After being in London for around 4 months, I learned that there are so much to do aside from the generic tourist attractions. Here is a list of my top 10 things to do while in London: Tip: Download StudentBeans and Unidays for information on student discounts (and always ask stores if they have). 1. BOOK AN ESCAPE ROOM Escape rooms are one of my personal favorite activities to do with friends - so I was super excited to find that London has them too! While there are a ton of companies to choose from, we decided to book a room with Breakin' Escape Rooms due to their student discount rates and epic themed-rooms. I had the opportunity to try Sherlock's Despair and Heist Plan, with both experiences being incredibly fun! 2. WATCH A WEST END MUSICAL Attending school in London means you will the ability to delve into the city's theatre scene by watching a West End show! Similar to its Broadway counterpart in New York City, the West End is known to have some of the best commercial theatre in the world. You can read my review on various West End musicals here. 3. VISIT FREE MUSEUMS One of the great things about the UK is its free admission to national museums. The objective of providing universal free entrance was to broaden the range of visitors. As a result, well-renown museums such as the V&A, British Museum, Tate Britain and Natural History Museum are completely free to enter and roam! 4. SHOP AROUND COVENT GARDEN, PICCADILLY CIRCUS & LEICESTER SQUARE Covent Garden, Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square are all stations on the Piccadilly metro line. While these stations are located right next to each other, they are practically less than a 10 minute walking distance from one another. Each of these areas have a plethora of restaurants and stores surrounding them, making it one of the best places to go shopping in Central London. 5. RELISH THE SPECTACULAR VIEWS OF LONDON AT SKY GARDEN Sky Garden is London's highest public garden, providing amazing views of the city during both the day and night. Booking a visit to the Sky Garden is completely free and can be done online here. There is also a restaurant and bar upstairs if you feel like spending a longer time embracing the beautiful views of London. 6. EXPLORE VIBRANT SOHO & CARNABY STREET Soho is a trending district residing in London's West End and is known for their fashion, nightlife and shopping options. Located in Soho is a shopping area called Carnaby Street. Here, you can find a ton of fashion and lifestyle retailers, ranging from enterprise businesses to independent boutiques. One of my personal favorite souvenir shops, We Built This City, is situated on the corner of Carnaby Street. 7. LET OUT YOUR INNER ROM-COM AT NOTTING HILL You may have heard of Notting Hill from the 1999 romantic comedy directed by Roger Michell. The film was based off an actual area in London by the same name. Notting Hill is one of London's most Instagrammable places, with iconic pastel-colored houses covering practically every street. Along with the beautiful buildings, the area is also home to one of the largest antiques market, Portobello Road Market. With over 1,000 dealers, you can find cute trinkets and collectibles for any occasion. 8. EAT YOUR WAY AROUND CHINATOWN London's Chinatown has been the one area I visit whenever I need to stock up on asian food ingredients or miss asian cuisines. The entire area of Chinatown is lined with restaurants, markets and dessert shops that specialize in Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese cuisines. Some of my favorite dessert shops in Chinatown are Bubblewrapwaffle, Dirty Ice Cream, Xing Fu Tang and Machi Machi. 9. ENJOY A FANCY OUTING WITH AFTERNOON TEA Afternoon Tea was introduced in Britain during the 1800s as a tea-related ritual. Similar to a "mini meal", it is comprised of finger foods such as sandwiches, scones, pastries and cakes. Today, Afternoon Tea or High Tea is an iconic activity people associate with British culture. I had the opportunity to try some Afternoon Tea at this stunning restaurant called The Delaunay near Covent Garden. If you want an even more unique experience, I would suggest even trying Afternoon Tea on this Tea Bus Tour! 10. BROWSE FOR VINTAGE SWAG AT CAMDEN MARKET Camden Town is an area located northwest of London and houses one of the most retro markets in all of London. This entire area is extremely artistic, with walls filled with stunning graffiti art and uniquely decorated buildings. At the center of it, Camden Market has to be one of my favorite places in all of London. Not only is there a wide arrange of food options (all of which are tasty), there are also a ton of boutiques, vintage stores and independent shops to browse through. If you're looking for handmade, vintage, retro or antique finds-- Camden Market is the place for you! WINTER EXTRAS: ICE SKATING & CHRISTMAS MARKETS
If you have the lucky opportunity to study in London during Winter, there are a ton of seasonal activities to do ranging from ice skating to visiting Christmas markets! The Natural History Museum has one of the largest and nicest outdoor ice skating rinks in all of London (just make sure to check the weather before you go). Some of my favorite Christmas markets included Winter Wonderland and Southbank Centre Christmas Market near the London Eye!
0 Comments
- Week Fourteen - Studying abroad in London has been an extremely rewarding experience in that I was able to learn a lot about different European cultures, as well as make a ton of new friends. Traveling has always been a huge passion of mine and the knowledge I gained this past semester has helped me become a better global citizen. Getting a more diverse understanding of the world has taught me to stay curious and always have an open-mind, which I think are both vital traits to have in any career. As I begin to navigate through my life after graduation, I will always look back to my experiences abroad for personal and professional guidance. I am truly grateful for the friends I met and close relationships I cultivated throughout the semester! - Picture taken in front of Froebel College -
- Week Thirteen -
When coming to London, many people were warning me about how "bland" food was going to be in England. In contrast to popular belief, London is filled with so many great eateries and a variety of diverse cuisines. Here are a few of my favorite restaurants and dessert places to eat at: RESTAURANTS
DESSERT
CAFES/PUBS
FOOD MARKETS
- Week Twelve - Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and is the center of banking and finance. A friend from my first study abroad in South Korea decided to visit Europe for vacation, in which we planned a short trip to Zurich for the weekend! Known for their cheese and chocolate, we had an amazing time tasting Swiss cuisine and strolling around the pre-medieval architectures. THE TRANSPORTATION We booked a flight with British Airways out of Heathrow Airport. Heathrow Airport is relatively more difficult to get to from Roehampton, as it requires you to take the metro (Piccadilly Line). Since British Airways is not a budget airline, I was able to comfortably check in my carry-on bag. Instead of walking everywhere, we decided to purchase a 24 hour transportation ticket which gave us access to the bus, metro and tram. Since Zurich runs on a loyalty-system, don't be surprised when you find that there are no areas to scan your tickets. Be aware, though, that conductors may walk through the trams and metros to check that you have a ticket. In summary, don't try to cheat the system by not purchasing a ticket! THE ACCOMMODATION Zurich is a very expensive city, so we decide to book a hotel called citizenM in Old Town. The location was convenient, since we were around a 10 minute walk away from Zurich Main Station (which has a direct train from the airport). citizenM is an affordable luxury hotel that focuses on providing a high-tech and cozy experience. The bed was super large and comfortable, while the bathroom had a rain-fall shower. One of our favorite features of the room was that everything could be controlled by an iPad console (even the color of the lights!). THE ITINERARY Zurich was definitely one of the most expensive cities I have visited so far (an average meal costs around $25USD). Although it was pricey, the city itself is extremely clean and spacious. We only had one full day in Zurich, but was able to see and do a ton of different things! 1. UETLIBERG The Uetliberg is a mountain located 30 minutes from Zurich. Although it isn't as high as the Swiss Alps, you can still get a great panoramic view of the city. 2. ALTSTADT (OLD TOWN) Located in District 1, Altstadt is surrounded by traditional Swiss restaurants, bars, shops and museums. With loads of things to do, it was fun to explore the cobblestone streets of Old Town. 3. BAHNHOFSTRASSE Located in downtown, Bahnhofstrasse is one of the world's most expensive shopping avenues. Being a short walk from Old Town, it is a great area to walk around and do some shopping. 4. CHRISTMAS MARKETS Since we visited Zurich in December, there were so many Christmas festivities happening during our stay. The Zurich Opera House and Wienachtsdorf Christmas market are some of the most popular markets during winter season. We had an amazing time eating street food, churros, hot chocolate and mulled wine at these Christmas villages! 5. CHOCOLATE & CHEESE FONDUE Chocolate and cheese fondue are must-eat items while visiting Zurich. Famous chocolatiers like Sprungli, Toblerone and Milka are all from Switzerland. As a result, chocolate is the perfect souvenir to buy when in Zurich! There are also a ton of restaurants that serve traditional cheese fondue, which includes pieces of bread and a melting pot of cheese. Zurich was a wonderful experience and it was especially fun to be able to catch up with a study abroad friend. I would definitely recommend visiting Switzerland for the flambeau lifestyle (and if you have the money to splurge a bit).
|
AKI'm truly grateful for this opportunity to study abroad and would like to share my experiences with all of you! Ranging from pre-departure tips to recommended travel destinations, I hope this blog will serve as a inspiration and reminder to always explore. Archives
December 2019
Categories
All
|