Student Bloggers

This past semester, I had the privilege of studying abroad at King’s College London through Arcadia. It was a surreal experience to be an exchange student at a foreign university, traveling the world and meeting new friends. After spending six months abroad, I put together a short list of everything you need to know before studying abroad in London (well, almost everything). The fun part about living in a big, foreign city was that I discovered something new every day—which was exhilarating, but sometimes a little irritating. So let me at least help you get started :)

Sounds Silly, But: Make Friends
You’ve probably heard this a million times, but seriously—put yourself out there. This is my most important takeaway from studying abroad. Now is the time to explore and meet people from all over the world. Some of the closest friends I made were through Arcadia or King’s College orientation events—not just from the U.S., but also from Australia, France, China, and beyond. So go to the events! A lot of people skipped them, but most of my best friends came from those early meetups.

That said, be prepared to feel lonely or lazy sometimes. Making friends is hard. You’re not going to be doing something exciting every second of every day—and that’s totally okay.

Logistics (Necessary Evil)
Oyster Card: I highly recommend purchasing a Student Oyster card through TfL if you plan to use public transport often. I lived in Angel Lane, which was about a 30-minute commute to campus, so I used the tube every day. I bought a monthly unlimited travel pass, and with the student Oyster discount, it was 30% cheaper. An Oyster card is also used for the tube and bus, which is nice. Additionally, I recommend purchasing a 16-25 railcard if you will be using the train a lot; it will also save you a lot of money.

SIM Card: This was a bit tricky to figure out, but I recommend either buying a UK SIM card or using an
international plan from your provider. Just make sure the UK SIM comes with both data and a text/call plan—sometimes they’re sold separately, which was very rude.

Foreign Transaction Fees: Let your credit card company know you're going abroad so they can (1) remove any blocks, and (2) inform you of any foreign transaction fees. Mine was around 3%, which I didn’t mind, but if that bothers you, look into alternative cards. Keep in mind that you'll already be paying more due to the exchange rate, so this fee adds up.

Budget
As someone who loves to spend money and has a serious case of FOMO, budgeting was tough—lol. I also didn’t know what to expect since London is notoriously expensive. But I want to be honest and give you real numbers so you have a better idea.

I had about $8,000 saved up and was able to travel to five countries, eat out often, and shop. This also covered commute costs (around $156/month), groceries, and other essentials.

That said, there’s no “magic number” for having a good time—there are so many free things to do in London. My favorite activity? Visiting parks and feeding ducks—completely free.

I tried to budget $1,000/month for living, and $3,000 total for travel. Which brings me to...

Traveling

TRAVEL AS MUCH AS YOU CAN!! Traveling around Europe is super accessible and affordable. I visited France, Scotland, Ireland, Switzerland, Germany, and Croatia—which was the best ever. Within England, I also explored York, Wales, the Isle of Wight, and Brighton (all super underrated). I budgeted around $500 per big trip, which was doable thanks to cheap airlines like Ryanair or easyJet (some round-trip flights were literally $60!). I booked accommodation through Hostelworld, where you can find hostels for as little as $15/night. It’s also a great way to meet people.I did a few solo trips and met other students at hostels.

TripsBFFs is also a great app for meeting solo travelers. I always felt safe, but I took some precautions:

1. Shared my itinerary, location, and people I met with a friend.
2. Learned the country’s public transport system, emergency number, and memorized my
housing address.
3. Made safe decisions and stayed vigilant. I brought a portable charger everywhere!

London Recommendations
   - Groceries: Lidl (cheap & good), Sainsbury’s
   - Pubs: Wetherspoons (cheap & iconic), O’Neil’s (4 floors, fun), Waxy O’Connor’s (great Irish pub)
   - Clubs: Ministry of Sound, Heaven
   - Food: Greggs (budget-friendly), Breadstall (best pizza), Soho Social ($$, incredible), Nando’s (basically London’s Chili's)
   - Coffee: Blank Street, Caffè Nero
   - Parks: Kensington Park, St. James’s Park
   - Must-See Places: Buckingham Palace, Tower of London, British Museum, Notting Hill,
   - Camden Market, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Borough Market

Final Advice
   - Use Citymapper for navigating—it’s a lifesaver for the tube.
   - Carry some cash, although most places accept cards and tap payments.
   - Go on dates! It’s a fun way to meet people and explore the city (and hey, you might even fall in love—I definitely did a few times ;))
   - Have a hobby! I’m a singer and was able to perform at a couple of venues, which was so cool. Some of my friends also joined boxing, pilates, and sports clubs.
   - Watch out for pickpockets! & mind the gap! lol
   - For commuting, you will most likely be using the tube or bus. Keep in mind that the tube closes at midnight on weekdays, and is open 24/7 on weekends. The bus is 24/7, and Uber is popular but also expensive.

I know this was a lot, but I hope it gives you a solid guide for studying abroad in London. I tried not to overload you with advice because honestly—you’ll figure most of it out on your own. And that’s the best part. It’s totally normal to feel overwhelmed and uncertain, but that’s the point of this experience: to be uncomfortable, to learn, to grow. As someone who likes to know everything, it was soooo hard to suddenly know nothing. I made mistakes constantly—losing my Oyster card (three times!), getting on the wrong tube, getting lost late at night, or turning in an assignment the wrong way. But that’s part of the process. You will grow so much and gain so much independence.

Reach out to me on Instagram if you have any questions (@dylanleemusic). I also created a London Abroad TikTok if you wanted some inspo (@londonlassie) lol. Wishing you all the luck.

Have fun—and as the Brits say, “xx”