{"id":344523,"date":"2026-04-03T16:08:05","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T16:08:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/?p=344523"},"modified":"2026-04-03T16:08:05","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T16:08:05","slug":"lessons-gained-while-residing-in-london-as-an-imperial-scholar-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/?p=344523","title":{"rendered":"Lessons Gained While Residing in London as an Imperial Scholar"},"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 intimidating. However, the last 18 months spent in London have been the most rewarding and thrilling chapters of my life.<\/p>\n

London is a lively, diverse, historic, and constantly evolving city brimming with an extensive variety of restaurants, events, and attractions \u2013 each exploration presents a new adventure! Nonetheless, adapting to a new nation can be tough. Here are some insights I gained while relocating to London as an international scholar, along with some advice on what to do once you’ve settled in.<\/p>\n

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

The initial step in moving to London is securing the perfect home. By utilizing Instagram, TikTok, and online platforms, I investigated different neighborhoods in London that could be enjoyable to reside in. I found that Camden Town has a vibrant nightlife, Hackney is an emerging area in east London, and Putney is a serene, lush residential neighborhood.<\/p>\n

Having traveled to London prior to starting my Master\u2019s, I had the opportunity to personally explore these areas before making my decision. After selecting Putney, my flatmates (whom I met during my undergraduate studies) and I utilized accommodation search platforms like SpareRoom and Rightmove to locate affordable house shares, scheduled online viewings with landlords, and eventually secured a pleasant flat close to Putney Heath.<\/p>\n

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

After you\u2019ve unpacked and personalized your new space, a realm of opportunities and events opens up \u2013 the challenge in London lies in determining which activities to pursue and carving out time for everything!<\/p>\n

Imperial\u2019s South Kensington Campus is located in the Albertopolis area, a zone that celebrates art, industry, and science. Close by are remarkable museums such as the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, and the V&A Museum. These venues are fantastic to visit, with some even open late on Fridays. On the last Friday of every month, the V&A hosts a V&A Late, an open event where the museum transforms into a lively party with drinks and live music!<\/p>\n

In addition to museum visits, I love exploring East London neighborhoods like Canary Wharf, Hackney, and Isle of Dogs. This area is rich with historical and artistic initiatives, making it a delightful place to roam and uncover new experiences. My favorite spot is Trinity Buoy Wharf \u2013 constructed on a former canning warehouse, it now accommodates a Series B startup that creates temporary structures from shipping containers. The complex celebrates innovative manufacturing and houses several art studios, as well as the original lighthouse lab where English chemist and physicist Michael Faraday conducted his work!<\/p>\n

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

London is full of great deals if you know where to search, with numerous options for inexpensive yet superb food. Throughout my time in London, I’ve created an extensive list of dining spots that provide various deals across the city, enabling a more affordable dining experience.<\/p>\n

One notable place is in South Kensington, where an exceptional seafood restaurant named Wright Brothers holds an Oyster Happy Hour, allowing you to indulge in oysters for just \u00a31 each! This is an excellent deal, particularly if you yearn for the taste of home seafood and wish to enjoy oysters to your heart\u2019s (and wallet\u2019s) satisfaction!<\/p>\n

Tooting in South London is likewise renowned for its food scene. Tooting Market and Tooting Broadway Market are expansive indoor street food markets presenting a vast selection of cuisines. If you\u2019re searching for food reminiscent of home, I highly recommend exploring the food markets in Tooting!<\/p>\n

Taking a getaway from the city<\/strong><\/h3>\n

While the city\u2019s tempo contributes to London\u2019s allure, there are times when the Tube becomes too noisy, the streets too crowded, and throngs of people appear everywhere. Fortunately, London is positioned at the center of an excellent network of trains and coaches, making it simple to leave the city for a weekend escape.<\/p>\n

My preferred destinations are Surrey and Kent. Canterbury is a stunning medieval town in southern England rich in history and offers student-friendly venues. In Surrey, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) boasts a large botanical garden in Wisley, making for a delightful day out, especially during the summer.<\/p>\n

All in all, London is a lively city brimming with possibilities and places to explore, so take your time to uncover all that the city has to offer during your stay at Imperial!<\/p>\n

To learn more about my experiences, <\/em><\/strong><a href="https:\/\/www.imperial.ac.uk\/Stories\/my-imperial-story-emilio\/" target="_blank"<\/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 intimidating. However, the last 18 months spent in London have been the most rewarding and thrilling chapters of my life. London is a lively, diverse, historic, and constantly evolving city brimming with…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":344524,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-344523","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\/344523","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=344523"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/344523\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/344524"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=344523"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=344523"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=344523"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}