{"id":347895,"date":"2026-04-08T05:38:04","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T05:38:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/?p=347895"},"modified":"2026-04-08T05:38:04","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T05:38:04","slug":"lessons-gained-from-experiencing-life-in-london-as-an-imperial-student-12","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/?p=347895","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

Choosing to transition from the rural island countryside in Spain to the largest city in Europe was intimidating. Nevertheless, the last 18 months in London have been the most rewarding and enjoyable of my existence.<\/p>\n

London is a multifaceted, multicultural, historic, and lively metropolis filled with numerous restaurants, events, and attractions \u2013 exploring it is perpetually an adventure! Yet, adapting to a new country’s lifestyle can pose difficulties. Here are some insights I’ve gained while relocating to London as an international student, along with advice and tips for settling 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. By utilizing Instagram, TikTok, and online forums, I researched different areas in London that could be enjoyable to live in. I found out that Camden Town features a vibrant nightlife, Hackney is a rapidly developing part of east London, and Putney is a peaceful, green residential neighborhood.<\/p>\n

Having visited London prior to commencing my Master\u2019s, I had the chance to physically explore these neighborhoods before determining where to settle. After selecting Putney, my flatmates (whom I met during undergraduate studies) and I utilized accommodation search platforms like SpareRoom and Rightmove to secure affordable house shares, organized online viewings with landlords, and ultimately found a lovely flat adjacent to Putney Heath.<\/p>\n

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

After you’ve unpacked and adorned your new abode, a plethora of opportunities and events awaits \u2013 the tricky part in London is deciding which activities to pursue and allocating time for them all!<\/p>\n

Imperial\u2019s South Kensington Campus is situated in the Albertopolis area, a neighborhood dedicated to art, manufacturing, and science. Nearby are fantastic museums, including the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, and the V&A Museum. These museums are fantastic for exploration, and some even extend their hours late on Fridays. On the last Friday of every month, the V&A hosts a V&A Late, an open event where the museum transforms into a mini rave featuring drinks and live music!<\/p>\n

In addition to museum visits, I relish exploring East London locales such as Canary Wharf, Hackney, and Isle of Dogs. This region is teeming with historical nooks and artistic endeavors, making it a charming environment to roam and uncover. My favorite location is Trinity Buoy Wharf \u2013 built on a former canning warehouse, it now accommodates a Series B startup crafting temporary structures from shipping containers. The complex celebrates innovative manufacturing and includes several art studios, along with the original lighthouse lab where English chemist and physicist Michael Faraday conducted his work!<\/p>\n

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

London presents numerous bargains when you know where to seek them, offering a variety of affordable yet high-quality dining options. Throughout my time in London, I\u2019ve created a list of eateries featuring various deals across the city, making dining out more budget-friendly.<\/p>\n

One such venue is in South Kensington, where an amazing seafood restaurant named Wright Brothers offers an Oyster Happy Hour, letting you savor oysters for only \u00a31 each! This is an excellent deal, particularly if you long for the taste of home seafood and wish to indulge in oysters as much as your heart (and wallet) desires!<\/p>\n

Tooting in South London is also celebrated for its food scene. Tooting Market and Tooting Broadway Market are expansive indoor street food markets showcasing an extensive range of cuisines. If you\u2019re in search of dishes that evoke memories of home, I highly suggest exploring the food markets in Tooting!<\/p>\n

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

While the city\u2019s pace is part of London\u2019s allure, occasionally the Tube becomes too noisy, the streets overly crowded, and people swarm everywhere. Luckily, London is centrally located in a vast network of trains and coaches, simplifying the process of escaping the city for a weekend.<\/p>\n

My preferred destinations are Surrey and Kent. Canterbury is a stunning medieval town in southern England, rich in history and student-friendly venues. In Surrey, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) boasts an expansive botanical garden in Wisley, an excellent day trip, especially during summertime.<\/p>\n

In summary, London is a dynamic city brimming with opportunities and exploration venues, so take your time uncovering all that it has to offer during your time at Imperial!<\/p>\n

To learn more 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 Choosing to transition from the rural island countryside in Spain to the largest city in Europe was intimidating. Nevertheless, the last 18 months in London have been the most rewarding and enjoyable of my existence. London is a multifaceted, multicultural, historic, and lively metropolis filled with numerous restaurants,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":347896,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-347895","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\/347895","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=347895"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/347895\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/347896"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=347895"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=347895"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=347895"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}