I’ve been in London for just over a month, and it’s been a blast so far, exploring the different boroughs, traveling, and working at my internship. I’m embracing being abroad, but I noticed a discrepancy: I’m not embracing the study in study abroad. 

At my home university, my life revolves around academics. That’s not to say that I don’t have a social life, but when living on campus, it’s easy to focus on studying, which can be fun in its own way. Yet here, I’ve been pushing aside my impending due dates; afterall, this is my chance to try out a new city! What I’ve realized is that studying does not have to be a chore nor a distraction from immersing myself into English culture. Actually, it’s an opportunity to explore more.

Because of my need to write essays and read, I made an attempt to find places to do so that are not my bedroom. While coffee shops are a classic study spot of mine, I do not need to shell out six bucks for a coffee to encourage me to study, so these spots are free yet create the perfect ambiance for study. Many of these places are also cultural spots, so I’m not missing out on London while I’m perfecting an essay or reading that last chapter. 

Libraries

Libraries are a go-to place to study, and my university library back in Texas is my favorite place to work on papers. England, of course, has no shortage of libraries, and the British Library is a must-visit. A vast building modelled after the design of ocean liners, the British Library houses every book published in the country with archives starting below ground and spanning to the sky. Among its archives is King George III’s library, the Magna Carta, and Shakespeare’s First Folio, all of which are on display.

The Library provides free and fast wifi, and while everyone has access to the cafe areas, I was able to get a card that gave me access to the Reading Rooms which provided a comfortable and productive space to type away on my laptop. 

Another excellent library is the University of London’s Senate House Library. Although smaller, it is still vast and filled with students, providing a great atmosphere. This library in particular is perfect for pretending to be a character in a dark academia novel while studying, which is a good motivator for me. 

Green Spaces

London might be a metropolis, but it is also home to over 500 public gardens! Tucked in between blocks just off the main roads, these gardens are an oasis of green and tranquility in the midst of the bustling city. Whether it’s a lunch break or a stop on the way, a garden offers a great place to read, and especially during this stretch of nice weather, I opt to study outside.

For a larger green space, parks are also a great option! Even within central London, there are massive parks, most notable are Hyde and Regent’s, each with over 300 acres of land. Over the weekend, I went to St. James’s Park, which sprawls in between St. James’s Palace and Buckingham Palace. After strolling through a path overlooking a pond filled with wildlife and crossing a bridge with a leafy view of Big Ben and the London Eye, I settled underneath a tree where I made progress on my readings. It was a sunny day, and with famous London landmarks surrounding me, it hardly felt like studying. 

Public Transport

With the amount of time I spend commuting, I realized that it’s the perfect time to read or catch up on work. On the Tube, it's not unusual to see commuters holding onto an open book in one hand and grasping a poll in the other, and on the bus there are people occasionally working on laptops. Personally, I love to read a chapter or two on the upper deck while sometimes looking up to catch sights of the city. 

Really, Just Make Do

Studying abroad is all about adapting, and each day looks different. Sometimes, you really do just need to make do with whatever the day deals you, and that’s the beauty of studying abroad.