So, you're moving to the big city to study in one of the world's top 20 universities (as you will be consistently reminded during your time as a King's student).
Whether you're a street-savvy home student or a total London newbie, there are some things worth knowing before you step into life on King's Strand campus. Have a read of the handy hints below and feel instantly better prepped.
King's College London - a fresher's guide to Strand campus
You'll wish this station was still open(01 of10)
The disused Aldwych tube station, formerly on the Piccadilly line, closed in 1994 after almost 87 years in public service. You'll probably develop a sort of nostalgic affection for it - quite literally right next to Strand campus, it could have made your commute very cushy indeed. Instead, your best bet is Temple (District/Circle lines) or Charing Cross (Northern/Bakerloo lines), which are located between five and 10 minutes' walk away. (credit:[Duncan]/Flickr)
You're in a busy city. Remember that(02 of10)
Not only does the Strand itself stretch for over three-quarters of a mile, but it also dissects the historical centre of London - Charing Cross - meaning it gets seriously busy. Try to avoid navigating it at rush hour, and definitely don't attempt any jay walking: plenty of merciless lorries meander round the various hidden bends, accompanied by a long, angry horn blast to put you in your place. (credit:Stephen Morris/Getty Images)
Have a drink at the Waterfront Bar(03 of10)
It's big, it's warm, it's got squishy chairs. The versatile Waterfront Bar is the perfect on-campus provider of cheap(ish) drinks, comfort food and a chilled out atmosphere, as well as being perfectly positioned for an amazing view over the River Thames. It's open throughout the day and often has evening events, too, so it's worth going along with some friends to see what's happening. (credit:Waterfront Bar & Kitchen/Facebook)
Want a coffee? There's a chain for that(04 of10)
You'll be spoilt for choice when killing time between lectures (although this choice is almost limited to three major coffee shop chains in the immediate campus vicinity). Multiple Pret-a-Manger, Caffè Nero and Starbucks fight for air along the polluted Strand, offering a quick caffeine fix should you need one. Don't expect to find many cute independent stores, though - you'll find more of those if you head north-west to Covent Garden or east along Fleet Street. You can also, of course, buy refreshments in the dining areas on-campus. (credit:Kake Pugh/Flickr)
Prepare for a ridiculously confusing campus building(05 of10)
Every King's student - even learned graduates - will tell you how they struggled to navigate through the many twists and turns of the main campus building. The general rule for timetable-reading is that floor number precedes room number: ("6.31" = floor six, room 31). But this all goes to pot when you find yourself entering one of the many dark, misshapen appendages which seem to have been haphazardly tacked onto the main building over the years as the university acquired them. Look out for the Norfolk, Macadam and Chesham Buildings in particular, and leave plenty of extra time to find them if you have classes in there. (credit:Louis Debenham/Getty Images)
Make time for this view(06 of10)
If you walk or take a bus from south of the river to get to campus, you'll be graced with the stunning view from Waterloo Bridge on a daily basis. Offering a vast panoramic sweep of the City to the east and the Houses of Parliament to the west, this is one of the best views in London. Even if this crossing isn't part of your journey, make time to walk it occasionally - it's guaranteed to brighten your day. (credit:Elena Elisseeva/Getty Images)
Check your King's email(07 of10)
It seems like a chore at the beginning, and there will be many other things on your mind before you finally get round to checking your King's email on a regular basis, but it is worth giving it a glance over every so often. Okay, so you can hit "delete" on most of it straightaway, but professors do use the email service to tell you about room changes and, more interestingly, it's used to communicate unique internship, part-time job and study abroad opportunities. If you've got an ear for student politics, the SU president sends out a weekly update via student email which is also worth a read. A more practical (and irritating) reason to check your KCL email is that you're required to change your password every six months, and the reminder for this is sent through your email - avoid getting locked out at a crucial moment and try to stay on top of it. (credit:Devonyu/Getty Images)
Join a fun society(08 of10)
London can be a lonely place at first, so one of the best ways to make new friends is to join a society. As well as the standard sports and to-be-expected student groups, King's has some fun ones which are bound to put a smile on your face - a Harry Potter Society and a Ukulele Society, to name but a few. Go along to the annual Freshers' Fair to see what might interest you. (credit:Hero Images/Getty Images)
Don't rely on the Maughan Library(09 of10)
It may be an impressive Gothic building rumoured to have been the location for Dumbledore's office in the Harry Potter film series, but the main King's library, the Maughan, is often short in the book department due to the amount of students it's serving. If other keen students have beaten you to it, pay a visit to Senate House library in Bloomsbury, or try to find what you need at another University of London library. (credit:Thomas Barwick/Getty Images)
And finally... remember you're a University of London student, too(10 of10)
You may be a student of King's, but don't forget you're part of a wider network of London colleges, too. If you can't find a society you like at King's, investigate elsewhere - Student Central in Bloomsbury (formerly the University of London Union) plays host to a whole range of societies and events including film nights and canoe polo, lifesaving, LGBT and jazz clubs.Should you want to, you can also attend classes at all University of London colleges - this includes the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), the London School of Economics (LSE) and University College London (UCL), among others. They all have brilliant public lecture programmes, too, so it's worth checking those out if you're interested in wider debate. Their libraries can also be used by other UoL students at off-peak times of year. (credit:University of London/Facebook)