lara London

Getting to LARA London

by car 

There is no onsite parking but there are sometimes spaces in the local area.

By public transport

by train

Vauxhall (Victoria Line & Overground) or Oval (Northern Line)

by bus 

Vauxhall Station (2, 36, 77, 87, 88, 156, 185, 196, 344, 360, 436)

Oyster Cards, Contactless & Travelcards

An Oyster card is a pre-paid travel smart card. It’s the cheapest way to pay for single journeys on bus, tube, Overground, DLR and most National Rail train services in London. Using your contactless bank card costs the same as an Oyster fare.

You can buy a Visitor Oyster cards before you leave home for a £5 activation fee and pre-load it with credit for your trip. The system is divided into nine zones. Zone 1 is the central London area. Students who study at LARA for at least two consecutive terms can apply for a Student Travel Card, which entitles them to a discount. Oyster card or contactless: bus any zone: single journey £1.50, two journeys within 1 hour £1.50, 1-day price cap £4.40/ tube & train zone 1-2: peak £2.90, off peak £2.40, 1-day travel card £6.60 (automatic price cap),  7-day travel card £33.00(automatic price cap)

Please see Oyster Calculator and TfL Fares and Payments for more information

By Cycle Hire

Cycle hire stations are available throughout London.

By Taxi

Hail a black cab (taxi) in the street. Fares increase after 8pm. We advise against using any vehicle that approaches you in the street, except licensed black cabs. Uber is also widely available throughout London

Staying in London

If you are visiting London to attend one of our workshops, the city has a range of options for accommodation. The city’s official tourist website has a good overview of hotels, hostels and B&Bs. Tripadvisor also has a range of hotels as well as useful guides for things to see in and around the city. Additionally, Airbnb has 100s of listings within a few minutes walk of LARA London.

For students who are moving to London for a longer period, rooms in a shared house can be found on Spareroom.co.uk and Gumtree.co.uk for between £350-£750 per month, depending on proximity to the city centre.  It is possible to submit a student status letter to the council in London to receive a 25% discount on council tax.

Food and Drink in vauxhall

There are plenty of options near the studio. Currently students at LARA, all together go to the pub for Friday lunch and for after school outings.

Art in London

Our Top TEN most popular art attractions

1. British Museum: The famous museum, which was founded in 1753, houses a wealth of treasures, including the Rosetta Stone and Egyptian mummies.
2. National Gallery/ National Portrait Gallery: This gallery is filled with priceless European art belonging to the nation. See works by Botticelli, Da Vinci, Van Gogh and more.
3. Wallace Collection: is a national museum in an historic London town house. In 25 galleries are unsurpassed displays of French 18th-century painting, furniture and porcelain with superb Old Master paintings and a world class armoury.
4. Tate Modern: A former power station in Bankside, this impressive space hosts a globally recognised modern-art collection, plus some great temporary exhibitions.
5. London Eye Experience: the full glory of the capital by taking a ride in one of the London Eye capsules. On a clear day, you can see 40km away.
6. Geffrye Museum: Founded in 1914, the Geffrye Museum is a museum specialising in the history of the English domestic interior.
7. Victoria & Albert Museum: An incredible range of historic artefacts that spans more than 3,000 years and includes art, jewellery, photos, sculpture and fashion, plus exhibitions, special events and more.
8. Tower of London: The infamous 900-year old English fortress beside the River Thames is guarded by Beefeaters in period dress. Home to Kings and prisoners for centuries, it’s said to be haunted.
9. Royal Museums Greenwich: Learn about the seas and the stars at the National Maritime Museum, Cutty Sark, Queen’s House and Royal Observatory.
10. Courtauld Institute: enjoy a remarkable art collection, including famous impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces, and an acclaimed program of temporary exhibitions. 

Many venues offer free general admission but charge entry to temporary exhibitions. Admission prices and opening hours can change, so check before you visit. As a student at LARA you can get a NUS student card that will give you free or reduced access to many shows at the galleries.

Exhibitions not to be missed

• David Hockney at Tate Britain
• America After The Fall at the Royal Academy
• Michelangelo and Sabastiano at the National Gallery
• Pink Floyd: Their Mortal Remains at the V&A
• Portrait of the Artist at the Queen’s Gallery
• Sky: Portrait Artist of the Year at the Wallace Collection

Take in scenic views and street theatre

With the iconic River Thames, centuries of beautiful architecture and wealth of green spaces, London is a fantastic place to take a stroll. Popular choices for Londoners include the Royal Parks and Hampstead Heath, but we love strolling along the South Bank. It’s a great place to people watch and enjoy the free street theatre.

The best walk in London starts at the South entrance to the Greenwich foot tunnel and once crossed over through the tunnel, follows the north bank of the Thames all the way to Big Ben and Parliament via Canary Wharf, St Katherine's Dock, Tower Bridge, St Paul's Cathedral, Millennium Bridge, Tate Modern and the London Eye. The views are spectacular and you will get to see many hidden parts of London. And if the tide is out (check the times at Easytide) then you can get down on the foreshore at a number of places, including onto a rather good sandy beach just 300 metres or so downstream from Waterloo Bridge. It’s a long walk of about 10 miles, but there are plenty of opportunities to rest or jump onto public transport.

Beyond London

For those who want to get a taste of attractions a little further afield, great locations an hour or less from London, include Hampton Court Palace, Windsor Castle, Royal Tunbridge Wells, The South Downs, Oxford, Cambridge, Brighton, Canterbury Cathedral and Bicester Village. Slightly further afield: visit the Turner Contemporary Gallery in Margate, also the birthplace of Tracey Emin. We’d also highly recommend the Wedgwood Collection near Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire; Barbara Hepworth’s home and sculpture garden in St Ives, Cornwall, where you’ll also find Tate St Ives.