{"id":347710,"date":"2026-04-08T00:08:04","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T00:08:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/?p=347710"},"modified":"2026-04-08T00:08:04","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T00:08:04","slug":"lessons-gained-from-experiencing-life-in-london-as-an-imperial-scholar-22","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/?p=347710","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 felt overwhelming. Yet, the past 18 months spent in London have proven to be the most rewarding and pleasurable period of my life.<\/p>\n

London is a lively, diverse, historical metropolis brimming with a variety of restaurants, events, and attractions\u2014navigating it is invariably an adventure! Nevertheless, adapting to life in a foreign country can be difficult. Here are some insights I’ve gained as an international student in London, along with some advice and recommendations for when you settle in.<\/p>\n

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

The initial phase of moving to London involves identifying the ideal place to call home. Via Instagram, TikTok, and online communities, I delved into various London neighborhoods that could be enjoyable to reside in. I found that Camden Town boasts a vibrant nightlife, Hackney is an up-and-coming area in east London, and Putney offers a tranquil, green residential environment.<\/p>\n

Fortunately, I had the chance to visit London ahead of commencing my Master\u2019s, which allowed me to explore these neighborhoods in person before making a decision on where to live. After settling on Putney, my flatmates (whom I met during my undergraduate studies) and I utilized accommodation platforms like SpareRoom and Rightmove to seek out budget-friendly house shares, scheduled online viewings with landlords, and ultimately secured a lovely flat near Putney Heath.<\/p>\n

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

Once you\u2019ve unpacked and personalized your new space, a plethora of opportunities and events awaits\u2014you’ll find that the challenge in London lies in choosing which activities to engage in and making time for everything!<\/p>\n

Imperial\u2019s South Kensington Campus is situated in the Albertopolis area, a district that champions art, industry, and science. Close by, there\u2019s an array of fantastic museums, such as the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, and the V&A Museum. These venues are excellent for exploration, and some even extend their hours on Fridays. On the last Friday of every month, the V&A organizes a V&A Late, turning the museum into a vibrant gathering with drinks and live performances!<\/p>\n

In addition to museum visits, I relish roaming East London neighborhoods such as Canary Wharf, Hackney, and Isle of Dogs. This area is rich in historical and artistic landmarks, making it an ideal spot to stroll and uncover new sights. My favorite destination is Trinity Buoy Wharf, constructed on a former canning warehouse, now housing a startup that designs temporary structures from shipping containers. The site celebrates creative manufacturing and features several art studios, along with the original lighthouse lab where Michael Faraday conducted experiments!<\/p>\n

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

London presents excellent culinary deals if you know where to search, offering numerous options for affordable yet tasty dining experiences. Throughout my time in London, I\u2019ve compiled a list of dining locations with various deals scattered across the city, making eating out more economical.<\/p>\n

One such venue is located in South Kensington, where Wright Brothers holds an Oyster Happy Hour, featuring oysters for merely \u00a31 each! This is an incredible offer, particularly if you long for the taste of home seafood and wish to indulge in oysters without overspending!<\/p>\n

Tooting in South London is also recognized for its vibrant food scene. Tooting Market and Tooting Broadway Market are expansive indoor street food markets showcasing a diverse range of cuisines. If you’re in search of dishes that evoke memories of home, I strongly recommend exploring the food markets in Tooting!<\/p>\n

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

While the city’s energy contributes to London’s allure, there are times when the Tube gets excessively noisy or the streets become too congested. Luckily, London is well-served by trains and coaches, making it simple to escape the city for a weekend getaway.<\/p>\n

My preferred destinations for a retreat are Surrey and Kent. Canterbury is a picturesque medieval town in southern England, steeped in history and friendly to students. In Surrey, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) boasts a vast botanical garden in Wisley, ideal for a summer outing.<\/p>\n

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

For more insights into my experiences, <\/em><\/strong>check out my Imperial story. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Authored by Emilio (Spain), MSc Applied Mathematics The choice to relocate from a rural island in Spain to the largest city in Europe felt overwhelming. Yet, the past 18 months spent in London have proven to be the most rewarding and pleasurable period of my life. London is a lively, diverse, historical metropolis brimming with…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":347711,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-347710","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\/347710","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=347710"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/347710\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/347711"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=347710"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=347710"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=347710"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}