Erasmus Experience in London, United Kingdom by Paul

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

I chose London because I wanted to meet people from all around the world. There is also a massive amount of world top attractions such as museums, monuments, parks not to be missed that will keep you busy for months.

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

1 year, not much money, just enough to live. Luckily the majority of places of my interest are free and there are lots of companies that offer student discount such as Lost in London.

What is the student lifestyle like in London?

It is absolutely amazing! you can meet people from nearly every corner of the world and there is no end to attractions or places to go in London!

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

Absolutely! if you want to just study go to the smaller cities but if you want to experience something unique come to London.

What is the food like?

The amount of international cuisines is vast! Even daily you can taste food from places around the world. Sometimes from the countries you have never even heard about! Street food is currently very popular and there are lots of paces that serve take away that is not greasy or burger like but healthy and interestingly served. Try Borough market for example. but if you want traditional Fish and Chips you can easily get it too for example in Camden.

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Did it cost you to find your accommodation in London?

The accommodation is not cheap as the city itself isn't cheap either however there are some good options available if you search a little bit deeper and further from the strict City center. For example if you want to stay in zone 1 but slightly cheaper you can try Dashwood Studios in Elephant and Castle. weekly price for a studios starts at £231 which is a very good price considering that all bills are included!

How much does it cost to live in London?

On average it would cost you around £700 - £1400 in terms of accommodation depending on the location etc and the rest is your food and transport. it really depends where you are staying and what you are ready to spend

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

There are masses of language courses available everywhere. Callan courses are particularly good as they teach you how to speak without focusing too much on grammar however the courses can be tailored depending on your current level of language. The good thing is that everybody speaks English. It's better not to stick to the people from the same country but try to explore different nationalities etc. Student Halls are the best for that. there is usually a communal room where you can come after university and talk to other people. Dashwood has a lovely student hub downstairs where we always meet and have good time.

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

Flying. I use the cheaper airports such as Luton, Stansted as they're very well linked with the Central London and offer you a good web of connections to the world.

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

Tiger Tiger or Ministry of Sound are best however Pasha Club is now becoming more popular.

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

Everywhere you go there are plenty of places however Soho and Covent Garden are very good for fine dining. Street Food could be found in Borough Market and in Camden

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

I don't know where to start.. British Museum is the best!. Transport Museum is very interesting, science Museum for those that are a little bit geeky is a must :-), Natural History Museum is like a movie set so if you fancy that feel than this one is for you.. generally walking through the city is a very nice experience.. go to Trafalgar Square or Leicester Square for best experience.

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

London is probably the most interesting city to come to. there are plenty of attractions and the education is most desirable. Have fun just like I do:-)