sixth Aug 2025
Studying Time: 6 minutes
As college time looms within the coming weeks, many new and present college students shall be enthusiastic about one of the best ways to get round. A scholar price range means operating a automotive is prohibitively costly – to not point out scholar housing usually has no parking.
We’ve rounded up a few of the finest methods to journey without cost and low-cost as a scholar to ensure you’re not blowing the price range on taxis on a regular basis!
Strolling
The obvious selection, but in addition the free one! Strolling in every single place is an effective way to remain match as a scholar, though it might have its drawbacks in case your college campus could be very large or scattered across the metropolis.
Put money into an honest pair of trainers to stroll in – your toes, legs, and hips will thanks for spending the additional on supportive footwear. Search for strolling guides too – you’ll usually uncover shortcuts that you just wouldn’t learn about with out native data. Once you first arrive in your college city or metropolis, discover out if there’s a free strolling tour: it’s an effective way to study the historical past of your city, whereas additionally attending to know the realm!
Bear in mind to depart loads of time to get to your vacation spot. Whereas strolling routes are extra dependable time-wise than getting caught in site visitors, it’s straightforward to underestimate how rapidly you possibly can stroll. You might also end up bumping into folks you recognize, stopping to talk, and getting sidetracked!
Strolling security suggestions
✅ Attempt to not stroll alone; particularly at evening
✅ Plan your route earlier than you set off, and stroll in well-lit areas at evening
✅ It’s tempting to put on headphones whilst you stroll. Attempt to maintain one out, or use bone conduction headphones just like the OpenRock X ones, which let ambient noise in so you possibly can keep conscious of your environment
✅ In case you get sore knees, hips, or toes from strolling a lot, take a break from strolling. Persevering with on an damage might result in long-term issues
Biking
Biking is the go-to for college kids with longer distances to cowl or busier schedules that merely don’t permit the time strolling takes. It’s straightforward to select up a second-hand bicycle on websites like Fb Market, Gumtree, and eBay. Nonetheless, when you do that, ensure you take it for a full service earlier than you begin using it, to verify it’s secure to make use of.
If you wish to cycle for longer distances, or stand up hills with out shedding your breath, contemplate an electrical bicycle. They’re comparatively low-cost to run, however imply you possibly can cycle far longer than with out the battery help.
For college students who’ve a protracted approach to journey, loads to hold to lectures, or have restricted mobility meaning a bicycle is out of the query: contemplate an electrical tricycle like these by Jorvik Tricycles. The preliminary funding is increased than a normal bicycle, round £1900, nevertheless while you unfold this price over three years of use, 5 days per week throughout term-time, the cost-per-use is less expensive. An electrical tricycle can be very secure, making it safer on the street (with extra street presence, too), and baskets on the entrance or again imply you possibly can carry your books, groceries and anything with out strapping them to your again and making an attempt to steadiness your method house!
Try our detailed Jorvik Tricycles product overview for extra particulars.
Biking security suggestions
✅ All the time get a second-hand bike serviced earlier than you journey it. You may as well learn to do that your self from YouTube movies.
✅ ALWAYS put on a helmet when using your bike, ensure your bike lights are working earlier than you set off, and put on reflective clothes.
✅ Electrical bikes can sustain with metropolis site visitors extra however this implies drivers will not be conscious how briskly you possibly can go. Give different vehicles a large berth and ensure you study (and use!) hand indicators when turning.
✅ Don’t grasp baggage in your handlebars, it creates a harmful imbalance. Use a storage basket, backpack, or get a tricycle with a rack on the again!
Prepare Journey
One approach to maintain your dwelling prices down as a scholar is to dwell additional away and commute in for lectures and occasions. This may get in the way in which of your social life, nevertheless, until you reside in a metropolis with a late-night transport community with trams, evening Tubes, and buses.
Prepare journey may also turn into expensive when you don’t get scholar reductions in your fares. Apply for a 16-25 Railcard (or a 26-30 railcard when you’re an older scholar) to get a 3rd off practice fares – or search for a scholar checking account that features one free, as a bonus. There may be restrictions on railcards, equivalent to not getting used for season tickets, so all the time ensure the ticket you’re shopping for together with your card is legitimate earlier than you board the practice, in any other case you is likely to be charged a full fare!
In case you have a TOTUM card (previously an NUS card) for scholar reductions, you may as well declare £9 off a railcard by way of Trainpal.
London college students can add an 18+ photocard to their Oystercard to assert 30% off Transport for London journey, together with the underground, overground, bus and Nationwide Rail (inside London).
All the time have a backup plan in case trains are cancelled, equivalent to a elevate share association with different college students in your class who dwell close to you, so that you don’t get marked down for missed attendance to lectures.
Low cost practice fare suggestions
✅ Journey off peak every time you possibly can to get cheaper fares.
✅ Get a railcard and ensure your ticket is legitimate together with your card earlier than you journey.
✅ Use apps like Seatfrog to get last-minute low-cost tickets and first-class upgrades for longer journeys – best for when it’s time to go to house for a weekend.
✅ Disabled college students can apply for a Disabled Particular person’s Railcard which additionally provides a 3rd off the ticket worth for a companion ticket, making it low-cost to journey with a carer or buddy.
Low cost Bus, Tram, and Coach Journey
The bus is the most affordable type of public transport, though it does imply it is advisable to depend on their timetables. This may be tough when you’ve got very early lectures, a protracted approach to journey, or have a part-time job to commute to on shift hours, like in a nightclub or bar. Nonetheless, it’s low-cost and environmentally pleasant journey (particularly on electrical buses!). Pupil fares differ between bus corporations, so ensure you have the related app for the bus firm that serves your space. You’ll want a scholar ID on you to verify it’s a sound ticket, too.
You possibly can declare 25% off Nationwide Categorical coaches too, which make it less expensive to get across the nation to see family and friends on a good scholar price range.
London college students with an 18+ Oystercard photocard can declare 30% off Transport for London journey – together with 30% off season tickets for bus and tram passes.
Manchester college students can declare a free System One card (as much as the age of 26) for diminished journey across the metropolis. Disabled college students could also be higher off making use of for a disabled System One card, which provides free journey in addition to reductions on tickets, and permit them to entry discounted journey vouchers for taxis if they’re unable to stroll to make use of public transport with ease.
Low cost bus, tram, and coach journey suggestions
✅ Season tickets provide a much bigger low cost when you journey virtually every day
✅ Test your native authority for low cost passes or details about discounted scholar journey in your space
✅ E-book advance tickets on-line for coaches and longer bus journeys to get even cheaper fares
✅ Bear in mind: timetables can change, and providers may be stopped because of climate or different issues; all the time have a backup transport choice.
