Whether you plan on working or studying, you’ll have plenty to look forward to. Dated, but by no means faded, London and its winding streets offer classic buildings in the epicentre, with many a cultural landmark. Take a walk across the river Thames, on the Southbank, and you’ll be confronted with outstanding examples of British architecture, taking for example, the Millenium Bridge, the OXO tower, Saint Paul’s cathedral and the progressive Gherkin, to name but a few. You might be tempted to pop into a theatre showing at Shakespeare’s Globe – a sight to be reckoned with as you step into its Elizabethan replica interior and experience theatre as it once was.
The Tate Modern, close by, is the biggest and boldest modern art gallery in the world. A converted power station, it stands tall and proud within a minimalist garden – a great place to relax and unwind with a hot chocolate or cold beer from the nearby pub. If Impressionist art is more your bag, you should head on down to the Tate, for a classical artistic fill. Make sure you put at least a couple of hours aside to wander through the rooms. The National Portrait Gallery is of international repute and with good reason – boasting some world famous artists displayed across its walls, you’ll gladly spend an afternoon perusing its feats and in-house shop. Theatreland and all things touristy can be found around Leicester Square and Covent Garden, where you’ll be more than likely to experience some very debatable dishes in nearby Chinatown.
For the seriously trendy, the area of choice has to be, without a shadow a doubt, Shoreditch. You’ll find skinny jeans, vintage emporiums, shisha bars and many a cool, underground venue to try out your moves with the rest of the cool kids. Camden, known to be the original birthplace of all things punk, perhaps doesn’t quite live up to its old school reputation, but more than makes up for it with its newly renovated hippy market, UV lighting displays and famous round-the-world eateries. If you fancy going out in the heart of London, take your wallet and dancing shoes to Soho – a relatively small, compact surface of streets which will tickle whichever fancy. We particularly recommend Lab for a cocktail (or many) to start your night off, or anywhere on Dean St for that matter. If eating out is top of your list, head over to Princci’s for some Italian dining – atmospheric to say the least and extremely convivial, just get there early to nab a seat! London represents for many the starting point for clubbing – whatever you tastes, you cannot afford to miss out on the chance to go to any of these: Fabric, Ministry of Sound, 93 Feet East and The Arches.
A mad, hectic, bustling city that will leave you out of breath, as well as out of pocket for some, but with so much to offer, you will never be at a loss for what to do. Save your pennies and energy for the Big Smoke, it doesn’t come much better than this!
