{"id":342634,"date":"2026-04-01T01:08:05","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T01:08:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/?p=342634"},"modified":"2026-04-01T01:08:05","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T01:08:05","slug":"insights-gained-from-experiencing-life-in-london-as-an-imperial-student","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/?p=342634","title":{"rendered":"Insights Gained from Experiencing Life in London as an Imperial Student"},"content":{"rendered":"

Authored by Emilio (Spain), MSc Applied Mathematics<\/em><\/p>\n

Choosing to relocate from a rural island in Spain to the largest city in Europe was quite intimidating. Yet, the last 18 months spent in London have been the most fulfilling and enjoyable of my life.<\/p>\n

London is a multicultural, diverse, historic, and lively city with a plethora of restaurants, events, and attractions \u2013 each exploration is a new adventure! However, adapting to life in a foreign country can be demanding. Here are some insights I gained as an international student transitioning to London, along with a few tips and recommendations for once you\u2019ve settled in.<\/p>\n

Relocating to London as a postgraduate student<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The initial step in relocating to London is selecting the ideal place to live. By using Instagram, TikTok, and online forums, I researched various neighborhoods in London that might be enjoyable to reside in. I learned that Camden Town boasts a lively nightlife, Hackney is an emerging area in east London, and Putney offers a peaceful, green residential environment.<\/p>\n

I was lucky to visit London prior to commencing my Master\u2019s, which enabled me to physically check out these neighborhoods before making my housing decision. After settling on Putney, my flatmates (whom I met during my undergraduate studies) and I utilized accommodation search platforms like SpareRoom and Rightmove to locate budget-friendly house shares, set up online viewings with landlords, and ultimately found a lovely apartment close to Putney Heath.<\/p>\n

Activities in London<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Once you\u2019ve unpacked and furnished your new place, a plethora of opportunities and events lies ahead \u2013 the challenge in London is selecting which activities to partake in and allocating time for them!<\/p>\n

Imperial\u2019s South Kensington Campus is situated in the Albertopolis region, a vast area that celebrates art, industry, and sciences. Numerous fantastic museums are located nearby, including the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, and the V&A Museum. These museums are excellent for exploration, and some even remain open late on Fridays. On the last Friday of each month, the V&A hosts a V&A Late, a vibrant event where the museum transforms into a mini rave with drinks and live performances!<\/p>\n

In addition to visiting museums, I delight in roaming around East London neighborhoods such as Canary Wharf, Hackney, and Isle of Dogs. This area is filled with historical gems and artistic initiatives, making it a wonderful place for strolls and uncovering delightful surprises. My favorite location is Trinity Buoy Wharf \u2013 constructed on the site of an older canning warehouse, it now hosts a startup that creates temporary structures from shipping containers. The complex showcases creative manufacturing and houses several art studios, along with the original lighthouse lab where English chemist and physicist Michael Faraday conducted his work!<\/p>\n

Dining out in London<\/strong><\/h3>\n

London offers numerous bargains if you know where to seek, with plenty of options for inexpensive yet exceptional dining. Throughout my time in London, I\u2019ve compiled an extensive list of eateries with various deals throughout the city, making dining out more economical.<\/p>\n

One such location is in South Kensington, where you can find an excellent seafood restaurant named Wright Brothers that features an Oyster Happy Hour, allowing you to savor oysters for just \u00a31 each! This is an excellent offer, particularly if you long for the taste of home seafood and want to indulge in oysters without overspending!<\/p>\n

Tooting in South London is also well-known for its culinary scene. Tooting Market and Tooting Broadway Market are large indoor street food venues showcasing a wide array of cuisines. If you\u2019re in search of food reminiscent of home, I highly suggest checking out the Tooting food markets!<\/p>\n

Taking a break from the urban environment<\/strong><\/h3>\n

While the city’s pace is part of London’s allure, sometimes the Tube can be excessively noisy, or the streets can be overly congested, filled with crowds. Thankfully, London is centrally located within a vast network of trains and coaches, making it convenient to escape the city for a weekend getaway.<\/p>\n

My favorite destinations include Surrey and Kent. Canterbury is a stunning medieval town in southern England rich in history and student-friendly venues. In Surrey, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) possesses a vast botanical garden in Wisley, which makes for a delightful day visit, especially in the summertime.<\/p>\n

All in all, London is an energetic city teeming with opportunities and places to discover, so take your time uncovering all that the city has in store during your time at Imperial!<\/p>\n

For more information on my experiences, <\/em><\/strong><a href="https:\/\/www.imperial.ac.uk\/Stories\/my-imper<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Authored by Emilio (Spain), MSc Applied Mathematics Choosing to relocate from a rural island in Spain to the largest city in Europe was quite intimidating. Yet, the last 18 months spent in London have been the most fulfilling and enjoyable of my life. London is a multicultural, diverse, historic, and lively city with a plethora…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":342635,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-342634","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/342634","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=342634"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/342634\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/342635"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=342634"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=342634"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=342634"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}