One thing I love about the UK is how close it is to Europe and how easy it is to travel.  Coming from the East Coast of the US, flying to Europe is quite a long trip that usually requires a lot of time off.

Don’t get me wrong, there is so much to see within the US and North America, but for someone who has a deep-seated love of international travel, being in London is really exciting. And a ‘trip’ doesn’t have to always mean hopping on a flight and changing time zones; there’s so much to see within the UK as well.

So, if you find yourself with a week off (hint: reading week), or a long weekend due to a bank holiday, and have budgeted for a few trips, definitely take advantage of LSE’s prime location!

Getting to airports is easy enough from London, my favorite airport being Gatwick since I can get the Thameslink just ten minutes from my flat. (From King’s Cross to Gatwick is only 45 minutes!)

My dad travelled a lot for work during his career and particularly likes exploring the UK. When he first visited me, he took me to Edinburgh and Inverness, and I couldn’t believe I hadn’t checked out Scotland sooner! It was such an easy LNER train ride from King’s Cross and Scotland is absolutely gorgeous! We’ve got plans to check out Stirling and Glasgow next.

Wales is a train ride out of Paddington, and from London you can take so many trips outside of the city.  Brighton and the coast are closer than you think, and I’ve heard Cornwall is beautiful!

As for international travel, don’t forget about the Eurostar to France – sometimes it’s nice not to have to go through the whole airport routine.  (Don’t worry, you’ll still get a passport stamp).

Recently I visited Budapest and couldn’t have had a better time.  It’s affordable and lively, and the food was amazing. It’s a great place to visit with friends, especially once the weather warms up!

If travel is a part of your plans while at LSE, make the most of long-weekends and don’t forget how much there is to explore within the UK as well!

This post is written about travel options that were available prior to lockdown and domestic and international travel restrictions as a result of COVID-19.