Campus Life and Beyond

London offers the ultimate student experience. You can throw yourself into campus life, with its vibrant social vibe, or dip in and out of activities.

The local area is packed with things to do, from visiting restaurants to suit all tastes through to enjoying luscious green spaces and sport at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. What’s more, you can get from Stratford to the centre of the capital in as little as six minutes.

In and Around Campus

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. On our campus, you can also relax at The Den or combine a spot of gaming and food at our popular retro-gaming café Reload.

The Students’ Union organises events and there are lots of clubs and societies you can join as well. It’s ideal for finding a sense of community, meeting new friends and getting involved in student life. Find out more at www.staffsunion/london.

Here East also hosts a programme of events for students, including freshers’ fest, a Christmas market and summer festivals.

Food and Drink

Here East is home to Canalside, which is bursting with restaurants and bars. Whether you’re after a bite for brunch or a full lunch, there are plenty of delicious options. Eateries include The Breakfast Club, Randy’s Wing Bar, Gotto Trattoria, Urban Food Fest, The Lock Inn, Four Quarters and many more.

At Hackney Bridge, you’ll find a wide selection of street food. Delicacies include sizzling Filipino dishes at Filigrillz and Neapolitan pizzas at Made in Puglia.

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.

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.

Shopping and Leisure

If you fancy some retail therapy, we are on the doorstep of Westfield Stratford City – one of Europe’s largest shopping centres. It’s got more than 200 shops, almost 90 places to eat out, and entertainment spots such as Vue Cinema, bowling alley All Star Lanes and gaming arenas. 

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.

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.

What Our Students say