Every time someone asks me how do I like living in London, I have only one answer, “I love it and you should come visit me!” Moving from India to London has been a life altering experience for me. I’ve been able to explore and experience so much of art, culture, entertainment, and all-around fun things, more than I have been able to do at home. Here’s a list of few of my favourite things to do/see/experience in London, in no particular order.

1. Museums

One of the best things I have been able to experience are the amazing museums all around the city. Some of my best weekends have been spent strolling around museums with a friend, taking in the history, art and culture that they have to offer. Even if you think these are very touristy activities, it makes no sense to not visit them – they are worth every single minute you spend inside them. I loved the Science Museum, the Wallace Collection, National Gallery and the Tate Modern, from the many that I have visited. The Black Cultural Archives in Brixton is also an amazing museum that highlights the history of people from Africa and the Caribbeans in England. in There is so much diversity in each of these museums and you’re bound to find something or the other that interests and intrigues you.

2. Restaurants

London is one of the best cities when it comes to the range of cuisines you can try out. There are so many food markets and restaurants that cater to everyone. Personally, I love markets like Seven Dials and Mercato Metropolitano because there are so many wonderful options to try, all in one place. Although eating out can be a bit expensive, especially on a student budget, I try to make sure when I’m eating out, I’m trying something new always. Just last week, I tried a Uyghur restaurant near Tottenham Court Road, something that would be very difficult to come by in India. Some of my favourite restaurants in the city are Berenjak for Persian food, Rasa Sayang for Malaysian cuisine, Tamil Prince for South-Indian food and Chinatown (yes, the entire area) for amazing and delectable East Asian cuisine.

3. Pubs

Now, I don’t have a favourite pub in London (yet) but the one thing that I absolutely love doing at the end of a long day is sit in a pub and drink a nice pint of beer with my friends. I love the pub-going culture of the city, something that I also experienced back home in Bengaluru. While not the best atmosphere for a lot of people, I also love going into a Wetherspoons for a cheap drink. There are some amazing pubs in every corner of the city and there is nothing better than pub-hopping just because it’s simple, convenient, and mostly a cheap and fun night out.

There’s so much more to do in London and like I always say, there’s something for everyone. If you are apprehensive about how you’ll spend your days in London, don’t worry – you will be drowning in options soon.