Erasmus Experience in London, United Kingdom by Sandra

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

In reality I didn't choose to come to London, I was offered an internship working in the Spanish Embassy and I took it.

The Spanish Embassy

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How long was your scholarship? How much money did you recieve to help you?

The scholarship lasted 6 months, I had the Faro scholarship provided by the University of Valladolid, although I think it is no longer in force. The scholarship gave us 600 euros a month, but of course, this is London and after the currency conversion I was a little short of money.

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

The city of London is always recommendable.

The city of London

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How is the country's food?

Pretty bad, there is fast food everywhere, it's hard to find something typically English, other than a low quality fish and chip shop, without it costing you and arm and a leg, and I personally am not very fond of pies. But at the same time living in London allows you to eat food from all over the world: Chinese, Thai, Brazilian, African, Tibetan, Vietnamese... and well, Italian restaurants are everywhere.

Vietnamese food in London

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Cabana Brazillian Barbecue, a Brazillian restaurant in London

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How was finding accommodation in London?

My boss at the embassy gave me the details of a girls' residence in High Street Kensington (a very good area). Now, the residence was Catholic and closed the doors at 23. 00, if you were not inside by then, you could not enter until the following week. I lasted a week there. 2 years ago it cost me £85 per week with breakfast included.

Kensington High Street

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There are many hostels at different price points with all kinds of amenities, and to find rooms, shared rooms and houses, there is a site called Gumtree, and through this page you can find anything you want.

How much does it cost to live in London?

London, as everyone knows, is not cheap, but if you share room from the start (I was fortunate to come with a friend), and usually cook quite basic meals at home, after paying for this and transport and your return home after a night out, you need about 600 or 700 pounds a month. This way you have the necessities, whilst not being wasteful with money.

You need to take into account the cost of transport in London

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What's the language learning like? Did you take a course offered by your University?

I have been in London for two and a half years, my level when I first arrived is what we call mid-low in Spain, when you arrive here you learn that being at the middle level means nothing, but I have never studied the language. My English friends say that I am quite good at speaking English, and for me that is a compliment in this city, where other Spaniards, unaware that I am also Spanish too, speak to me in English and are unable to recognise my accent.

What places would you recommend for a night out in London?

• O'Neills in Picadilly, it has live music and there are a lot of young people there, plus the prices are pretty decent considering you're in central London.
• On Mondays don't hesitate to go to Heaven in Charing Cross, or Walkabout in Temple.
• Egg, near to Kings Cross, as well as the areas of Shoreditch and Soho in general.

Egg nightclub, in the center of London

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O'Neills has live music events

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Soho by night

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What about eating out in London? What are your favourite places?

I really like the Irish bar near Notting Hill. Hidden inside Kensington High Street Church, you'll find a charming mini Thai restaurant, filled with plants and butterflies. The food there is very good and the prices are decent too.

There's another Thai restaurant in Soho called Busaba which was quite good, and the chain of hamburger restaurants called Byron is very good too, although having a hamburger there is a bit expensive. For days when you want to go out for dinner without spending much or going to McDonald's, Nando's is good.

Food in Busaba, Soho

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Byron is very good

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What cultural visits do you recommend?

London has a thousand and one things to see, plus almost all the museums are free, and by just walking around any part of the city you can see incredible sites. I do not think it necessary to list all the places to visit in London, but I do highly recommend the Museum of Natural Sciences, not only for its interior, but also for its façade. My favorite monument is Tower Bridge, and somewhere lesser known but still worth mentioning is Hampstead Park. Take a stroll through the neighbourhood of Greenwich, a place where you can see almost all of London.

Tower Bridge is a famous monument

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In the foyer of the Museum of Natural Sciences, there is an enormous dinosaur skeleton

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Hampstead Heath oark

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The views from Greenwich

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Do you have any advice for students coming to London in the future?

Make the most of your time in London, as it'll be over before you know it.