Authored by Harsh Gupta, MSc. Advanced Materials Science and Engineering
Not long ago, I celebrated my nine-month anniversary of residing in London. While this may seem like a brief period, I’ve accumulated some valuable experiences throughout this time. London is a dynamic metropolis, presenting a variety of housing choices and lively communities. Students have an abundance of options available to them. Both student residences and private housing offer amenities such as ensuite and suite bathrooms, shared and private accommodations, studio flats, and house shares. Domestic students can effortlessly arrange apartment viewings, while platforms like Rightmove, Zoopla, or SpareRoom enable international students to explore prospective housing online, along with details on facilities and closeness to public transport.
In my quest for accommodation, I aimed to secure a room in Central London to remain close to key attractions, social hotspots, and Imperial’s campus. The city is organized into six overlapping zones, with zones one and two being the most central. London’s public transit system, which includes the underground (tube), buses, and trains, offers convenient travel and navigation between zones. I sought to reduce transportation costs, given that inter-zonal fares can climb to £5.25 per day. I chose to walk shorter distances instead of relying on buses or the tube. Nonetheless, oyster card options have rendered university journeys more economical. Furthermore, London Overground and National Rail services reach beyond the Underground network, extending into areas outside central London. Fares for inter-zone trips on these services differ depending on distance and the pricing structure of each train operator. The high living expenses in Central London are influenced by its prominent attractions. Luckily, going to university with a friend enabled us to share a room, which substantially lowered our rental costs. I favored intercollegiate student accommodations to connect with peers from various backgrounds and similar ages, which would have been more difficult to achieve through private rentals.
Being near supermarkets was a key consideration for me. Common grocery chains include Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and Co-op, along with more affordable options like Aldi, Lidl, and Iceland. Living close to essential shops, including supermarkets and pharmacies, conserves time on errands, particularly during exam times.
Selecting a neighborhood in London poses a challenge. The city’s ethnic communities are essential to its cultural depth, providing a range of neighborhoods. Many international students look for connections to their home cultures in London. Southall in West London is home to a significant South Asian community, featuring Indian eateries, grocery stores, and traditional apparel shops. Brixton in South London is famed for its Afro-Caribbean population and vibrant music culture. Chinatown, situated in the heart of London’s West End, boasts a bustling community filled with numerous Chinese restaurants, shops, and cultural festivals. These are merely a few examples of vibrant neighborhoods.
The ideal places to live in London are subjective and depend on personal preferences and requirements. When seeking a new home in London, embrace the diversity and richness of the city’s accommodation offerings, delve into cultural enclaves, and relish the convenience and energy of this extraordinary metropolis.