Destination Study Abroad: London

Never have I met a person that has been to London and hated it. London has this sort of mystique that captures your heart and it can be so hard to let go of. If London were a man, he would be the epitome: smart, sophisticated, fashionable, eclectic, intriguing, and let’s not forget handsome. London is a city that one can never quite tire of, but “once you are tired of London, you are tired of life,” as Samuel Johnson once wrote.

London breathes life back into every visitor that it welcomes in. From the history to the lifestyle, the city comes alive, which is why I studied abroad there twice. My first year of college I spent my spring semester in London, and I decided to return for a full year, studying at the University of Westminster, a year or so later. There is no one word to describe London, because it never just gives just one experience. Each and every person experiences the city differently, of course, and yet they always leave wanting to go back.

Of all the cities around the world, whenever I talk with someone who has been to London, the consensus is the same: we could see ourselves living there. Every part of the city has something for everyone, from Jack the Ripper’s old stomping ground in the East End, to the poshness of Kensington and Notting Hill, the magic of the city can keep you enamored for months.

BE A TOURIST

Everyone starts out as a tourist and it is the best way to begin. I suggest walking to a lot of the sites to truly get a feel for the city, but make sure you also get yourself a travel card for the Tube to make your life all the more easier. I suggest getting an unlimited weekly pass for zones one and two to start.

First stop: Green Park. From this tube stop, you can begin your tour of London with one of the most quintessentially royal buildings: Buckingham Palace. Just a quick five minute walk from the stop, through the park, you will come across the palace (don’t worry, it is hard to miss). If you are feeling ambitious, you can get there in the early morning to get a front row spot for the changing of the guard, but beware, it will be crawling with tourists, while you are pushed up against a fence to try and catch a glimpse of the action.

From Buckingham palace, you can make your way south toward Westminster, where you can find Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. From Westminster pier, if it is not too cold, you can take a boat tour along the River Thames, where you will pass the London Eye, museums, the Tower of London (pictures above) and much more as you make your way toward Greenwich. Again, I would only suggest this in nicer weather, as I froze my butt off doing it on a particularly chilly day in January. If you opt out of a boat ride, it is just as nice to walk across the bridge from Big Ben and head left toward the London Eye.

The London Eye, to be honest, is not the best way to spend your money if you want a view of the city, but it is a cute experience. If you want a better view, for much cheaper (it’s free), head to the Sky Garden. The Sky Garden, in the Walkie Talkie Tower, is right by Monument tube station. The view from this tower is much better, and you get a more panoramic view of the city, along with a nice garden and bar (which can be a bit pricey) on the top floor.

However, if you continue along the path that runs from Westminster to Tower Bridge and the Tower of London area, along the southbank of the river, you are sure to have a nice scenic walk. You will pass some pubs along the way for a quick pint or some pub grub, which I highly recommend. You will pass the Tate Modern, Millennium bridge (which was in one of the Harry Potter films), Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, and then the path veers off the river a little bit, taking you toward Borough Market, which is one of the largest markets, located under the railway lines with a wide selection of meat, produce, baked goods and so on. It is certainly a sight to see (Bobby Flay recently instagrammed a pic from there).

If you keep walking, you can get to Tower Bridge, quite often mistaken for the London Bridge, which is actually just a plain bridge. When you walk across Tower Bridge, you will get to the Tower of London (you know, the place where Anne Boleyn lived her last days before execution, no big deal). Beware, these places will all be crawling with tourists.

For a more educational experience, London has a ton of museums that can occupy one for hours. My favorite: the Victoria and Albert Museum, the V&A for short, in Kensington. They constantly have some cool and unique exhibits going on (the last one I went to was about undergarments through the ages), but get your tickets ahead of time because they can sell out pretty quickly if you wait until the last minute. Other than special exhibitions, most of the museums don’t cost anything to go in, so they could be a nice and educational way to spend your day, especially if it happens to rain that day, which is a good bet in England.

On a nice day, you can head over to Kensington Palace and Hyde Park, where you can rent some bikes for a bit, and ride around. This can be a relaxing break from the hectic nature of tourist spots. If you happen to be in London during the high Christmas season, then head into Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park, which, although packed, can be quite the memorable experience.

Of course walking along Oxford Street, Carnaby Street, and Regent Street, as well as making your way to Kensington to see Harrods around the holidays is a must. The lights and decorations make for great scenery, and maybe a nice nightly stroll with friends, family, or loved one.

PUBS AND BEYOND

Now of course, as a college student, most of us study abroad for the lifestyle, travelling and of course school..but mainly the first two. London provides such a diverse nightlife that you could go to a different bar, pub and club almost every day. For a more relaxed night, head to any pub and have a pint. Wetherspoons, otherwise known as ‘Spoons, is a chain of pubs in London that always have cheap deals. Otherwise, pubs exist on nearly every street which are all bound to be fairly similar, but of course, you can ask a local for recommendations. London is jam packed with unique bars, such as The Nightjar in Shoreditch. The Nightjar, hidden in a basement, kind of speakeasy style, offers unique cocktail creations, many served by the pitcher (I got one served in an owl shaped pitcher). It may not be a spot for frequent visits because of the price, but these kind of unique bars exist all over the city.

For clubs, look in Mayfair, Shoreditch, Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus area. The city is full of spots for a night out, but these sections tend to have some of the more popular ones, like XOYO. Or you can head south of the Thames to Elephant & Castle where you will find Ministry of Sound. Tip: Weeknights, especially Thursdays, are not only cheaper, but can be a lot more fun, especially when you are lucky enough to not have class on Fridays.

The transportation in London puts all others to shame. The Tube and bus systems are easy to navigate, and more lines are moving to 24 hour time tables, making it a lot easier to get back after a night out. After you are there for even a month of study, you will get to know the map and lines like the back of your hand, and who knows, maybe some tourists will ask you for directions, making you feel like a true local.

Travelling outside London, such as continental Europe is a must. London allows you to access nearly every country in Europe, from Portugal to Latvia, for relatively cheap. It is a crime to not take advantage of London’s accessibility, even if you just hop on the train to Paris for the day.

Many people become wrapped up in the magic of New York City, but for me, I would take a week in London over a week in New York any day. Something about getting lost and wandering around is enjoyable on London’s streets, and the one thing you can always rely on? Finding a pub to rest and enjoy a pint in. So maybe it is the history and reliability that drives everyone to come to the same conclusion about London, but the mystique largely remains a wonderful mystery, one that I would be happy to go back to solve. London offers up so much within it borders but also acts as a gateway to the rest of Europe, which is why everyone falls under the magic of London, without a true explanation.

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