Tip 4: Be Entertained

Movie are grossly expensive in London -good seats at a central theatre can cost up to £16.50 (and that doesn't include popcorn). Why pay that when movies are so easily attainable in other ways? A better way to spend your evenings (and money) is on live comedy. There is so much in London, and it is so good. The Comedy Store in Leicester Square has great stand-up nights for between £15-20 from Thursday - Saturday. I have been a number of times and couldn't recommend it highly enough. Great place for a date too! Their improv was also really funny.

Tip 3: Bus About

It's very easy to get caught up in the hype of the tube - after all it is great, and it can get you almost anywhere in London. But this often means the humble bus gets overlooked. Buses in London are great, especially for new comers, for a number of reasons;

1. They are actually cheaper than the tube, and are a flat rate. You can go all over town for ₤1.60
2. You can orientate yourself. Being above ground means you can see how everything joins together -- and you start to learn how close tube stops really are to each other
3. They aren't as slow as you may think. Given, rush hour will be slower, but bus lanes make everything much quicker. 

I recently told my newcomer flat mate about the bus, and he screwed his nose up and said he liked the tube as it was easy and he knew exactly where he is going. Well, the bus is easy too and you actually do know where you are going as you are above ground. A great app for using the bus system is called London City Mapper. Give it a Go.

Tip 2: The Key(ring) to Cheap Pizza

Pizza East is a great Italian restaurant with a rustic feel; there is one in Shoreditch, Portobello and Kentish Town. Pizzas range between £8-£14 - BUT - if you own one of these keyrings, you can get a 50% discount off your entire bill (drinks included).

The Shoreditch restaurant offers this deal on a Monday night, and the Portobello on a Sunday (I'm not sure which nights the other ones does). All you have to do is go in (on a night the offer isn't on) and ask to apply for a keyring - you don't even have to buy anything.

Always book ahead if it is deal night as it will be busy! I went to the Porotbello one with friends, we all got drinks, pizza and a desert and it came to £9 each. Bargain. And the food is amazing.

Tip 1: Covent Garden Trick

If you need to go to Covent Garden and you are taking the Piccidilly or Northern line, get off at Leicester Square and walk. The stations are a 4 min walk apart, and the trouble with the Covent Garden station is the only way up is in a lift. These can get stupidly busy, especially on weekends, and you end up waiting for ages underground. So, save yourself time and frustration, get off at Leicester and walk!

P.S It's Covent Garden C-O-V-E-N-T. Not CoNvent - you will not see nuns walking around their backyard.