{"id":347821,"date":"2026-04-08T03:38:05","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T03:38:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/?p=347821"},"modified":"2026-04-08T03:38:05","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T03:38:05","slug":"lessons-ive-gained-from-my-experience-as-an-imperial-student-in-london-8","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/?p=347821","title":{"rendered":"Lessons I\u2019ve Gained from My Experience as an Imperial Student in London"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

Making the decision to leave a rural island in Spain for Europe’s largest metropolis was quite intimidating. Nonetheless, the last 18 months in London have been the most rewarding and thrilling of my life.<\/p>\n

London is a dynamic, multicultural, historic metropolis brimming with an array of restaurants, events, and attractions \u2013 discovering it is always an escapade! Yet, adapting to life in a new nation can prove 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 securing the ideal place to call home. Utilizing Instagram, TikTok, and online forums, I investigated various neighborhoods around London that might be enjoyable to reside in. I learned that Camden Town boasts a vibrant nightlife, Hackney is an up-and-coming area in east London, and Putney is a serene, green residential locale.<\/p>\n

I was lucky enough to visit London prior to commencing my Master\u2019s, which allowed me to check out these neighborhoods in person before making a living arrangement decision. After selecting Putney, my flatmates (whom I met during my undergraduate studies) and I utilized accommodation search websites such as SpareRoom and Rightmove to locate budget-friendly house shares, arranged virtual viewings with landlords, and ultimately found a lovely flat near Putney Heath.<\/p>\n

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

Once you’ve settled in and furnished your new home, a plethora of opportunities and activities await \u2013 the challenge of living in London lies in choosing which events to engage in and figuring out how to fit them all in!<\/p>\n

Imperial\u2019s South Kensington Campus is situated in the Albertopolis area, a district that celebrates art, manufacturing, and science. Close by are incredible museums like the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, and the V&A Museum. These museums are fantastic to visit, and some even remain open late on Fridays. On the last Friday of each month, the V&A hosts a V&A Late, transforming the museum into a small party 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 in historical and cultural sites, providing a splendid environment for strolling and uncovering hidden treasures. My favorite location is Trinity Buoy Wharf \u2013 established on an old canning warehouse, it now accommodates a startup that creates temporary structures from shipping containers. The complex promotes creative manufacturing and features several art studios, as well as the original lighthouse lab where Michael Faraday conducted his work!<\/p>\n

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

London has excellent deals if you know where to look, with numerous options for affordable yet delightful cuisine. During my stint in London, I\u2019ve compiled a roster of dining spots offering a variety of deals throughout the city, making eating out more wallet-friendly.<\/p>\n

One such spot is in South Kensington, where a seafood establishment known as Wright Brothers presents an Oyster Happy Hour, allowing you to indulge in oysters for merely \u00a31 each! It\u2019s an amazing bargain, particularly if you yearn for the taste of home seafood and wish to treat yourself to oysters without overspending!<\/p>\n

Tooting in South London is also renowned for its culinary culture. Tooting Market and Tooting Broadway Market are expansive indoor street food markets that present a diverse selection of cuisines. If you\u2019re searching for food that brings back memories of home, I highly recommend checking out the Tooting food markets!<\/p>\n

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

While the city’s pace is part of London\u2019s appeal, sometimes the Tube becomes overly noisy, the streets too congested, and crowds can be overwhelming. Thankfully, London is well-connected to an extensive network of trains and coaches, making it easy to escape the city for a weekend getaway.<\/p>\n

My preferred destinations are Surrey and Kent. Canterbury is a charming medieval town in southern England, rich in history and student-friendly locations. In Surrey, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) boasts a large botanical garden in Wisley, which is a splendid day trip, especially during the summer.<\/p>\n

Overall, London is a lively city filled with opportunities and locations to discover, so take your time to explore everything it has to offer during your time at Imperial!<\/p>\n

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

Authored by Emilio (Spain), MSc Applied Mathematics Making the decision to leave a rural island in Spain for Europe’s largest metropolis was quite intimidating. Nonetheless, the last 18 months in London have been the most rewarding and thrilling of my life. London is a dynamic, multicultural, historic metropolis brimming with an array of restaurants, events,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":347822,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-347821","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\/347821","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=347821"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/347821\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/347822"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=347821"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=347821"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=347821"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}