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CONTENTS

1. Studying in London

2. Who comes out on top in London?

3. London School of Economics (LSE)

4. Imperial College London

5. University College London (UCL)

6. King’s College London (KCL)

7. University of Arts London (UAL)

8. Entry requirements

9. Living in London

10. Getting around London

11. Things to do in London

Studying in London

The UK's capital sits in the south-east of England, attracting thousands of students from the UK and abroad. London has a population of around nine million and offers much more than red phone boxes and royal guards in tall furry hats.

Cosmopolitan by nature, London is a melting pot of cultures that shape its unique identity. No two boroughs are the same – exploring Hackney will feel vastly different from Kensington. Whether during the week or on weekends, there’s plenty to keep you busy when you’re not studying.

Who comes out on top in London?

London's top ten is remarkably stable – in fact, the top four unis haven't changed position in over five years. But University of the Arts London has climbed nine places since 2019 to hold 5th position in the London rankings for 2025. City, University of London has also risen in recent years to claim 6th place.

Meanwhile, for many years Queen Mary was a firm 5th among unis in the capital but in the past two years it's dropped to 7th. University of West London's top Student Satisfaction score for the region helps to keep it in London's 8th place. Finally, each moving up one place in London's 2025 rankings, are Goldsmiths at ninth and St George's at tenth.

Top five unis in London

1. London School of Economics (LSE)

LSE is world-renowned for its Social Sciences. As well as being the top uni in London, it ranks an incredible 3rd out of 130 universities in our 2025 UK university league tables. Scoring well in all categories, it's joint 2nd in the UK for Research Quality and 5th for Graduate Prospects. This means most LSE graduates are in employment or further education within 15 months of graduating. LSE also claims the top spot in several subjects – including Social Policy and Accounting & Finance.

LSE teaches around 12,000 students and boasts several Nobel Prize winners among its staff. Students at LSE have access to one of the largest economics and social sciences libraries in the world, and a top careers service.

Location

London School of Economics has a central London campus near The Strand. Student halls of residences are within easy walking distance. This lets you explore London on foot as well as study with the historical landscape as a backdrop. A short stroll away is Covent Garden and London’s theatre district. Many other London sights, attractions and entertainment are nearby.

Facilities

As well as having a large and well-stocked library, LSE provides an array of facilities for every student. The university offers a faith centre and great sports facilities, from indoor gyms and dance studios to cricket practice nets and football pitches.

See for an interactive map and more information.

2. Imperial College London

Imperial College is another university in London with a worldwide reputation. It excels in science, engineering, business and medicine and has the top score in the UK for Research Quality. It also has strong relationships with institutions in other countries, giving you opportunities to learn from different cultures and people to pursue your career ambitions.

It’s not surprising then that Imperial College comes 5th in our overall university rankings for the UK. Imperial is also in the top three for most engineering subjects. It ranks 1st for Aeronautical & Aerospace Engineering and Medical Technology & Bioengineering.

Location

Imperial College has campuses all around London. The main campus is at South Kensington – within handy distance of Hyde Park if you need a break. Nearby are the Natural History Museum and the V&A, two of London's most famous museums. Having so many locations, each with good facilities, means you can explore the city with ease.

Facilities

There’s a wide range of resources on offer at Imperial, with subject-specific librarians to help you find the right source materials and free software.

Various gyms are available across the city. At Ethos gym in South Kensington, enjoy a swim, the gym, or even the climbing wall. Basic membership is free with pay-as-you go classes, or £65 for a years' access to the gym and pool. Other sports facilities include rugby, football and all-weather sports pitches and a boat club.

See Imperial College London profile page for an interactive map and more information.

3. University College London (UCL)

A large, diverse university, UCL has a well-deserved reputation for excellence and diversity. It was the first university in England to welcome students of any religion or social background, and the first to welcome women to university education.

UCL consistently takes a top ten place in our UK university league tables, ranking 9th in 2025. It takes a top-ten place in 35 of our 2025 subject tables, including Archaeology and Psychology. It's also 10th in the UK for Graduate Prospects. This shows that students are highly likely to be in employment or further education 15 months after graduating.

Location

A location in the heart of a global city has its benefits. As well as being close to museums, libraries and theatres, UCL’s campus in Bloomsbury has world-class facilities. It combines historic buildings and new builds to offer great access to both academic and leisure pursuits.

A new campus, UCL East, is next to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in East London. Most courses here are for postgraduates, focusing on interdisciplinary learning, innovation and collaboration. They push the limits of the creative industries, health, and robotics. They also explore new materials and manufacturing, and the built environment.

Facilities

UCL has a huge number of sports facilities, both on and off campus. You'll find various courts and pitches, fitness studios and gyms. UCL also has 19 libraries, each with specialisms. You can study a language as part of your degree at the Centre for Languages & International Education (CLIE). Or you can explore one of the uni's own museums – including the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology and the Grant Museum of Zoology.

See for an interactive map and more information.

4. King’s College London (KCL)

King’s College is looking ahead to its 200-year anniversary in 2029. A civic university, it aims to make a difference to the local communities where it's based. It's also outward-looking, with many international partnerships and a focus on global issues. KCL is a strong champion of clean, green energy, with 100% of its electricity coming from UK wind energy.

King’s College is 8th of 130 universities for its Research Quality and ranks 24th overall in our UK university league tables for 2025. It appears in the top ten of 16 different subject league tables including Health Studies and Anthropology.

Location

KCL has five campuses across London including Denmark Hill, Guy’s, St Thomas’, Strand and Waterloo. Your course determines which campus will be your base, but you can access facilities at any campus.

All campuses are in great locations for access to all London has to offer, including bars, nightlife, theatres, parks and restaurants.

Facilities

KCL has impressive libraries and research facilities, open 24 hours during busy periods such as exams. It has a wide array of sports pitches, courts and gyms, which feature across campuses and other venues around London. It also runs social sports sessions through a BeActive initiative aimed at keeping students fit.

See King’s College London profile page for an interactive map and more information.

5. University of Arts London (UAL)

University of the Arts London (UAL) is a specialist institution with an international reputation in art, design, communication, fashion, media and performing arts.

It has an impressive track record for launching and furthering careers across the creative industries. Graduates have often been shortlisted for awards ranging from the Turner Prize to the Oscars. UAL ranks 29 out of 130 universities in our UK university league tables for 2025. It has a low Student-Staff ratio, meaning you're likely to get good access to tutors. It also comes third for its Academic Services Spend, ensuring plenty of study resources for students.

Location

UAL comprises six colleges. These are Camberwell College of Arts, Central St Martins, Chelsea College of Arts, London College of Communication, London College of Fashion and Wimbledon College of Arts. Each is well connected by public transport to the many things London has to offer.

Facilities

UAL has eight libraries and learning zones. Specialist facilities include darkrooms, ceramic workshops, a metal casting foundry and printmaking studios. These allow students to explore their ideas and develop their skills. Sports facilities available to students include a climbing wall and dance studio.

See University of the Arts London profile page for an interactive map and more information.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements vary from uni to uni and course to course. A quick and easy way to check what you need to get into your preferred course at each university is to use our course chooser. There you can see what each course’s entry requirements are.

Living in London

First-year students typically live in student halls provided by the uni. Options will vary in price based on where you study, but you can do your research beforehand to see what options fit within your budget. Halls may be near the uni’s campus or close to the public transport links needed to reach the campus.

After the first year, most students move into private accommodation. These will be independent of the uni, and you’ll need to organise this yourself. Be prepared to share a house with a few people if you’re after cheaper rent. Decide who you want to live with and start searching for flats in the second half of your first year, to have more accommodation options.

It's well-known that London rent prices are higher than the rest of the UK. To help with this, students from elsewhere in the UK (other than Scotland) get a higher amount of student loan than if they studied outside London. Unfortunately this does not apply if you come from Scotland.

Find more info about the .

Getting around London

London’s world-class public transport system means every part of the city is accessible by train or bus. Dedicated cycling lanes make it easy to travel by bike, while walking is just as popular.

Train

London’s Underground and Overground train services will take you throughout the city. Your first few trips may be overwhelming, but you’ll quickly settle in. Using the trains is as simple as tapping in and out using your debit card. You could also buy an Oyster card and top this up as you go. We suggest buying a 16–25 Railcard and attaching this to your Oyster card, which can take as much as 1/3 off the price of each journey.

Citymapper will be your best friend when using London trains. Download their app and you can map out your entire journey, check expected arrival times and receive immediate updates on any delays.

From London you can get to just about anywhere in the UK by train – or even to Europe, if you take the Eurostar from St Pancras International. Mainline railway stations include Waterloo, St. Pancras, Euston, Paddington and Marylebone.

Bus

Travelling via bus is cheaper than the train and can take you closer to the parts of London that the Underground or Overground can’t. Simply tap in with a debit Oyster card. You won’t need to tap out when you hop off. Using the Citymapper app will also be helpful.

Cycle

Cycling around London is encouraged. You’ll not only stay fit, but you’ll save money. Dedicated cycle lanes make it both easy and safe to navigate the roads. Great deals on new bikes can be found in many bike shops throughout London. Or look for second-hand options on Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree. Remember to budget for a helmet and a bike lock too.

You can hire Santander bikes around the city. Download the Santander Cycles app to find docking stations and check whether any bikes are available.

Walk

Walking is another great travel option. It’s a chance to get fresh air, exercise and explore the local London boroughs.

Other transport

Uber, Bolt and other ride-hailing services run in London. These options will be a cheaper alternative to London’s famous black cabs.

Transport links to and from London

Average train journey times from London to other cities

Things to do in London

It’s not possible to run out of things to do in London. There’s something for everyone, both on weekends and throughout the week. Luckily for students, they include plenty of free things to do!

Food and drink

Name any cuisine and you’ll find it in London. London’s food scene is eclectic. Borough Market, Spitalfields Market and Portobello Road Market all offer cheap, good quality street food. Shoreditch, Hackney, Camden, and Islington are other goldmines for food-lovers.

The more central you are in London, the more expensive drinks tend to be. Many pubs, bars and restaurants offer happy hours, so it’s worth researching the best places near you.

Arts and culture

London bursts with creativity and will keep you well entertained. Art fills the streets of East London, live theatre captivates the city centre at night, while live music can be heard in every borough. London’s also synonymous with history. The city’s littered with ancient architecture, monuments, and iconic landmarks. Famous museums include the Natural History Museum and the British Museum, or you could delight in the artworks of the V&A, Tate Britain and the National Gallery.

Events

Every night London has something on. Theatre, sport, comedy, and music are just the beginning. Don’t be disheartened and assume that events are always expensive. Apps such as TodayTix have theatre tickets for as low as £10. And places like the Top Secret Comedy Club have shows each night throughout the week that are either free or £1 entry. You can find plenty of deals online with a bit of research.

Outdoors

London’s very metropolitan, yet it’s also filled with parks and green spaces. Holland Park, Regent’s Park or Hampstead Heath are beautiful locations near the city. Further out of the city, Sussex, Kent, and Surrey all boast countryside landscapes accessible via train. Wander around your local area too and see what smaller parks are around.