Erasmus Experience in London, United Kingdom by Esteban

Why did you choose to go to London, United Kingdom?

Because of the people, the multicultural landscape, the many, many different landmarks that are in the city and the possibility of travelling across Europe. Also, studies here are of very high quality.

How long is the scholarship? How much money do you receive to help you with living costs?

I'm on exchange from South America, so I didn't receive any help with living costs.

What is the student lifestyle like in London?

It depends on the kind of person you are. I don't like partying that much, but I do like travelling, getting to know new people and new cultures. All of that is available here, and there are more than enough things to do in the city (I wasn't able to do all the things I wanted to in 6 months)

Would you recommend the city and the University of London to other students?

Of course. The main problem is money, though, because the city is very expensive. If you have to take public transport it's even worse, and trying to use a bicycle is not easy. But beyond that, I had a great time here.

What is the food like?

I mostly cooked at home, but there are some nice places (Pret a manger, Itsu, Eat, Leon, Wasabi) that are not so expensive and offer a good variety of food that is quiet nice. Those places have mainly sandwiches or asian-style food.

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in London?

Yes, a lot, but mainly because I was late to apply for accommodation in my home University. Even when I found a place to live using Erasmusu it wasn't such a good place, and it was quiet expensive (650 pounds for a house with 1 bathroom, 1 kitchen, all shared between 7 people, and it wasn't even near my campus).

How much does it cost to live in London?

Every week I spent about 40 pounds in food, but if you have to take public transport on top of that, it gets as high as 80 pounds a week maybe. Rent is usually 650 pounds a month, but it can easily be higher if you want a better place. And there are other expenses, like going to parties, or purchasing train/plane tickets. Travelling is not that expensive though.

Is the language easy to get to grips with? Are there language courses available at the University?

I'm fluent in English, so I don't know what to say about this. I didn't search for language courses

What's the easiest or most economical way to travel to London from your city?

I'm living in London, so this question doesn't apply.

Where would you recommend to go on a night out in London?

Soho apparently is the best place to go to. Piccadilly is also nice. Everything is usually near Oxford Street.

And for eating? Can you recommend some good restaurants in London?

A very expensive, but maybe worth it restaurant is "the Shard" where you get to see London from the top floor of a 33 storey building.

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

Inside London: Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Tower Bridge, any park (Hyde Park, Victoria Park and Regents Park are my favourites), Buckingham Palace & St James Park.
Outside London: Any major city (Bath, Liverpool, Manchester, Oxford, York), Stonehenge, or any place in Scotland or Ireland.

Is there any other advice that you could give to students going to London in the future?

I can't think of any