Free to follow opening in London University? Sensational (5)
I believe the answer is:
lurid
'sensational' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'free to follow opening in london university?' is the wordplay.
'free' becomes 'rid' (synonyms).
'to follow' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'opening in' indicates taking the first letters.
The first letters of 'london university' is 'lu'.
'rid' after 'lu' is 'LURID'.
(Other definitions for lurid that I've seen before include "Horrifying - sensational" , "Awfully bright" , "Shocking, sensational" , "Gloomily threatening" , "In vivid detail" .)