It’s Friday evening – what better way to celebrate the end of the university week than with a Domino’s takeaway with friends, followed by a relaxing trip to your local Wetherspoons to unwind? I find this is a great way to reward yourself for all your endeavours during the week, and to catch up with friends without the worry of waking up early the next day for any campus commitments. It is also a budget-friendly way of celebrating as both Domino’s and Wetherspoons do deals.
After some good rest, I find that a great way to start Saturday is to get some activity in—whether it’s a run, walk, cycle, or even a visit to the gym. Some fun places for this are the parks in London (Hyde Park, Regent’s Park, Hampstead Heath, Battersea Park etc.). The added bonus of these locations is the surrounding scenery for sightseeing. For example, Hyde Park is right next to Buckingham Palace, Regent’s Park pretty much attached to Primrose Hill, and Hampstead Heath is near charming neighbourhoods with cafés and restaurants, making it a perfect spot to grab some much-needed lunch afterwards.
If I’ve managed my time well in these spaces, I should have enough time to go back, get changed, and throw on my football shirt before meeting friends or family on the way to watch a match at one of London’s many football grounds. A personal favourite of mine is Loftus Road, located near White City on the Central Line (about a 30-minute trip from campus), with tickets typically around twenty pounds. The added bonus of this location is its proximity to the Westfield shopping centre, which makes it an ideal spot for some post-match shopping or dining. I would recommend Byron, they do fantastic burgers and milkshakes.
When I return home, I like to play some cards with friends or put on a movie. I rather enjoy franchise binge-watching and have recently been subjecting my flatmates to movie marathons, like Harry Potter ahead of the festive period. I find this a nice way to share a hobby of mine and spend quality time with friends in a more relaxed setting, especially if Saturday has been long and busy.
Saturday is of course good for a night out and where better to go clubbing than London? Whether it’s a club in Soho, Ministry of Sound (an LSE favourite), or other classics like Fabric or XOYO, London has a club perfect for everyone, with entry rarely costing more than £10. Clubbing is a fantastic way to de-stress, cut loose, and enjoy being a student without the worry of making it to a 9.00am class the next day, as we would on a Wednesday night at Sway!
Waking up on Sunday—at whatever time that may be—I should hopefully feel fully rested. I like to start the day with a fry-up in the kitchen to get going on the right foot, followed by watching Match of the Day. Afterward, I make sure to get some work done, tie up any loose ends from the week at LSE, and prepare for the upcoming one. A fun way to do this is to go with friends to campus and use it as an excuse to meet over coffee or lunch while we work. But, if I’m tired, working from the comfort of my own room can be nice too. Regardless, I aim to be done in time for Super Sunday on TV (for non-football fans, maybe catching up on a show you’ve been wanting to watch all week).
By 6.00pm on Sunday, I aim to have all my work finished, allowing me to switch off and get ready for the week ahead. I also like to save a more complex meal to cook on Sundays since I have more time, making it a good opportunity to try something different. My recent (attempt) was a chicken tikka masala. After dinner, I tidy my room and get things ready for the next day to ensure I start the week prepared – a routine I would highly recommend in order to avoid morning stress on Monday. And that would wrap up my perfect weekend in London. I hope this can be of some inspiration or reassurance to others of what a privilege it is to be a student in London.
