London is an iconic global city that has so much to offer to international students who choose to study here. Here are our top 10 reasons to study English in London.
1 Amazing museums and galleries
London is home to a huge number of museums and galleries, often housed in impressive historical buildings. Popular options include the Natural History Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Tate Modern and the Design Museum.
Many of London’s galleries and museums are either completely free of charge to enter, or offer significant discounts on entrance prices for students, making them the perfect option for a relaxing Saturday or Sunday getting the know your new city with classmates.
2 Home to many top universities
London is home to many world-leading universities. The most well-known include London School of Economics, King’s College London, UCL (University College London), and Imperial College London.
Living and learning in a city that’s known around the world for its academic excellence is a sure way to keep you motivated and inspired to work towards your goals.
If you’re thinking about studying at a London university in the future, living here will give you plenty of time to visit campuses, get to know the area, and make an informed decision.
3 London markets
Markets have been an important part of London life for centuries. You can still find them taking place every week around the city, selling everything from flowers and fashion, to antiques and street food. Whilst there are thought to be more than 100 markets to explore in total, some of the most popular options include Camden Market, Spitalfields Market, Portobello Road Market, and the Columbia Road Flower Market.
4 Diverse, welcoming people
London is one of the most diverse cities in the world, with a huge range of religions, ethnicities, political views, backgrounds and nationalities. There are over 300 languages spoken by London residents, and more than 50 communities of 10,000+ people from countries other than the UK who call London home.
This diverse cultural mix has made the city what it is today — an open-minded, welcoming, vibrant and creative place to call home.
5 Great for music lovers
London has long had an influential music scene, being home to iconic artists such as The Rolling Stones and Adele, to Amy Winehouse and Jimi Hendrix.
There's music to be heard in London all the time, with an eclectic range of buskers playing all over the city, from the South Bank and in Covent Garden, and even in the Underground stations.
Although many larger scale events are on hold at the moment, you can still enjoy some open air concerts and small-scale open mic nights and indoor gigs at pubs and other venues around the city.
6 Amazing food from around the world
There are thousands of restaurants, cafes, bars and pubs in London — it has one of the most diverse dining scenes in the world, with options to suit all budgets and tastes.
There are a huge range of international cuisines on offer, from every corner of the world. Head to areas such as China Town or Brick Lane for some of the most authentic options.
If you need to take shelter from the rain for a few hours, you can visit one of London’s many traditional British pubs, some of which have been open since the 1700s!
7 Visit iconic sites
The London skyline is one of the most instantly recognisable in the world. Whilst studying in London, you’ll have the chance to visit many of the iconic buildings around the capital that make it. You can visit the London Eye as it rotates on the South Bank of the River Thames; admire the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral; or take a trip up to the viewing platform of The Shard — one of the more recent additions to the capital, The Shard, which was completed in 2013.
8 Easy travel within the UK, and beyond
London has excellent public transport links to the rest of the UK, with direct trains to cities such as Brighton, Oxford, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Liverpool and even as far afield as Edinburgh.
The UK capital is also the perfect base if you want to explore Europe whilst you study. You can hop on the Eurostar at St Pancras International to take a direct underground train to Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, and elsewhere.
London is also home to 5 major international airports, including Heathrow and Gatwick, meaning the rest of Europe is reachable by plane and weekend trips are easily doable with a bit of planning!
9 Stunning London parks
London is a green city, with over 3,000 parks of varying sizes covering 18% of the total area of Greater London.
8 of the most impressive London parks are known as the Royal Parks, which includes Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, St James’s Park and Greenwich Park. All of the Royal Parks are completely free to visit and open every day of the year.
You’ll never run out of beautiful open spaces to enjoy whilst going for a walk, cycling, or having a picnic with friends.
10 Fascinating history
With over 2,000 years of fascinating history, London’s past can be seen and felt all around the city.
From the Romans to the medieval period; Georgians, Victorians, world wars and modern Elizabethan times, London has always been at the centre of global events, innovation and everyday tales of peoples lives.
If history that interests you, you'll be endlessly entertained in London. Take a trip to a museum, join a walking tour, or visit historical buildings such as the Tower of London or Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.
Kings London is located in the green and peaceful suburb of Beckenham — a short train journey from the sights of central London. Get in touch today to learn more about our English language courses.
