LONDON: Several thousand students took to the streets of central London on Wednesday to protest against tuition fee increases and education budget cuts.

“Education is a right, not a commodity” read one of the placards held up at the protest, which passed off mostly peacefully and in a party atmosphere.

“Tuition fees? No way! Tax the rich and make them pay!” the students chanted as they marched.

“We want free education for everyone. It makes economic sense,” said 26-year-old Nehaal Bajwa, who is paying £9,360 (11,690 euros, $14,660) a year to study a Masters in economics. “Plenty of money goes to the banks. We want it to go into school,” he said.

David, a 25-year-old German student, said: “I’m here to show solidarity. “In Germany they scrapped the fees in some counties after massive protest. It is inspiring,” he said.