{"id":345639,"date":"2026-04-05T05:08:04","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T05:08:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/?p=345639"},"modified":"2026-04-05T05:08:04","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T05:08:04","slug":"insights-gained-from-residing-in-london-as-an-imperial-scholar-10","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/?p=345639","title":{"rendered":"Insights Gained from Residing in London as an Imperial Scholar"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

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

London is a lively, diverse, historic metropolis boasting a myriad of restaurants, events, and attractions \u2013 exploring it is always an exciting journey! However, adapting to life in a new country can be tough. Here are some insights I’ve gained as an international student relocating to London, along with suggestions on what to do once you’re settled in.<\/p>\n

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

The initial step in relocating to London is identifying the perfect place to call your own. Utilizing Instagram, TikTok, and online discussion platforms, I researched different neighborhoods in London that could be enjoyable to live in. I found that Camden Town has an energetic nightlife, Hackney is a developing area in east London, and Putney is a serene, green residential neighborhood.<\/p>\n

I was lucky to visit London prior to starting my Master\u2019s, which allowed me to tour these areas firsthand before deciding on my residence. After selecting Putney, my flatmates (whom I met during my undergraduate studies) and I utilized accommodation search sites like SpareRoom and Rightmove to find budget-friendly house shares, arranged online viewings with landlords, and ultimately secured a lovely flat near Putney Heath.<\/p>\n

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

Once you’ve settled in, a plethora of opportunities and events awaits \u2013 the challenge of residing in London is selecting which activities to engage in and allocating time for all of them!<\/p>\n

Imperial’s South Kensington Campus is situated in the Albertopolis area, a neighborhood celebrating art, industry, and science. Nearby, you will discover a collection of splendid museums, including the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, and the V&A Museum. These museums are fantastic to visit, with some even remaining open late on Fridays. On the last Friday of each month, the V&A hosts a V&A Late, turning the museum into a vibrant celebration with beverages and live music!<\/p>\n

In addition to exploring museums, I love wandering through East London areas such as Canary Wharf, Hackney, and Isle of Dogs. This region is rich in historical and artistic landmarks, making it a great spot for exploration and discovery. My favorite place is Trinity Buoy Wharf \u2013 established on the site of an old canning warehouse, it now hosts a startup that creates temporary structures from shipping containers. The complex honors creative manufacturing and is home to several art studios, as well as the original lighthouse lab where Michael Faraday conducted his research!<\/p>\n

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

London provides numerous deals if you know where to search, with plenty of choices for affordable yet tasty meals. Throughout my time in London, I’ve created a list of dining spots offering various deals across the city, making eating out more budget-friendly.<\/p>\n

One such establishment is located in South Kensington, where a seafood restaurant called Wright Brothers has an Oyster Happy Hour, featuring oysters at just \u00a31 each! This is an excellent bargain, especially if you’re craving the flavors of home and wish to indulge in oysters to your heart’s (and budget’s) content!<\/p>\n

Tooting in South London is also renowned for its culinary scene. Tooting Market and Tooting Broadway Market are expansive indoor street food markets presenting a rich array of cuisines. If you’re in search of food that brings back memories of home, I strongly recommend venturing into the Tooting food markets!<\/p>\n

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

While the city\u2019s pace contributes to London\u2019s allure, there are times when the Tube is too noisy or the streets are overly crowded. Luckily, London is conveniently surrounded by an excellent network of trains and buses, making it easy to escape the city for a weekend getaway.<\/p>\n

My favorite destinations to visit are Surrey and Kent. Canterbury is a charming medieval town in southern England, rich in history and offering student-friendly hangouts. In Surrey, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) boasts a large botanical garden in Wisley, which is a delightful day trip, especially during the summer.<\/p>\n

In summary, London is a dynamic city brimming with opportunities and places to explore, so take your time to uncover everything it has to offer while you\u2019re at Imperial!<\/p>\n

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

Authored by Emilio (Spain), MSc Applied Mathematics Making the decision to relocate from a rural island in Spain to the largest city in Europe was intimidating. Nevertheless, the last 18 months spent in London have been the most rewarding and enjoyable of my life. London is a lively, diverse, historic metropolis boasting a myriad of…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":345640,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-345639","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\/345639","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=345639"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/345639\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/345640"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=345639"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=345639"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=345639"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}