{"id":345676,"date":"2026-04-05T06:38:03","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T06:38:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/?p=345676"},"modified":"2026-04-05T06:38:03","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T06:38:03","slug":"lessons-gained-residing-in-london-as-an-imperial-scholar-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/?p=345676","title":{"rendered":"Lessons Gained 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 a significant challenge. Nonetheless, the last 18 months in London have been the most rewarding and enjoyable of my existence.<\/p>\n

London stands as a diverse, multicultural, historic, and lively city, boasting an array of restaurants, events, and attractions \u2013 navigating it is always an adventure! However, adapting to life in a foreign country can pose difficulties. Here are some insights I gained as an international student in London, along with a few tips and recommendations for adapting.<\/p>\n

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

The initial step in moving to London is selecting the ideal place to call home. Through Instagram, TikTok, and online forums, I explored various neighborhoods in London that could be enjoyable to reside 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 location.<\/p>\n

I was lucky to visit London prior to starting my Master\u2019s, which allowed me to check out these neighborhoods firsthand before settling on where to live. After opting for Putney, my flatmates (whom I met during my undergraduate studies) and I utilized housing search platforms like SpareRoom and Rightmove to locate budget-friendly house shares, organized virtual viewings with landlords, and ultimately found a lovely flat near Putney Heath.<\/p>\n

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

Once you\u2019ve settled and decorated your new space, a realm of possibilities and events lies ahead \u2013 the challenge in London is determining which activities to engage in and carving out time for them all!<\/p>\n

Imperial\u2019s South Kensington Campus is situated in the Albertopolis area, a neighborhood that celebrates art, manufacturing, and science. There are numerous fantastic museums in the vicinity, including the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, and the V&A Museum. These museums are excellent for exploration, and some even extend their hours on Fridays. On the last Friday of each month, the V&A hosts a V&A Late, transforming the museum into a mini rave with refreshments and live music!<\/p>\n

In addition to visiting museums, I relish exploring East London locales such as Canary Wharf, Hackney, and Isle of Dogs. This area is rich with historical sites and artistic endeavors, making it a splendid place to roam and uncover unexpected treasures. My favorite place is Trinity Buoy Wharf \u2013 constructed on a former canning warehouse, it currently hosts a Series B startup that creates temporary structures from shipping containers. The complex champions creative manufacturing and features numerous 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 has a wealth of affordable options if you know where to search, with countless choices for tasty yet budget-friendly meals. During my stay in London, I\u2019ve compiled an extensive list of eateries offering various deals throughout the city, making dining out considerably more economical.<\/p>\n

One such place is in South Kensington, where an excellent seafood restaurant called Wright Brothers offers an Oyster Happy Hour, letting you enjoy oysters for merely \u00a31 each! This is a fantastic bargain, especially if you long for the taste of seafood from home and wish to indulge in oysters to your heart’s (and wallet’s) desire!<\/p>\n

Tooting in South London is also recognized for its culinary scene. Tooting Market and Tooting Broadway Market are expansive indoor street food markets featuring a wide array of cuisines. If you\u2019re in search of flavors reminiscent of home, I highly recommend checking out the food markets in Tooting!<\/p>\n

Escaping the city<\/strong><\/h3>\n

While the city’s energy contributes to London\u2019s allure, there are times when the Tube becomes overwhelming, or the streets are too crowded. Thankfully, London is at the center of an excellent network of trains and coaches, making it simple to retreat from the city for a weekend.<\/p>\n

My preferred destinations are Surrey and Kent. Canterbury is a charming medieval town in southern England brimming with history and friendly spots for students. In Surrey, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) features a large botanical garden in Wisley, which is a delightful outing, particularly during the summer.<\/p>\n

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

To learn more about my experiences, <\/em><\/strong><a href="https:\/\/www.imperial.ac.uk\/Stories\/my-imperial-story-emilio<\/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 a significant challenge. Nonetheless, the last 18 months in London have been the most rewarding and enjoyable of my existence. London stands as a diverse, multicultural, historic, and lively city, boasting an…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":345677,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-345676","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\/345676","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=345676"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/345676\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/345677"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=345676"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=345676"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=345676"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}