A Collegiate's Guide to London

Travel.

It’s on every person’s bucket list and every girl’s #lifegoals. But as collegiates (or even just students in general), traveling can get pretty pricey, pretty quickly.

This past summer, I was lucky enough to have been given a graduation trip to Europe by my parents, and it was the time of my life.

This is the first of a four-part travel series, created especially for those who are on a budget, yet want to be able to travel one day without the seemingly never-ending burden of student debt/loans/impulse purchases from Redbubble. Hopefully, this post can be of some use to you as you find your way to the beautiful city of London, England.

Forget hotels. Size (doesn’t) matter.

Say hello to Airbnb. You may have heard of it already, but Airbnb is the popular way to stay in local’s homes during your stay. You can browse cheap rooms for rent, including some as cheap as $25 per night! I stayed in West Kensington in a neighborhood that was 2 minutes walking distance from both the Shepherd’s Bush Market and Goldhawk Road Underground stations (which are pink/yellow lines). If you’re wary of staying in a small Airbnb, I promise you this: in the end, size won’t matter. You’re barely going to be spending any time in your room- because you’re in LONDON BABY! (Friends, anyone?)
Do not overpack. Seriously.

I made the mistake of packing over 4 weeks worth of separate outfits during my trip, because God forbid I be an outfit repeater like Lizzie McGuire. Trust me, less is more. Carrying a 40-something pound suitcase up and down the Underground’s stairs is not fun! Pick a few staple items, and style your outfits around those items. Plus, you’re probably going to want to buy teas and other souvenirs while you’re in London anyway 😉
Get lost.

London can be a confusing city, and its subway, the Tube, can be more confusing than the rest of Europe’s subway systems. I do not recommend Ubering anywhere because you’ll miss out on hearing the beautiful accents, cute shops, and Londoner trends. Don’t purposefully get yourself lost, but always enjoy the adventure if you do. I wouldn’t have found this gorgeous pub otherwise!
Drink all of the tea.

Twinings, Whittard, Yorkshire Tea and more! The possibilities are endless with regard to the teas you’ll find. Step out of your comfort zone and try a tea you’ve never heard of. Who knows? You might fall in love with it and bring some home.
Budget your meals.

While it may seem important to get the perfect blend of meals that both are culturally British and match your aesthetic, it’s important to think things through and realize you might want to budget your meals. I would recommend eating at Pret A Manger, which is healthy/delicious/CHEAP/quick! Plan out how many “true British” meals you’re willing to pay for during your stay, and stick to it. You and your wallet will thank me later.
Prioritize.

If you’re like I was, and you only have a few days in London and want to make the most of it, make sure you decide which museums are worth your time/money. If you’re a huge history buff, then The British Museum is for you (and it’s free!). Love art? Check out the Tate Modern.