{"id":345043,"date":"2026-04-04T09:08:05","date_gmt":"2026-04-04T09:08:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/?p=345043"},"modified":"2026-04-04T09:08:05","modified_gmt":"2026-04-04T09:08:05","slug":"lessons-gained-from-residing-in-london-as-an-imperial-scholar-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/?p=345043","title":{"rendered":"Lessons Gained from Residing in London as an Imperial Scholar"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

Choosing to relocate from the serene countryside of a Spanish island to the largest city in Europe was intimidating. However, the last 18 months in London have proven to be the most rewarding and thrilling period of my life.<\/p>\n

London is an energetic, diverse, historic metropolis offering a broad range of eateries, events, and attractions\u2014there’s always an adventure waiting to be had! Nonetheless, adapting to life in a new nation can be tough. Here are some insights I gained as an international student transitioning to London, along with advice and recommendations for when you’re settled.<\/p>\n

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

The initial step in relocating to London is securing the ideal place to call your own. I utilized Instagram, TikTok, and online forums to investigate various neighborhoods in London that might be enjoyable to reside in. I found that Camden Town boasts a vibrant nightlife, Hackney is a developing area in east London, and Putney is a peaceful, green residential zone.<\/p>\n

I was lucky enough to visit London before commencing my Master\u2019s program, enabling me to explore these areas firsthand prior to determining where to live. After selecting Putney, my flatmates (whom I met during my undergraduate studies) and I used accommodation search platforms like SpareRoom and Rightmove to locate affordable shared housing, arranged online viewings with property owners, and ultimately found a lovely flat close to Putney Heath.<\/p>\n

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

Once you’ve unpacked and personalized your new space, a plethora of opportunities and activities awaits you\u2014the challenge in London lies in deciding which events to join and allocating time for them all!<\/p>\n

Imperial\u2019s South Kensington Campus is situated in the Albertopolis area, a neighborhood celebrating art, manufacturing, and science. Nearby, you’ll find incredible museums such as the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, and the V&A Museum. These museums are fantastic to explore, and some even extend their hours on Fridays. On the final Friday of every month, the V&A hosts a V&A Late, an open celebration where the museum transforms into a mini rave with beverages and live performances!<\/p>\n

In addition to exploring museums, I love wandering through East London neighborhoods like Canary Wharf, Hackney, and Isle of Dogs. This area is brimming with historical treasures and artistic endeavors, making it a wonderful place to roam and discover new things. My favorite destination is Trinity Buoy Wharf\u2014established on the site of an old canning warehouse, it now accommodates a Series B startup creating temporary structures from shipping containers. The complex celebrates innovative manufacturing and contains multiple art studios, including the original lighthouse lab where English chemist and physicist Michael Faraday conducted his work!<\/p>\n

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

London presents great deals if you know where to search, with numerous options for affordable yet delectable meals. Throughout my time in London, I’ve compiled a list of dining establishments with various offers across the city to make eating out more budget-friendly.<\/p>\n

One such location is in South Kensington, where an incredible seafood restaurant called Wright Brothers features an Oyster Happy Hour, with each oyster priced at just \u00a31! This is a fantastic offer, especially if you long for the flavors of home seafood and wish to indulge in oysters to your heart’s (and pocket’s) content!<\/p>\n

Tooting in South London is also recognized for its vibrant food culture. Tooting Market and Tooting Broadway Market are expansive indoor street food markets providing a wide selection of cuisines. If you’re in search of food that evokes memories of home, I highly encourage you to check out the Tooting food markets!<\/p>\n

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

While the pace of the city is part of London’s allure, there are times when the Tube can be overwhelming, or the streets may feel congested. Fortunately, London is centrally located within a fantastic network of trains and coaches, making it easy to escape the city for a weekend getaway.<\/p>\n

My favorite getaway spots are Surrey and Kent. Canterbury is a stunning medieval town in southern England, rich in history and friendly to students. In Surrey, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) boasts a vast botanical garden in Wisley, offering a delightful day out, especially during the summer months.<\/p>\n

Overall, London is a lively city teeming with opportunities and places to discover, so take your time exploring all that the city has to offer during your stay at Imperial!<\/p>\n

To learn more about my experiences, <\/em><\/strong><<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Authored by Emilio (Spain), MSc Applied Mathematics Choosing to relocate from the serene countryside of a Spanish island to the largest city in Europe was intimidating. However, the last 18 months in London have proven to be the most rewarding and thrilling period of my life. London is an energetic, diverse, historic metropolis offering a…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":345044,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-345043","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\/345043","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=345043"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/345043\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/345044"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=345043"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=345043"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=345043"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}