Cheap and creative things to do in London as a student

As a Kingston student, you’re surrounded by creativity and culture, both in the local area and with central London being just a short train journey away. One of the biggest misconceptions among students is that London’s best events, shows, and creative experiences are too expensive.

During my first year at Kingston, I learnt that there are so many ways to enjoy London on a student budget—far beyond the usual 20% retail discounts. Here are my top recommendations for the best free and affordable creative things to do in London, plus how to find them. 

1. QUEER DIARY’s zine making nights

Hosted regularly at the London LGBTQ+ Centre, this free workshop provides all the materials you could need to create your own zine reflecting on growing up queer. It’s a great space for members of the LGBTQIA+ community to express themselves and form new friendships. The atmosphere is comforting and fun with friendly faces, a collaborative throwback playlist and a charming venue.

The venue is also just a two‑minute walk from the Tate Modern, making it perfect for a full creative day out.

Cost? Tickets are free or pay-what-you-can.

2. Orange Tree Theatre’s under 30’s nights

Just a short trip from Kingston, the Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond is a hidden gem. Despite its small size, it attracts big names like Arsema Thomas (Lady Danbury in Queen Charlotte) and Patricia Allison (Ola in Sex Education). For most of their productions, they host an under-30’s night. Each ticket is £15 and includes a free glass of wine or non-alcoholic beverage, as well as access to a post-show talk with cast and crew members. Many people stay afterwards to socialise at the bar, where drinks are discounted all night.

Cost? £15 per ticket (and if you’re travelling from Kingston station, the bus only costs £1.75 to get you there!).

3. V&A and Tate Lates

On the last Friday of every month, the V&A and the Tate Modern keep their doors open until 10pm and offer free workshops, live DJ sets and performances. The events often revolve around exciting themes linked to ongoing exhibitions, such as the V&A’s Marie Antoinette themed night. They’re sometimes especially curated by artists like Little Simz, who collaborated with the Tate last summer. Events in the programme range from drag and cabaret performances, to exclusive artist talks, to textile and creative writing workshops. Whether you want a relaxed creative workshop or a night of music and art, these free events are some of the best things to do in London on a student budget.

Cost? Both events are free!

4. National Theatre £10 under-25 tickets

The National Theatre offers £10 tickets for under‑25s for most productions. The earlier you book, the better seats you can bag. I’ve seen four shows now with the deal and even managed to claim front row tickets to Hamlet, where an actor handed me a prop I still own. With critically acclaimed playwrights, directors and actors, as well as the prestige of the National Theatre, it’s a great use of a tenner.

Cost? £10 for under 25’s.

5. TodayTix discounts and rush tickets

If you love theatre, TodayTix is essential. It offers discounts on tickets months in advance, but where it really shines is when used for spontaneous theatre trips. Rush tickets, which are tickets posted the morning of a show, are available to a wide selection of incredible productions, meaning you only pay around £20-£30 for your ticket. Look out for drops which appear up to three days ahead of a show when other users release their protected tickets. Discounts range from 30% to 70% off their original price, making going to the theatre a lot more affordable.

Cost? Varies by production and discount offers (but from personal experience tickets tend to be £15-£40).

6. Twickets for gigs and events

Twickets doesn’t outright offer discounts, it’s a great way to find users reselling tickets for all sorts of events, with a secure payment and refund system in place. Often, the day before or of an event, users are desperate to sell their tickets, giving you the opportunity to place offers and score decent discounts. I did this for the London Film Festival last year and paid £20 for a gala ticket to see Die My Love, prior to its UK cinema premiere. The event included Lynne Ramsay and Jennifer Lawrence attending the gala and answering a few questions before the screening, which was really exciting.

Cost? Varies by event.

7. The BFI: £4 cinema tickets for free membership

The BFI is amazing at catering towards young people and students, with tons of student tickets as well as their free-to-join under 25 membership. This entitles you to £4 cinema tickets and discounts on other events, talks and workshops. They show a range of older and newer releases and are extremely active in supporting and funding smaller production companies and film makers. Recent events beside screenings include creative workshops with industry professionals, Director Q&A’s, David Lynch themed paint and sips and more. If you ever plan on visiting the BFI in Southbank, I recommend visiting the gift shop, the Mediatheque and to blindly buy tickets to a film you’ve never heard of.

Cost? Membership is free and gives you discounted tickets to events and access to £4 cinema tickets.

8. Dice and Resident Advisor for affordable gig tickets

Dice and Resident Advisor are apps that advertise and sell tickets to a variety of events. You can use these apps to find gigs at smaller venues with up-and-coming artists and DJs as they are often much more affordable and just as much fun! Not only can you brag about discovering some underground music to friends, but you also directly support smaller venues and artists. They both offer functions to sync to your Spotify or Apple music account to tailor recommendations to your taste, which makes finding events you’ll like a lot easier.

Cost? Varies depending on event but there are many free events to choose from.

9. Buzz for creative events

For creative events involving fashion, art and music, Buzz is a great, new app on the scene. From album launch parties to fashion week events to gigs, Buzz’s events span different creative fields and often provide free or affordable prices. Having only been released in 2025, it’s not quite as developed as Dice or Resident Advisor yet, but it’s worth checking out.

Cost? Varies depending on event.

10. The Instagram Method

This is the main way I find out about events I like and share them with friends to convince them to tag along. The method is simple. When you attend an event you enjoy, follow the event’s social media on Instagram. Then, you can scroll through other suggested accounts on that profile and find similar ones. You can also investigate other events hosted by the same event runners, or those that are hosted in the same venue to see if anything interests you. Soon your algorithm will catch on and the events will find you on your feed, instead of you having to find them.

These are just a handful of things out there for students in and around London - so why not try for yourself!