It’s been roughly two months since we went into COVID-19 lockdown here in Britain. It feels like a lot longer than that, but although the situation here is slowly improving, it is important we remain vigilant, stay at home as much as possible, and social distance from each other. So, it seems rather ironic that I am writing this post about traveling right now, but hear me out: travel is an integral part of the student experience and will enhance your time at LSE.

One of LSE’s draws is that it is in the heart of London, one of the most global cities on the planet. Being a student at LSE allows you to meet and interact with people from all over the world in a close and intimate setting, which is hugely important for increasing cultural awareness and making us more informed citizens. This is where travel comes into play.

Traveling from London to other European destinations, or anywhere in the world actually, is very simple given how well-connected London is through six different airports in the area. When I was doing my master’s at LSE in 2017-2018, I made a point of trying to travel one weekend per month to a new European country I had not been to before. This wasn’t hard because I hadn’t been to many before starting my master’s. The reason I prioritised this is because I wanted to learn more about the world and the countries others students were from who I was meeting at LSE. After traveling throughout Europe, I learned more about other societies’ histories, cultures, traditions, and peoples. When I was back in London, I was able to draw connections between other people’s experiences and their backgrounds. It is difficult to overstate how much this added to my education and experience at LSE.

If you’re planning to do any form of degree at LSE, I highly encourage you to travel and see new parts of the world. The learning you do outside the classroom will enrich the learning you do inside the classroom and on campus. Any traveling you do will help make you a more informed citizen and augment your time here.