One of the best things about studying at Queen Mary? London is your campus too. And you don't need a massive budget to explore it.
Here are five easy ways to make the most of the city without emptying your bank account.
1. Get cultured for free
London is packed with world-class museums and galleries, and many of them are free to enter.
Spend an afternoon wandering through the British Museum, get lost in contemporary art at Tate Modern, or explore the Natural History Museum. You can see ancient artefacts, famous artworks and some seriously impressive architecture without spending a penny.
The closet galleries to us are Whitechapel Gallery and V&A East and Storehouse.
And don't stop at the big names. London is full of smaller galleries, exhibitions and weird little museums waiting to be discovered.
Student tip: Check what's on before you go. Some special exhibitions need tickets, even when general entry is free.
2. Explore on foot
You don't always need the Tube to get around London.
Pick a destination and walk there. You'll see streets, buildings, parks, cafés and random bits of London life that you'd completely miss underground.
Try walking along the Thames Path, exploring the streets of Soho, following the canal from Mile End towards King's Cross or heading towards Greenwich.
Want some company? Keep an eye out for QMSU Wellbeing Walks, which are a great way to explore London, meet other students and get some fresh air.
3. Explore the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is right on our doorstep and there's loads to explore.
Walk or cycle around the park, check out the striking ArcelorMittal Orbit, or head to the London Aquatics Centre for a swim.
You can also catch some QMSU Sports Clubs training and competing at the Olympic Park, so you might find yourself watching Queen Mary teams while you're there.
It's a great place to spend an afternoon without needing to spend much at all.
4. Find your new favourite green space
London might be a huge city, but there's plenty of nature hiding among the skyscrapers. For every person in this city, there is a tree (about 8.5 million).
Explore Mile End Park, relax in Victoria Park, wander around London Fields or discover one of the city's many smaller parks and gardens.
Take a picnic, bring a book, meet some friends or just go for a walk. You don't need a big plan.
And if the weather is doing very British things? Find a cosy café nearby and make that part of the adventure.
5. Go on a food adventure
You don't need to book a fancy restaurant to eat well in London.
Explore the city's markets and food spots for everything from street food and sweet treats to cuisines you've never tried before. Spitalfields, Borough, Broadway and Greenwich Markets are all great places to start, or head out and find somewhere completely new.
Set yourself a challenge: pick something you've never eaten before.
Just remember, the goal is to explore London on a student budget, not accidentally spend your entire maintenance loan on dumplings.
Want to save even more?
Keep an eye out for student discounts, free events and QMSU activities throughout the year. Follow QMSU on social media and check our events programme for things happening on campus and around London.