What better than to learn English than in England's capital city? Poet Samuel Johnson once said 'you'll find no man who is willing to leave London. When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.' And eight million Londoners must agree. There are 250 museums, hundreds of bars, clubs, restaurants, cinemas and shops so getting bored of this city metropolis simply isn't an option.
London has been an important city on the world stage for over 2000 years and its history is evident everywhere, but probably no more so than in the oldest part of the capital, the City of London. This small area is home to the old: the Bank of England, St Paul's Cathedral and the Tower of London, as well as the new: the London Stock Exchange, the Swiss Re Building ? aka the Gherkin ? and the Lloyds Building. Nowhere else on earth is quite like it.
At first glance you might think London is an impersonal place where no one can feel truly at home. However, communities are borne out of localised ethnic groups and people with common interests and you will be surprised at how friendly people can be.
London is not all good. From rent to entertainment, the cost of living is among the highest in the world, despite its comprehensive transport system, travelling across this vast expanse of city is a nightmare requiring at least an hour to get anywhere and crime is still an issue facing many communities.
But, as the eight million other Londoners must agree, the benefits of living here completely outweighed the problems. You will be too busy enjoying yourself, learning, working and living to let the negative things worry you.
Tourists only see one side of the city. As soon as you become a local, a whole new side of London awaits you. Even tourists know that the national museums are free, taxis are ridiculously expensive and buses are the most popular way to get around.
But, you probably didn't know that Kingsland Road market in Dalston is the new Brixton market, Hackney in the East End is the trendy version of the West End and you can swim in giant ponds for free on Hampstead Heath.
The more time you spend in London, the more you love it. Studying here will offer you a plethora of resources such as the British Library and world-class museums, and with almost eight million people already living here, you are sure to find someone to practice your new found language skills with.
