**Residing in London: A Nine-Month Journey**
*Authored by Harsh Gupta, MSc. Advanced Materials Science and Engineering*
Recently, I reached the nine-month milestone of my stay in London. While nine months might appear brief, it has provided me ample time to gain insights about this vibrant city. London is celebrated not only for its extensive accommodation choices but also for its rich and varied communities. Students, in particular, have a plethora of selections available to them. Whether you’re in pursuit of student lodging or private residence, there’s a multitude of options, ranging from ensuite and suite bathrooms to shared and private rooms, studio apartments, and house shares. Local students can conveniently schedule apartment viewings, while international students can utilize platforms such as Rightmove, Zoopla, or SpareRoom to discover their future homes online, inspect amenities, and evaluate accessibility to public transport.
In my quest for accommodation, I focused on securing a room in Central London. I aimed to be near the city’s key attractions, social hotspots, and, naturally, the campus of Imperial College. London is arranged into six concentric zones, with zones one and two being the most central. The city’s superb public transport, including the Underground (Tube), buses, and trains, facilitates easy travel across these zones. Personally, I aspired to keep my travel costs low, as inter-zonal journeys can amount to £5.25 daily. To economize, I frequently chose to walk shorter distances instead of using the bus or Tube. However, the Oyster card system has rendered commuting to university more cost-effective. Moreover, London Overground and National Rail services reach beyond the Underground network, connecting areas outside of central London. Fares for these services fluctuate based on distance and the fare structure of the respective train operator.
Residing in Central London has its advantages, but also entails elevated living expenses. Thankfully, I was in university alongside a friend, and we opted to share a room, which greatly lowered our rent. I preferred to live in intercollegiate student accommodations, as it provided me with the chance to interact with students from diverse backgrounds and similar age ranges – a dynamic that is often lacking in private rentals.
The proximity to grocery stores was another crucial aspect for me. Some of the well-known supermarkets in London comprise Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and Co-op, while more budget-conscious alternatives include Aldi, Lidl, and Iceland. Living close to essential shops like supermarkets and pharmacies saves a substantial amount of time, especially during hectic periods such as exam season.
Selecting the ideal neighbourhood can be daunting. The city’s ethnic communities play an essential role in its cultural identity, presenting a wide array of neighbourhoods to discover. Numerous international students look for areas that evoke their homeland. For instance, Southall in West London boasts a significant South Asian community, complete with numerous Indian restaurants, grocery stores, and traditional clothing shops. Brixton, located in South London, is famed for its Afro-Caribbean community and vibrant music scene. At the same time, Chinatown, situated in the heart of London’s West End, bustles with Chinese restaurants, shops, and cultural activities. These are merely a handful of the diverse neighbourhoods that contribute to what makes London such an extraordinary place to reside.
Ultimately, the optimal area to live in London hinges on your individual preferences and requirements. As you embark on the journey to find a new home in this city, embrace the diversity and wealth of its accommodation choices, dive into its cultural communities, and relish the convenience and thrill that London has to offer.
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*By [Guest Blogger](https://blogs.imperial.ac.uk/student-blogs/author/bloggers/)*
Categorised under [Uncategorized](https://blogs.imperial.ac.uk/student-blogs/category/uncategorized/)
Tagged [accommodation](https://blogs.imperial.ac.uk/student-blogs/tag/accommodation/), [housing](https://blogs.imperial.ac.uk/student-blogs/tag/housing/), [London life](https://blogs.imperial.ac.uk/student-blogs/tag/london-life/), [master’s](https://blogs.imperial.ac.uk/student-blogs/tag/masters/)