Clothing in London

Ever since I can remember, my mother has called me a "shop-o-holic". I love purchasing a new outfit for special occasions. There's a certain type of joy that comes in buying a new outfit for school, holidays, birthdays, etc....My mother was not too thrilled when I told her I needed a new wardrobe for London. If I was there for a few weeks, I wouldn't have bought anything new. However, living there for 4 months required a shopping trip. When I was packing for London, I stuffed a duffle bag inside my checked luggage because I knew that the shopping in London was top of the line.

My university was located on High Street Kensington. This is a very posh area that is known for its shopping. During my breaks in between classes,  I would walk down High Street and browse the shops. By the end of the semester, I had to pay $200 at the airport for my extra luggage that was filled with all the new clothes that I bought. The style in London is completely different from where I grew up in Connecticut. At home, my style is preppy, classic, and clean-cut. I wear bright colors like salmon, turquoise, pink, blue, and some neutrals. I bought a trench coat, hunter boots, and a Barbour Coat before I left for London because that is what I believed to be the style there. When I arrived in London, everyone was wearing black. Some people wore dark jeans, black nike running sneakers, and either a neutral or black top. Don't get me wrong, there were some people wearing trench coats, Hunter boots, and Barbour Coats. However, when I travelled to Scotland, the style there was much more of what I expected it to be in London.

The shops that I went to in London the most were Zara and H&M. Although we have these stores in America, the type of clothes in the European version of these stores are made with much better quality and are a little bit cheaper. My favorite pieces of clothing that I bought from Zara was a black peacoat and 3 fall patterned scarves. My favorite piece of clothing I bought from H&M was a black long sweater with leather sleeves from the Venice, Italy store.

When I came back to America, I incorporated my preppy style with my London style. This turned into me wearing my tall brown boots, dark jeans, the sweater from H&M, and my Barbour coat. I now believe that I found my style that I will wear for the rest of my life and one that is truly me.

Classic London in One Picture

What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of London? If you asked me that question, I would say Big Ben. Ever since I was a young child, I have wanted to see Big Ben in person. I had this video game that was set in London, and one of the levels involved a scavenger hunt around Big Ben. I always saw this magnificent structure through a video game, but never in person. Another structure that came to mind was the red telephone booths. In the U.S, we have public telephones, but they do not define what makes America unique. These red telephone booths are all around London. The first time I spotted one was in one of my favorite movies, The Parent Trap.  In a few scenes throughout the movie, viewers see a glimpse of what life is like in London.  The mother's house in London, walking through the outdoor mall, the weather changing from beautiful sunny to pouring rain, and having afternoon tea with the grandfather. Therefore, Big Ben and the red telephone booths were items that I believe are what make London unique.

When I decided to study abroad, I was ecstatic that I would be able to see these two structures in real form.  I began to research typical things to do as a foreigner in London, and somehow came upon this picture:

After seeing these two quintessential London structures in person, I believe that this picture sums up what a typical day in the city is. We see the red telephone booth with a beautiful view of Big Ben in the background. You can tell from the shiny ground and the overcast sky that it had just finished raining (which happens all the time in London). On the right is the entrance to the Westminister tube stop, which has access to the District and Circle lines that can take you to many locations throughout London.  I love how in this picture, London looks very gloomy and un-appealing to the naked eye, but the red telephone booth brings the city to life. It almost looks as if the telephone booth is the heartbeat to London and the telephone booth keeps the city alive. The neutral colors in the background makes the telephone booth a striking red color. With all the experiences that I have encountered in London, the telephone booth creates a channel of communication between two people from across the world. The fact that I can call anyone and tell them that as I speak with them I am looking at Westminster Abbey and Big Ben is wild and crazy to think about.  As I look and analyze this picture, I think about all the memories had at this location and wish I was back in this beautiful city. 

Transportation in London

Now that I have discussed all of my favorite places to go in London, you're going to need to know how to get there. The only way to go is The Tube. There are 5 main tube lines in London that you are going to need to know to travel around London in the most efficient and timely manner.

The Bakerloo Line is the line I used most throughout my time in London. This is where Warwick Avenue (my flat) and Little Italy is located. From this line, you can transfer at Paddington and take the District or Circle Lines to High Street Kensington (where my university was located), Baker Street (many different restaurants located here), Notting Hill, King's Cross St. Pancreas, and Sloane Square (where Harrods is located).  From these two lines, you can go to these famous locations:

Circle or District Line ~ get off at Monument = Tower Bridge, Tower of London

Circle or District Line ~ get off at Westminster = Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, London Eye

On both of these lines, you can get off at Victoria to see Buckingham Palace.

The Victoria Line stops at Green Park, which you can exit to also see Buckingham Palace. The Oxford Circus station is where all the shopping is in London. This line has the King's Cross St. Pancreas station, which is popular for those wanting to travel outside of London and for those wanting to take the train to Paris.

The last stop I want to discuss is the Jubilee Line. This line has many stops that are popular among tourists. For example, this line stops at Westminster, St. John's Wood (a 10 minute walk to my flat), Baker Street, Green Park, London Bridge, and Canary Wharf. KPMG, where I interned during my semester in London, is located in Canary Wharf. This location is similiar to the Wall Street of New York, and has a waterfront view. As you can see, from this line, you can get to many locations such as Buckingham Palace and the London Bridge.

I will show an example of how to get from my flat on Warwick Avenue to Canary Wharf, then from Canary Wharf to High Street Kensington.

Bakerloo Line to Baker Street Station

Jubilee Line to Canary Wharf Station 

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Jubilee Line to Westminster Station

Circle Line to High Street Kensington Station 

Once you spend a few weeks in London, transportation within the city is very simple to navigate. Each line has a certain color, so when you are in the Underground Stations, you will remember that brown is the Bakerloo Line or yellow is the Circle Line. Additionally, there is an app for the iPhone called CityMapper that is extremely useful for tourists. This app allows you to type in the Current Location and Destination and it will tell you which lines to take. Happy traveling! 

There's a Place on Warwick Avenue

Now that I have written about the most famous locations in London, I want to share with you my home in London. I had the pleasure of living at 29 Clifton Gardens, London W9 1AR. Clifton Gardens was located right around the corner from the Warwick Avenue tube stop. This area is also known as Maida Vale. This area of London is known to be very "posh" because of the exquisite homes and high income families that live in this area. I loved living in this area because right down the block from my flat was a cute little village with a few restaurants, a grocery store, and a few clothing stores. It was the ideal place for an American to live since it wasn't in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the city. The area around Maida Vale was quiet, relaxing, and only a 20 minute tube ride to central London. Below is a picture of Clifton Gardens taken on my last day in London.

Maida Vale was in extremely close walking distance to some of my favorite parts of London. For example, Notting Hill was only a 25 minute walk from my flat. Notting Hill is famous for the Portobello Road Market, which is mainly held every weekend. The street is completely closed off on the weekends and is a large antique market. There is a food market with fresh fruit and various types of food trucks. My last week in London, I walked to Portobello Road and shopped for cute little trinkets to bring back for my dorm room to bring back some of London to Fordham.

Another fun aspect of Notting Hill is the Notting Hill Bookshop. Any readers Hugh Grant fans? Well, Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts starred in the movie Notting Hill, where Hugh Grant is a bookstore owner and falls in love with Julia Roberts, a movie start. The bookstore that Hugh Grant owns in the movie is in Notting Hill. Below is a picture of all my friends and I in front of the bookstore.

There is no other place in London that I would rather live. I got to call Maida Vale my home for 4 months, and I wouldn't replace it for the world. On Sunday mornings, my flatmates and I ate brunch at Baker and Spice, a restaurant right down the street from Clifton Gardens. We were able to walk to Abbey Road, Portobello Road, and Little Italy from our home. I'll never have an experience quite like living in this area with all of my friends. 

You're a Wizard, Harry!

In my last post, I mentioned the Harry Potter movie series. I should have mentioned earlier than I am a Harry Potter fanatic. I have seen five out of the eight movies the night before the movie premiered at midnight. I have been to Harry Potter World in Universal Studios Orlando twice. I own Hermione Granger's wand, a Harry Potter puzzle, Harry Potter monopoly, all eight movies on DVD, and the Marauder's Map showcased in the third movie. In fact, London is the place where J.K. Rowling chose to develop the series. The series truly came to life when I visited the various places in London that were previewed in the movies. Here is a list of the various places in London that are displayed throughout the eight movies:

• Warner Brothers Studios Tour London: I felt like a kid in a candy shop as I walked through the doors. When you arrive at the Watford Junction tube stop, there is a Harry Potter bus that transports visitors to the studio. I visited during Christmas Time, which made my experience even more magical. 

The picture to the left is me walking down Diagon Alley and the picture to the right is me in front of 4 Privet Drive.

• Platform 9 3/4: Although a fictional location since it is impossible to walk through a brick wall, the workers at King's Cross Station in London make this part of the movie seem very real. Pick your house scarf and take a picture as you imagine yourself traveling from the muggle world to the wizarding world. 

The picture above was taken at King's Cross Station.

• Millennium Bridge: Featured in the sixth movie, this bridge is shown collapsing in a dramatic opening scene as death eaters attack London. 
• Reptile House, London Zoo: Back when Harry Potter was unaware of his wizarding skills, this location is shown in the first movie where Harry first discovers his ability to speak with snakes. 
• Piccadilly Circus:  One of the most memorable scenes in the first installment of the final book, which presents Harry, Ron, and Hermione rushing through London's West End. 
• Leadenhall Market: One of the oldest markets in London, this indoor market located in the middle of the city was used as Diagon Alley in the first movie. The entrance to the Leaky Cauldron, a wizards' pub, is an optician's shop in Bull Head's Passage in Leadenhall Market, which was featured in the fourth movie. 
• Australia House: The only known bank of the wizarding world, Gringotts Bank, was filmed in the grand interior of the Australia House on Strand located in central London.

Visiting all of these locations brought the Harry Potter series to life.  Harry Potter was, and still is, a large part of my life. The series spanned from 2001 to 2011. Harry Potter entered my life when I was just six years old and left my life when I was a 17 years old. I felt as if I grew up with many of the characters in the series. I have to admit, it was a bit emotional walking through the Warner Brothers Studios and seeing all of the props used in the movies. Remember this: next time you visit London, pick one of the eight movies and see what London attraction was featured and visit. Watching the movies after visiting these places is an entirely different experience that will leave you in awe. 

11 Must-Do London Attractions

Before leaving for my semester in London, I gave myself zero expectations. I wanted to be completely and utterly blown away by the places I visited and the people I met in London. I am happy to say that the experiences I had at various attractions in London made me fall in love with the city. As I was looking through my pictures from my semester in London, I compiled a list of the best things to do in London.

1. The London Eye: This is a must do twice, during the day and night. The London Eye gives visitors a birds eye view of London's South Bank. You will see a spectacular and eye-dropping view of London that you will never forget. 
2. Buckingham Palace: Need I say more? Anyone who visits London and doesn't take a selfie with a British guard needs to get their priorities in order.
3. Kensington Palace/Hyde Park: I had the luxury of walking through Hyde Park and passing Kensington Palace everyday to class. This long path of green grass with the addition of a beautiful lake allows passersby to relax and enjoy the gardens surrounding them. You might get to see a glimpse of Prince George and newborn Princess Charlotte. 
4. St. Paul's Cathedral: One of the must-see churches in London, St. Paul's Cathedral has the third largest dome in the world. You must climb the 528 steps to the top in order to see breathtaking views of River Thames and my next must-see attraction.
5. Shakespeare's Globe Theatre: Both a working theatre and a museum, the Globe Theatre is a replica of the early 1600s theatre in which Shakespeare's plays were performed. 
6. Millennium Bridge: Many scenes in the beloved Harry Potter series were filmed in London, but the most famous scene was taken at this steel suspension bridge. From the Millennium Bridge, you get a perfect view of both St. Paul's Cathedral and the Globe Theatre. This bridge allows pedestrians to walk over the River Thames.
7. Houses of Parliament and Big Ben: Another attraction that you must visit during the day and at night, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben are quintessential must-do London experiences. These iconic structures are worth visiting, despite the crowds and tourists. If you are interested, you can get a sneak peak of the political process and see men with old-fashioned wigs discuss political matters happening today. 
8. Westminster Abbey:  If you are like me and are a fan girl of Prince William and Duchess Catherine, this attraction is a no brainer. Walk the long stretch that Catherine Middleton did and visit the graves of Jane Austen and Charles Dickens, just a round the corner from the previous must-do London attraction. 
9. Harrods: Any big shoppers out there? Harrods is the place to go! My favorite time to visit this massive high-end department store was during Christmas time. The beautiful Christmas lights and wonderfully decorated boutiques inside Harrods brought Christmas to life. 
10. Tower of London: Located on the north bank of the River Thames, this historic castle has something for everyone. If you are a history junkie and want to learn more about the bloody tower's past, rent headphones and explore the tower at your own pace. If you are obsessed with the Royal family, take a walk through the Crown Jewels exhibition, where you will see items such as the Imperial State Crown, worn by the Queen for each State Opening at Parliament. 
11. Tower Bridge: Want an expansive view of the city? Exit the Tower of London and walk five minutes up the road at sunset to see a magical view of London.

Here are some pictures of my experience at some of the locations listed above. 

My selfie with a British guard :)

View of Tower Bridge at night 

View of Big Ben and Houses of Parliament from the London Eye

These 11 Must-Do London attractions were my favorite parts about the city. I visited these places more than three times because I could not get enough of the magnificent views and wealth of information that the tour guides offered. There are a ton more locations in London to visit, but these 11 places will definitely give first time visitors of London more than enough reasons to never leave the city. 

Top Museum in London: The National Gallery

Some of the most amazing tourist attractions of London are the magnificent museums. A few of the most famous museums include the British Museum, the Imperial War Museum, the National History Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum. My favorite museum to visit was the National Gallery. The National Gallery houses the national collection of Western European tradition from the 13th to 19th centuries. The museum is open 361 days a year free of charge. It is also located in one of the most historic places in London, Trafalgar Square. 

The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square

For any readers who appreciate any type of art, the National Gallery is a must see destination. The museum is massive: you can block out an entire day to visit the National Gallery and won't be able to get through a quarter of what the museum has to offer. The National Gallery's collection contains over 2,300 works with artists ranging from medieval and Renaissance Italy to the French impressionists. The collections are broken up into four time periods: 13th to 15th century, 16th century, 17th century, and 18th to early 20th century. One of my favorite artists whose paintings are frequently displayed in the National Gallery is Claude.

Seaport with the Embarkation of Saint Ursula, Claude 

The National Gallery has wonderful placement of paintings and a great layout structure. Because the museum is so massive, the museum itself is very roomy. In the middle of the day during the museum's peak times, visitors can walk around without feeling trapped and can soak in the history of each painting. During my time abroad, I visited the National Gallery about six or seven times (still not having seen the entire museum), and I noticed that if you sit around the most famous paintings, such as Van Gogh's Sunflowers or Claude's Seaport with the Embarkation of Saint Ursula, a group of young students will surround the paintings, followed by a very informative tour guide. This is a great way to learn about each painting and see the reactions of young students to some of the most influential artists in the world. 

Because the National Gallery takes a good chunk of the day to visit, there is a National Cafe, Espresso Bar, and National Dining Room, which allows visitors to take a break and relax for a bit. Also, there is a gift shop to take back a souvenir of your favorite artist or painting. Every time I visited a museum, I would buy a postcard of a painting that was different and unique. At the end of my trip, I compiled all of my postcards from around Europe and created a book of memories. 

Before visiting the National Gallery, I highly recommend exploring the website for collections that you want to see. Plan your trip to the museum before you go so you have time to see all the paintings and collections that you are most interested in. You can spend an entire day getting lost in the art or looking for the most famous paintings. Do yourself a favor and save time by downloading a map and highlighting the places that you want to spend the most time in. Although it is free and you can always go back on a later day, there are other museums and attractions in London that you don't want to miss out on! 

We Love Them, Yeah Yeah Yeah...

As I was researching for a topic for this blog, I thought no further than to the first album my mother ever gave me, 1 by The Beatles, which is a compilation of the most powerful Beatles songs of all time. Growing up, my mother raved about her favorite band, The Beatles, from the first moment that I could say my first word. She was around 10 years old when The Beatles started to become famous. She had first hand experience to share with me regarding the changes that were happening in the world during The Beatles era (1960s-1970s). 

The Beatles recorded almost all of their albums in Abbey Road Studios, between 1962 and 1970. This recording studio is located in St. John's Wood, which is a section of Westminster, conveniently a 10 minute walk from my tube stop. Living in close proximity to Abbey Road was amazing because I was able to step back in time and feel the presence of The Beatles. This made me think of how the culture in London changed when The Beatles began recording music and gathering a fan base. The culture even extended to America, where the "Make Love Not War" slogan began to influence the way people lived. Beatles music was hypnotizing and gave people a breath of new life that the world desperately needed. 

When I was reading a Wikipedia article on the culture of London, I couldn't help but see that there was only a little blurb about The Beatles. Below is the wikipedia article.

London is famous for its rock scene, and was the starting point of some of the greatest 60s and 70s artists such as David Bowie, Iron Maiden, The Clash, Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, The Sex Pistols, The Who, Pink Floyd, Queen, and popular 90s acts like Blur and Coldplay. Most major bands' tours will pass through London as well, favorite venues like Brixton Academy, the London Astoria, and the Hammersmith Apollo. In addition to spawning the bands mentioned above, London, in its capacity as the UK's cultural centre, has served as the base of a number of internationally important acts, including The Beatles, Elton John, Jimi Hendrix, as well as being instrumental in the birth of dance music. 

London is also known for spawning numerous massively successful pop acts; with The Spice Girls, Cliff Richard, and One Direction being especially note-worthy. London also has a thriving urban scene, mainly throughout the 21st century. Soul singers like Adele, Amy Winehouse, and Lemar have found themselves chart, and international success. R&B singers such as the Sugabebes, Leona Lewis, Taio Cruz, Jay Sean and Alexandra Burke are also extremely popular. London also has a strong rap scene; rappers including Wiley and Dizzee Rascal among others have helped contribute to London gaining the status of having the strongest rap scene outside of the USA. London is the home of one of the biggest underground scenes in the world. Genres include UK garage, Drum and bass, Dubstep, 2step and most notably, grime.

The Beatles had an immense impact on how music developed in London and this impact should voiced. Therefore, I decided to add to the article about my opinion regarding the band and its influence on the culture in London and throughout the world. 

London is famous for its rock scene, and was the starting point of some of the greatest 60s and 70s artists such as David Bowie, Iron Maiden, The Clash, Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, The Sex Pistols, The Who, Pink Floyd, Queen, and popular 90s acts like Blur and Coldplay. Most major bands' tours will pass through London as well, favorite venues being the Brixton Academy, the London Astoria, and the Hammersmith Apollo. 

In addition to spawning the bands mentioned above, London, in its capacity as the UK's central centre, has served the base as a number of internationally important acts, including The Beatles, Elton John and Jimi Hendrix, as well as being instrumental in the birth of dance music. 

When discussing popular music in London, the first musical act that comes to mind to a majority of people around the world is The Beatles. Although the current generation of our population today were not alive when The Beatles revolutionized the world, they can still feel the effect that this group of incredibly talented men had on music and culture, beginning in London. Not only did the Beatles bring music to life, but they changed the way people dressed and how people lived their lives. For example, many young men during the 1960s wanted to grow their hair to their shoulders and wear collarless jackets because that's the fashion that The Beatles displayed to the world. McCartney, Starr, Harrison, and Lennon created an evolution in the '60s as anti-establishment acts were enacted. As The Beatles began to publicize their drug and alcohol consumption through songs such as "With a Little Help from My Friends" and "I am the Walrus", Woodstock culture became the next big thing. The Beatles were immensely influential because they started a musical revolution that is never ending. They proved to the world that love and music can go a long way. 

John Lennon once said, "The '60s saw a revolution... a whole new way of thinking. The Beatles were part of the revolution, which is really an evolution, and is continuing. We're all on this ship going to discover the New World. And The Beatles were in the crow's nest". The Beatles grasped the change that was coming and ran with it. They brought change to our world by instituting songs like "All You Need is Love' and "Come Together", showing the world that change is inevitable and all the world needs is peace, love, and community to be successful and prosperous. And to believe that this group of men met and began their careers in London...

London is also known for spawning numerous massively successful pop acts; with The Spice Girls, Cliff Richard, and One Direction being especially note-worthy.London also has a thriving urban scene, mainly throughout the 21st century. Soul singers like Adele, Amy Winehouse, and Lemar have found themselves chart and international success. 

R&B singers such as the Sugababes, Leona Lewis, Taio Cruz, Jay Sean, and Alexandra Burke are also extremely popular. London also has a strong rap scene; rappers including Wiley and Dizzee Rasacal among others have helped contribute to London gaining the status of having the strongest rap scene outside of the USA. London is the home of one of the biggest underground scenes in the world. Genres include the UK garage, Drum and Bass, Dubstep, 2step, and most notably, grime.

I truly believe that music is the most powerful tool of inspiration and influence. The Beatles were the start to the greatest bands of all time. Without these four men creating musical fusion, we would not have Aerosmith, Nirvana, or Stevie Wonder. The music that I listen to shapes my life, the people I surround myself with, and what I believe in. The Beatles were a part of that for me, and to walk the streets as Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr throughout my four months abroad brought music to life. 

To see the wikipedia page on Culture in London, click below:
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Culture_of_London&action=submit

Quick Facts about London

For anyone who has not been to London, it is a city not like any other. Walking the streets of London is similar to stepping back into history. Famous landmarks such as Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Tower of London, Tower Bridge, London Bridge, The Globe Theatre, and countless others gives visitors the chance to step back in time and walk the streets that Shakespeare and John Lennon did. Brits and visitors also have the opportunity to leave the hustle and bustle of the city and travel to the outskirts of London, which include elite schools such as Oxford and Cambridge, Liverpool (home to The Beatles), Stratford-upon-Avon (home to Shakespeare), and Bath (site of the Roman baths).

Since the city's founding in 43 AD by the Romans, London has developed into an increasingly global city. There are more than 300 languages represented within the greater city, with a population of more than 8 million people. London is the leading country in arts, entertainment, finance, media, higher education, tourism, and transportation. The stereotypical idea of London includes afternoon tea followed by strolls in Hyde Park while the men grab a pint of pale ale at the pub. Although you must have a high tea, visit Hyde Park, and order a pint of beer at Bag O'Nails (pictured below), there are so many aspects of London that visitors miss out on because they are blind-sighted by the idea of London and not the actual city. Therefore, I want this blog to show my readers how to explore all of the wonderful landmarks in London based off of my study abroad experience.

Below are 5 Amazing Fun Facts about London that will give you an instantaneous attraction to London:

1.  The Palace of Westminster is the official name of the Houses of Parliament and is the largest palace in the country.

2. There are many famous leaders that are buried in Westminster Abbey, including Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and Sir Issac Newton.

3. The original London Bridge was in use for more than 600 years and was covered with heads on spikes for more than half of that time, including that of Guy Fawkes.

4. It is insanely difficult to become a cab driver in London: the test is called "The Knowledge" that challenges those wanting to become a cab driver to memorize 320 routes, 25,000 streets, and 20,000 palace of interest within a six-mile radius of Charring Cross (just south of Trafalgar Square in London).

5. The Palace of Westminster has eight bars, six restaurants, 1,000 rooms, 100 staircases, 11 courtyards, a hair salon, and a rifle shooting range.

There are so many more reasons to fall in love with London, so keep reading my blog to see the other incredible experiences that I have encountered :)

Bag O' Nails, famous pub near Buckingham Palace 

Trafalgar Square

Bag O' Nails is a famous pub located around the corner from Buckingham Palace. It is my favorite pub to go to in London. The atmosphere inside the pub makes me feel like a true Brit. I highly recommend this pub when you visit London. 

Pros and Cons to London

The idea of “studying abroad” stood out to me from the moment I took my first college tour and my tour guide discussed her experiences when she went abroad. She, too, packed her bags and shipped off to London for a semester and had a fabulous time in the city. I was so moved by the way she spoke about London that I knew I wanted to have the same experience that she did. When I decided to attend Fordham, one of the reasons I was attracted to the school was the study abroad program in London. Fordham University has a campus in the middle of the city (High Street Kensington, shown below) and students have the opportunity to apply for an internship at one of the Big 4 Accounting Firms, KPMG. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to embark on both of those adventures.

After my stay in London, I am biased on which city a student should choose when deciding where to study abroad. However, there are pros and cons to the city. London is the perfect location for travelling to other cities. There are numerous airports near the city that allow for inexpensive travel to any European city of your choice. The three airports are Heathrow, Stansted, and Gatwick. If you truly want to immerse yourself in British culture, you can travel to the outskirts of England, such as the landmark Highclere Castle (for any Downton Abbey fans) and The Warner Brothers Studios where Harry Potter is filmed. I wish I had the chance to see Oxford, Cambridge, Bath, and Liverpool, but there is only so much you can do in 4 months! Another amazing aspect of the city is the subway system, called “The Tube”. The Tube is incredibly simple to navigate and is a great resource to utilize when getting to know the city. On every Tube stop, there is a voiceover that states what famous landmarks are in the area where the tube is stopping. In this way, there is never anyway to get lost, you can never fall asleep on the tube, or miss your stop (very different from New York). There are beautiful and engaging museums, such as The National Gallery and the Imperial War Museum that truly bring history to life. That is one of my favorite parts of London: how all of the museums and galleries give history a meaning and show visitors the aftermath of events such as World War II or Princess Diana’s death. My entire semester abroad, I was learning something new with every area of London that I visited. For example, when I visited the Churchill War Rooms, I didn’t realize how much those working for the government had to sacrifice during that time until visiting the bunkers. That experience made me grateful for everything I have and all of the experiences I have had the chance to encounter. I wouldn’t have had that had I not gone to London.

If I’m being completely honest, there are a few downsides to studying abroad in London. To start off, London is incredibly expensive. This is coming from a girl who attends college in New York City. If you thought a grande vanilla latte at Starbucks was expensive in America, just wait until you get to London. For anyone interested in living in London, save up as many pennies as you can. With my internship at KPMG, I was paid in pounds, which was a lifesaver towards the end of my trip! Additionally, London’s public transportation train, called the “Tube”, shuts down at 12:00am. If you are out late at a show or are spending some time with friends at the pub, beware that you may have to wait for a bus or take a black cab instead of the Tube.

As you can see, there are many positive aspects of London that completely outweigh the negatives. Once you get to the city, you will realize just how lucky you are to be visiting one of the greatest cities in the world.

Introduction

'Ello, mates! This blog is going to be filled with all things London! From August to December, I spent my fall semester studying abroad in the most magical city in the world. Everyday, I think about how grateful and lucky I am to have been able to spend 4 months becoming an independent and mature individual. I've never learned so much about myself and the world in such a short amount of time. I'm here to share my unique experiences and to show my readers how important it is to spend a significant time abroad. Wherever the road my take you, whether it be London, Rome, Paris, Madrid, Vienna; Europe is a vast and magnificent place to meet new people, see new places, and eat delicious food!

Not only did I live in London, but I travelled to 11 cities and 10 countries. I was able to travel on the weekends with my friends from Fordham. After spending a three-day trip with my friends, you create a bond that is unexplainable. From booking a $20.00 flight to Dublin on a "low-cost" airline to spending a weekend in a 3-star hostile, you'll never know who you will meet and what experiences you may go through. One of the most important lessons I learned was to keep an open mind and be able to step outside your comfort zone because change is inevitable.

What I want to do with this blog is not only share my experiences in Europe, but to also show readers the right way to study abroad in London. There are many things in London that I wasn't able to do because I was busy spending 2-3 days in another country. The reason students pick one city to study abroad in is to become completely immersed in the city. Although I wish I spent more weekends in London, I have a good amount of experience to help anyone interested in living in the city. I know I will be back shortly after I graduate to live and work in London.

I'm looking forward to future blog posts :)

Cheers!