Life in London
“What I love about London is that there’s so much going on – the energy is really amazing."
London calling
London is one of the world’s most iconic cities – a unique blend of the old and new. From the stately institutions of South Kensington to the hum of the Shoreditch music scene, from the gleaming spires of Canary Wharf to the scruffy charm of Soho streets, our city buzzes with the sights, sounds and smells of a thousand different cultures.
We asked our students to share some of their favourite things about life in London. Here’s what Jessica, Sophia and Karl had to say…
JESSICA, DESIGN ENGINEERING
What I love about being in London is that there's so much going on – the energy is really amazing.
I feel like I’m constantly discovering new parts of London – I never run out of things to do! The food, the shopping, the nightlife, you can never get bored.
I like different areas of London for different reasons. If I want to do something artsy or visit a street market, I’ll visit places in East London, like Shoreditch, or head to Camden Town, where there are nice little stores and places to buy vintage clothes. West London is for shopping and serious retail therapy, and then Central London has everything: nights out, food, relaxing, going to the cinema.
Where I live now is on the Thames River Walk and there’s a public garden next to me too. I like going for walks or escapes in the garden, or I invite my friends to have a picnic or just watch the river from my balcony.
Sophia and her friend outside the Natural History Museum in South Kensington.
Sophia and her friend outside the Natural History Museum in South Kensington.
SOPHIA, PHYSICS
I love exploring London by cycling to different places. I prefer cycling because you get to see so much more of the city than if you used the Tube.
I live in Battersea at the moment – it’s a 35-minute walk from our South Kensington Campus, but I usually cycle.
I started cycling in my first year because I was living in Paddington in Wilson House and it was really nice to go through Hyde Park. It also helped me to save money on transport and gave me an excuse to do some exercise, especially if I couldn’t fit it in anywhere else in the week.
I also really like photography – so if it's a nice, sunny day (which can feel rare at times in London during winter) I usually cycle into central London to take pictures.
I really like to go to Soho and Covent Garden because that area has some lovely buildings and such a diverse community.
KARL, ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING
I was really lucky that the group of friends that I met in my first year of halls were just amazing. We all got along so well – we did everything together!
We’d have movie nights, game nights, cocktail nights – something different every week! It was great, because it meant that there was never a ‘typical week’ in our flat, there was always something going on.
Apart from the great mates I met here, the best thing about going to Imperial, is definitely its location – London! It’s one of my favourite cities in the world.
London isn’t just great for the things to do, the sights, the nightlife – it is also the perfect location professionally. I got an internship in my first year at a hedge fund, and the fact that I was already in London meant that I was available at the last minute for an interview. I was like "let me chuck my suit on and get into central London". I wouldn’t have been able to do this if I hadn’t been living in London.
The networking opportunities too! I’ve been lucky enough to be able to attend several networking events and conferences where I have made some great connections.”
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