Student Bloggers
Mind the Gap: My Study Abroad Journey in London
Date
September 11, 2025
When I landed in London on January 8th, 2025, I wasn’t just arriving in a new country. I was stepping into a totally unfamiliar way of living. As someone who had never lived in a big city before, I didn’t know exactly what to expect from five months at Queen Mary University of London. Luckily, Arcadia Abroad gave me a soft landing and a helpful introduction to London. From there, what I found was a city that challenged me, inspired me, and gave me a sense of independence I didn’t know I needed.
One of the biggest things I’ll take away from my time in London is confidence. Confidence in navigating public transport, making new friends, handling the unexpected, and simply existing on my own in a city of nearly 9 million people. The Tube map used to look like an impossible puzzle, but now I can tell you the best way to get from Whitechapel to Kings Cross without even pulling out my phone (okay, sometimes I’d still check Citymapper).
Living in East London, I fell in love with the rhythm of the city, from walking past historic buildings on my way to off-campus classes, to discovering just how many kinds of markets a city can have (answer: a lot). The architecture absolutely blew me away, whether it was the elegant row houses of Kensington or the grandeur of St. Paul’s Cathedral, there was always something beautiful to look at. Coming from the U.S., it was surreal to be surrounded by buildings older than my entire country. It was especially a shock when I visited Oxford with my friend and we discovered a street market that had been around since 1774!
My classes at Queen Mary were engaging, and the academic style definitely pushed me to think more independently. But some of my favorite learning happened outside the classroom: getting lost on a walk and stumbling into a bookshop, chatting with strangers in cafés, or just sitting on a bench by the Thames watching the city move around me.
Studying abroad wasn’t always easy. There were moments of homesickness, rainy days that felt endless, and the occasional Tube strike that forced me to rethink my day. But every challenge helped me grow. I came to London as a student, but I left feeling like a true Londoner (at least a little bit).
If you’re thinking about studying abroad: go. Say yes. Get the Oyster card. Walk the city. Find the places that feel like yours. I promise it’s worth it.