{"id":346672,"date":"2026-04-06T14:08:04","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T14:08:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/?p=346672"},"modified":"2026-04-06T14:08:04","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T14:08:04","slug":"lessons-gained-from-experiencing-life-in-london-as-an-imperial-student-10","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/?p=346672","title":{"rendered":"Lessons Gained from Experiencing Life in London as an Imperial Student"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

Transitioning from the rural landscape of a Spanish island to the largest city in Europe was a challenge. Nevertheless, the last 18 months I spent in London have been the most fulfilling and enjoyable of my existence.<\/p>\n

London is an eclectic, diverse, historic, and lively metropolis boasting a plethora of restaurants, events, and attractions\u2014navigating it is perpetually a thrilling experience! However, acclimatizing to a new country can prove to be quite difficult. Here are some insights I’ve gathered as an international student in London, along with tips and recommendations for settling in.<\/p>\n

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

The initial step in relocating to London involves identifying the ideal place to reside. Through Instagram, TikTok, and online forums, I explored various neighborhoods in London that could be enjoyable to live in. I found that Camden Town boasts a lively nightlife, Hackney is an emerging area in east London, and Putney is a serene and green residential locale.<\/p>\n

I had the opportunity to visit London prior to commencing my Master’s program, enabling me to visit these neighborhoods firsthand before choosing where to live. After selecting Putney, my flatmates (whom I met during my undergraduate studies) and I utilized accommodation search platforms like SpareRoom and Rightmove to find reasonably priced shared housing, arranged online viewings with landlords, and ultimately secured a lovely flat close to Putney Heath.<\/p>\n

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

Once you’ve settled and adorned your new home, an entire world of opportunities and events is at your fingertips\u2014the real challenge in London lies in selecting which activities to engage in and carving out time to experience them all!<\/p>\n

Imperial\u2019s South Kensington Campus is situated in the Albertopolis district, an area that honors art, manufacturing, and science. Close by, you’ll encounter a remarkable assortment of museums, including the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, and the V&A Museum. These museums are incredible to explore, with some even staying open late on Fridays. On the final Friday of each month, the V&A hosts a V&A Late, transforming the museum into a vibrant celebration complete with drinks and live performances!<\/p>\n

Apart from museum visits, I relish discovering East London neighborhoods such as Canary Wharf, Hackney, and Isle of Dogs. This area teems with historical and artistic endeavors, making it a delightful space to stroll and uncover new gems. My favorite destination is Trinity Buoy Wharf, established on the site of an old canning warehouse. It currently hosts a Series B startup that creates temporary structures from shipping containers. The complex celebrates innovative manufacturing and houses numerous art studios, as well as the original lighthouse lab where the English chemist and physicist Michael Faraday conducted his work!<\/p>\n

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

London presents countless bargains if you know where to search, with a variety of options for inexpensive yet scrumptious meals. Throughout my time in London, I have curated a list of dining locations offering diverse deals throughout the city, making eating out more budget-friendly.<\/p>\n

One notable establishment is in South Kensington, where a fantastic seafood restaurant known as Wright Brothers features an Oyster Happy Hour, allowing you to indulge in oysters for merely \u00a31 each! This is a splendid deal, especially if you’re craving the taste of home-cooked seafood and wish to treat yourself to oysters without overspending!<\/p>\n

Tooting in South London is also recognized for its thriving food scene. Tooting Market and Tooting Broadway Market are expansive indoor street food markets that present a wide range of cuisines. If you’re seeking food that evokes memories of home, I highly suggest checking out the markets in Tooting!<\/p>\n

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

While the pulse of the city contributes to London\u2019s allure, there are times when the Tube becomes overwhelming, the streets feel congested, and crowds seem omnipresent. Fortunately, London is central to an excellent network of trains and coaches, making it effortless to flee the city for a weekend getaway.<\/p>\n

My preferred destinations are Surrey and Kent. Canterbury is a picturesque medieval town in southern England, rich in history and student-friendly locales. In Surrey, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) features a vast botanical garden in Wisley, providing a delightful day trip, particularly during the summer months.<\/p>\n

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

To learn more about my journey, <\/em><\/strong><a href="https:\/\/www.imperial.ac.uk\/Stories\/my-imperial-story-emilio\/" target="_blank"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Authored by Emilio (Spain), MSc Applied Mathematics Transitioning from the rural landscape of a Spanish island to the largest city in Europe was a challenge. Nevertheless, the last 18 months I spent in London have been the most fulfilling and enjoyable of my existence. London is an eclectic, diverse, historic, and lively metropolis boasting a…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":346673,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-346672","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\/346672","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=346672"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/346672\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/346673"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=346672"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=346672"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=346672"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}