By
Halls Life
Posted 3 days ago
Wed 24 Dec, 2025 12:12 AM
This guide is written by Neelabh (he/they), a former UAL student who lived at The Costume Store. He draws on his experience of moving to London in winter and what it is like navigating student life in the city.
Neelabh shares practical insights and tips to help you feel prepared, confident, and supported as you begin your journey at UAL. Whether you're moving to London for the first time, or moving out of halls into private accommodation, these tips will prepare you for your next chapter.
Before the big move 📌
London winters can feel colder than expected!
- Consider packing insulating inners, a down jacket, warm socks, and non-skid boots.
- If you’re coming from a tropical region, it's helpful to carry supplements such as vitamin D, C and B12 to compensate for the shorted duration of sunlight you’ll be experiencing.
- Warming foods such as baked beans and soups are widely available and
make an easy, cosy winter meals.
London and the UK have unique postcode systems and it’s a great way to locate areas in the city. It is helpful to familiarise yourself with the postcodes of your accommodation and college before arriving.
Public transport in London offers many options. While the underground metro system, a.k.a the tube, is the most popular, buses and Overground trains often connect areas more efficiently. Night buses run after hours, and selected Tube lines operate through the night on weekends. Take time to familiarise yourself with different routes and choose what suits you best.
When moving to London, even from within the UK, you’ll find apps that are unique to the city.
- The most popular is City Mapper which Londoners swear by.
- If you’re moving from abroad, you may have to change your App Store location to access essential apps.
- Look out for the most crucial apps such the NHS app for your healthcare and social apps for discovering events and booking tickets.
- When shopping for essentials, grocery and retail memberships often offer discounts through their apps when scanned at the till. Popular examples include Tesco Clubcard, Nectar, Boots, and Superdrug.
If you’re living in London for the first time, it may seem overwhelming at first. It is a great idea to book a UAL student hall as your initial accommodation.
- They include all bills, offer services such as laundry and heating.
- There's a thriving community of your fellow students.
- It’s a reliable and trusted base to start exploring the city from.
- The Halls Life team also host events in halls, designed to make your stay better.
Take your time to explore the options on the UAL accommodation website to find your best fit.
My most important advice would be to take your time when adjusting to your move.
- Don't feel pressured to have all the answers on day one and take your time exploring the city. You will, in time, find gems that shape your unique experience in London.
- Making mistakes in inevitable at first, but the people of London are often friendly if you ask for help.
- UAL offers lots of options for support for your time in halls and beyond.
After check-in 🛎️
Being a student in London offers a wide range of benefits for you to take advantage of.
- For travel, TFL offers a student oyster that helps save money during your commute.
- Signing up to apps such as Unidays and Student Beans offers discounts at almost every high street and online store, including intercity coach journeys.
- There are also many young person and student passes that will grant you access to the cultural institutions in London and the UK.
Use your student ID and email to sign up as soon as you move in.
- When arriving in January, it can be challenging to explore your local area due to the cold weather and early sunsets. Exploring online through maps and guides is a great alternative.
- Checking out your local markets, nearest superstore, popular restaurants, and public facilities such as parks and community centres can help you feel more comfortable in your surroundings.
- The winter season is usually quieter, and you may find yourself discovering local gems and hotspots at a time when they are more accessible. It’s definitely not something you should skip!
Get your official paperwork sorted as soon as you can.
- For international students, registering for a National insurance number and opening a UK bank account will allow you to work a part time job while you study.
- Registering at your local GP surgery will allow you to access healthcare in the UK.
- UAL’s student portal provides the letters required for opening bank accounts and provides proof of address.
These are key essentials to check off, especially if you are an international student.
Find out more about opening a UK bank account.
Community is a big part of student life and UAL is a great place to build a long lasting and supportive community.
- The best way to meet people in your UAL halls is to go to Halls Life events.
- For mature and returning students, there is Halls Life + which caters to students who are beyond their first year of study.
- You can follow the Halls Life Instagram page and check the Halls Life website for regular updates.
- The UAL Students’ Union offers a wide range of student societies based on interests, sports, and culture. You can even set up your own society if there isn’t one that caters to your hobby.
Don’t feel shy about not knowing how to do things in the city.
- If you are new and don’t know how something works, ask for assistance, and people are more likely to help you.
- If you are struggling with finding your way about your halls or college, approach a staff member and they are sure to help you figure it out.
- If you are struggling with figuring out directions or transport, fellow passengers may be helpful in guiding you the right way.
- You will find that Londoners prefer not to
trouble you, but if you ask for help politely, they are happy to help out. It’s important to say ‘I don’t
know how to do this’ out loud.
Moving out with confidence 📦🏠
When searching for an apartment, consider what it’s important for you.
- Check to see that the area you’re moving into is relatively safe.
- Does it have good transport links to where you’re most likely to travel often? The Tube, Overground and buses generally connect the whole of London well.
- Are there supermarkets close by?
- Would you need more space or would you prefer a share house with bills included?
- Researching a neighbourhood or simply visiting it on a day off can help put things into context before you decide to move there.
For more tips on moving out read our Guide to private accommodation.
When viewing an apartment, ask about the finer details.
- When you move, you might be paying council tax, unless you’re still a student. If you’re still a student, apply for council tax exemption. If not, ask the council tax band to know more about how much you’d be paying extra.
- Consider travel expenses, if you’ll be travelling to a college in zone 1, living further away may cost more in time and money to travel.
- It's helpful to enquire about the building’s internet, water and energy suppliers and set up your account with them as soon as you move in. Above all, it is important to ensure that the landlord or letting agency is trustworthy.
- Always view the property before paying any money. A simple internet search can prevent you from being scammed.
For tips on how to spot scams in private rentals, check out this article.
If you’ve decided to move into accommodation that does not include bills in the rent, it is vital to know that you’ll be paying quite a bit extra above your rent.
- In London, many places require a 12-month contract, meaning you’re usually committed to paying for the full year. This includes home Wi-Fi plans and other everyday amenities.
- Council tax is also billed annually but can be paid monthly and cancelled more easily if you find yourself having to move.
- A concern that most first time renters have is energy bills. In London, most energy companies operate a flat monthly bill. When you move out during winter time, it may seem alarming when you receive your first energy bill. But don’t panic, energy bills go up significantly in winter and reduce in summer.
- Most houses build up credit through the summer to use in the winter months. Be prepared to pay extra the first few months to manage this cycle.
It may not be possible to find everything you want in one home, so it’s important to prioritise what matters most to you.
- A larger living space may mean living further from the city centre, while shorter travel times usually require choosing well connected areas.
- Consider whether you prefer a lively neighbourhood or a quieter one. These trade-offs are common. For example, rent may be lower further out, but transport costs can be higher.
- Talking to others about where they live and exploring new areas can help you make the right choice.
Remember that moving out is just the beginning to a new way of life. You’ll be taking on more responsibilities and learning the ropes of the city.
- If you’re unsure of anything, ask your fellow UAL cohorts who have had experience living by themselves.
- When you move into a new place, don’t be shy to say hello to your neighbours and ask them for help in learning about how to navigate your neighbourhood.
- Make local friends and get to know your local grocery store workers who can help you out.
- If you feel unsure or find yourself in a difficult position after moving out, reach out to the UAL support teams or trusted friends to help. The world ahead if full of possibilities and you’ll do great!
📢 For more helpful information you need to know about moving into halls in January, read this article.
