By Eddie Young
Former Sports Editor
Eddie Young, The Signal’s former sports editor, is studying abroad in the United Kingdom this semester and will chronicle his travels each print edition.
London has it all. Whether you’re a history buff, a sports fanatic, an avid art admirer or someone trying to study abroad for a semester (like me), London has something for you that you will enjoy.
The capital city of the United Kingdom is split into 33 different boroughs, and each comes with its own special identity and lifestyle, differing from the rest of London while still acting as a complement to it. When you see pictures of Central London, you are probably getting a glimpse of Westminster, a busy borough on the bank of the River Thames that is constantly filled with both locals and tourists.
As a tourist, you have to spend as much time as you possibly can in this section of the city. My travels have brought me to Westminster almost daily, with there being so much for an outsider to see here. This borough is home to the famed Elizabeth Tower, which is more commonly known by its iconic nickname, Big Ben.
The famed Elizabeth Tower, which is more commonly known as the Big Ben (Photo by Eddie Young).
That tower is part of the beautiful Palace of Westminster, which is home to the Houses of Parliament. Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster are a breathtaking sight to see in person as they dominate Westminster’s skyline, and I have personally gone back just to get a glimpse a couple of times a week.
If you walk just 15 minutes from Big Ben, you will find yourself in front of Buckingham Palace, the home of the British royal family. The Queen Victoria Memorial gives you the best view of the palace, and my trips into the city have brought me back to this memorial numerous times. It is a must see for a traveler, and while you may not be overwhelmed by the size of it, the history can be felt when you are in the building’s presence.
While as a tourist you do have to see all of the historical and touristic landmarks, there is a lot more that London has to offer. There are 116 free museums and art galleries to visit in the city, and almost every single one will be worth your while.
One of the most famous, and my favorite I have seen so far, is the National Gallery, which is an art gallery right behind Trafalgar Square. The gallery contains over 2,000 paintings to gaze at, with each one seeming even more beautiful than the previous one. They have paintings crossing all eras and many works from household names, including Van Gogh, Rembrandt and Monet.
You could get lost in this gallery all day and still not see everything they have to offer. I spent three hours in this gallery, and I was not able to see even half of what it had to offer. There are so many great works in there that it would be impossible to leave without seeing a piece you find breathtaking.
As the former sports editor of The Signal, I had to go see what the soccer atmosphere was like in this country. In the one match I have been to so far, it has exceeded my expectations.
I attended a match between Chelsea and Brighton at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea’s historic home stadium. Chelsea is one of seven Premier League clubs in London, and one of thirteen professional clubs in the city. These clubs have crazed supporters who will follow their team to no end.
As I learned during the game I went to, the fan culture here is way above that in the U.S. (yes, even above Philadelphia’s fan culture). English fans are not there to have a good time; they are there to watch their club win. They will not leave the seat during action, and everyone is urging on their team’s players as the game is taking place.
The other quiet people in the stand are people who are there as tourists, like I was. Everyone else is on their feet and cheering on their squad for the whole ninety minutes. Going to one of these matches is an event that everyone remotely interested in sports should experience at least once in their lifetime.
Another massive benefit to London is their system of public transportation. One of my biggest worries as I came here was how I was going to cheaply see all of the sights, since it is not as easy to move around a city in the States.
London is a big city, so it does take some time to get to different parts of the city, but with over 600 different bus routes and 11 different London Underground tube lines, you are able to get anywhere you want from anyone you are in this city. The public transportation is very easy to navigate, and is very helpful to a tourist (or study abroad student) who does not want to drop all of their money on Ubers and taxis.
People will tell you that British food is not good. Those people are kind of right. However, London is quite a diverse city. With diversity comes diverse food options. While fish and chips is always a great option, you will not want to eat that every night. London is filled with great restaurants from all over the world that will give you a different plate of food every single time you go out to eat. As always in life, you have to find what works for you. My friends and I have been able to find comfort in the many pubs in this country. The pub food is very similar to pub food in America, and that has helped us to get some tasty dinners in this city.
If you are not looking for a sit-down restaurant and just want a quick meal, then one of the many markets in London will be the place for you. The Borough Market is the oldest and most famous of these markets, as it is filled with many great and delicious food trucks that will keep you satisfied until your next meal.
If you are looking to do a bit of shopping or thrifting after your meal at a market, though, then the Camden Market in Camden Town will be calling your name. Camden has a great mix of food options and tiny store options that are filled with great tourist souvenirs.
Be wary though, that London is quite an expensive city, and that can be seen when you are in Camden Market. The prices of some dirty thrifted items drove me away more times than I could count in my day there. Some of these places will try to rip you off, but there are steals to be found in Camden Market.
Sometimes, you may not be looking for a full meal, and may just want a drink. London will have you covered. This city has over 4,000 pubs, and each one will leave a good impression on you and have you wishing to come back.
So far, I have not left a single pub here without thinking about planning a trip back. Many Londoners are quite kind, and you will always have a good time, no matter which pub you choose to spend your night at.
As an American, living in London is not that difficult, making it a great study abroad city. Everybody speaks English here, all of the signs are in English, and with the transportation, it is easy to get anywhere.
I am living on the campus of the University of Roehampton, which is more on the outskirts of the city. However, I am still able to get into central when I want to, and I am also spending a lot of time in a borough named Putney, and am able to live a bit more of a local lifestyle here. Assimilating yourself into British culture as an American is quite easy, since many aspects of our cultures overlap. Once you get over the cars on the left side of the road, the British accents everywhere and people saying “cheers” instead of “thank you” constantly, living here becomes quite normal.
London truly is a blast. This city exceeds all expectations, and is well worth a visit to anyone planning on traveling. If you are looking into studying abroad in the near future, it would be hard to find a better base than London.
