Life in London - University of Staffordshire London

London offers the ultimate student experience. Whether you want to dive into campus life or take things at your own pace, you’ll find something to suit you.

The local area is packed with things to do — from relaxing in green spaces to enjoying a wide range of restaurants, sports, and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. What’s more, you can get from Stratford to the centre of the capital in as little as six minutes.

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Food and Drink

On campus

You won’t go hungry on campus, our campus cafés and food outlets serve fresh, good-value meals, drinks and snacks.

The Den

The perfect space to chill out with comfy sofas and booths and food prep spaces if you want to bring your food from home

View virtual tour

Reload Café

Our retro gaming café features arcades and consoles, plus a wide range of drinks, snacks and hot food at great prices

View virtual tour

Here East

Here East is home to a wide choice of restaurants and bars, with plenty of places nearby for every taste and budget; from grab-and-go lunch spots to sit-down dining options like The Breakfast Club and Randy’s Wing Bar.

The Breakfast Club

The Breakfast Club is a family café offering all day food and drinks, they are especially well known for their brunches. Read more

Find out more: https://thebreakfastclubcafes.com/

Randy’s Wing Bar

Randy’s Wing Bar was formed from a mutual love of chicken wings and strong family bond. They have one restaurant in London, their flagship in Here East, Hackney Wick. Read more

Find out more: https://randyswingbar.co.uk/

Gotto Trattoria

Gotto Trattoria is an independent Italian restaurant with homemade Pasta, 48 hour proved Pizza and great cocktails. Read more

Find out more: https://www.gotto.co.uk/

Urban Food Fest

Different street food trucks & stalls every Saturday plus an ever changing selection of craft beers, ciders, wines, prosecco & cocktails! Read more

Find out more: https://urbanfoodfest.com/

The Lock Inn

The Lock Inn serves up brilliant cocktails and loads of exciting craft beers from local breweries, alongside delicious homemade pizzas, burgers and a great Sunday Roast. Read more

Find out more: https://www.thelockinnhackney.uk/

Four Quarters

Four Quarters is an arcade bar in East London. It has a selection of video games, as well as a canal-side location with a sun-drenched beer garden and a pizza menu. Read more

Find out more: https://fourquarters.bar/

Hackney Bridge

At Hackney Bridge, you’ll find a wide selection food traders – offering everything from Japanese inspired soul food, to Indian street food, Filipino barbecue, Neapolitan pizza and juicy burgers. There's also plenty of vegan and vegetarian options.

Hackney Bridge Kitchens

Further afield

If you venture further afield in East London, there are a huge variety of places to eat out. In Shoreditch, popular venues include Club Mexicana and The Smoking Goat.

Club Mexicana

Club Mexicana is the home of vegan Mexican street food in London. The simple menu at this vibrant eatery offers nachos, tacos, and burritos with tasty plant-based fillings like BBQ jackfruit and vegan chicken. Read more

Find out more: https://www.clubmexicana.com/locations/shoreditch/

Smoking Goat

Smoking Goat is a Thai Barbecue Bar, featuring Cornish meat and fish with Thai flavouring. Read more

Find out more: https://www.smokinggoatbar.com/

Nightlife

For nightlife, London’s got it all. The Ministry of Sound in Southwark is known as the home of dance. If techno and electronica are more your scene, check out Fabric at Smithfield Market. Or closer to campus, there’s the Colour Factory at Hackney Wick.

The Ministry of Sound

The Ministry of Sound claims to be the home of dance music and you won't find many who disagree. It is one of London's flagship nightclubs. Read more

Find out more: https://www.ministryofsound.com/

Fabric

Fabric showcases underground DJ talent, internationally-renowned electronic music legends and accomplished live acts. Read more

Find out more: https://www.fabriclondon.com/

Colour Factory

Colour Factory is a night club, live music venue, food court and multi-functional events space in Hackney Wick. Read more

Find out more: https://www.colourfactory.com/

Shopping, Leisure and Sport

Westfield Stratford City

We’re just minutes from Westfield Stratford City, one of Europe’s largest shopping centres. It contains over 200 shops, nearly 90 places to eat, and entertainment spots like Vue Cinema, All Star Lanes bowling, and a gaming arena.

Boxpark

For an unusual shopping and leisure experience, try out Bethnal Green’s Boxpark - a pop-up mall made from shipping containers. It also offers music, arts events, food and drink.

Sport

If you want to see sport on the big screen, The Yard is a great venue, or get physical yourself with a workout at F45 Stratford.

Getting Around

It’s easy to get around London from our Stratford campus. You can be in the heart of central London in just a few minutes by train or tube.

Students can save money on travel by getting an 18+ Student Oyster card, which gives 30% off adult-rate Travelcards and Bus & Tram Passes.

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Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

Take a lift to the top of the 114.5-metre tall ArcelorMittal Orbit and then experience a twisting descent down the world’s largest tunnel slide.

You can also get physical and explore sports at various Olympic Park venues. They include Lee Valley Velo Park, which offers track, road, BMX and mountain biking.

The London Aquatics Centre is famous for hosting Olympic champions during the 2012 Games. Whether you’re a novice swimmer or an experienced athlete, you’ll find lots to get involved in here.

Then there’s the Copper Box Arena, where high-profile sporting events, tournaments, exhibitions and concerts are held. You can use the impressive gym there too and also see the London Lions basketball team in action.

Hear from our students

It’s modern, clean and feels safe

I really enjoy the surrounding area of University of Staffordshire London. It’s modern, clean and feels safe. Just outside the University, Canalside has a variety of bars, restaurants and a retro-gaming bar where you can play classic video games while you eat and drink. Olympic Park is great for walks, especially early in the morning when it is quiet and peaceful.

Peter Vladimirov

Computer Games Design student

There are always events happening on the Canalside.

There are always events happening on the Canalside. And many bars and restaurants, like Four Quarters and Randy’s Wing Bar, offer student discounts. You can also take a free shuttle bus to Stratford Westfield, which has a wide variety of shops and restaurants. Tonkotsu, a popular ramen restaurant, is one of my favourites.

Malnaa Sumani

Concept Art student

There’s always something to do, no matter what your interests

University of Staffordshire London’s campus lets students get to anywhere in the city easily and experience all that London has to offer. There’s still plenty of things to do if students prefer to stay closer to campus. There’s always something to do, no matter what your interests.

Casey-Lee Nightingale

Computer Games Design student