The best student clubs and bars in London

Chances are if you're reading this, you're about to begin your very first year at university in one of the most culturally significant and exciting cities in the world - London. And if this is the case, congratulations! You've made a fantastic choice.

The 'Big Smoke' is an internationally renowned epicentre for academic excellence and is attended by students from across the globe each and every year. It's home to forty different universities and almost half a million students (382,000 in 2019 to be precise), making up almost a fifth of the entire undergraduate and postgraduate population in the UK.

With such a huge number of students taking residence in the city, it almost goes without saying that the extracurricular activities the city has to offer are in no short supply. Easily one of the best places to experience Freshers Week or a last-minute nighttime adventure with your new class or flatmates, on any given day of the week, London will leave you awestruck and truly spoilt for choice. 

We've put together a list of ten of the best places for students to drink, dance, rave, and meet new people across the sprawling metropolis. Check them out below and click or tap on the links provided for events, tickets and more...

 

Koko

Location: 1A Camden High Street, London, N1 7RE

Last year Koko reopened having had extensive repairs after a fire had ripped through one of London's most iconic spaces. Walking through Camden, you can't miss it with its distinctive dome. Step inside and you'll find a club space across multiple floors where you can easily squeeze in with a group of friends.

Live music is always happening at the venue and the club nights start afterwards, there's no doubt that as a nightclub, Koko has an exclusive vibe to it but it's open to anyone.

 

To discover more about Koko and find tickets to upcoming events click or tap - here

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EGG London

Image credit: Egg London (Facebook)

Location: 200 York Way, London N7 9AX

There are so many, maybe even too many nightclubs in the capital all offering excellent entertainment almost each and every night. Getting to them all throughout your time at university would be a challenge. However, if you're looking to have a really good time without having to spend too much money, then Egg is the perfect option!

Found in London’s trendy Camden Town in a converted warehouse, it boasts three floors and five huge rooms, an arsenal of lights and lasers, one of the best in-house sound systems we've ever seen or heard and an iconic egg-shaped DJ booth in the centre of the venues main room. Hence its name.

With such high-quality live production, it should therefore be little surprise that the calibre of artists who regularly come through the venue include some of those at the very top of the electronic scene.

 

To discover more about EGG London and find tickets to upcoming events click or tap - here

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Electric Brixton

Location: Town Hall Parade, Brixton Hill, London SW2 1RJ

Voted the best nightclub in London for seven years, Electric Brixton offers the perfect place to enjoy and take in the madness of Freshers Week. Always teeming with energy, with students from across the country packing in every night to see some of the best DJ talents, the party quite literally never stops with music pumping from sunrise to sunset. A destination so popular with students, that tickets for Freshers events are often sold out within a matter of hours of being announced. 

In addition to the fantastic DJ’s and music, there's also a huge selection of cocktails on offer with five bars spread throughout the venue.

 

To discover more about Electric Brixton and find tickets to upcoming events click or tap - here

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Electrowerkz

Location: 7 Torrens Street, London, EC1V 1NQ

Located in Angel, you'll find Electrowerkz down an anonymous-looking backstreet behind the tube station. But, once in the venue you'll see why there's so much buzz around it. The bar area is beautiful, with plenty of space for everyone and a great selection of drinks.

They put on a wide selection of club nights but we recommend their queer clubbing events which bring inclusive spaces perfect for any LQBTQ+ freshers.

 

To discover more about Cargo London and find tickets to upcoming events click or tap - here

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E1 London

Image credit: E1 (Facebook)

Location: Unit 2, 110 Pennington St, London E1W 2BB

With an ever-growing reputation for hosting amazing club nights, it’s easy to see why E1 has become one of London's hottest destinations for dance music in recent years. The multi-room venue, consisting of three separate areas, features one of the loudest sound systems in the capital, perfect for those huge events and Freshers parties, and offers huge floor space to explore, mingle and meet new people.

A place that promotes great live music and all-night dancing, E1 have welcomed many big artists through their doors over the years, including Carl Cox, Guy Gerber, John Digweed and Jamie Jones, and there's a very good chance you'll come across names of this stature on your next visit. A must-visit for those who love dance music.

 

To discover more about E1 London and find tickets to upcoming events click or tap - here

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Ministry Of Sound

Image credit: Ministry of Sound (Facebook)

Location: 103 Gaunt St, London SE1 6DP

The Ministry of Sound club is an excellent choice for new students looking to make the most of their Freshers Week experience. Open until 3 am every night, the venue offers great low-cost drinks options, to help you keep the party alive without breaking the bank, as well as some of the best student-based entertainment found anywhere in London. 

Join thousands of other students in participating in the Ministry Of Sound pub crawl or go wild at 'Milkshake Tuesday', one of the city's most popular student nights. 

In it for the music? One thing you don't have to worry about is the quality of acts. Ministry Of Sound, for those of you who've been living under a rock, is a household name for a reason. Expect to witness icons of dance music week in, week out. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for event announcements, as tickets sell out fast!

 

To discover more about Ministry Of Sound and find tickets to upcoming events click or tap - here

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XOYO

Location: 32-37 Cowper Street, London, EC2A 4AP

XOYO could easily be names one of London's best intimate clubs. Located handily right next to Old Street station, you'll head down to the basement to find a brilliant space that always seems to invite down some cool names. They've had some brilliant DJs take up residencies too.

The likes of Mike Skinner and Interplanetary Criminal have taken to the decks over the past year and this is the club you want to go to if you find yourself in East London.

 

To discover more about XOYO and find tickets to upcoming events click or tap - here

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The Underworld Camden

 

Image credit: The Underworld Camden / Facebook

Location: 174 Camden High St, London NW1 0NE

For students who prefer the heavier, more alternative side of music, The Underworld in Camden is a sanctuary. A great place to hang out during the week, with games consoles and pool tables dotted around the venue, and an even better place to party at the weekend, with a blocked out programme of events happening throughout the year.

Inside, you'll find two huge bars, each with enticing prices for beers and spirits, and an enormous stage that's welcomed bands the likes of At The Drive-In, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Cranberries, Hole, The Offspring, Placebo, Queens Of The Stone Age, Radiohead, Reef, The Smashing Pumpkins, Foo Fighters, Soundgarden and KT Tunstall over the years.

 

To discover more about The Underworld Camden and find tickets to upcoming events click or tap - here

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Fabric London

Location: 77A Charterhouse St, London EC1M 6HJ

When it comes to bars and nightclubs, there are plenty of options to suit every student's needs in London, but Fabric is undoubtedly up there with the best. Whether you’re a fresher, a mature student or your average party-loving citizen, there’s something for everyone at this long-standing and award-winning venue.

The UV Neon Laser Rave, Freshers Festival and Zoo party are all massive in terms of the sheer number of people that attend - anywhere up to 4,000 partygoers - but also in terms of the atmosphere they create. If you want to meet new people and make some ever-lasting memories, these are absolutely the events for you! 

In the same breathe, if you're seeking something a little more low key, Fabric can also provide spaces specifically built to cater for those who want to let their hair down and dance on a less congested dance floor.

 

To discover more about Fabric London and find tickets to upcoming events click or tap - here

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Village Underground London

Image credit: Otherline / Eleonora Collini Photography

Location: 54 Holywell Ln, London EC2A 3PQ

Perhaps one of the more artsy options on our list of student clubs to visit, Village Underground has to be seen to be believed.

A creative hub that's been constructed in an almost Lego-like manner, it's built up of four Jubilee line tube carriages and two shipping containers, all hoisted into position on top of an old railway viaduct alongside an old Victorian warehouse - its appearance alone should be enough to keep you coming back for more. But wait, there's more... 

In addition to providing a vast array of student-friendly drinks options, the club also hosts a broad range of club nights, concerts and raves, often welcoming record labels, party collectives and world-renowned artists to take over the clubs' airwaves. 

Are your student digs located in East London? In search of some uplifting vibes and a first-rate music venue to celebrate your arrival in the city? Look no further. This is the spot. 

 

To discover more about Village Underground London and find tickets to upcoming events click or tap - here

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Check out our What's On Guide to discover even more rowdy raves and sweaty gigs taking place over the coming weeks and months. For festivals, lifestyle events and more, head on over to our Things To Do page or be inspired by the event selections on our Inspire Me page.