Student Travel In London

Pross
Pross Posts: 40,214
My daughter is off to Uni in London in September (will be based on the old Olympic Park and hopefully in accommodation nearby). Other than accommodation and food one of the biggest costs is likely to be travel within London. Are there any student travel cards etc. covering London Transport that she can get or does anyone have any tips for making travel as cheap as possible? I'm guessing she'll want to head to the West End most weekends and make the most of her time there.

Comments

  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 40,214
    Should have done a bit of research first I guess as it looks like the 18+ student Oystercard is the best bet. I assume it can be loaded up with credit like a normal Oystercard (does anyone still use those in the age of contactless cards and daily caps?).
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 72,229
    edited May 2022
    So there’s this thing called a bicycle….

    Joking aside it’s the fastest and cheapest way to get around.
  • monkimark
    monkimark Posts: 1,456
    edited May 2022
    Possibly not if you're heading from Leicester square to Stratford at midnight after a few hours in the pub.
    Bus is a lot cheaper than tube/train if you can find a suitable route.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 40,214

    So there’s this thing called a bicycle….

    Joking aside it’s the fastest and cheapest way to get around.

    Yeah, unfortunately she isn't very confident on a bike (a few balance issues from her brain tumour) and would be very panicky in traffic.
  • monkimark
    monkimark Posts: 1,456
    I think the student card just gets you a discount on travelcards, not pay as you go journeys.
  • sungod
    sungod Posts: 16,432
    Pross said:

    Should have done a bit of research first I guess as it looks like the 18+ student Oystercard is the best bet. I assume it can be loaded up with credit like a normal Oystercard (does anyone still use those in the age of contactless cards and daily caps?).

    yes, that's the one, works like a standard oyster card, but reduced fares (30% discount)

    if she'll be using the train to get to/from london/other places, might also work out in her favour to get this too
    https://www.16-25railcard.co.uk/
    my bike - faster than god's and twice as shiny
  • surrey_commuter
    surrey_commuter Posts: 18,864
    I would be very surprised if a student in Stratford spent much/any time in the West End. There might be a few iconic things to tick off but after that there will be far more fun to be had locally.
  • PMark
    PMark Posts: 159
    I live near there and it is probably one of the nicest areas to cycle in. It is possible to go to west or south london without ever travelling on a road and even when you do, there are a lot of proper segregated cycle lanes. Plus because the Olympic park is so big, will probably find a bike by far the quickest way to get to uni.

    If balance is a big problem, could always look at a tricycle (have a family member who got a folding one after they couldn’t cope with a normal bike anymore).
  • monkimark
    monkimark Posts: 1,456
    edited May 2022
    Very much this, it's a very long time since I was young or in London but we very rarely went out in the west end.
    I'm definitely well out of date on the 'cool' parts of town but I'm sure Hackney/Shoreditch type areas have a lot more going on for an 18 year old and they are right next to Stratford.

    I would be very surprised if a student in Stratford spent much/any time in the West End. There might be a few iconic things to tick off but after that there will be far more fun to be had locally.

  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 40,214

    I would be very surprised if a student in Stratford spent much/any time in the West End. There might be a few iconic things to tick off but after that there will be far more fun to be had locally.

    Cheers, hopefully that will be the case but she's doing Musical Theatre so will probably want to hang around there a bit and may even look for part-time work there. I know when my sister lived in London the novelty of the West End died off quite quickly though.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 40,214
    sungod said:

    Pross said:

    Should have done a bit of research first I guess as it looks like the 18+ student Oystercard is the best bet. I assume it can be loaded up with credit like a normal Oystercard (does anyone still use those in the age of contactless cards and daily caps?).

    yes, that's the one, works like a standard oyster card, but reduced fares (30% discount)

    if she'll be using the train to get to/from london/other places, might also work out in her favour to get this too
    https://www.16-25railcard.co.uk/
    Thanks, we've got her sorted with a railcard ready to go. Will sort out an Oystercard too. Just got to book her accommodation now, there's no halls so it's going to be a Unite place - will be very convenient for the Uni and the big shopping centre (free shuttle) but is more per month than my mortgage!
  • Dorset_Boy
    Dorset_Boy Posts: 6,875
    As Monkimark says, even when living in halls between the Barbican abd the angel, we rarely went to the west end. Focus of entertainment was on the Students' Union.

    Is she going to uni of east London?
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,348
    Pross said:

    but is more per month than my mortgage!

    Welcome to Gen - Z ;)
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • Ben6899
    Ben6899 Posts: 9,686
    Lots of cool bars in Hackney Wick. A stone’s throw from the Olympic Park!

    I’m interested to know @PMark ’s road-free route west - not a challenge, but I thought I had my new commute sussed and there’s still a good share of road!
    Ben

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  • N0bodyOfTheGoat
    N0bodyOfTheGoat Posts: 5,834
    Sounds like some money needs to be saved on 50% Strava student discount. ;)
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