In the UK you have to pay in order to have a television set up in your home. The annual price of a TV licence is £142.50 for 2009-2010, which sets you up with the 5 basic terrestrial channels (BBC 1, BBC 2, iTV, Channel 4 and Channel 5). If you want more options, you have to purchase either cable, sky dish, or freeview (digital channels).

Freeview may be the best option for students since you make a one-off payment of £103 and you don't need to make any more monthly subscription payments. You can see all TV listings on many of the free newspapers distributed in tube stations around London, such as Metro, London Lite and the London Paper or alternatively see Tvguide.co.uk