London Living – Life in London for International UG Students

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London Living – Life in London for International UG Students

So you’ve decided to head to London to carry on with your undergraduate studies. You’ve been seduced by the city that has captivated the attention of the world for centuries. 

Your student years are a special time in your life. The world is fun, fresh and exciting. Anything seems possible. You’re surrounded by people who are as desperate as you are to experience everything that life can throw at you, to soak it all up like a sponge. There is no better place than London to do that.

The first thing to remember is not to lose your sense of adventure. To look at picture postcards, you might think that London was just the immediate area around Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace.

It isn’t.

Unlike some other cities, which appear ordered and regimented, built along a grid system, London is a higgledy-piggledy mess of different districts and areas, each with their own distinct charm. Think about them as a series of villages without any fields in between. So visiting some of London's more far-flung areas is very much worth doing, because each is so different to the others.

It must be said that London is the UK's most expensive city, and it can feel like a tough place to enjoy if you haven't got that much cash on the hip – and most students don’t.  

But there is actually a huge amount you can do for free in London. There are a myriad of websites, groups and clubs which will point you towards free activities in the capital, from outdoor film screenings to life drawing classes.

London's cultural scene is second to none, and most of the best museums and galleries (Imperial War Museum, Tate Modern and Tate Britain, Natural History Museum) are completely free for visitors if you fancy a bit of 'brain food'.

For actual food, the markets in Borough, Brick Lane and Portobello Road are definitely worth a visit. If the delicacies on offer are a bit out of your budget, they are still great places to walk around.

For something a bit livelier, try the famous Notting Hill Carnival; a magical time when the streets of West London are filled with the sound of steel drums and the aroma of sizzling jerk chicken. London has a huge number of open-air parties and get togethers going on all over the city. You don't need an invite, just find out where they are and head on down.

Undergraduate student life in London can be amazing. Make the most of it.