Eat
Leather Lane Market. Located only a few minutes away from Farringdon Station and Chancery Lane, Leather Lane Market is a great place to grab some lunch when on campus. Normally running on weekdays from 10am to 2pm, the market offers a diverse and vast range of food stalls.
Fields Bar & Kitchen. Located in Lincoln's Inn Fields, this place is popular with LSE students as they offer a student discount! Their menu includes a variety of breakfast options, pastries and pizzas at lunchtime. The restaurant also has outdoor seating available, making it a great break time spot, especially in the summer months in the lead up to exam season.
Al fresco lunch at Fields Bar & Kitchen.
Arcade Food Theatre. Just a train stop away from Holborn or a 20 minute walk from campus, Arcade Food Theatre is an open dining space housing a range of different restaurants, including Flat Iron and Chotto. There is also a bakery and coffee counter as well as three bars.
Chinatown. No trip to London would be complete without a stroll through Chinatown! Located between Leicester Square and Soho, it’s difficult to miss as there are Chinese lanterns strung between the lampposts and beautiful archways at its entrance. You can sample a variety of Asian cuisines here, some of the many examples are; Taiwanese bubble tea, dim sum restaurants and Korean BBQ restaurants.
Head to Old Town 97, and try out the famous LSE Fried Rice - a secret menu item created by LSE students.
Seven Dials Market by KERB. This food court has something for everyone, from rice bowls to truffle burgers. There is also a bar and cafe. It's the perfect place to grab lunch or meet with friends for a catch up, located a short 10 minute walk from campus.
Do
Southbank Centre. There are several venues that hold a variety of events, from art exhibitions to classical concerts, dance performances and gigs, to talks and debates, offering something for everyone. Located outside the Royal Festival Hall on Fridays and the weekends is a lively food market, where you can sample food from all across the globe, from Korean burritos to Punjab-inspired biriyanis. Additionally, underneath Waterloo Bridge, you can have a dig through the tables of second-hand and antique books, comics and prints.
Visit museums. Near campus you have Sir John Soane's Museum, the London Transport Museum, and the British Museum. Within the Central London vicinity, you have The Photographer's Gallery, The National Gallery, and the National Portrait Gallery (to name a few!). A lot of London museums are free. You can buy an annual Student Art Pass for £5 to get discounted access to major exhibitions across the UK.
Take a break at St Martin’s Courtyard. This shopping and dining destination is located in Covent Garden. When the weather's nice you can relax in the open air courtyard and enjoy alfresco dining in one of the near-by restaurants like Maison Bab (who have collaborated with LSE Generate to provide a co-working space for LSE entrepreneurs).
Seven Dials. Located near Covent Garden, Seven Dials is a road junction where seven streets converge, hence its name. Each road has a variety of different restaurants, cafes and retailers. You can find a line of people queuing up at Monmouth Coffee, eating cinnamon buns from Fabrique, and freelancers and students working at Timberyard. Tucked away near Monmouth Road, you’ll find Neal’s Yard, an oasis in the busy area of Covent Garden. You’ll find brightly coloured stores and with luck on your side, the sunlight pouring into the courtyard.
Cinnamon buns from Fabrique
Shopping. A few train stops away and just a 30 minute walk from Holborn is Oxford Street and Bond Street - the shopping district of London! Be sure to visit Liberty London, a department store housed in a heritage listed, Tudor-revival building.
Outside Liberty London
Book a theatre ticket. LSE is in close proximity to Theatreland, London’s main theatre district, with over 40 venues for you to choose from. You can find long-running shows like Les Miserables at Queen’s Theatre and The Lion King at Lyceum Theatre, both within walking distance of LSE.
Visit
The Ned. Located opposite Bank Station is The Ned, a former Midland Bank turned hotel/private members club. Despite this, you don’t need to be a member to enter, so take the opportunity to explore this Grade-I listed building, with a lot of its original features, like its vaulted ceilings still intact. Regardless of the time of day you visit, you can grab a bite to each from one of the ten restaurants inside, all specialising in a different cuisine, including Japanese, French and British.
Covent Garden. It's located just a 10-minute walk away from the LSE campus, which makes a convenient area to take a break from your studies. Covent Garden is composed of markets and shops. Browse the market traders at Apple Market to find handmade crafts and unique collectables and the small eateries around the market.
The Barbican. The centre has an extensive programme throughout the year, hosting music concerts, dance and theatre performances, art exhibitions and film screenings. On selected Sundays, the Barbican opens its conservatory to the public, offering a ‘tropical oasis’ in the heart of the city, where you’ll be surrounded by over 2000 plant species.
Sky Garden
Sky Garden. Housed inside what is commonly referred to as the 'Walkie Talkie' building, the Sky Garden offers a beautiful view of London’s skyline whilst being surrounded in an urban jungle. Free tickets are available to book online (just remember to book in advance as tickets sell out very quickly). There are cafes, restaurants and bars located in the venue.
Exmouth Market. Located between the City and Islington, at Exmouth Market you can find independent fashion, health, beauty, interior design, and book stores. In addition to the stores you can find a large selection of cafes, restaurants and bars. During weekday lunch hours (12pm to 3pm) there is a street food market.