{"id":346117,"date":"2026-04-05T20:08:04","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T20:08:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/?p=346117"},"modified":"2026-04-05T20:08:04","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T20:08:04","slug":"lessons-gained-from-residing-in-london-as-an-imperial-scholar-14","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/?p=346117","title":{"rendered":"Lessons Gained from Residing in London as an Imperial Scholar"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

Relocating from the serene countryside of a rural Spanish island to the largest city in Europe was intimidating. Nevertheless, the last 18 months in London have been the most rewarding and enjoyable of my existence.<\/p>\n

London is a dynamic, multicultural, historical, and bustling city featuring a diverse array of restaurants, events, and attractions \u2013 exploring it is perpetually an adventure! However, adjusting to life in a foreign nation can be difficult. Here are some insights I gained as an international student in London, along with a few tips and recommendations for acclimatizing.<\/p>\n

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

The initial step in relocating to London is finding the ideal place to call home. Utilizing Instagram, TikTok, and various online forums, I investigated different neighborhoods across London that could be exciting to reside in. I learned that Camden Town boasts a lively nightlife, Hackney is an emerging area in east London, and Putney is a tranquil and green residential community.<\/p>\n

I was lucky to visit London prior to commencing my Master\u2019s, enabling me to explore these neighborhoods in person before deciding where to settle. After selecting Putney, my flatmates (whom I met during undergraduate studies) and I used accommodation search platforms like SpareRoom and Rightmove to locate budget-friendly house shares, arranged online viewings with landlords, and ultimately found a lovely flat close to Putney Heath.<\/p>\n

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

After settling in and personalizing your new space, a plethora of opportunities and events awaits \u2013 the real challenge in London is determining which activities to engage in and allocating time for them all!<\/p>\n

Imperial\u2019s South Kensington Campus is situated in the Albertopolis area, a district that honors art, manufacturing, and science. Nearby, there is a collection of magnificent museums, such as the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, and the V&A Museum. These museums are fantastic to explore, and some even remain open late on Fridays. On the final Friday of each month, the V&A hosts a V&A Late, an open party where the museum morphs into a small rave featuring drinks and live music!<\/p>\n

In addition to visiting museums, I take pleasure in strolling through East London areas like Canary Wharf, Hackney, and Isle of Dogs. The entire region is filled with historical corners and artistic ventures, making it a delightful area to roam and uncover unexpected treasures. My favorite location is Trinity Buoy Wharf \u2013 once an old canning warehouse, it has become home to a Series B startup that constructs temporary structures from shipping containers. The complex embraces creative manufacturing and houses several art studios, along with 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 numerous bargains if you know where to search, with many choices for affordable yet flavorful food. Throughout my time in London, I’ve compiled an extensive list of eateries offering various deals throughout the city, making dining out significantly more economical.<\/p>\n

One such venue is located in South Kensington, an incredible seafood restaurant called Wright Brothers that features an Oyster Happy Hour, allowing you to savor oysters for merely \u00a31 each! This is an excellent deal, particularly if you’re longing for the flavor of home seafood and wish to indulge in oysters to your heart’s (and wallet’s) content!<\/p>\n

Tooting in South London is also well-known for its culinary scene. Tooting Market and Tooting Broadway Market are expansive indoor street food markets showcasing a wide array of cuisines. If you’re in search of food reminiscent of home, I highly recommend diving into the Tooting food markets!<\/p>\n

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

While the city\u2019s pace is part of London\u2019s allure, at times the Tube can get too noisy, the streets overly crowded, and throngs of people can be overwhelming. Fortunately, London is centrally located within an excellent network of trains and coaches, making it simple to escape the city for a weekend getaway.<\/p>\n

My preferred destinations are Surrey and Kent. Canterbury is a picturesque medieval town in southern England, steeped in history and filled with student-friendly venues. In Surrey, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) boasts a large botanical garden in Wisley, which is a wonderful day trip, especially during the summer.<\/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 during your time at Imperial!<\/p>\n

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

Authored by Emilio (Spain), MSc Applied Mathematics Relocating from the serene countryside of a rural Spanish island to the largest city in Europe was intimidating. Nevertheless, the last 18 months in London have been the most rewarding and enjoyable of my existence. London is a dynamic, multicultural, historical, and bustling city featuring a diverse array…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":346118,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-346117","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\/346117","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=346117"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/346117\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/346118"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=346117"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=346117"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=346117"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}