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Life in London

Life in London

Studying in London is an extraordinary experience - a major world capital, with a diversity of culture, thought and experience that you'll find hard to match. But don't just take our word for it - London was ranked the number one student city in 2019 according to QS Best Student Cities Rankings and joint first in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2018.

Why choose London?

With three times more European multinational headquarters than any other city in Europe, London is the ideal place to take your next steps, whether that be joining a big multinational or starting your own company.

There are literally thousands of things to do, with over 100 cinemas, 7,000 bars and pubs, 5,000 restaurants, 350 live music venues and over 100 parks, you won't struggle for entertainment.

Plus with London's rich history of multi-culturalism, the city plays host to communities from all around the world. The result is a melting pot of experiences and events, including the celebrated Chinese New Year Festival and Notting Hill Carnival among many others. You'll be able to find your culture and get to know the culture of your friends and colleagues. 

London lifestyle

There is no better place to relax and socialise than the heart of London, with vast numbers of restaurants, shops, theatres, cinemas and museums all within easy reach of the University.

The majority of museums and galleries in the city are free to visit, from the world-renowned British Museum and Tate Modern art gallery to the National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery.

London’s theatre scene attracts some of the world’s best acting talent so take your pick from long-running musicals, plays or ground-breaking new works making their debut. You might even see a few famous faces on stage.

Open spaces

London is a busy and vibrant place to live, but it is also home to many beautiful and green open spaces, which are a perfect place to relax. You can find free open-air theatre events, concerts and sporting events in many of London's 3,000 parks.

Hyde Park, Regents Park and St James Park are all in the centre of London and feature great views, outdoor sports areas, cafes, children’s play areas and boating lakes. Richmond Park and Hampstead Heath are only a short distance away and feature swimming pools, gardens, natural wildlife habitats, ponds, cafes and cycling paths. 

At the Greenwich Park, part of the Greenwich World Heritage Site, you can find the Prime Meridian Line, the Royal Observatory, the National Maritime Museum and the Victorian ship The Cutty Sark - all this only five minutes from campus.

Sport

London is a world centre for sport, with many international class venues and events taking place throughout the year. For football fans, many of the world's most renowned clubs are based here, including Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.

London was the venue for the hugely successful 2012 Olympics and Paralympics. It's major venue, the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, reopened in 2016 as the home of West Ham United Football Club and hosted the IAAF World Athletics Championship in 2017. The impact of investment from the games is still being felt with the development and growth of sports venues big and small.

Whether you're a spectator or a participant, including watching football at Wembley Stadium, tennis at Wimbledon, rugby at Twickenham or cricket at Lord's, London has a wide range of sporting activities for you to enjoy.

Sightseeing

London is one of the most visited tourist cities in the world, hosting millions of visitors every year.

Get a birdseye view of the city from the top of the London Eye, explore the inner working of the world's oldest continuously running democracies at the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, meet celebrities at Madame Tussauds waxwork museum, or catch a play at the birthplace of modern theatre in Shakespeare's Globe. Or, if it's classic British pomp and ceremony you're looking for, head over to Buckingham Palace to watch the daily Changing of the Guard. 

That still leaves hundreds of world-class museums, historic houses, riverboat trips and city walks to enjoy. Check out Visit London for more suggestions.