Freshers Week in London: Student Nights Out Beyond the Usual

Your first weeks at university in London are full of new people, new places and a lot of invitations. Freshers week is the best chance you'll get to build a social circle, but a fortnight of identical nights out can wear thin, and London isn't cheap. This guide covers how to make the most of freshers week, why a live basketball game makes a good student night, and how to get there on a student budget.

Making the most of freshers week in London

Freshers week is about finding your people. That happens more easily when you mix up the kinds of things you do.

Making friends in your first weeks

• Say yes to group plans. Flat outings and society socials are where friendships start.
• Try something new. Societies' taster sessions and events are low-pressure ways to meet people with shared interests.
• Do things you can talk about. Shared experiences give you a reason to keep in touch after the first week.
• Pace yourself. Freshers lasts a week or two; your course lasts years.

Nights out that don't cost the earth

London has plenty of free and low-cost things to do, from parks and markets to free museums. Live sport is often overlooked, yet it gives you a full night out with a clear start and finish. Check current ticket prices on the club website before you plan, because they vary by game and seat.

Why a live basketball game makes a great student night

Basketball is England's second most popular team sport after football, and plenty of students grew up playing it at school or following the NBA online. A London Lions game gives you professional basketball in your own city, with a loud home crowd, music in every break and close finishes.

• It's social. You're talking, reacting and celebrating together all game.
• It's easy for anyone. You don't need to know the rules to enjoy it. Our guide to your first London Lions game covers the basics.
• It has a clear shape. Doors open 60 minutes before tip-off, and the whole night lasts around two hours, which leaves time for food before or after.
• It isn't built around drinking. The arena has bars, but the game is the main event, so non-drinkers are included.

London Lions play in Super League Basketball, Great Britain's top men's league, and in European competition in the EuroCup. The women's team plays home games at NCC Hackney in Hoxton, which is a smaller venue with a different, closer-up atmosphere.

Bringing your flat, society or team

Society socials

A game works well as a society social for sports clubs, international student societies and any group looking for something beyond the usual bar crawl. It's a fixed event with a clear time, so it's easy to promote and easy for new members to join.

Group bookings

For a few friends, book seats together on Ticketmaster through the London Lions tickets page. For a larger society or club outing, email the club at office@thelondonlions.com with your preferred game and numbers. Booking early gives you the best chance of seats together.

Splitting the cost

Agree in advance who books and how everyone pays them back. Only the person who bought the tickets can collect them from the box office, with photo ID and the card used to pay, so keep e-tickets on the organiser's phone or send them to each person before the night.

Student-friendly ways to get to the Copper Box

The Copper Box Arena is in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford, London E20 3HB. Most men's home games are at the Copper Box Arena, and some are played at NCC Hackney. Always check the venue on the fixture list and your ticket before you travel.

• Hackney Wick on the London Overground is about a five-minute walk away.
• Stratford is about 15 minutes on foot and is served by the Central, Jubilee and Elizabeth lines, the DLR, the Overground and National Rail.
• The 388 bus stops outside the arena and runs between Stratford and central London.
• Santander Cycles has a docking station outside the arena, and there are more than 140 cycle racks.

Our full guide to getting to the Copper Box Arena covers every route, including step-free options.

Saving on travel as a student

If you live in a London borough during term time and study full-time at a registered institution, you can apply for Transport for London's 18+ Student Oyster photocard. It gives a discount on adult-rate Travelcards and Bus & Tram Pass season tickets. It doesn't discount pay as you go fares on its own, but you can add a 16-25 or 26-30 Railcard to cut off-peak pay as you go fares and daily caps.

Settling into London life

Moving to London can feel overwhelming at first. It helps to learn one area well before trying to see the whole city. East London is a good place to start: Stratford and Hackney Wick have affordable food, canal walks, markets and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, all within a few minutes of each other. Finding a regular thing to do, whether a weekly sports session, a society or a team to follow, gives your week a shape and makes it easier to keep friendships going after freshers.

Staying safe on nights out

Plan your journey home before you go out, travel with friends where you can and keep your phone charged. Stratford has the most lines and the most frequent services after a game, and some Underground lines, including the Central and Jubilee lines, run a Night Tube service on Friday and Saturday nights. Check Transport for London's journey planner for the latest options on the night.

Universities near the Olympic Park

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is home to university campuses of its own. Loughborough University London is part of the Here East development on the park, and the East Bank cultural quarter includes UCL East. For students on those campuses, the Copper Box is a short walk away. For students elsewhere, Stratford's connections put the park within easy reach of most of London.

Playing basketball at university in London

If watching the Lions makes you want to play, you have options at every level.

University basketball teams

Many universities in London run men's and women's basketball clubs through their students' union, with teams competing in university leagues. Freshers fairs are the easiest place to sign up, and many clubs run open sessions for beginners and returning players in the first weeks of term.

Community sessions

Outside university, local clubs across London welcome adult players, and London Lions run community sessions for young people in north, east, south and west London. Our London Lions Foundation page explains how the club works with schools and community groups.

Student budgeting tips

• Set a weekly social budget for freshers and stick to it.
• Choose a mix of free, low-cost and occasional bigger nights out.
• Eat before you go out. Stratford has plenty of affordable options, and food at venues usually costs more.
• Check the arena's rules before you go: the Copper Box is cashless, bags must be roughly A4 size or smaller and outside food and drink aren't allowed.

A tip for society organisers

Pick a game a few weeks into term rather than freshers week itself. New members have settled in, timetables are clearer, and it gives your society a second big social after the freshers rush.