Study Abroad in London
London is a vibrant city full of energetic and good-natured inhabitants. The history of this famous city is incredible and the list things it has endured over the years is quite impressive. This city is truly multicultural and is one of the few places in the world that can claim to have a real variety of cultures, languages, and ethnicities all working together. London is the capital of both the UK and England and is also the largest city in western Europe. This is in part due to its incredible financial system, tradings with other places in the world, and its cultural influences. Not only a cultural center, but also reputably a fashion, culture, political, and financial global capital is what sets London apart from the rest of the world. These are mere reasons why London is perfect for studying abroad. The history and attitude of locals makes you feel right at home when you’re here. It’s also nice that the locals speak English and makes it easier to fit in and get around. Millions of students call this city home for a few months every year and now is your time to be one of them and call London your home away from home while you explore all that it has to offer.
Cheap flights to London
London Pictures
Things to do in London
London’s strong history becomes immediately apparent when you take a trip to one of the great monuments here. Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, St. James Park, St. Paul’s Cathedral (2nd largest in the world), and the Tower of London (containing the royal jewels) are just a few to name. These are, however, the most important, and you must see all of these while visiting London. Westminster Abbey and the Palace of Westminster Abbey date back to 1066 as the seat of parliament and are listed as a World Heritage site. Buckingham Palace is currently the official residence of the Queen of England. Trafalgar Square is home to the famous sculpture ‘Alison Lapper Pregnant’ by Marc Quin. It is also the closest thing London has to an actual square. The London Eye is the world’s third largest observation wheel. It overlooks all of the city in a sort of Ferris wheel style ride. The best bet for vising all of these wonderful sites is to take a city bus tour. The infamous double-decker red buses, which are now found around the world, first started here. They stop at all the major city highlights, and for a small daily fee you can hop on and off the bus as many times as you’d like to at every spot. London Duck Tours have also become popular in recent years. Theater has always been a key player in the London’s interests. Many famous plays have originated here and the most famous and longest running play, Mousetrap, is performed here as well. And we can’t forget about Football, London’s beloved soccer sport (as they call it in the US). In this country there are no other sports, as football has been dubbed “The World’s Game.” Chelsea, Fulham, and Arsenal are among the largest clubs, however there are actually more than 20. The best part about studying abroad in London is that you have plenty of time to see all of these incredible sites and many others as well.
Nightlife in London
London is well known for its incredible nightlife. A local favorite magazine ‘Time Out’ outlines all the happenings week to week so you don’t miss a beat. This includes festivals and annual events. There are a good number of clubs and bars that are always popular and attract college students each semester. Beer is the preferred drink of choice by most. That is not to say that you can’t find a good cocktail, however the good deals will most likely be on the beer. A typical pint will set you back 3 pounds. If you go to more local places you may find them for cheaper. Many students who are on a budget will pregame at their apartments and then go out for the night and only buy a couple of drinks. That way you can still go out and have a good time while also saving a few bucks. Chains like Wetherspoons and Scream tend to cater to the student population. These places include The Court, The Rocket, and The Euston Flyer. The Devonshire Arms is heavy with the rock and has local bands play on weekends. The Foundry is very unique and different. It serves organic ales and stouts from a local brewery and the entire place is covered in art. Even the hallway to the bathroom doubles as an art gallery. The Midas Touch has good happy hour deals with snacks and beers. As far as nightclubs are concerned, stick to The Farringdon/Hoxton/Shoreditch area. This is where the majority of nightclubs reside in the city. Fabric is easily the best nightclub in London, and is located here. The music is usually a mix of house flavor, hiphop, and of course, eurotechno.
Colleges and Classes in London
The University of London is quite a large school, and very popular. Within this school there is The London Business School, The Royal Academy of Music, The School of Pharmacy, Heythop School, The Courtald School of Art, and many others that specialize in basically anything you could think of. This is a good place to start because there are so many course offerings. King’s College, Westminster’s Kingsway College, and Hadlow are other good options. Check with your home institution before applying because many schools have relationships with abroad schools and you may be required to go to a particular school. This will also help when transferring credits back. Take a class in England’s history and culture. This is a great way to learn more about this fascinating city you are living and learning in. English language classes are another good idea if English is your second language.
Travel From London
Oxford and Cambridge are college cities and are both easy day trips from London. Visit the universities in these cities and spend the day exploring. They are gorgeous and fascinating cities all on their own. Manchester is a nice trip as well and you can visit the Football museum or maybe catch a game. Portsmouth is home to the British Navy. Bournemouth is the largest beach resort in England. Not that the weather is always all that nice, but it is a nice sea-escape, and for the warmer days, a great beach day getaway. If you are looking to extend outside of England, Ireland (Dublin), France (Paris), and Belgium (Brussels) are close by. If you want to plan ahead and get your student airfare before you leave you will save some money. Cheap student airfare is obtainable from studentuniverse.com as well as inexpensive eurail tickets and hostels. Paris is the city of love and is insanely gorgeous both in architecture and atmosphere. Brussels is filled with culture and history. And Dublin is a city all its own with an incredible culture that will delight you. All make wonderful long weekend trips.
London Study Abroad Tips
- The currency is the British Pound.
- The official language in London in English.
- Bring an umbrella because it rains off and on almost daily here.
