Studying in London is more than just taking an English language course. It is an all-round experience that will stay with you forever. From the friends you make, to your time in the classrooms, to the food you eat, the parties you go to and the experiences you will have exploring our amazing city. There will never be another experience quite like it.
By choosing one of our member schools, you are guaranteed to have a great time and all of our schools offer a wide range of social activities which will not only allow you to make friends and have fun but also ensure that you will visit some of the best attractions that London has to offer! Social programmes organised by the schools offer trips on the London Eye, visits to some of the best art galleries and museums in the world, outings to see world-famous landmarks such as Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London, parties, quiz nights and much more. But what about when you have some time to yourself or when you and your new friends want to have your own adventure and do something different? Well, simply follow our guide to ‘different or alternative’ activities that you should not miss while you are studying English in London!
Wilton’s Music Hall
The beautiful Wilton’s Music Hall
If shows and theatre are your thing then a great alternative to the West End is a trip out to East London to visit Wilton’s Music Hall.
Wilton’s is the world’s oldest surviving Grand Music Hall. After years of dereliction it is now open as a full-time theatre, bar and historic landmark. This stunning and atmospheric building puts on a range of excellent events including theatre, music, comedy, cinema and cabaret. It’s well worth a visit if only to see the how the building has been cleverly restored to retain the features of its 19th century hey day! It really is like stepping back in time.
Pie and Mash
London has become a foodie’s paradise over the last decade with quality restaurants and eateries all over the city representing foods from all over the world but for a real ‘British’ experience most people try fish and chips and whilst this is undoubtedly a great British dish which is simply delicious a more typical traditional London dish is Pie and Mash. Pie and Mash is a typical working-class food originating from the East End of London and this is where you will still find some of the shops today. Why not check out F.Cooke in Hoxton (insert link)? This shop dates back to 1862 and the family’s pies are still made to the original nineteenth-century recipe using the best-quality Scotch beef!
Richmond Park
Richmond Park, its views and deer
London is one of the greenest cities in the world and Londoners love their green spaces. During you time in the city you will inevitably visit some of the most well-known parks, such as Hyde Park, Regents’ Park and Green Park and whilst these are all beautiful spaces why not head out of central London and visit the biggest and arguably the most beautiful park of them all? Richmond Park! It is just a short train, tube or bus ride to the south west of the city an even though you are still in Zone 4 you will free like, you are in the middle of the countryside! Famous for its deer and wildlife conservation this park is well worth a visit regardless of the season you have chosen to visit London in as you will always find something naturally beautiful to admire in this vast open space.
Dr Johnson’s House
A small but fascinating museum perfect for English language students as Dr Samuel Johnson was one of the greatest literary figures of the eighteenth century, most famously compiling A Dictionary of the English Language! The museum has a collection related to Dr Johnson and often holds special events and educational workshops about the man and his work. Samuel Johnson also famously said ‘when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life!” A famous quote and we couldn’t agree with him more, so let’s move on to our next suggestion!
Colombia Road Flower Market
Colourful flower stand in Columbia Road Flower Market
If shopping is your thing, London is your place. Some of the world’s most famous and exclusive shopping streets and stores in this wonderful city and you must check out Oxford Street and Regent Street for the famous high street brands and then Bond Street and Sloane Street for the more exclusive shops, even it is just window shopping that you will be doing!
Perhaps luckily at a more affordable level, London’s markets are some of the most famous in the world, selling everything from antiques and vintage clothing to fruit and veg! One even had a film based around its vibrant community and as a result crowds flock to Notting Hill and Portobello every weekend! Camden Market is one of the most popular tourist attractions in London and is well worth a visit but why not visit the lesser known and smaller Sunday flower market on Colombia Road in East London? It’s busy but it’s worth visiting with flowers and plants being sold along a small stretch of road every weekend. Once you have bought your bunch of flowers there are also lots of quirky independent shops and cafes behind the market to discover! Make a day of it!