{"id":346820,"date":"2026-04-06T18:38:04","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T18:38:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/?p=346820"},"modified":"2026-04-06T18:38:04","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T18:38:04","slug":"lessons-acquired-from-experiencing-life-in-london-as-an-imperial-scholar-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/?p=346820","title":{"rendered":"Lessons Acquired from Experiencing Life in London as an Imperial Scholar"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

The choice to relocate from a rural Spanish island to the largest city in Europe was intimidating. Nevertheless, the last 18 months in London have proven to be the most rewarding and exhilarating of my existence.<\/p>\n

London is a lively, diverse, historic metropolis that boasts a plethora of restaurants, events, and attractions\u2014venturing through it is always an escapade! However, adapting to life in a foreign country can present its challenges. Below are some insights I gained while relocating to London as an international student, along with tips and advice for acclimatizing.<\/p>\n

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

The initial move to London involves identifying the ideal place to settle down. I utilized Instagram, TikTok, and online communities to investigate different neighborhoods in London that might be pleasant to live in. I found that Camden Town has a bustling nightlife, Hackney is an emerging hub in east London, and Putney offers a serene, green residential environment.<\/p>\n

Having experienced London before commencing my Master\u2019s, I had the opportunity to visit these districts firsthand prior to making my relocation decision. I opted for Putney, and together with my flatmates (who I met in my undergraduate years), we employed accommodation search platforms such as SpareRoom and Rightmove to locate budget-friendly house shares, scheduled online viewings with landlords, and ultimately secured 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 await\u2014selecting the activities to engage in while finding time for all of them is the real challenge in London!<\/p>\n

Imperial\u2019s South Kensington Campus is situated in the Albertopolis area, a district that celebrates art, manufacturing, and science. Close by are fantastic museums, including the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, and the V&A Museum. Exploring these museums is delightful, and some are even open late on Fridays. On the final Friday of each month, the V&A hosts a V&A Late, an open celebration where the museum transforms into a lively gathering complete with drinks and live music!<\/p>\n

In addition to visiting museums, I relish exploring East London neighborhoods such as Canary Wharf, Hackney, and Isle of Dogs. This area is rich with historical and artistic ventures, making it a charming environment for wandering and exploring. My favorite location is Trinity Buoy Wharf\u2014constructed on the site of an old canning warehouse, it now accommodates a Series B startup developing temporary structures from shipping containers. The complex honors creative manufacturing and hosts numerous art studios, as well as the original lighthouse lab where Michael Faraday worked!<\/p>\n

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

London provides excellent bargains if you know where to seek, featuring numerous choices for affordable yet high-quality meals. During my time in London, I have compiled a list of dining locations offering various deals throughout the city, making dining out a more economical experience.<\/p>\n

One such location is in South Kensington, where an outstanding seafood establishment named Wright Brothers features an Oyster Happy Hour, allowing you to savor oysters for merely \u00a31 each! This is a fantastic deal, especially if you long for the flavors of home seafood and wish to indulge without overspending!<\/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 broad array of cuisines. If you desire food that evokes memories of home, I highly recommend examining the food markets in Tooting!<\/p>\n

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

While the city’s pace contributes to London\u2019s allure, sometimes the Tube can become excessively noisy, or the streets overly crowded, with people everywhere. Thankfully, London is at the center of a wonderful 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 stunning medieval town in southern England, brimming with history and student-friendly locales. In Surrey, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) boasts a large botanical garden in Wisley, which is a delightful outing, particularly in the summertime.<\/p>\n

All in all, London is a dynamic city filled with opportunities and areas to discover, so take your time to explore everything the city has in store during your time at Imperial!<\/p>\n

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

Authored by Emilio (Spain), MSc Applied Mathematics The choice to relocate from a rural Spanish island to the largest city in Europe was intimidating. Nevertheless, the last 18 months in London have proven to be the most rewarding and exhilarating of my existence. London is a lively, diverse, historic metropolis that boasts a plethora of…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":346821,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-346820","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\/346820","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=346820"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/346820\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/346821"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=346820"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=346820"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=346820"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}