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One of the world’s greatest knowledge capitals, London boasts a wealth of internationally renowned facilities such as libraries and museums available to students. Culturally the city is an international centre for film, music, sport, nightlife, theatre, fashion and art.

London’s many districts, each with their own distinctive character, provide opportunities for an extraordinary range of social and cultural experiences. Covent Garden, South Bank, Soho, and Westminster are all within easy reach of the University. Even closer to the campus, students will find a wide variety of places of interest, shopping areas, bars and restaurants, many ideally suited for students on a tight budget.

London districts

As London grew, it incorporated many towns and villages into its boundaries. As a result you will find that there are many different ‘centres’ and high streets with their own distinctive character and that provide diverse social and cultural experiences. London is a huge city and can at first appear daunting, but time spent exploring and discovering will reap massive rewards.

Central London

Covent Garden The focus of Covent Garden is the pedestrian piazza where there are street entertainers, market stalls and gift shops. It is a fashionable area for theatre and opera and has numerous bars, clubs and hip clothes stores. The alternative area of Neal’s Yard provides a haven for those looking for an offbeat ambience.

South Bank The South Bank of the river Thames is an exciting area with new buildings and many other attractions. The Jubilee Walk along the river provides one of the most satisfying strolls in London. Starting at Westminster Bridge and heading east, the walk takes you past the Saatchi Art Galleries, London Aquarium, London Eye (the world’s tallest observation wheel), the South Bank complex (Europe’s largest arts complex), the Oxo Tower, Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, Borough Food Market, London Dungeon, London Assembly Building, Tower Bridge and finally the Design Museum, before the path heads away from the river toward Bermondsey. With so many fascinating diversions worth investigating, it’s well worth taking this walk a number of times.

Westminster There are not many shops or restaurants here but there are many famous sights such as the Houses of Parliament (with the ‘Big Ben’ clock tower), the Prime Minister’s home of 10 Downing Street, Trafalgar Square, the free National and National Portrait galleries, Westminster Abbey and Cathedral.

London’s parks No visit to London would be complete without exploring at least one of its extensive parks. Richmond Park is only 10 minutes away from the Roehampton University campus and, covering 2,000 acres, is the largest of the Royal Parks. Other parks that provide excellent escapes from the hustle and bustle of the city are St James’s Park, Hyde Park, Regent’s Park, Kensington Gardens, Battersea Park and Greenwich Park.

Close to Roehampton

Many Londoners commonly congregate in areas outside the centre for a cheaper (and some say more enjoyable) night out. Roehampton students take advantage of our location to make the best of local areas on a tight budget.

Putney The High Street has many shops, cafes and restaurants. There is a cinema for all the latest films, a local arts theatre, numerous trendy bars as well as traditional pubs with more reasonable prices.

Hammersmith Buses outside the campus go direct to Hammersmith. The Roehampton Students’ Union organises many social events in the area and provides free buses to and from the venues. In Hammersmith there is a large shopping centre, the Riverside Studios comprising a contemporary arts centre with gallery and cinema, and the London Apollo concert venue where some of the top international bands play. You’ll also find a good range of clubs, pubs and bars in Hammersmith.

Clapham

Clapham has two centres – Clapham Junction, which is easy to get to from Barnes station, and Clapham Common, which is accessible by tube and bus. Both areas are excellent for gastropubs, cocktail bars, and shops.

Richmond

This upmarket area offers one of the most picturesque views of the Thames. Richmond has a distinctive English town feel with plenty of high street shops and traditional pubs. It’s a great location for enjoying a long summer evening.

Other areas

There are many other exciting and interesting neighbourhoods to explore and the above areas provide only a glimpse of what London has to offer. If you have time we would also recommend that you visit the City of London, Knightsbridge, Chelsea, Kensington, Camden Town, Greenwich and Notting Hill. If you need more information about any of these areas please come to the International Centre.

Gateway to the UK and Europe

London’s many airports, coach and train stations provide inexpensive and easy access to the rest of the UK and Europe. The historic university cities of Oxford and Cambridge and the vibrant seaside resort of Brighton are less than an hour away by train.

Many international students take the opportunity to explore Europe during their summer holidays. For many this will be a once in a lifetime opportunity before pursuing their chosen career. The cities of Barcelona, Amsterdam, Paris and Rome are all within a few hours of London by plane. Travel agents offer competitive prices to students, allowing even those on a tight budget to travel across Europe.

Useful websites

Time Out London – website of the listings magazine with information and reviews of what’s on in London

Visit London - London Tourist Information Centre

BBC London – news, entertainment and weather

BBC weather webcam – a webcam that shows the weather in London

Royal Parks – information on the large and beautiful Richmond Park which is very close to the University

Transport for London – information on public transport in the city

National Rail Enquiries – everything you need to know about rail service in the UK

London is a vibrant learning environment with over 350,000 students from over 200 countries.