Considering living in North London? To ensure a pleasurable and safe stay while studying your English language course in London, we have put together some useful information for you to read about medical advice, banks in the UK, post offices and typical expenses whilst living in the capital.
Living in Finchley, North London
Finchley is a lovely, quiet area in North London in the borough of Barnet close to Middlesex University. It’s one of the safer places to live in London and has fantastic transport links as you can get into central London within 30 minutes by tube or bus.
Nacel English School London is ideally located on the main road, Ballards Lane, where you can find everything from supermarkets and specialist shops to cafes and bars to beauty salons and other services. The smaller roads leading off Ballards Lane are peaceful residential areas where you can find our host families – traditional British families who look after our students in their homes while the students study English. You can also relax after lessons in Victoria Park, which is nearby and has free tennis courts.
Medical Advice
Urgent & Emergency Medical Support
If you require urgent medical attention, you can visit the Accident & Emergency department of any hospital for free treatment. The nearest hospital to us is:
Barnet Hospital, Wellhouse Lane, Barnet, Herts, EN5 3DJ
Tel: 0845 111 4000
We also have a walk-in centre close by:
Walk–In Centre, Finchley Memorial Hospital, Granville Road, London, Greater London N12 0JE.
999 or 112 is the number to dial for emergencies and is free from any telephone. You will be asked which service you require: Fire/Ambulance/Police. Only dial this number in a real emergency e.g., for an accident. Dialling 112 is particularly useful from a mobile phone, as the mobile service providers supply additional information to the emergency operator, which enables them to locate the source of the call.
Non-urgent & Routine Medical Support
If you require less urgent medical treatment you will need to find a local doctor for Surgery close to your accommodation. You can also call 111 for non-emergencies.
For full-time students studying 6 months or more, please ask at Reception for more details on how to register with a local doctor. You will also be given this information during your induction on your first day at school.
You can also visit the NHS website or call 0845 4647 for a full list of local doctors’ surgeries in your area and further help and advice.
Please also click here for further medical information.
Post Offices
Most post offices are open between 09.00 am – 17.30 pm Monday to Friday and 09.00 am – 13.00 pm on Saturday.
Mail Boxes Etc. is located a 2-minute walk from our London Language School. Here you can post letters and parcels, and buy stamps.
Our nearest post office is located in North Finchley (831 High Road, London, Greater London, N12 8PR). Please ask at Reception for a map and directions. You can post letters and cards in the red postboxes you see in the street. The last times of collection vary but are usually 17.30 pm Monday to Friday and noon on a Saturday.
Check the information on the post box before posting, especially if it is an urgent letter. You must take parcels to a post office.
Banks
Banks are usually open from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday to Friday. Many banks also offer a Saturday morning service.
If you’re living in North London near the school, your nearest bank is Santander which is located on the same road as our London English Language School. There are also some banks which operate entirely online, such as Starling, which you can download as an app on your phone.
If you wish to open a bank account and you have a valid visa for 6 months or more, please ask at Reception and we will provide you with documentation and advise you of the requirements.
You may also find it useful to read “How to Open a Bank Account in the UK“
Phone cards
You can buy an international phone card from many shops near the school. The nearest shops are Martins the newsagents and Tesco Supermarket, both located a 2-minute walk from our London Language School. You can use the card on any phone, in public, or at your host family´s house if you ask permission. Phone cards are cheaper than using the national phone system.
Of course, if you have WhatsApp, Skype, or another online messenger service, you can use our school Wi-Fi to call home for free.
Typical Expenses When Living in North London
Estimates vary as to how much you should budget for, and London, like other cities, can be expensive. However, you must also remember that there are loads of things to do in London which are completely free, like relaxing in our beautiful parks and visiting the many interesting and wonderful museums and galleries.
The following list provides a guide to approximate prices in London:
Food and Drink
Soft drink – £1.50
A glass of wine – £ 3.50
Beer – £3.00
Coffee and Croissant – £2.50
Tesco Meal Deal (includes sandwich, crisps and a drink) – £3.50
Hot soup and roll – £3.50
Roast Chicken with salad – £4.00
Quiche and Salad – £4.00
Burger and Chips – £4.50
Fish and chips (takeaway) – £5.00
Pizza – £8.00 upwards
3-course meal at local Restaurant – £25.00 upwards
Entertainment
Museums – Free
Cinema Ticket – £8.50 (with student card) – £14.00
West End Show – £20.00 upwards
Remember to use your Nacel English School student card to take full advantage of the offer discounts!