When deciding where to start your study abroad journey, London should be top of your list. With international students from all over the world choosing London as their home, you’ll be joining a thriving and diverse community here.
Immerse yourself in London, with street markets, art, and popular fashion shops – and enjoy life amongst the bright lights of England’s capital city. Don’t matter who you are and whatever you enjoy, you will love living in the heart of London.
What does make London unique?
- The best city in the world for university students (QS Best Student Cities 2019).
- Home to 4 of the 45 top universities (QS World University Rankings 2021).
- Home to 100,000+ international students from around the world
- Thousands of green parks and beautiful open spaces.
- A global capital of culture, with multiple of museums, galleries and have live music performances almost everyday.
- Westfield shopping centre London’s Olympic Park Tower Bridge and the City of London
What are the most popular attractions in London?
The INTO London World Education Centre’s central location combines the professional atmosphere of London’s financial district along with the creative culture of Shoreditch. And with four World Heritage sites and hundreds of popular attractions across the city, you can’t get bored in London. You could discover:
- Famous landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, where the Royal Family live
Museums like the Tate Modern and the British Museum
once-in-a-lifetime arts exhibitions at the V&A museum
a perfect view of the city from the London Eye or the popular Shard.
What is the nightlife like in London?
London is known for the non-stop nightlife it has, with over thousands of stylish venues to explore. On any night of the week, you will find a range of events, many of which are free or discounted for students.
There are many of comedy nights and theatre shows to see, and many cinemas showing everything from the latest Hollywood blockbusters to the best of international film.
Where can I watch or play sports in London?
You can watch a football match at Wembley, a rugby game at Twickenham, cricket at Lords or tennis at Wimbledon. You’re spoilt for sporting choice in London. Would you rather take part than watch? London’s student unions offer a full range of sports and are a great way to keep fit and meet new friends.
The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park offers a variety of world-class sports facilities and is only a couple of tube stops away from a campus. Cycle round the Lee Valley VeloPark or swim in the London Aquatics Centre as the Olympians did in the 2012 Olympic Games.
Where can I find the best food in London?
From French to Italian, American to Indian, Lebanese to Korean, there are multiple of restaurants, markets, cafés, and street stalls from all price ranges that reflect the city’s multicultural population.
Go to Chinatown for a big selection of Chinese restaurants, Brick Lane for a nice curry or Southall for the wonderful Caribbean cuisine.
Of course, don’t forget to enjoy some of the UK’s specialties like fish and chips or a traditional roast dinner in a cosy pub.
Where can I shop in London?
There is something for everyone in London, from bustling street markets to iconic department stores and flagship fashion brands. You’ll find all kinds of valuebles when you explore:
- Camden and Spitalfields markets – full of independent vendors selling clothing, jewellery, food and more
- Oxford Street – one of the world’s most famous shopping streets with huge flagship stores including Topshop, the Disney Store and Liberty London
- Westfield Stratford City – Europe’s largest urban shopping centre, offering a mix of high street and designer stores
- Harrods and Selfridges – two of London’s most famous department stores, with designer clothes, high-end homeware, and impressive food halls!
Does London play host to any festivals or events?
Events and festivals throughout the year, along with the huge variety of food from across the world, reflect London’s multicultural diversity – some of the biggest celebrations can be found here. You could experience:
- Notting Hill Carnival, a huge Caribbean celebration at Europe’s biggest street party
- Chinese New Year in London, the largest of its kind outside of Asia
- Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park, the ultimate winter event with rides, food, stalls, and other festive fun
- Trooping the Colour, a special annual parade to celebrate the Queen’s birthday
- For more information about events in London, visit the Visit London website.
What is the best way to get around in London?
The Tube/Underground
London might be a big city but getting around couldn’t be easier. It is served by a large underground network of trains called “tubes”. They run every couple of minutes on routes called ‘lines’ – and with over 270+ Tube stations altogether, it’s no wonder the Tube is one of the most popular ways to travel.
Buses
As well as taking the Tube, the iconic red buses are a great budget-friendly option. You can no longer use cash to pay, so you’ll have to use an Oyster or contactless payment card. An Oyster card gets you great discounts on the Tube, so it’s worth getting one when you arrive.
Walking
While you probably won’t walk everywhere, one of the best ways to explore is on foot. It’s often quicker to walk some places instead catching a tube or bus – plus, you’ll have time to admire the historical architecture, find hidden places to visit and see more of this beautiful city.
Cycling
London is perfect for exploring by bike, with cycle lanes and docking stations where you can hire one whenever you like. It costs £2, and you can easily pay with your bank card using a touch screen. – simply hire a bike, ride it wherever you like, and return it to any docking station once you’re done.
How can I explore the rest of the UK?
London has excellent transport links to explore the rest of the UK and Europe.
There are nine major train stations in London that provide links across the UK. And you can also visit other European cities, including Paris, Brussels and Lille using the Eurostar.
Five major airports serve London, including Heathrow, one of the world’s busiest airports. All the airports are easy to get to using public transport, and offer flights to other cities in the UK, mainland Europe and long-haul international flights.
