Having a great time in London!

What attracts you to living in London? Do you recommend it? What's it like?

Good things about London: Cosmopolitan, huge, hectic, modern, historical...

Not so good things: expensive, distances between places, stress...

Like all cities, your personality will determine whether you like it or not.

How much does it cost to live in London?

Living in London isn't cheap, I recommend that you look for a flat in Zone 3 to save some money. The places in the south, although a little further out from the centre, have a good atmosphere. You can rent a room for between £400-600. If you are going to be staying there for a short period of time, I recommend you stay in a hostel. In some of them, you can pay for your stay through cleaning.

Was it difficult to find accommodation in London? Do you have any advice?

It's not easy to find accommodation and even harder to find one that you can afford.

I recommend you stay in a hostel for a week, they are very cheap and provide breakfast. While you're staying there you can look for permanent accommodation without the stress. Sometimes in the hostels, you meet people in the same situation and you can make a group of 3 or 4 people, which makes it much easier and cheaper to find a house than to rent just one room.

What's the country's food like? What are your favourite dishes?

I am not very fond of typical English food. But after being there for a few years you get used to it. The most typical dishes are:

- Fish and chips: battered fish accompanied by chips.

- Roast beef: Roasted beef with gravy.

- Pies: Stuffed pastry cakes, usually accompanied by mashed potato and vegetable stew.

- Yorkshire pudding: Dough similar to baked bread and moulded in the shape of a little basin.

- Baked Beans: Toast with beans.

- Jacket potatoes: Potatoes roasted with butter, usually stuffed or with melted cheese on top.

What places do you recommend to visit in London?

- London Eye

- The Tower of London

- The Tower Bridge

- St Paul's Cathedral

- Buckingham Palace

- Big Ben

- The Tate Modern (it's amazing! )

- Hyde Park, especially in summer, it's huge and is always full of people.

- The Natural History Museum

- Trafalgar Square

- Regent's Park and Regent's Canal

- St. James's Park

- Piccadilly Circus

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

Although I'm not a big fan of English food, one good thing about London is that you will find restaurants with cuisines from all over the world. Here are some of my favourites:

- Bunnychow, in Soho.

- Wagamama, a chain restaurant that can be found in different parts of London, I used to go to the one on Victoria Street.

- Beatroot Café, in Soho.

- Olives and Figs, in Whitechapel.

- Mamuska, in Elephant & Castle.

- Bailey's Fish and Chips, you'll find it in Fulham.

- If you want Asian food, go to Chinatown, you will find dozens of restaurants.

- My favourite, the Scalzo, an Italian restaurant, very close to Victoria station.

Which places do you recommend for nightlife in London?

Mayfair, although it is one of the most expensive neighbourhoods to go out in London. I also recommend that you go out in Bond Street at least once.

Soho is a must see, it is in the centre of the city and there are lots of live music venues and picturesque places that will draw you in.

In East London, there is a great and varied atmosphere, there are lots of bars for all tastes and it is an area that offers lots of culture. I recommend you find out about events that are on in the area and take the opportunity to spend the whole day there having a few drinks and listening to the music.

There are really picturesque streets in Camden. It's a neighbourhood known for its market and its lively nightlife. You will find the best bars to listen to live music.

In Covent Garden and Leicester Square, you will find lots of places full of people. Although in this area, the bars usually close earlier.

Do you have any advice for future students in London?

If you plan on working, to save time, I recommend you get an online or phone appointment to receive a National Insurance Number (social security number). It's necessary to have one so that you can get a job. To get it, you have to go to the office that they tell you to go to, fill in a short form and answer some questions. Normally, appointments can take a couple of weeks so if you can arrange it when you're in Spain that would make it easier.

If you are going to trawl the streets looking for work, I would first buy an Oyster card (transport card), as it is cheaper and will allow you to see the areas with more atmosphere.

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