Sport and the City
Life of a student Londoner is definitely not of the chillest kind: you start your day off with some lectures, do more studying in the library, work in the afternoon and squeeze in a few hours with friends in the nighttime. In such a tight schedule, your shoulders stiffen, your back always hurts, and all your late-night takeaways start catching up on your health. Doing sports, while not the biggest favorite of many, could majorly help alleviate the strain of the big city life. Explore some sporty options in this week’s walk-through (pun intended)! :)
1. Jog Routes
Feeling overwhelmed with your academic workload, stuck in the library or just sick of revision? A quick walk around Goldsmiths campus would be the most affordable and least time-consuming option to grab a breath of fresh air. Setting off for an adventure around spectacular London sites, on the other hand, would give you a wonderful chance to take your mind off the dreading assignments and explore a whole new area! You will find some tempting jog and walk routes in our Goldsmiths guides, so buckle up and tag along!
2. Grab a friend
Hundreds of fitness studios around London offer fun group classes, so grab a friend and scavenge your local area for exciting sessions or explore the bougee Central London gym scene! The most basic and comfy option would be the big gyms with pools in Fitness First in London Bridge and fancy Pilates classes in Frame Shoreditch, but some of the most popular and affordable options include Pure Gym in Deptford and fitness studios in Greenwich and Canada Water - discover more in our Fitness Guide!
At the same time, memberships can pose quite an issue to the student budget. My friends and I often take advantage of free taster sessions and trials, such as one recently offered by ClassPass, which gives you 52 credits to spend on fitness and wellness for a whole month. Some local fitness spots also offer amazing student deals, such as the Arch – a climbing wall in Surrey Quays and South Bermondsey, which you can visit at a discounted rate on Mondays and Fridays. Bouldering is honestly so much fun, not to mention the satisfying feeling of accomplishment you get afterwards!
On top of that, Goldsmiths’ Student Union has over 100 societies, including sport clubs (badminton, volleyball, basketball, football, jogging, netball, MMA, tennis – you name it!), which you could join for an affordable membership fee. Choose to play competitively, or just socialize over a fun match on the College Green, in the SU, or on the grounds of Deptford Green school. I personally do tennis, attending coached sessions and friendly matches with peers, as well as Varsity tournaments. The grind is tough, but I always leave looking forward to the next session!
3. Events
Seasoned sports lovers organize and attend regular events around London, such as the marathons, triathlons, and stadium matches (from football and rugby to horse-riding and cricket). Levels of participation vary from observer to professional, so feel free to drop by to make some new friends over watching an exciting match or get involved personally with a training programme or a charity fund. Last week, I went to the London Marathon to cheer for a lab team fighting with blood cancer and help them document their contribution with photography. God forbid I actually ran the marathon – I would rather rewrite all my first-year essays – but simply attending really inspired me to get back into jogging! The price of contribution also depends on the event, but just being a passionate observer could be great to get out there and find the sport closest to your fitness goals and personal preferences.
