{"id":348631,"date":"2026-04-09T07:08:05","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T07:08:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/?p=348631"},"modified":"2026-04-09T07:08:05","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T07:08:05","slug":"lessons-ive-gained-from-my-experience-as-an-imperial-student-in-london-10","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/?p=348631","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

The choice to relocate from the serene countryside of a rural island in Spain to the largest city in Europe was intimidating. Nevertheless, the past 18 months in London have proven to be the most rewarding and thrilling of my existence.<\/p>\n

London is an energetic, diverse, historic, and dynamic city with a vast selection of eateries, events, and attractions \u2013 navigating it is perpetually an adventure! Yet, adjusting to life in a foreign country can present challenges. Here are some insights I gathered as an international student settling in London, along with a few tips and suggestions for when you\u2019ve made yourself at home.<\/p>\n

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

The initial step in relocating to London is securing the perfect place to call home. I utilized Instagram, TikTok, and online communities to explore various neighborhoods in London that seemed enjoyable for living. I found that Camden Town boasts an energetic nightlife, Hackney is a burgeoning area in east London, and Putney is a peaceful, green residential area.<\/p>\n

I was lucky to visit London prior to beginning my Master\u2019s, which allowed me to check out these neighborhoods firsthand before making a decision on where to live. After selecting Putney, my flatmates (whom I met in undergraduate studies) and I utilized accommodation search platforms like SpareRoom and Rightmove to find budget-friendly house shares, scheduled online viewings with landlords, and ultimately discovered a lovely flat near Putney Heath.<\/p>\n

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

Once you\u2019ve settled in and decorated your new home, a plethora of opportunities and events is at your fingertips \u2013 the only challenge in London is choosing which activities to engage in and finding time for everything!<\/p>\n

Imperial\u2019s South Kensington Campus is situated in the Albertopolis area, a vast district that celebrates art, manufacturing, and science. Close by, there are marvelous museums like the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, and the V&A Museum. These museums are fantastic to explore, and some even extend their hours late on Fridays. On the final Friday of each month, the V&A features a V&A Late, an open celebration where the museum transitions into a lively gathering with drinks and live music!<\/p>\n

In addition to museum visits, I love to roam around East London areas such as Canary Wharf, Hackney, and Isle of Dogs. This region is packed with historical gems and artistic endeavors, making it a delightful area to stroll and uncover surprises. My favorite spot is Trinity Buoy Wharf \u2013 built on an old canning warehouse, it now accommodates a Series B startup constructing temporary structures from shipping containers. The site promotes creative manufacturing and houses several 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 seek, with numerous options for affordable yet exceptional dining. Throughout my stay in London, I\u2019ve compiled an extensive list of food venues with various promotional offers across the city, making eating out more budget-friendly.<\/p>\n

One such venue is in South Kensington, where there\u2019s an amazing seafood restaurant named Wright Brothers offering an Oyster Happy Hour, featuring oysters for only \u00a31 each! This is a fantastic deal, particularly if you yearn for the flavor of home seafood and wish to indulge in oysters without overstretching your budget!<\/p>\n

Tooting in South London is also renowned for its food scene. Tooting Market and Tooting Broadway Market are expansive indoor street food markets showcasing a wide range of culinary options. If you\u2019re in search of food that resonates with your hometown flavors, I highly endorse checking out the Tooting food markets!<\/p>\n

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

While the hustle and bustle is a distinctive charm of London, at times the Tube can become too noisy, the streets overly congested, and crowds omnipresent. Fortunately, London is centrally located within a comprehensive network of trains and coaches, making it easy to escape the city for a weekend getaway.<\/p>\n

My favorite destinations include Surrey and Kent. Canterbury is a stunning medieval town in southern England, rich in history and accommodating in terms of student-friendly locations. In Surrey, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) features a vast botanical garden in Wisley, a lovely excursion, especially during the summer months.<\/p>\n

In summary, London is a lively city brimming with opportunities and places to discover, so take your time to enjoy everything the city 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-emilio\/"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Authored by Emilio (Spain), MSc Applied Mathematics The choice to relocate from the serene countryside of a rural island in Spain to the largest city in Europe was intimidating. Nevertheless, the past 18 months in London have proven to be the most rewarding and thrilling of my existence. London is an energetic, diverse, historic, and…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":348632,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-348631","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\/348631","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=348631"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/348631\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/348632"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=348631"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=348631"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youjustlive.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=348631"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}