{"id":348594,"date":"2026-04-09T06:08:03","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T06:08:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/?p=348594"},"modified":"2026-04-09T06:08:03","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T06:08:03","slug":"lessons-gained-from-residing-in-london-as-an-imperial-student-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/?p=348594","title":{"rendered":"Lessons Gained from Residing in London as an Imperial Student"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

Making the decision to relocate from a rural island in Spain to the largest city in Europe was intimidating. Yet, the last 18 months in London have been the most rewarding and exhilarating experiences of my life.<\/p>\n

London is a rich, multicultural, historical, and lively city boasting an extensive array of restaurants, events, and attractions \u2013 venturing through it is always an adventure! However, adapting to a new country can pose challenges. Here are some insights I gained as an overseas student in London, along with a few tips and suggestions for when you\u2019re established.<\/p>\n

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

The initial step in moving to London is securing the ideal place to call home. I leveraged Instagram, TikTok, and online forums to investigate different neighborhoods in London. I discovered that Camden Town features a vibrant nightlife, Hackney is a budding area in east London, and Putney is a serene, leafy residential neighborhood.<\/p>\n

I was lucky enough to visit London prior to commencing my Master\u2019s, which gave me the opportunity to explore these neighborhoods firsthand before making my living arrangements. After selecting Putney, my flatmates (whom I met during my undergraduate studies) and I utilized accommodation search platforms like SpareRoom and Rightmove to find reasonably priced house shares, set up online viewings with landlords, and ultimately found a lovely flat close to Putney Heath.<\/p>\n

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

After you\u2019ve settled in and personalized your new space, a plethora of possibilities and events is on the horizon \u2013 the challenge in London lies in determining which activities to engage in and making time for each of them!<\/p>\n

Imperial’s South Kensington Campus is positioned in the Albertopolis area, a district that celebrates art, manufacturing, and science. Close by, you\u2019ll discover a wonderful array of museums, including the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, and the V&A Museum. These museums are fantastic for exploration, and some even remain open late on Fridays. On the last Friday of each month, the V&A hosts a V&A Late, an open gathering where the museum transforms into a mini rave with beverages and live music!<\/p>\n

In addition to museum visits, I take pleasure in discovering East London neighborhoods such as Canary Wharf, Hackney, and Isle of Dogs. This region is rich with historical landmarks and artistic endeavors, creating an intriguing environment to stroll through and unearth hidden treasures. My favorite location is Trinity Buoy Wharf \u2013 once an old canning warehouse, it now houses a Series B startup that fabricates temporary structures from shipping containers. The complex celebrates creative manufacturing and features several art studios, as well as the original lighthouse lab where the English chemist and physicist Michael Faraday conducted his work!<\/p>\n

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

London presents numerous bargains if you know where to search, with plenty of venues offering delicious food at reasonable prices. Throughout my time in London, I have compiled a list of eateries with various deals spread across the city, making dining out more budget-friendly.<\/p>\n

One such establishment in South Kensington is a fantastic seafood restaurant known as Wright Brothers, which features an Oyster Happy Hour, allowing you to enjoy oysters for merely \u00a31 each! This is an excellent offer, particularly if you yearn for the taste of home and wish to indulge in oysters without overspending!<\/p>\n

Tooting in South London is also recognized for its culinary scene. Tooting Market and Tooting Broadway Market are large indoor street food markets that offer a plethora of cuisines. If you\u2019re seeking food that evokes memories of home, I strongly recommend checking out the Tooting food markets!<\/p>\n

Escaping the city for a breather<\/strong><\/h3>\n

While the city’s rhythm contributes to London’s allure, there are moments when the Tube feels too loud, the streets too crowded, and throngs of people are everywhere. Thankfully, London is situated within an excellent network of trains and coaches, making it easy to escape the city for a weekend getaway.<\/p>\n

My preferred destinations to visit include Surrey and Kent. Canterbury is a charming medieval town in southern England brimming with history and student-friendly venues. In Surrey, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) boasts a vast botanical garden in Wisley, which is a delightful outing, especially during the summer.<\/p>\n

All in all, London is a lively city filled with opportunities and places to discover, so take your time to explore everything this city has to offer during your stay at Imperial!<\/p>\n

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

Authored by Emilio (Spain), MSc Applied Mathematics Making the decision to relocate from a rural island in Spain to the largest city in Europe was intimidating. Yet, the last 18 months in London have been the most rewarding and exhilarating experiences of my life. London is a rich, multicultural, historical, and lively city boasting an…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":348595,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-348594","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\/348594","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=348594"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/348594\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/348595"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=348594"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=348594"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=348594"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}