If you want to fill your Freshers Week calendar, you won’t be hard-pressed for nightlife hot spots to hit in London. London is your oyster, with most bars and clubs pulling out all the stops and drinks promotions for students still socially acclimatising to the city.
Whether you’re looking for indie club nights, bars with the most decadent cocktails, alternative clubs where you can find your tribe, dance floors you can hit and dance to your favourite guilty pleasure pop tracks, or clubs that are at the centre of London’s hip hop culture, this blog on the best London Clubs for Freshers covers all options and will help you to fill out your Freshers Week Diary.
If you plan on hitting multiple venues during Freshers Week, you can save on admission fees by investing in the Official London Freshers Week wristbands. The official wristbands will give you access to over 15 top Freshers clubs, including Scala, XOYO, and 338, and over 35 club nights.
The 6 Best London Clubs for Freshers
Want to go beyond your student union during Freshers Week? These affordable options are rolling out the red carpet for all students looking to meet new people, get to know their flat, course and campus mates better, let off some steam, and explore the city.
1. Ministry of Sound
Not only does Ministry of Sound host one of London’s biggest weekly raves, but it is also home to one of the longest-running student nights. Milkshake has been running for 21 years, and it is more popular than ever among hip-hop, house, garage, disco, bass, drill and pop fans.
Even though the DJs and guest appearances keep getting bigger, the drink offers won’t blow your entire student budget! Drinks are priced as low as £3.50; for attendees with a little more cash to splash, there are luxury VIP rooms in addition to the five areas pumped with tunes via the loudest sound system in Europe.
Address: 103 Gaunt Street, London, SE1 6DP
2. Popworld
With 2-4-1 cocktail offers and free entry before 9 p.m. every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Popworld is the ultimate venue for pop and rock fans who want to get down to the cheesiest hits from across the eras without breaking the (student) bank (account).
Throwback Thursdays are the perfect opportunity to celebrate your love for 80s and 90s guilty pleasures; until 3 a.m., you’ll hear everything from Whitney Houston to Bon Jovi to the Spice Girls to ABBA. Keep your eyes peeled for the Popworld Dances, which may not be in keeping with the TikTok trends, but at least you’ll have plenty of fun joining in with them as the confetti cannons start to stream.
Address: 17 Watling Street, London, EC4M 9BB
3. XOYO
You are bound to hear a few tales of XOYO antics after you have spent a while on campus. To keep hold of its accolade as one of the most student-friendly clubs in London, your bar tab will always be low if you take advantage of the drinks offers, and you can grab entry tickets for as little as £3 (plus booking fees).
Every Tuesday, XOYO runs its SNEAK nights, which will keep you up-to-date on what is hot on the DJ, tech and house scene. If you’re more of a hip-hop, R&B, and grime fan, head to XOYO on a Thursday when the club promoters throw open the doors for their Your Mum’s House events. Both nights keep the drinks flowing and the party going into the early hours, and special guest performances aren’t out of the ordinary here.
32-37 Cowper Street, London, EC2A 4AP
4. Zoo Bar & Club
The name isn’t the only thing that is wild about Zoo Bar & Club, which fuses retro stylings with a dash of decadence, making the club the perfect backdrop to some unforgettable nights out. Spread across two floors, there are three rooms, which cater to different music tastes, and four bars to order cocktails and cheap drinks.
By roping in some of the best DJs and giving free access to the bar every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (just flash your student ID at the door), Zoo Bar can easily be considered one of the best London clubs for Freshers. The venue is always packed to the rafters with people who want to have a good time, so if you are looking for some good vibes to have with your midweek party fix, look no further than Zoo Bar & Club.
Address: 13-17 Bear Street, London, WC2H 7AQ
5. Underworld Camden
The Camden Rocks Club and Blackout Club nights held at the Underworld Camden are some of the best student-friendly nights for fans of rock and metal. From 11 p.m. to 3 a.m., you can rekindle your love for Paramore, Blink 182, Muse, and Foo Fighters and get to know some of the friendly faces in London’s rock and metal scene.
To guarantee entry, booking a ticket in advance is highly recommended; they can be purchased directly via the Underworld Camden website for £7, which may be a little more expensive than your average student club night ticket, but it is more than worth it; the atmosphere is always electric.
Address: 174 Camden High Street, London, NW1 9DL
6. Fabric
Rounding off the list of the best London clubs for Freshers is none other than the award-winning venue, Fabric. You can dress up if you want to, but if you are looking for a more casual night out with your new student friends, you will always look the part in Fabric.
The Freshers Festival has become somewhat of a cult phenomenon; if you miss out on tickets, not all is lost; their UV Neon Laser Raves and Zoo Parties are equally as student-friendly. While the DJs mainly spin techno, dubstep and house, nothing is off the EDM turntables at Fabric, which promises to offer some of the best club nights in the world and always delivers.
Address: 77A Charterhouse Street, London, EC1M 6HJ
