Living and studying in London, United Kingdom by Justyna

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

London has been my dream since I was 16 and I came to this incredible city for the first time to complete my internship in one of the hotels at Liverpool Street. As you can probably imagine, looking at all those beautiful skyscrapers was something unbelievable for a teenage girl from a small town in Poland. As soon as I finished high school I applied for a few universities and I made my dream come true. I moved to London and it was one of the best decisions in my life.
London is like no other place in the world, it’s multicultural, busy but at the same you can find your peace if you need it, full of friendly and helpful people. There are so many incredible places to go that everyone can find something for themselves. Museums and galleries, parks, clubs, authentic restaurants, there are so many activities to do that it is impossible to get bored.

What is the student lifestyle like in London?

Student life is different than anywhere else. We do not have only one area where we have our university and student halls. The whole city is our campus. The University of Westminster (where I study) has a few campuses around London and I am able to use all of them, with their libraries, laboratories, classrooms. Not only I can rely on my uni, I can go expand my horizons in the British Library, museums, and many other places.

How much does it cost to live in London?

London is one of the most expensive cities in Europe, although if you have any kind of financial support or a part-time job you should be fine.
I managed to work in the restaurant on the weekends and study during the week.
The accommodation is probably the most expensive, although you could find a room which you share with other people (which usually is the best option), there are many studio flats or student halls, it depends on your budget.
The shops have rather normal prices I guess (the most popular ones are Tesco, Morrison’s, Asda - cheaper; and more expensive such as Waitrose, M&S).
Transport can be expensive but as a student you can get a discount when you get a student oyster photo card. Although (!) the discount applies only if you buy a travel cards (pay for one week/one month...)
There are many discounts for students in London, some shops accept your student ID as a proof; you can download the app UNIdays or student beans which also have a variety of discounts online or in store.

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

I am sure that if you would struggle with finding accommodation, the university is able to help you with that.
If you are trying to find something by yourself, you have to be careful, and remember that London is big and is divided into zones (the closer you live to your university, the less you will pay for your travels) so always take distance into consideration. There are websites where people are looking for flatmates, you just have to google it.
You can rent a studio flats or student halls as well, however this may be slightly more expensive.

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

The food is fantastic. I am crazy about Italian food, Thai or Indian and there are some fantastic spots to eat out.
I love pizza, spicy noodles with prawns, spring rolls and any spicy Indian food with some amazing rice.

What places would you recommend visiting in London?

There are many tourist spots in London such as the London Eye (prices can be high though), Covent Garden with its amazing atmosphere and nice restaurants and theatres around, Regent Street for shopping, if you are into expensive fashion you can visit Bond Street with all the designer stores.
I love the museums and my favourite is Imperial War Museum. There are also Saachi Gallery, National Gallery, Victoria & Albert Museum, Science Museum, National History Museum and many more.

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

Franco Manca - for the best and not expensive pizza (seriously the best pizza ever)
Dishoom - a bit pricey but the best place with Indian food that probably exists
Vapiano - great Italian food, where pizza and pasta are made literally in front of you, everything is fresh and tasty
Tibitis - lovely vegetarian restaurant, where you can grab a plate and it is a form of a buffet, with delicious savoury food, but also with amazing desserts. After you chose your food and your plate is full, you have to go to the counter where you put your plate on a scale, you pay for the weight and you can eat.

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

I am not a party animal, but I enjoy going out for dinners and drinks, some of the great places are in South Kensington, Coven Garden or if you like something very fancy with a view you can always head to the Shard or Sky Garden. There are many rooftop bars in London which are worth going to, but also any pub you see should be a good spot for a nice drink (pubs are almost everywhere in London). Of course London is full of clubs where you can go and dance all night too.

What advice would you give future students heading to London?

London is amazing, if you are planning to come here, don’t be scared, just do it! I come from a little town in Poland and I did it! London gave me so much self confidence, I have been creating so many memories and I made so many friends from all over the world and so can you!!!
You will love it!