Study Abroad | London

Housing

Student Residence

During your time abroad you will live in London, within easy travel by public transport to the AIFS Global Education Center, the many museums, galleries, theaters and green open spaces of central London.

Students will live in a private room with a double bed, private ensuite bathroom, study desk and chair. There will be a communal kitchen, shared between approximately 5-6 students.

Internet access is included in all AIFS London housing.

City Facts

Population

London has a diverse range of peoples and cultures, and more than 300 languages are spoken within its boundaries. London had topped 9 million people in 2020.  

Culture

London is home to numerous museums, galleries, libraries, sporting events and other cultural institutions, including the British Museum, National Gallery, Tate Modern, British Library and 40 West End theaters.

Transportation

London’s transportation system is also renowned, and the London Underground is the oldest underground railway network in the world. A London Transport travel pass is included in your program fee.

Site Staff

AIFS in London Director, January Term Program

Heather Lees

My love of travel began at an early age from moving around to different U.S. Naval bases and family road trips, to visiting family in the Philippines and studying abroad in the UK and Shanghai, China. After graduating from university in the U.S., I began a career in higher education, starting out in Residence Life and student activities before transitioning into international education. I have lived in the UK, on and off, for nearly 14 years (I am eligible for British citizenship!) and love to highlight all the UK has to offer. While I am mostly found indoors baking and crocheting, some of my favorite trips with students have been to national parks here in the UK… from ghyll scrambling in the Lake District to kayaking in the Brecon Beacons. I am a Mental Health First Aider and always happy to lend an ear.

The Program Director provides academic advice, introduces you to the community and handles communication with the University.

January 2025 Cultural Activities

Learning does not begin or end in the classroom. To help you get a true taste of British life the AIFS staff organizes an active social and cultural program. Activities may include:

• Guided city tour with a professional guide See Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London
• Christmas at Kew Gardens Visit the world-renowned Royal Botanical Gardens.
• Greenwich excursion Home to the Royal Observatory, the Cutty Sark and the National Maritime Museum
• Performance at a West End theater London is renowned for its vibrant theater scene. See a show in the famous West End theater district
• Afternoon tea tea in a pot, scones with cream and jam, finger sandwiches and dainty cakes; enjoy the most English of institutions in a charming tearoom
• Visits to museums, galleries and landmarks
• Walking tour to experience London’s diverse and multicultural neighborhoods and vibrant art scene
• Curry night in Brick Lane, the heart of London’s Bangladeshi community. Sample what has become the U.K.’s national cuisine – curry! Enjoy a meal with new friends in a hip neighborhood of the city

Specific activities for your program will be confirmed prior to the program start date. Besides arranged activities and visits you will undertake as part of the course you select, there is always something going on in and around London. Your Program Director will give you all the information you need to find events and activities that interest you.

January 2026 Cultural Activities

Learning does not begin or end in the classroom. To help you get a true taste of British life the AIFS staff organizes an active social and cultural program. Activities may include:

• Guided city tour with a professional guide See Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London
• Join in or observe the iconic ice-skating rink at Somerset House lit up by the River Thames
• Greenwich excursion exploring Britain’s maritime dominance and stand with one foot on each side of the Greenwich Meridien Timeline, the point from which all other time zones in the world are calculated
• Performance at a West End theater London is renowned for its vibrant theater scene. See a show in the famous West End theater district
• Eat a world class curry in ”Banglatown” and visit markets and sample the diverse cuisine which vividly narrates the story of London’s multicultural population
• Visits to museums, galleries and landmarks, including the Bank of England, Westminster Abbey, and the British Museum
• Explore the bunkers where Winston Churchill worked, slept and strategized while bombs fell on London during World War II
• Explore Brick Lane, home to a number of historic communities of migrants in Britain
• Play in one of London’s new gaming venues to learn how technology has transformed the way Londoners work, rest and play
• Volunteer alongside Londoners from every walk of life, cooking up a storm in a community kitchen
• Experience the vibrant neighborhood of Brixton and listen to the music which bears testimony to a history of celebrating the community who lives there and challenging racism
• Explore backstage at Shakespeare’s Globe, the theatre reconstructed to exactly resemble the space in which Shakespeare’s plays were first performed on the banks of the Thames

Specific activities for your program will be confirmed prior to the program start date. Besides the arranged activities and visits you will undertake as part of the course you select, there is always something going on in and around London. Your Program Director will give you all the information you need to find events and activities that interest you.