{"id":347042,"date":"2026-04-07T02:08:04","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T02:08:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/?p=347042"},"modified":"2026-04-07T02:08:04","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T02:08:04","slug":"lessons-gained-from-experiencing-life-in-london-as-an-imperial-scholar-17","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/?p=347042","title":{"rendered":"Lessons Gained 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 island in Spain to the largest city in Europe was intimidating. Nevertheless, the last 18 months in London have been the most fulfilling and enjoyable of my existence.<\/p>\n

London is an eclectic, multicultural, historic, and lively city with a vast selection of restaurants, events, and attractions\u2014navigating it is perpetually an adventure! Yet, adapting to life in a different country can pose challenges. Here are some insights I gathered as an international student transitioning to London, along with tips and suggestions for once you have settled in.<\/p>\n

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

The initial step in relocating to London is identifying the perfect place to call home. I utilized Instagram, TikTok, and online communities to investigate various neighborhoods in London that might be enjoyable to reside in. I learned that Camden Town boasts a lively nightlife, Hackney is a burgeoning area in east London, and Putney is a tranquil, green residential neighborhood.<\/p>\n

I was lucky to visit London prior to commencing my Master\u2019s program, enabling me to check out these areas firsthand before making a living decision. After selecting Putney, my flatmates (whom I met during my undergraduate studies) and I employed accommodation search platforms like SpareRoom and Rightmove to locate budget-friendly house shares, arranged virtual viewings with landlords, and ultimately secured a lovely flat near Putney Heath.<\/p>\n

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

Once you\u2019ve settled in and personalized your new space, a realm of opportunities and events lies ahead\u2014the challenge in London is deciding which activities to engage in and finding the time to fit them all in!<\/p>\n

Imperial\u2019s South Kensington Campus is situated in the Albertopolis area, a neighborhood that celebrates art, manufacturing, and science. Close by are fantastic museums like the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, and the V&A Museum. These museums are delightful to explore, and some remain 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 small rave featuring drinks and live music!<\/p>\n

In addition to visiting museums, I relish discovering East London locales such as Canary Wharf, Hackney, and Isle of Dogs. The area is rich with historical landmarks and artistic endeavors, rendering it a splendid place to stroll and uncover unexpected treasures. My favorite location is Trinity Buoy Wharf\u2014established on an old canning warehouse, it now accommodates a Series B startup that creates temporary structures from shipping containers. The complex celebrates innovative manufacturing and includes various 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 is brimming with deals if you know where to search, featuring numerous options for budget-friendly yet delicious cuisine. Throughout my time in London, I\u2019ve compiled a list of dining spots offering various discounts across the city, making dining out more accessible.<\/p>\n

One such location is in South Kensington, where a fantastic seafood restaurant named Wright Brothers offers an Oyster Happy Hour, with oysters priced at just \u00a31 each! It\u2019s an excellent deal, especially if you crave the taste of home seafood and wish to indulge in oysters to your heart\u2019s (and wallet\u2019s) content!<\/p>\n

Tooting in South London is also renowned for its food scene. Tooting Market and Tooting Broadway Market are large indoor street food markets showcasing a diverse array of cuisines. If you seek food that evokes memories of home, I highly recommend checking out the Tooting food markets!<\/p>\n

Taking a break from urban life<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Although the city\u2019s pace is part of London\u2019s allure, there are moments when the Tube becomes excessively noisy, or the streets are overwhelmed with bustling crowds. Thankfully, London is at the center of an extensive network of trains and coaches, simplifying the process of escaping the city for a weekend.<\/p>\n

My favorite destinations include Surrey and Kent. Canterbury is a stunning medieval town in southern England rich in history and student-friendly locations. In Surrey, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) boasts a significant botanical garden in Wisley, which provides a wonderful outing, particularly during the summer.<\/p>\n

In summary, London is a dynamic city teeming with opportunities and locales to discover, so take your time uncovering everything it has in store during your journey at Imperial!<\/p>\n

For more insights about my experiences, <\/em><\/strong><a href="https:\/\/www.imperial.ac.uk\/Stories\/my-imperial-story-em<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Authored by Emilio (Spain), MSc Applied Mathematics The choice to relocate from a rural island in Spain to the largest city in Europe was intimidating. Nevertheless, the last 18 months in London have been the most fulfilling and enjoyable of my existence. London is an eclectic, multicultural, historic, and lively city with a vast selection…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":347043,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-347042","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\/347042","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=347042"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/347042\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/347043"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=347042"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=347042"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=347042"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}