Uni has just started and you’re walking through campus. For a lot of you, that means new area, new people and new activities. But this year is like no other. We’ve come fresh out of quarantine and honestly, no one really has a clue of what to expect. Wild rumours will circulate and the guy down the hall is insisting that there’s secret parties being held down the street. Much of the usual events (i.e. Fresher’s Fayre) will shift onto an online medium. It’s not the best news as a fresher we know, but that’s why we’ve collated the best of Barts and beyond into this guide for you. It’s pandemic friendly meaning you won’t turn up to locked doors and hopefully you still get to make the most out of living in the heart of East London.

JUST DOWN THE ROAD

Are you bored out of your mind on your lonesome or with a friend? Luckily, our location’s quite popular and even if it’s well past 11pm, Mile End Snooker Club is calling your name. Booking a table is pretty simple and if you end up paying a few visits, you might want to get your money's worth and get a membership (only £6 for a year might I add). A worthy investment if pool or snooker is your thing or if you want to pick up a new hobby during ungodly hours (this club stays open till 4am or 6am on a Friday and Saturday).

If you are looking for something more relaxed, then Genesis Cinema is the place to be. This independent cinema boasts couches, great food and drink options, at ridiculously cheap prices, especially for students. They have a number of different screens and some of their smaller ones have the perfect atmosphere for a horror movie. You will be in good hands as they’re rigorous with safety, so you can expect them to check your temperature before entry.

If the chilled vibe just won’t cut it and you’re looking for an adrenaline spike, I would recommend a visit to Mile End Climbing Wall. It’s funded and maintained by ‘Development through challenge’ – a charity who help young people develop through opportunity and challenges. So, enjoy an unlimited bouldering session whilst helping out a charitable cause. It's a win-win. They’ve reopened since their previous corona-fueled closure and are welcoming online bookings.

Food is an essential and if you’re out hunting for late night desserts, look no further than Stepney Green’s Sweet. The downside to the amazing desserts however, is that they are usually packed with ice cream hungry customers particularly on Fridays and weekends. Other notable mentions include Rinkoff’s Bakery however they operate exclusively during the day (highly recommend their cronuts).

A BUS AWAY

Shoreditch is a short bus ride away on the 205. Sitting among off-beat cafes and restaurants is Shoreditch’s Flight Club, a darts venue that you can book in advance or turn up on the day. The bigger the group, the cheaper the session. Get competitive with drinks, food and darts - a great way to end the week.

In the other direction you can take the 25 further into East London. Here you can visit the Olympic Park and more specifically, the ArcelorMittal Orbit. A massive slide, parts of which are made of glass that gives you a great view of London. I would recommend booking in advance as it a popular attraction. It’s worth noting this is right next to Stratford Westfield. So, if you wanted to make it a full day out, you could do a spot of shopping and check out the bowling alleys inside. There are special student prices but make sure to book in advance!

Another skyline must: Duck and Waffle. A 24-hour restaurant sitting on the 40th floor of the third tallest building in London: The Heron Tower. I’ll admit it is a bit on the pricier side but well worth visiting on special occasions if you’ve got some money to splash (This is another place which is open 24 hours!). It would be an injustice to describe the view, you’re better off heading to their website to get an idea of the amazing views you’re signing up for. 

Brick Lane is a popular name thrown around by Barts students in particular. Acting as a hotspot for South Asian food, therein lies a hidden gem: Enso. They offer a Thai-Japanese fusion menu with not just quality food but also unbeatable portion sizes, there really is no downside to Enso. Another unmissable gem in Brick Lane is Dark Sugars. They do the very best hot drinks in town, their specialty being the hot chocolate concoction. This is perfect for those autumn-winter months to catch up with a friend or reward yourself after a long day of lectures or placement!

FURTHER AFIELD

Ever wanted to handle an axe like Gimli? Look no further than Whistle Punks in Vauxhall. This is about 40 minutes on the underground away from us at Barts. Book in for a session on how to throw axes at targets. A bit niche I know, but it’s a great way to try something new and get your adrenaline pumping.

Now, we wouldn’t normally give museums a mention for fear of sounding like a tour guide but ‘The Victor Wynd Museum Of Curiosities’ in Hackney is essentially a collection of items from the ages that people don’t actually know anything about. This place covers the most random corners of the world, from McDonald’s Happy Meal Toys to Dodo Bones and prison inmate’s doodles. It is definitely worth nipping into. They currently have reduced opening times and capacity but as long as you book in advance you will be sorted.

Lastly, Boris Biking is the way forward if you’re new to the city and want to get a feel for the area. It costs just £2 to hire the bike. A little tip from me, provided you dock into a Santander rack every 30 minutes, it remains at that price for a 24-hour duration. So, just make sure you dock in every thirty minutes! There are docking stations everywhere around the city and you can even download an app to tell you where the nearest ones are.

All these are just a select few activities I thought you’d enjoy as a Londoner. The typical Nando’s, late-night McDonalds, assortment of clubs and bars, cinemas etc. are all found in the area as well, so you’ve nothing to fear. We’ve picked out the more niche, harder to come by stuff that we’ve tried and tested ourselves. We hope this gives you a real insight into what it means to live in London and will come useful to enliven this year.