London: the city of opportunities

London is ranked the number one city in the world for university students

Hotcoursesabroad.com, 2020

London’s creative industries represent an estimated £52 billion of the capital’s economy.

Mayor of London’s Annual Report, June 2019

London’s there to explore and have fun, but it’s also a city where you can excel, progress and make huge strides forward in your career.

Top The City, as seen from the South Bank Left The iconic British Museum Right Street art can be found across London

London – your springboard to success

London is home to top organisations in every sector – from finance and legal to architecture and the creative arts. You name it, you’ll find an organisation in the capital to match your interests and aspirations, whether it’s a small thriving tech start-up or a global giant such as Google or the BBC.

It’s also brimming with culture, history, entertainment and diversity. as well as new opportunities for our adaptable graduates. Despite one or two challenges this year, they’ve been getting involved in live-streamed theatre, leading on COVID-19 research and partnering up with Tate Modern, amongst other things.

You’ll be studying in amongst some of London’s iconic attractions, such as the British Museum, ZSL London Zoo and Whitechapel Art Gallery. Vintage bargains are plentiful in Shoreditch and on Holloway Road, or further afield we recommend Vinegar Yard – fleamarket haven. When you need to refuel, you’ll find numerous outdoor temples to food with offerings from around the globe. Niche festivals, sporting action, cultural events and more are all on hand. A student card will come in very handy for keeping your costs down.

London’s green heart

It may be an enormous urban landscape, but London is dotted with natural environments where you can go to relax and recharge from city life. Near our Holloway campus, you’ll find Clissold Park, which is home to some very Instagram-friendly fallow deer, two picturesque lakes, tennis courts and the beautiful Clissold House, which dates back to the 1790s.

If you want something a little different, try an outdoor art hunt – you’ll find all the greats in unlikely spots, whether you’re hunting out Banksy, Gormley, Rodin, Hepworth or Kapoor.

An appetite for architecture

From Sir Christopher Wren’s famous St Paul’s Cathedral, the Walkie Talkie and iconic Gherkin, to the indulgent glamour of Indian restaurant chain Dishoom, there are plenty of architectural and interior designs to be inspired by here.

Some of London’s buildings have even been designed by our lecturers and graduates. Damien Hirst’s gallery in Vauxhall was designed by architecture lecturer Peter St John and his architecture practice Caruso St John.

Inspiration and opportunities

London is a hub of creativity, with galleries and museums for every artistic taste – the Royal Academy summer exhibition is a must see and has featured our own student work. If photography is more your thing, you’ll have a never-ending supply of inspirational sights to capture, from iconic landmarks to gritty urban scenes. In London you can gain work experience, find inspiration for your research projects and have fun too...

And if you want to get away from it all, it’s an easy hop to several major airports, and the Eurostar just down the road in St Pancras will also get you to Paris and beyond in a matter of hours.

The capital’s financial sector employs just over three quarters of a million people, with more head offices of banks in London than in any other place in the world.

2017 report by TheCityUK