Your Semester Abroad in London: A Comprehensive Guide

London, a city steeped in history and brimming with modern attractions, offers a unique study abroad experience. Whether you're drawn to the iconic landmarks, the vibrant cultural scene, or the opportunity to explore the surrounding English countryside, a semester in London promises to be an unforgettable adventure. This guide, compiled from the experiences of students who have lived and studied in London, provides practical tips and recommendations to help you make the most of your time abroad.

Preparing for Your Trip

Packing Essentials

Packing for a semester abroad requires careful consideration. London has incredible shopping opportunities throughout the city that can be as expensive or inexpensive as you desire. Stores like Primark and H&M are great places to find in-season and trendy pieces, while London is filled with amazing thrift stores in all neighborhoods, which are a great way to shop sustainably while you’re enjoying the city. A huge tip that helped a ton of my friends is this: If you know your family will be visiting around Thanksgiving break, put aside your warmer outfits prior to your departure to London. When they come and visit you in November, they will be able to bring you some of the warmer clothes that you want and then take back the summery clothes. This allows for more space in your suitcase for when you go and return.

Here's a suggested packing list:

Carry-On Backpack: For essentials and valuables.
Passport & Visa: Ensure your passport is valid and you have the necessary visa.
Electronics: Phone, laptop, tablet, and chargers. Don't forget a universal charging plug!
Important Documents: Copies of your passport, visa, insurance card, and school ID.
Medications: Pack enough prescription medications for the entire semester.
Cash: Have some pounds on hand for initial expenses.
Reusable Water Bottle: Stay hydrated while exploring the city.
Clothes: Pack versatile clothing items that can be layered.
- 1 Pair of fashionable yet walkable athletic sneakers
- 1 Pair of your favorite booties (short ankle)
- 1 Pair of your favorite boots
- 1 Bathing Suit
- 2 Sports bras
- 2 Every-day bras
- 2 Bralettes
- Underwear and socks to last you about 2 weeks
- 2 Casual Dresses
- 5 Long-Sleeves (You’ll buy more there most likely)
- 5 T-Shirts (nicer not workout)
- 2 Sweatshirts
- 2 Tank Tops
- 3 Sweaters (You’ll buy more there most likely)
- Pajamas (Plan comfy outfits that you would also wear out and about as pajama options to save luggage room)
- 2 sets of workout outfits
- 2 Light Jackets (Buy a heavier later in the season there)
- 2 Leggings
- 3 Pairs of Jeans (Make sure one of them is black)
- 3 Pairs of Pants (not Jeans but still cute)
- 2 Pairs of Sweatpants
- 2 Pairs of Shorts

Budgeting and Saving Money

London is known for being an expensive city, but there are ways to manage your budget and save money.

Free Museums: Take advantage of London's many free museums, including the National Gallery, the National History Museum, and the British Museum.
Pret Coffee Subscription: Consider a Pret coffee subscription for affordable daily coffee.
16-25 Railcard: If you plan to travel by train, invest in a 16-25 Railcard for discounted fares.
Cook Your Own Meals: Opt for groceries from supermarkets like Co-op to save money on food.

Navigating London

The Underground (Tube): The tube is a primary mode of transport. It seems confusing at first, but “It’s not as confusing as it seems,” Rebecca said. The most confusing part is that the tube map is not geographically correct, so what looks relatively close together on the tube map, might be miles apart above ground. To use the tube, you’ll need an Oyster card which you scan when you enter and exit the tube.
Bus System: Another common form of transportation in London is the red double-decker buses. You might think that these buses are only used for giving city tours to the tourists, but they are also commonly used by locals. “The bus system there is such a good way to get around,” said Sydney.
Walking: What most people don’t realize is that London is a much smaller city than it seems, which means pretty much everything is within a walkable distance.
Citymapper App: The Citymapper app is so helpful when it comes to navigating London. You simply input your current location and your destination and it will tell you the quickest route you could take on all the above methods of transportation, plus more-the tube, the bus, walking, biking, even taking a cab or an uber.
Black Taxi Cabs: Registered with the Public Carriage Office. Drivers are highly trained and have to pass a test questioning their knowledge on London geography, including every street in the city. Taxis can be found outside all major airports, train stations, and transportation centers and can also be called and scheduled in advance!

Must-See Attractions and Activities

London offers a plethora of attractions and activities to suit every interest. Here are some recommendations from students who have studied in London:

Read also: Explore Global Opportunities

Iconic Landmarks

Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament: Witness the grandeur of British democracy.
Buckingham Palace: See the Changing of the Guard ceremony.
Tower Bridge: Walk across this iconic bridge and explore the Tower of London.
Westminster Abbey: Explore the historic church where coronations and royal weddings take place.

Cultural Experiences

West End Show: Catch a world-class theatrical performance.
Museums: Visit the British Museum, the National Gallery, or the Tate Modern.
Markets: Explore Borough Market, Spitalfields Market, or Maltby Street Market for food and unique finds.
Gods Own Junkyard: A museum filled with old, reconstructed neon signs and movie props.
Portobello Road: Also known as the world’s largest antique market, Portobello Road sits in Notting Hill (yes, just like the movie). Even though the bookstore from the movie isn’t a bookstore anymore, it’s still cool to find if you’ve seen the film.

Parks and Green Spaces

Hyde Park: Relax and enjoy the vast green space.
Regent's Park: Visit Primrose Hill for stunning views of the city.
Hampstead Heath: Explore this wild park with forests and the Hill Garden and Pergola.
Green Space outside Westminster Abbey: It is near the Jewel Tower. It’s relatively quiet compared to the rest of the area, and if you don’t mind sitting on the grass, it’s a nice place to have lunch while admiring the architecture.
Hollow Forest and Hollow Pond: This area is part of Epping Wood, an ancient woodland in northeast London that stretches in a long, thin strip up and out of London altogether. I particularly liked it because it was a little closer to our apartment building, but also because it looks totally different than anything else in London. The trees are twisty, and the undergrowth is minimal, so you can really feel like you’re in an ancient wood. Near the pond though, there are reeds and wet areas, and there are also spots that look almost like a plain.

Unique Experiences

Afternoon Tea: Indulge in a traditional afternoon tea experience.
Warner Brothers’ Studios aka Harry Potter Studios: As a huge Harry Potter fan, this was a must-see for me. It was definitely pricey, but I enjoyed it, especially the large sets.
Greenwich: Greenwich is a more posh borough of London, with beautiful neoclassical architecture, especially at the Old Royal Naval College. It also features a large park and the Royal Observatory, where you can see the Prime Meridian. I liked taking an UberBoat down to Greenwich and admiring the views along the river.
City of London walking tour: The big city of London is divided up into boroughs, and in the center, there is one called the City of London. It is mainly the financial district now, but is a cool mixture of new “high-tech” buildings, old buildings, and shops and markets. We had a walking tour for my architecture of London class. I particularly liked St.
Borough Market: This is mostly because of the internet-famous strawberries and chocolate. I hardly use social media, so I had never heard of them, but my flatmate enlightened me.
Buckingham Palace and St. James’ Park: I had already been to see Buckingham Palace once before, when I came to London with the MU Concert Chorale last year, but it was worth going back. I didn’t go inside, but the palace is still very impressive from the outside.

Living Like a Local

Churchill Arms: If you’ve ever looked up pictures of London, odds are that you’ve come across a picture of the Churchill Arms pub because the outside is covered with beautiful flowers. It’s one of the better-known pubs across London, located in Kensington, but what makes it unique is that it doesn’t serve the typical pub food like fish and chips. Instead, it serves authentic Thai cuisine.
The Barge House: Located alongside a canal in East London is one of my personal favorites, The Barge House, which is a modern British restaurant known for its weekend brunch.
Ask Italian: This Italian chain has locations all across London. “The food was so good every time. My friends and I loved eating there,” she said.
Friends of Ours: This bright cafe is another spot in East London that serves great brunch.
Bill’s: “[It’s] a classic and you can find them everywhere in London.
Brick Lane: One of the best-known streets in Shoreditch. “It’s a cool spot to go to because there are a lot of vintage clothing shops that you wouldn’t be able to find in a normal store,” On Sundays, the entire street is shut down for the Brick Lane Market, where vendors set up tents with even more vintage clothing.
Oxford Street: Located in central London, Oxford Street a mile-long stretch filled with hundreds of stores.
Carnaby Street: Right in the middle of center-city London, is Carnaby Street. “It has loads of unique places, so even though you may not buy anything, it’s still fun just to look,”
Atika: Located just off of Brick Lane, this vintage department store is a can’t-miss shop according to Lydia. “It’s super cool and I know a bunch of famous people shop there, too,” she said.
Harrods: Located in the borough of Kensington, Harrods is one of the most well-known department stores in the city.
South Bank: The South Bank is a great place to give yourself a walking tour of the city. You can start at the London Eye and end at the Tower Bridge-which is a trek, but it’s worth it.

Day Trips from London

Take advantage of London's central location and explore the surrounding areas with these day trip recommendations:

Brighton and the Seven Sisters Cliffs: Enjoy the beach and stunning white chalk cliffs. One place I would definitely recommend is Brighton and the Seven Sisters Cliffs. Brighton Beach is a major vacation spot during the hotter weekends, but in the latter half of the year it can be quiet. If the beach in the fall and winter is not be your thing, then check out the Royal Pavilion. It is a palace built by King George IV modeled after the Taj Mahal. It looks strikingly similar, just on a much smaller scale. My favorite place is the Seven Sisters Cliffs, which are white chalk cliffs that look out over the English Channel. The water is surprisingly clear, and the beach is made up of stark white chalk. If you decide to go, I recommend you stay about ten feet away from the edge of the cliff and away from the cliff walls when on the beach. As the cliffs are made of chalk, they easily absorb the water from England’s frequent rainstorms. This has recently led to parts of the cliff face collapsing. When rockslides do occur, locals flock to the beach to sift through the rubble looking for fossils. Apparently, one man found a fossil of a prehistoric animal that has yet to be discovered. So, if you want to make a groundbreaking discovery, check out the beaches. Brighton and the Seven Sister are a quieter escape than the Cotswolds, but both offer nice views of England’s rolling hills and are only a few hours away from London by train.
The Cotswolds: Explore charming villages and rolling hills. You could go to the beautiful Cotswolds and explore the various villages. The drive through the Cotswolds is unlike anything I have ever seen in the US. The rolling hills, tiny villages with thatched roof houses, the streams and rivers, and the locals walking their dogs. It was definitely the ideal break from London.
Oxford: Visit the prestigious universities and the historic town. Everyone knows of Oxford. The universities are beautiful if you can score a tour and are quite famous for their appearances in Harry Potter. Besides the universities, they have a food hall with many different vendors selling anything from artisan chocolate to hand pies and even Thai food. It was the least busy of all the places I visited in England and was only about 1 ½ hours from London by train.
York: Step back in time in this historic town with its impressive York Minster and the Shambles. I went to York for the Christmas market, but I stayed for everything else. It is a historic town that has maintained a lot of the original buildings. This makes for an interesting view of Victorian England. The Shambles is a small street lined with old buildings that lean over into the street. The Christmas market was cute but very busy. This is partly my fault because I went in December. But the town had so many more things to offer besides the market. York Minster is an imposing presence on the town and a very integral part of the town's history. There are many old churches in England, but I think this is one of the more interesting ones. It houses the biggest stained-glass window in all of the UK, the grave of Queen Elizabeth II, and interesting Roman and Norman history. If you would rather shop for some souvenirs, head to the Shambles where they have a store that sells little ghosts. York is apparently one of the most haunted cities in the world. If you believe in ghosts and want to run into a Roman or Viking one, York seems to be the place to be. If you want to step into the past, York would be a good day trip.

Adjusting to Life in London

Embrace the Culture

Be open to experiencing new things and immersing yourself in British culture.

Layering Clothes

Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, I thought I had an understanding of how to properly layer clothes, but London really is a whole new ball game. Like any major city, you spend a lot more time outside here while commuting, which means that you experience the weather a lot more - the cold is colder and the warm is warmer. For me, this usually means a short or long sleeve tee under a sweater and often another layer on top, like a jacket or a scarf (for reference, I’m here in the winter). I’ve found that this system both keeps me warmer when I’m outside and allows me to remain comfortable and have lots of options based on the environment I find myself in. This may seem small, but it really has made a huge difference for me and is something I had to figure out from scratch since arriving in London.

Don't Be Afraid to Ask for Help

The IES Abroad London staff are incredible and ready to support you in whatever way you need while you're abroad.

Take Time to Relax

If you ever feel homesick or just get drained from all your new surroundings, it's okay to take a step back and relax!

Read also: Affording Baylor University

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