Don’t Spend Your Study Abroad Semester in an Airport
It is easy to get caught up in the travel flex when you get to London. I’ve done my fair share of travel already, having been to Dublin and Morocco, and writing from Wales, where I am visiting with my IFSA group. I have more trips lined up for the next few months, but I’ve realized if you aren’t careful, you could end up treating London like a glorified base camp instead of the place you live.
The London backyard
You don’t have to leave the city to see something new. London is massive, and I’ve found that just picking a random neighborhood to explore can take a weekend. I’ve spent time wandering through Notting Hill and checking out the vibe in Brixton (an IFSA outing). Each area feels like a completely different city.
Even if you want to get out of The Big Smoke, you don’t need a flight. Day trips to Oxford and Cambridge are easy, and IFSA took us down to Brighton recently—a good break from city noise.
Doing vs. traveling
There is a lot of pressure to book a flight every Friday, but some of the best stuff I’ve done has been right here.
- The West End: Live theatre is one of those things you should experience at least once.
- Football culture: I haven’t been to a match yet, but IFSA is hosting students at a couple of games soon that I want to catch. The energy in the city on match days is a whole different experience compared to sports back home.
- Parks: If you’re low on cash or need a minute to breathe, London parks are solid. It’s not just grass. There are ponds full of a massive variety of swans, ducks, and geese. It’s strangely relaxing to sit by the water and watch them for a bit.
The takeaway
My advice is to stop worrying about your passport stamps. It’s great to see new countries, and you should definitely do it, but don’t ignore what’s right in front of you. You’re living in one of the biggest cultural hubs in the world—take advantage of it while you’re here.
Quintina Z. | Colby College | Queen Mary University of London, England | Spring 2026