Not to quote Miley Cyrus, but buy yourself flowers – that’s what I do anyway

You may recall that almost two years ago, I wrote one of my first articles for The Kings Tab, called Affordable activities to soothe a heartache as a student in London. I wrote this when I was desperately inconsolable after being dumped by my long-term boyfriend.

Two years later, I’m still single. However, my solitude is one of my most prized possessions. Yes, I’m a girl in love – but I’m completely happy just pretending to be. Right now, I’m not heartbroken – I’m just suffering the consequences again of letting myself be bombarded and crushed by love, thus falling victim to trusting everything that comes out of a man’s mouth.

So, I’m back to focusing on myself again during one of my favorite times of the year: the run up to Christmas. Here are my brand new and approved affordable ways to enjoy your single girl era as a student in London: Winter edition.

A few days out is very much included – you can all thank me later.

Escape the city

Now, this is meant to be an accessible guide – so I won’t be suggesting a trip to Gatwick Airport (even though I’d really like to). Sometimes, being a girl from a corner of the North West of England, where there is nothing around, London becomes overwhelming. I’m not trying to get basic here, but Richmond is where it’s at. Forget St James’ Park – want to be in London but don’t feel like you’re in London? Don’t stay on the district line until the end, because if you’re like me and a North Central girl, it’s incredibly long. If you get a national rail service from Waterloo you can be there in 20 minutes and see some deer and wild horses. I also befriended a Golden Retriever.

I have never been so reconnected with nature in one day.

Winter Wonderland

Contrary to popular belief, you do NOT need a significant other to go to Winter Wonderland. In fact, in all the years I lived in London, I always went with my friends.

Ok, maybe that’s a lie. I also went with a man. It won me a penguin that sits on the shelf in my living room – but I had more fun with my friends.

You can also do Winter Wonderland on the cheap. If you just pay the entry ticket and go skating – you haven’t spent more than fifteen pounds. The rides are also incredibly fun, however, I still got whiplash from myself and the girls in the bumper cars last year.

I can’t wait to do it all again.

Hauntings of the Museum

One of the great things about living in London is the many knowledge and culture sites we have access to (and they’re often free!). Have I been to all the museums in London at least twice? Yes, but they just don’t age.

Some days I want to stimulate my brain with more than waiting for a text back, and taking a trip to a museum in London is the best way to get it out of my head. It’s actually a session lock – so Do Not Disturb is required.

Girls night in

I don’t know about you – but as a senior, I’m actively choosing to stay in rather than out. I still go out most weekends, but I no longer gravitate towards a midweek student night. Now that’s healing. I love waking up and being productive: going to the gym, applying for graduate jobs, doing my duties as The King’s Tab EIC, university work – all of it.

Therefore, it’s a girls’ night in the lawyer. My girls and I worship a Marks and Spencer pizza deal – where you cop two pizzas and two sides for £12. An absolute steal. We might put on a cozy movie—it’s Twilight season, after all—or watch whatever new crime mystery documentary is on Netflix. Together we sit on the couch with Stanley and our childhood stuffed animals and think to ourselves, “this is peace and quiet.”

As Dolly Alderton wisely said,

“Almost everything I know about love, I’ve learned from my long-term friendships with women.”