Student Life
Student life as an actor-in-training should be exciting, challenging and lots of fun.
We encourage our students to commit themselves fully to their training and concentrate on developing as an actor.
However, it's also important for them to take advantage of the huge range of opportunities that London has to offer.
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Living in London
How you spend your time outside of class is almost as important to your development as how you spend it inside class.
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Living in London can range from incredibly expensive to surprisingly affordable - it’s just a matter of looking in the right places for the right property as Fourth Monkey doesn't have its own student accommodation.
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We recommend that you look for accommodation in nearby areas and understand the transport routes to and from The Monkey House.
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All the following areas are in close proximity to The Monkey House with convenient transport connections:
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Crouch End and Crouch Hill (N8)
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Islington (N1)
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Muswell Hill (N10)
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Bounds Green (N11 – subject to exact location this may require public transport. A popular and affordable area for students)
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Southgate (N14)
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Palmers Green (N13)
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Totteridge & Whetstone (N2)
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Seven Sisters (N15)
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Oakwood (N14)
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Barnet (EN4)
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Walthamstow/Blackhorse Road (E17)
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Turnpike Lane (N8)
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Stratford (E7/E5/E20)
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Cockfosters (EN4)
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Holloway and Archway (N7 & N19)
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Drayton Park (N5)
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Finsbury Park (N4)
Meet & Greet
On the Meet & Greet day, you'll be introduced to your fellow Fourth Monkey students. This is the perfect opportunity to arrange shared houses, helping you all save time and money in searching for and sharing accommodation. (Remember: Some areas can be expensive but may become more affordable in a bigger house share).
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We think this is the best approach as it provides additional means of support throughout your training journey; you'll be sharing with like-minded people who understand the demands of the course.
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Alternatively, there are general student accommodation providers that offer accommodation to Fourth Monkey students (as well as students from other HE institutions) within easy reach of The Monkey House:
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Smart Student Accommodation
Chapter Living Islington
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The London market sees July and August as a suitable lead time for property searches with September starts and, as a University city, there are plenty of residential housing options for students in the local area.
Travel in London
We’re easily accessible via a number of transport routes – an 8 minute walk from Finsbury Park Station and 14 minute walk from Holloway Road station, as well as numerous bus routes on the Seven Sisters and Hornsey Roads.
Fourth Monkey students can apply for a Student 18+ Oyster card, which provides discounted travel on tubes, trains and buses.
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Students are also eligible for a 16-25 railcard for discounted rail travel beyond London.
Culture in London
London is a vibrant multicultural metropolis, the UK’s capital and one of the most exciting cities in the world. Whatever your interests, it has something for everyone – from history and culture, including a fantastic range of free galleries and museums, to food from all around the world to suit all budgets and great night life.
London is a blend of historic and modern, home to over 200 theatres, and is a vibrant hub of art, music, media, architecture, business and sport. Students are encouraged to seek out a range of culture, events and activities, to discover new opportunities and indulge in the things they love. A good place to start is here, with London-wide options to suit a wide variety of budgets and tastes.
Our Neighbourhood
Islington is a vibrant, bustling and community-rich area of London, bursting with culture, food and entertainment for our students to explore. A prominent part of the capital, here’s are just a few things to discover right on the doorstep:
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At the heart of the neighbourhood is its namesake park; a sprawl of gardens, tree-lined avenues, a boating lake, football pitches, basketball courts and more. In the summer months, the park is home to several music festivals and events.
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Across the road from The Monkey House is an array of pop up restaurants ranging from Mexican to Japanese with a coffee shop, houseplant store & vintage shop in the basement.
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JACKSONS LANE
Jacksons Lane has been a creative and cultural hub for north London for 40 years and is officially the UK’s leading supporter of contemporary circus.
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Park Theatre is next to Finsbury Park station. With a mixture of new writing and modern revivals, it delivers world class theatre, collaborating with the finest existing and emerging talent on stage and behind the scenes. Park Theatre produces both in-house and in-partnership with the most excellent existing and emerging producers.
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A small room with an international reputation, the Almeida began life as a literary and scientific society – complete with library, lecture theatre and laboratory.
The Almeida makes argument for theatre as an essential force in an increasingly fragmented society.
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Sadler’s Wells has been a home for the arts for more than three centuries. Starting life as a mineral spring, discovered in 1683 by Richard Sadler in the grounds of his music house. Audiences came for the ‘miraculous healing properties’ of the well, but stayed for the entertainment. The well dried up but the performances didn’t. In 1925, Lilian Baylis took charge and dance became a more regular feature. The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet and English National Opera all started life at Sadler's Wells.
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The King’s Head Theatre charity announced they were closing their home of 53 years on 13 August 2023, and moving into a custom-built new theatre immediately behind the existing venue in Islington Square, with an opening date and programme to be announced.
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The Pleasance Trust's year-round home in Islington provides a platform for leading and emerging talent to develop their work, hone their craft and grow new audiences.
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Islington's Screen on the Green is a stunning cinema probably best known for hosting a legendary 1976 gig featuring the Buzzcocks, The Clash and the Sex Pistols. Nowadays, the single screen Edwardian moviehouse boasts an in-cinema bar serving food and drinks and your choice of comfy cinema seats or double couches.
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Award-winning Canal Café Theatre has been perched on the edge of the Regent’s Canal since the 70’s . It is a renowned comedy, cabaret and theatre venue and over the years has helped launch some of the biggest names in Comedy.
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The Tower Theatre is London's most active non-professional company, producing eighteen to twenty shows a year, musical and other performances, as well as a wide range of community, educational, and social events.
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The UK's only floating puppet theatre has been performing puppetry for over 40 years along London's waterways on a beautifully converted barge.
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One of only three building-based puppet theatres in England, The Little Angel Theatre in Islington was established in 1961. The 100-seat theatre stands side-by-side with the workshop, where all the new productions and puppets are developed, carved and constructed.
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Angel Comedy is a comedy club in London, run by comedians for comedians and dedicated to affordable access. Free stand-up comedy shows 7 nights a week as well as cheap shows by some of the biggest comedians in the UK.
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MAX’S SANDWICH SHOP
You can’t leave Finsbury Park without paying a visit to Max’s Sandwich Shop, run by eccentric chef and gargantuan sandwich connoisseur Max Halley.
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THE FALTERING FULLBACK
On a residential street just off of Stroud Green Road is The Faltering Fullback, a much-loved Irish pub known for its jungle-like, multi-storey beer garden.
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Students can also search a local directory to find discover culture, events and activities in their new community.
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