London is the UK's capital as well as being the UK's largest city. London is one of the world's major financial capitals. London is well known for it's economy as well as it's history. Coming to Empire College London means you will get a chance to experience one of the world’s greatest cities.
The city of London is an amazing city to study and live in. The information below will provide you with an idea of what to expect when you arrive in the UK and give you some advice on what to bring with you.
Weather
Weather in the UK can be unpredictable and changeable. Differences between the seasons are not as extreme as in some countries and although London is warmer than many other parts of the UK, Autumn temperatures are around 12 - 20 degrees, Summer is around 20 to 30 degrees.
Latest weather reports for London can be found at Met Office website www.metoffice.gov.uk.
What to bring to London
London is an expensive city but you may be able to buy lots of cheap household goods and cheap clothing in shops and in some markets. Check with the airline you are traveling with how much luggage you can bring and be careful - paying for excess baggage may be expensive.
Light clothes will be needed in summer and warm clothes in winter and it is also advisable to have a waterproof jacket.
In winter you should wear warm clothes to keep warm and to adapt to changing temperatures in and out of the college. You may want to wait until you arrive in London to buy some of your clothing as many students find it cheap in some London markets.
Voltage in the UK is 240. If you are bringing equipment from home you will need an adaptor to use in UK sockets (UK plugs have 3 square pins). If you are thinking of buying a computer, it may be better to wait until you start your course to find out exactly what you need. IT staff will be able to give you advice.
London resources
London offers first class resources to support you while you study, with an amazing focus of libraries, museums and research institutes. The Study London website is a great source for information on the capital.
Days out in London
There are many places to visit and things to do in London which do not cost too much money, including visiting “London Sea Life Aquarium”. The London Aquarium is situated in the heart of London and is one of Europe’s largest marine attractions.
There are also many museums to visit which include the British Museum, the science museum, the Victoria and Albert museum; which is one of the world’s greatest art and design museums and Madam Tussauds; a wax museum where you will come face-to-face with some of the world's most famous faces. From the Her Majesty the Queen, to Britney Spears.
All London attractions are only a bus ride or a train ride away and shouldn’t take too long to reach. For more information and ideas of days out in London, leaflets are usually avaiiable at train stations and can also be researched online.
Nights out in London
If you want to enjoy spending your evenings eating out, having a quiet drink or a lively nightclub atmosphere, London has something to suit everyone, from Chinese, Indian and Thai restaurants to fast food take-aways and pulsating nightclubs to quiet pubs.
There are many popular locations to spend your night outs including Leicester Square, Tottenham Court Road and Trafalgar Square; you can plan your travel by visiting the transport for London website. www.tfl.gov.uk.
Below are some useful websites on things to do in London:
TimeOut London - Authoritative views and reviews of everything that's great in London
View London - The Londoner's guide to London
Visit London website - London pocket guide |
