Moving to London from abroad is exciting, but it also means facing a high cost of living and adjusting to a new way of life. If you’re just arriving in the city, here’s a guide to how to afford and thrive in everyday life, what to expect, and some smart hacks to help your money stretch further.
When moving to a new country, you’ll first need to set up the basics:
If you are an international student, don’t forget to register with a local GP to access healthcare services.
If you are looking for a UK bank, both Monzo and Revolut are great options!
The best place to find a room to rent in London is by jumping on SpareRoom. Our students have had the most success by checking each morning and being ready to go to a viewing the same day. Watch out for scams! Never put a deposit down before viewing the place, and avoid Facebook marketplace for room rentals.
Average Rent Costs:
Shared room in a house (Zone 3-4): ~£600-900/month.
Studio/1-bed flat (Zone 2-3): ~£1,300-1,800/month.
An alternative option is choosing to live in a guardianship. This is is a vacant property, that is temporarily occupied by people called property guardians in exchange for lower rent. If you’d like to check out this option head over to Lowe Guardians for more info.
First of all some notes: Stand on the right of Tube escalators; walk on the left… otherwise you may encounter some angry faces. Let people off the train before you get on and ALWAYS tap in and out with the same card (Oyster or contactless), otherwise they’ll charge you extra. While first navigating around the best app to get around London is Citymapper!
Money Saving tip :
Get an Oyster card or student discount travel card to save on buses, tubes, and trains.
When ordering food, small talk is polite but brief, Londoners tend to really value personal space. Note that most shops close around 8–9 p.m.; supermarkets may open later, so do your shopping before then!
Money Saving Tips:
Downloading apps like Too-Good-To-Go or First Table are great ways to find good food while being on a budget!
Also, carry a reusable cup. Many cafés give discounts.
For free and discounted events join the Cheapskates newsletter! Receive a weekly list of events happening near you. You can also download DICE, a music and event app which also shows discounted and even free shows!
Take advantage of free museums (British Museum, Tate Modern, Science Museum, V&A), free walking tours in Central London and Camden, and free Parks like Hampstead Heath, Greenwich Park, Hyde Park.
You can also subscribe to the (free) Raindance Film School Newsletter, which provides new upcoming opportunities, events and news for filmmakers and creatives!
For a full array of student discounts, once you receive your student card you can claim: Totem card, Student Beans and UniDays
Odeon, Vue and Curzon Cinemas – All offer their own student discounts.
TodayTix - offer student discounts and last-minute deals for theatre shows.
Tate Galleries – Free entry for students; check for special exhibitions.
Our students have the opportunity to attend Cannes Film Festival, walk the red carpet and network with some of the best known people in the industry.
Raindance Film Festival also hosts a monthly networking event known as Boozin’ and Schmoozin’ where our students get free entry!
The Raindance Film School Student Showcase is an annual event held during the Raindance Film Festival, where students present their final-year films, including narrative shorts, documentaries, and experimental works, demonstrating the creative and technical skills honed throughout their studies. All students are welcome to submit a project, including those enroled in acting and screenwriting.
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About Raindance Film School
Raindance Film School, founded in 1992 by Elliot Grove, is a London-based institution known for hands-on, independent filmmaking education, offering courses that nurture creative talent and practical skills for the film industry.
Check it out: https://raindance.ac.uk/
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