Direct to bank holiday breaks: quick trips from London in 2026
17 July 2026
By Grand Central Rail
14 minute read
13 July 2026
Are you looking for discounted student activities in London & the North East this summer?
We’ve done the research so you don’t have to!
Below we’ve listed some of the best student days out along our North East route, complete with places in the area that offer free or discounted entry for students, as well as places to grab some food or enjoy a spot of shopping for less!
In this blog, we cover:
- Free and discounted student activities in London
- Student-discounted and free activities in Sunderland
- Free and discounted activities in Hartlepool
Student activities in London
Thinking of heading to London this summer for a long overdue catch-up with friends, hoping to explore the capital on a budget? If so, you’re in the right place.
Below, discover the places where you can use your student discount, along with places that are entirely free, so you can make the most out of your student trips to London.
Student-discounted activities in London
- Sightseeing: The London hop-on hop-off bus tours offer 10% off, so you can view iconic sights for a lower price
- West End theatres: West End theatres offer discounted ticket prices for students through sites like TodayTix
- Art Play London: Experience a paint and sip session and enjoy 10% off with Student Beans
- Hollywood Bowl: Students can enjoy 10% off bowling with a valid student ID
- Cinemas: Cineworld, Odeon, and Vue all offer student-discounted tickets, so you can watch a new film for less
- Food & Drink: Many restaurants such as Wagamama and Honest Burgers offer discounted prices for on select days
- Tower of London: Students get 10% off through UNiDAYS
- London Dungeon: Get discounted tickets for this attraction through Student Beans
- The London Eye: Students can enjoy £4.50 off the standard ticket price with a valid student ID
Free activities in London
- Visit the Tate Moden art gallery
- Spend a few hours at the British Museum
- Get free tickets to the English National Opera if you’re under 21
- Admire art from Van Gogh, Monet and Da Vinci at the National Gallery
- Stroll through the tranquil Kyoto Garden in Holland Park
- Explore Camden Market
Getting to London with Grand Central
There’s no better way to travel to the capital city than by train! Ditch the crazy traffic and long coach journeys and opt for one of our trains to London instead.
Grand Central serves London King’s Cross up to 10 times a day in total across our North East and West Riding Route.
Discover our days out in London today and download the handy PDF to explore popular attractions with distances in minutes and miles from King’s Cross.
Student activities in Sunderland
Sunderland is the ideal budget-friendly day out for students, offering an amazing mix of stunning coastal scenery, affordable food and plenty of free and discounted activities!
Places you can use your student discount in Sunderland
- Theatre tickets: ATG tickets offer discounts rates for students so you to catch a show at the Sunderland Empire for less
- Sunderland Bowl: Enjoy £6 standard games at Sunderland Bowl with your student ID card
- Retail: Do a spot of shopping at the Bridges Shopping Centre and enjoy discounted prices from high street brands
- Sports: Get 10% off bookings for the football, basketball or badminton court at the Beacon of Light
- Racing: Students can enjoy half-price general admission at Sunderland Greyhounds using a valid Student Beans code
Free activities in Sunderland
- Explore live glassblowing demonstrations an d exhibitions at the National Glass Centre
- Explore Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens
- Stroll along Roker & Seaburn beaches
- Visit the Sunderland Hylton Castle
- Spend a few hours at Herrington Country Park
Explore more inspiration for things to do in Sunderland for free.
Getting to Sunderland with Grand Central
Getting to Sunderland has never been easier. We have 6 return services to Sunderland Station on weekdays and Saturdays, and 5 services on Sundays, so you can enjoy a relaxing journey before your fun day out in this coastal city.
Discover days out in Sunderland today with Grand Central.
Student activities in Hartlepool
Hartlepool offers an ideal budget-friendly day out for students during the summer. Whether you’re studying there and sticking around for the summer, home from university and hoping to catch up with friends or just fancy a trip to this industrial seaside port town, we’ve got you covered!
Explore below all the things you can do for a student-discounted rate, or even better, completely free of charge.
Discounted activities in Hartlepool
- Hartlepool United FC: Enjoy discounted matchday tickets when you present a valid student ID card
- Park Inn Hartlepool: Benefit from student drink deals at the Park Inn, Hartlepool’s go-to student pub
- Merry Go Round: Hartlepool’s Greene King pub offers a 20% student discount off food & drinks wi a valid student ID card
- Starbucks: Start your day in Hartlepool right by grabbing a coffee for 20% off using the Student Beans app
- Vue Cinema: Catch that new film you’ve been wanting to see at a discounted rate
- National Museum of the Royal Navy Hartlepool: Enjoy discounted concession rates when you show your student ID
Free activities in Hartlepool
- Explore Seaton Carew Beach
- Visit the Museum of Hartlepool
- Stroll through Summerhill Country Park
- Admire the beauty of St Hilda’s Church
- Explore Hartlepool Art Gallery
Getting to Hartlepool with Grand Central
Skip the traffic and hop on one of our trains to Hartlepool Station! We operate 6 return services on weekdays and Saturdays, and 5 on Sundays, providing you with a relaxing start to your student days out in Hartlepool.
Enjoy student activities in London & the North East with Grand Central
Hop on a Grand Central train this summer and let us take you direct to student trips to London & the North East. Take full advantage of your student discount during your summer break and enjoy all the free and budget-friendly activities along our route.
Save money on your train tickets too with our Student Savings! Enjoy an extra 25% off our Advance tickets and up to 50% when you use it alongside your Railcard.
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