Experience in London, United Kingdom by Simon

What is it like to live in London? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

London is a huge, fast moving city. There are fantastic museums which are all free, as well as historic sites, and long established institutions.
London is at the forefront of the artistic scene, with cities like New-York and Paris, with fascinating music and exhibitions for all tastes.
There is a beautiful blend in London between the old and the new. In the City of London for example, professionals go about their daily routine, working in centuries-old organisations like the London Metals Exchange and the Bank of England, next to futuristic looking, intelligent-design buildings like the Gherkin. We can also think of the Tower Bridge overlooking the modern City Hall.
Finally, London is perhaps the most cosmopolitan of all cities. Millions of immigrants live, study, work, and party together.

There are some drawbacks however. The fact that there are so many people in London means Public Transport can be quite overwhelming at peak times. Also, all the popular spots in London are either always fully-booked long in advance, or require long periods of queuing (like popular restaurants or exhibitions).
Also, rent is outrageously expensive in London, and the Sterling Pound being so expensive makes it especially difficult when coming from abroad.

What is the student lifestyle like in London?

London will not give you a familiar campus life. On the contrary, it will give you an urban-life. You will not always see the same people wherever you go, you will have a wide-range of things to do. But you will need to be somewhat independent.

How much does it cost to live in London?

London is crazy expensive. No city anywhere in the world can fully prepare you for what you will need to spend in London just to live in a standard 1 bedroom apartment. Taxis are very expensive too. The Boris Bikes are an effective and cheap way to get around. The Oyster Card is a must, and in some cases, a Student Oyster Card can be economical.
Also, hiring cars by calling certain companies and booking a pick-up time, can save you much money over conventional London cabs.


A tip would be to find several room-mates to save on rent and bills.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in London? Is there any advice you can give?

It is definitely a challenge to find accommodation in London. Apartments are old, expensive, small, and good properties get rented in a couple days. It can get stressful, therefore finding reputable letting agencies in the area you are interested in is advisable.

A top tip for finding a flat is: Widen your choice of apartments by looking at unfurnished apartments, as well as furnished ones. There are several reputable companies in London who will rent and quickly deliver furniture packages, which you can customise to your needs on their website.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

London has the best butchers I've ever seen. The Ginger Pig in Marylebone has beautiful cuts of meat, which they will cut to your desired thickness.
Also, being on Erasmus in Spain, I have to admit that I miss Tesco, and just the convenience of having major supermarkets everywhere.

What places would you recommend visiting in London?

Regent's Park, Hyde Park, Jubilee Gardens, Regents Street, Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square, Camden Town, Covent Garden, South Bank Walk, The City, Waterloo Bridge, Fabric, The British Museum, Tate Modern, Tottenham Hotspurs!

Is it good to eat out in London? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

A wide variety of places. I lived near Edgeware Road where there are a lot of nice, reasonably priced kebabs and shisha bars. Once in a while I go for lunch in China Town, where you can find real authentic Chinese food, and a colourful, vibrant atmosphere.
But it's also a great experience to meet friends on Sunday afternoon for a typical Sunday Roast.
I would also recommend afternoon tea in one of London's fancy tea-rooms.

Is the nightlife good in London? Where is good to go?

London is a Mecca for electronic music. I personally enjoy Fabric the most, but with sometimes up to 2500 people, it can get overwhelming on big nights.
Tons of smaller venues too, with artists from all over the world.
Camden Town is probably a good place to start the night. It is a crazy neighbourhood, with mostly young people, pubs, music venues, and restaurants (there's also a massive market open during the day).
A lot of London is hidden and obscure, functioning on a word-to-mouth basis.

What advice would you give future students heading to London?

Try to be as prepared as you can, find out about the areas you want to live in. If you're from overseas, try to find a group of countrymen who organise activities and meet-ups (London is full of expats who want to connect).

Some neighbourhoods can be dangerous at night.
Just enjoy it as much you can.