{"id":345935,"date":"2026-04-05T14:38:04","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T14:38:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/?p=345935"},"modified":"2026-04-05T14:38:04","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T14:38:04","slug":"insights-gained-from-experiencing-life-in-london-as-a-student-from-the-empire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/?p=345935","title":{"rendered":"Insights Gained from Experiencing Life in London as a Student from the Empire"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

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

London is a lively, multicultural, historic, and ever-changing city boasting a diverse array of restaurants, events, and attractions \u2013 every exploration is an adventure! However, adjusting to life in a foreign country can present difficulties. Here are some insights I gained as an international student in London, along with some advice and recommendations for when you\u2019ve settled in.<\/p>\n

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

The first step in relocating to London is securing the ideal place to call home. Through Instagram, TikTok, and online discussion boards, I investigated various neighborhoods in London that could be enjoyable to live in. I learned that Camden Town has a vibrant nightlife, Hackney is a rising area in east London, and Putney is a peaceful, green residential neighborhood.<\/p>\n

Having visited London prior to starting my Master\u2019s, I was able to check out these areas in person before making my living decision. I selected Putney, and my flatmates (whom I met during undergraduate studies) and I utilized accommodation search platforms such as SpareRoom and Rightmove to locate budget-friendly house shares, organized online viewings with landlords, and found a lovely flat near Putney Heath.<\/p>\n

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

Once you\u2019ve settled in and furnished your new space, a plethora of opportunities and events lie ahead \u2013 the difficulty in London is deciding which activities to pursue and fitting them all in!<\/p>\n

Imperial\u2019s South Kensington Campus is situated in the Albertopolis area, a neighborhood that honors art, industry, and science. Close by are amazing museums like the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, and the V&A Museum. These museums are delightful to visit, and some remain open late 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 beverages and live music!<\/p>\n

In addition to the museums, I delight in exploring East London neighborhoods such as Canary Wharf, Hackney, and Isle of Dogs. The area is rich in historical and artistic treasures, making it an excellent place to roam and unearth new findings. My favorite location is Trinity Buoy Wharf \u2013 once an old canning warehouse, it now accommodates a Series B startup creating temporary structures from shipping containers. The site celebrates innovative manufacturing and houses various art studios, including the original lighthouse lab where Michael Faraday conducted his work!<\/p>\n

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

London has many great deals if you know where to seek them, with numerous options for tasty yet affordable meals. During my time in London, I\u2019ve compiled a list of dining spots offering diverse deals throughout the city, making eating out more budget-friendly.<\/p>\n

One venue is located in South Kensington, where a seafood restaurant called Wright Brothers offers an Oyster Happy Hour, with oysters at just \u00a31 each! It\u2019s an incredible bargain, particularly if you crave the flavors of home seafood and want to indulge in oysters at your heart\u2019s (and wallet\u2019s) desire!<\/p>\n

Tooting in South London is also famed for its food culture. Tooting Market and Tooting Broadway Market are expansive indoor street food markets featuring a variety of cuisines. If you seek foods that remind you of home, I strongly recommend checking out Tooting\u2019s food markets!<\/p>\n

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

While the rhythm of the city contributes to its allure, sometimes the Tube becomes too noisy, or the streets too crowded, with throngs everywhere. Luckily, London is centrally located within an extensive network of trains and coaches, making it simple to escape the city for a weekend getaway.<\/p>\n

My preferred destinations to visit are Surrey and Kent. Canterbury is a stunning medieval town in southern England, filled with history and student-friendly venues. In Surrey, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has an expansive botanical garden in Wisley, a fantastic outing, especially during the summer season.<\/p>\n

In summary, London is a lively city brimming with opportunities and places to discover, so take your time to explore all that the city has to offer throughout your stay at Imperial!<\/p>\n

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

Authored by Emilio (Spain), MSc Applied Mathematics Making the choice to relocate from a rural island in Spain to the largest city in Europe was intimidating. Nonetheless, the last 18 months in London have been the most rewarding and delightful of my life. London is a lively, multicultural, historic, and ever-changing city boasting a diverse…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":345936,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-345935","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\/345935","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=345935"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/345935\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/345936"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=345935"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=345935"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=345935"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}