration when you return Check customs requirements so you don’t bring back anything illegal! Expedia, Opodo, lastminute.com and Eurostar are handy websites for booking short breaks

Exploring the UK & Europe HOST UK – visits to host families throughout the UK. King’s pays for your first visit – you just pay travel! International Students House Travel Club – regular trips Haggis and Shamrocker – great trips to Scotland, Ireland and Wales. Discount for King’s students – type “KCL” into the promo box:

Need more help? - lots more info including presentations from Orientation - letters, general help and information - events,networking and tips – your fantastic Students’ Union We hope you have a great time at King’s!

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