If you are attending any of the following universities, you will experience typical student life in London: University College London; Imperial College London; King’s College London; London School of Economics; Queen Mary, University of London; SOAS; Royal Holloway University of London; Brunel University; Goldsmiths, University of London; and City University London.
Student life in London is incredibly varied. Even if you aren’t studying in London, it’s recommended by many people that you visit the city for at least a week or so while studying in UK. London is “the big city,” so there are always lots of things for you to discover and do.
If you’re into tourism, then make sure to hit up the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, the London Eye, the Horse Guards Parade, and Buckingham Palace. Make sure that you stick around for the changing of the guard! There are dozens of museums to go to as well. If you like culture, go check out the Tate Modern, the British Film Institute, and National Theatre during the day. Even if you’re an international student that’s living in London, take some time to be a tourist and enjoy all of the sites.
Do you want to enjoy the night life, like many students do? Then you want to make sure to check out the “West End” of London, also known as “Theatreland.” This end of London is where you’ll find some of the best theatres (both live and movie). Walk around and tour the pubs, bars, restaurants, and clubs. Night life in London is lively and exciting, so feel free to dive right in if that’s your thing. Pubs are a favorite of many Londoners, and you can meet a lot of friendly people by going to a pub regularly (they’re also known for having excellent food).
You may be lucky enough to be in London during the month of August, and if so, you can hit up one of the largest street parties in the world. London’s Notting Hill Carnival celebrates Caribbean culture and excitement. The music is loud and exciting, the energy is high, and the food is great. Over one million people attend every single year, and many people end up going multiple times in their lifetime. It’s definitely worth checking out at least once during your university career.
If you want some more information about what tourists love about London, then make sure to check out London’s official visitor guide, Visit London. They have hundreds of articles and posts that can help you plan out what you want to see while in London. Also make sure to talk to classmates and locals; they may have their own suggestions that are off the beaten path.
