Xiaohongshu
Welcome to UCL! Whether you’re new to campus or returning for another year, we’ve got an exciting line-up of events, activities and opportunities to help you settle in, make friends and feel at home in East London.
We’ve planned plenty to help you meet new people, explore your campus and the local area, and ease into uni life. Think socials, food, taster sessions, activities and more, bringing together students from across UCL East and the School of Management.
Monday 28 September
Kick off your Welcome Week with a relaxed, social start to the term. From breakfast and speedfriending to gym tours and dance, Monday is all about meeting new faces, exploring your campus, and settling into student life in East London.
Begin your day with our Eat & Meet Breakfast – running on the second floor balcony space in Marshgate. Pop by for pastries, fruit and a hot drink, with plenty of time to chat, meet other students, and maybe even win a fun prize!
If you’re a School of Management student, join our Speedfriending session for a fun and easy way to meet your School of Management community. Spend a few minutes chatting with someone new before moving on to the next person. We’ll even provide conversation starters, so there’s no pressure if you don’t know where to begin.
Get to know TeamUCL Gym East with a guided tour of the facilities. Head to One Pool Street reception, where the friendly Gym Team will show you around, answer your questions, and help you find out what’s on offer.
Then, get moving with our Dance Society Taster at Marshgate. Join UCL Dance Society for a beginner-friendly commercial dance session, followed by a relaxed social. It’s a great chance to try something new and meet more people.
Tuesday 29 September
Tuesday is all about trying something new, and making the most of everything happening on and around campus, with our biggest social of the week to finish things off.
Missed Monday’s Eat & Meet Breakfast? You’ve got another chance to join us on the second floor balcony space in Marshgate for pastries, fruit, a hot drink, and a relaxed morning meeting other students.
You can also take another TeamUCL Gym East Tour, or slow things down with our Yoga Taster Session. Suitable for all levels, the session combines yoga, mobility and breathing to help you stretch, strengthen and reset.
Then, join us for the official Welcome to UCL East Talk. Hear from teams across UCL and Students’ Union UCL about the support, opportunities and services available to you, discover what makes UCL East unique, and learn more about your new home in East London.
And to finish the day, it’s time for the big one: the UCL x UAL x LSU Welcome Social! Head to Jim & Tonic and meet students from across the East Bank, with a drink on arrival, glitter face painting, tarot readings, garden games and 20% off food. A pretty good way to kick off the year!
Wednesday 30 September
Midweek is all about taking a break from the busy Welcome period and making time to connect with others.
Get stuck in with the Big Help Out: Hands-On Animal Care at Surrey Docks Farm. Join fellow UCL students for a hands-on volunteering day, helping with everything from feeding goats and sheep to mucking out stables, pruning hedges and improving the farm’s gardens.
Looking for something a little calmer? Join our Pilates Taster Session with instructor Tiffany. Work on your core strength, posture, balance and flexibility while taking some time to focus on the connection between your body, movement and breathing.
Then, round off Wednesday with another one of our evening socials, the Canary Wharf Welcome Social. Head to Sea Lanes overlooking Eden Docks for a relaxed evening of drinks, snacks and icebreaker games. Your ticket includes a free drink on arrival and small bites, making it a great chance to meet new people and unwind after a busy few days of Welcome.
Thursday 1 October 2026
Thursday brings another mix of activities, from fitness and creative workshops to a London Stadium Tour, followed by another one of our evening socials.
Start with our HIIT Taster Session with instructor Hannah. Get your heart rate up with a short, high-energy workout combining bursts of intense exercise with lower-intensity intervals. It’s a great way to get moving and try something new.
For something a little calmer, join our Ikebana Workshop and discover the traditional Japanese art of flower arranging. Slow down, get creative and make your own arrangement using seasonal flowers to take home with you.
Or spend the afternoon getting creative at our Paint and Sip Pottery. Choose your piece, grab a drink and settle in for a relaxed pottery-painting session at Pottery Studio London. No experience needed, just bring your ideas!
Then, explore one of East London’s most iconic venues with our London Stadium Tour. Go behind the scenes of the home of West Ham United and the centrepiece of London 2012, visiting the dressing room, players’ tunnel, pitchside areas and more.
Finish your Thursday feeling a little fancy at our Cheese & Wine Night in the Staff Common Room on the seventh floor of Marshgate. Meet other students over wine or non-alcoholic drinks, cheese, crackers and fruit, all while taking in views across the East London skyline.
Friday 2 October 2026
Round off Welcome Week with another chance to explore what’s on offer, get your questions answered and try something new.
Missed the earlier TeamUCL Gym East Tours? Friday is your final chance this week to take a guided tour of the facilities. Head to One Pool Street reception to meet the Gym Team, with tours running every 15 minutes during the allocated time.
Got questions about student life or the support available to you? Drop into the New Student Support Services Fair, where teams from across UCL and Students’ Union UCL will be on hand to answer questions about everything from funding and safety to student support. There’ll also be freebies, sweet treats and prizes up for grabs, including a £50 Gather & Gather voucher.
Then, finish the week with our Boxing Taster Session with instructor Conor. Learn the basics of boxing form and footwork while combining cardio, strength and technique in a beginner-friendly session.
Saturday 3 October
Welcome Week isn’t over just yet!
Head over to the Welcome Fair 2026 at the Bloomsbury campus for two days of clubs, societies, performances, demonstrations, freebies and more. With over 200 student-led groups and organisations there each day, it’s the perfect chance to find a new hobby, meet societies and discover ways to get involved outside your course.
Or, if you’re looking for something a little calmer after a busy week, join our Yoga Taster Session with instructor Zoe. Suitable for all levels, the session focuses on yoga, mobility and breathing to help you stretch, strengthen and reset.