Study in the UK - Across the Pond Canada

Quirky Spots to Visit in London

Written by Ambassador Nicole - 05/03/2020

Not only is London the biggest financial Hub in the UK, it has been termed the world’s most innovative and influential global city. While there is no shortage of sights to see and things to do upon your first visit here, I’ve outlined some must see spots within London that are more off the beaten path.

Markets

There are currently around 280 markets in London, some outdoors, some indoors, and ranging from selling food to groceries to vintage clothing. While some smaller markets are only open on the weekend the following are open 7 day a week.
 

Brick Lane Market

Not only home to an international food hall, this market is also home to one of the largest vintage clothing markets in London. Underneath the main food hall you will see a neon lined stairway leading to an underground vintage clothing paradise! On days with good weather the market spills outside into the main courtyard with food trucks and other creative vendors.
 

Borough Market

Located right under London bridge, Borough Market is quite large and popular on weekends as they sell a variety of produce, cheese and meats that are harder to find in the grocery shops.

The exterior of Bridget Jones’ flat from the movie series can be seen here, as well as the exterior of the ‘Leaky Cauldron’ bar from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban!

 

Camden Market

One of the larger and more permanent markets in London, Camden market is comprised of shops rather than pop up stalls. Stables Market within Camden market has vendors selling out of what used to be horse stalls for the Pickford Horse Hospital and guests can find unique clothes, food and décor in the area. Surrounded by a network of canals and home to influential musicians such as Amy Winehouse and The WHO, Camden is a unique area popular for its rock music influence and is a London must-see!
 

Pop Brixton and BoxPark

Pop Brixton is a food and drink market located in Brixton. The entire market is self contained and made out of stacked shipping containers. Popular on a night out, visitors are ID’d at the door upon entry and are able to flow freely between restaurants, beer gardens, a small dining hall and a dancehall.

 Located in Shoreditch, BoxPark has the same idea as POPBrixton but is a retail space as opposed to a food and drink spot.
 

Café’s and restaurants

God’s Own Junkyard

God’s Own Junkyard is a spot that screams Quirky. The shop is home to the largest stock of vintage and neon signs in all of Europe. Its free to enter and visitors can grab a bite to eat next door at the Rolling Stones café.

The Breakfast Club

A chain of restaurants serving all day breakfast around the city at a reasonable price. But before you go, be sure to check out each location’s website prior to arrival, as many of them operate secret bars within the restaurant, accessible by stating a secret phrase to the host.

Churchill Arms

Very well landscaped flower covered pub near Hyde park that boasts great pub style food and excellent photo opportunities!

Dans Le Noir- Farringdon

Diners eat in the dark and served by blind staff. The restaurant’s website describes it as a ‘Unique sensory experience that allows you to re-evaluate your perception of taste as this sense is heightened with the absence of sight’. Definitely a cool experience!

Scenic/ Tourist

Getting Around

The transportation system in London was designed to be efficient, considering it transports around 2 million people each day on busses and tubes. When out sightseeing an alternative to using London transportation is to purchase a ticket for a private hop-on-hop-off bus system whose routes are designed to showcase the city’s top attractions and sights. While these tickets can be pricey, I would suggest taking a ride on the DLR line or the London Overground. For the price of normal subway fares, you can ride these Overground tube’s which provide a good view of the city from above and have a couple lines each, allowing you to do the whole network for a max rate of £13.

Vauxhall City Farm

A notable quality of London is the lack of green spaces and nature outside of the designated parks as the city is so populated. In addition to Regent’s Park and Hyde Parks in central London, be sure to check out Vauxhall City farm just a 5-minute walk south of the river Thames. For a donation, guests are invited into the farm run by volunteers and able to participate in the petting zoo and learn about all the farm animals they have there. There is also a small restaurant guests can grab a bite to eat at, or a hot drink on a chilly day (as its open all year round)

Roman Temple of Mithras

The city of London is over 2000 years old and is full of history and culture. Although it is not hard to forget whilst walking around and admiring the architecture of the old buildings in central London, the Roman Temple of Mithras is a sure reminder of the city’s age.  Just south of central Bank station, a Mithreum temple was discovered under one of the city’s busy streets in 1954 prior to a building’s construction that dates back to the 3rd century Romans!

Neals Yard

Hidden just off the main road, Neal’s Yard is a colorfully decorated courtyard in Covent Garden. Tourists will find multiple restaurants with patios in addition to the Neals Yard Remedy flagship store. While you’re there, be sure to check out Homeslice pizza for a rotating menu of craft 20” pizzas to share or sold by the slice!

Interested in studying in the UK? You can find out more by contacting one of our advisors!

 

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Valentine's Day in Newcastle

Written by ATPAmbassador - 22/02/2020

by Alessia Scappaticci

Whether you’re coupled up or on the market,
we can all agree that Valentine’s Day is a great day to spread the love. My
intentions for this year were to do just that by spending some time with my
friends, and treating myself to some “me time”. Luckily, Newcastle was packed
with events and activities that made it easy to enjoy the day to the fullest.

Free Hugs Newcastle

Free Hugs Newcastle was born
out of a social movement, operating on the belief that everyone deserves random
acts of love and kindness. Their mission this Valentine’s Day was to spread as
much love and kindness as they could- so a few members of the movement stood
underneath Grey’s
Monument
and offered free hugs to each passer-by.

Afternoon Tea at The Great British
Cupcakery

The
Great British Cupcakery
is my favourite café in Newcastle, so you can
imagine how excited I was when my friend suggested we go there for tea. It’s
definitely the perfect setting for an afternoon with some girlfriends because
the treats taste amazing, the staff is always kind, and the space itself is
absolutely stunning. My friends and I sipped on pink latte’s, gossiped about
our lives, and feasted on the most delicious food; I’m still dreaming about the
cheese scone I ate. 


Photo courtesy of Quianyu Cao

Student Valentine’s Day Fair

The Student Union at Newcastle University hosted a Valentine’s Day
fair filled with vendors from around the city, sweet treats, and tons of
prizes. My friends and I visited the fair for a little bit, and ended up
meeting some great people. I still can’t decide if my favourite part of was
taking home a full bag of candy or winning a Domino’s voucher- either way, my
heart (and my stomach) were very happy.

Heart Opening Vinyasa Yoga

I wanted to take some time for myself after bopping around the city all day, so I attended a heart-opening yoga class from Moving Bodies, Moving Minds. I’m no stranger to a post-yoga afterglow, but this class was so different from what I was used to. The instructor talked us through a meditation centred around self-love, and surprised each member of the class with a written sentiment to take home with us. It was a perfect end to a buzzing day.


Photo taken by Alessia Scappaticci

My evening consisted of copious amounts of
junk food, watching Say Anything (because who doesn’t love young John Cusack),
and laughing with my best friends. It was definitely the cherry on top to a
lovely say, and I hope you’re Valentine’s Day was just as wonderful.

If you’re interested in learning more about how you can get here too, then you can contact an advisor, and keep up with Across the Pond on social media. You can also follow along on my UK journey on Instagram at @alessiaacrossthepond!

Sources

-https://www.facebook.com/HugNewcastle/

-https://www.newcastlegateshead.com/things-to-do/greys-monument-p977001

-https://www.ncl.ac.uk

-https://gbcupcakery.co.uk

-https://www.facebook.com/movingbodiesmovingminds/

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Study in the UK - Across the Pond Canada

My Experience Choosing a Dissertation Topic

Written by Ambassador Kaley - 01/08/2023

One of the first questions I had when applying for my masters was what the dissertation process would be like. I had written a thesis in my undergraduate and so while I was familiar with the process at my university in Canada, I was unsure of how it would be for a master’s course in the UK. While I can’t speak for all universities, this was my experience at Newcastle University studying for an MSc Foundations in Clinical Psychology.
 

Supervisor Selection

Towards the end of semester one a PDF was sent out to all students with a list of people who were willing to take on students for a dissertation. Some of these people had pre-established projects and were looking for students to take on one of their projects and others had broad research interests and were willing to take students for their own project ideas. While this helps for students who do not have any strong research interests or a specific project in mind, it is a bit harder for someone with a specific idea to find a project with this kind of system. I have specific research interests so the options for supervisors in my area was very minimal. I went to one meeting for someone in my area of interest, but so did 20+ other interested students. It turned out that she was only willing to take 2 students and with over 20 of us looking to go onto the project, I was not one of them. Since she was my only option for a project in my specific area, I was left without a project and no ideas. This is how I went from having no project and no ideas, to getting a dissertation project I am very happy with.
 

My Experience

I began contacting other supervisors who studied areas that I am interested in. My main interest is on childhood illness, but because I am also interested in anxiety, disordered eating, a developmental disorders, I started contacting other researchers in these areas. After contacting dozens of faculty members and going to many meetings I started to narrow down my options to 3. Some of the faculty members had already taken on student and didn’t have room for another, and some had projects that I didn’t see myself enjoying working on, so this also factored into my decision.

After having 3 projects that I had an interest in I had to make a decision. What ultimately led to my final decision was which would give me the most relevant experience for my future studies and future career. One of these three projects involved being trained to deliver an intervention and this largely is what drove my decision in choosing the topic.

My course has about 70 students, which is the largest year yet and double what they had last year. This means that way more people were competing for a dissertation with the same amount of faculty as previous years. With most faculty only taking 2 or 3 students it seemed that rejections were more common than getting a project. But with that being said, this was my experience and different programs and different universities may have less students or more faculty. Choosing a dissertation was a very stressful few weeks, but in the end all 70 of us landed on a project.
 

Tips for choosing a dissertation

  • Remember you will be spending a lot of time on this project, so don’t just agree to something to have a project. Make sure it’s something you have at least some interest in.
  • If your project isn’t exactly what you want to do out of school don’t worry. The main point of the dissertation is just to get experience.
  • Try not to stress too much. While choosing a project may be hard and things may not go as planned, you will end up with a project.
  • Go into it with an open mind. While your project may not be perfect or ideal, it can still be something you end up happy with.
  • Contact many people and start the process early! The sooner you start contacting supervisors the better your chances are to get onto a high demand project.
     

Interested in studying in the UK? You can find out more by contacting one of our advisors!

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The Best Free (or Cheap) Activities to do as a Student in the UK

Written by Mackenzie - 15/02/2020


Exploring Greenwich - Old Royal Naval College

Something that I remember fondly from my time in the UK are free or affordable activities to do as a student! Being a student, I was very conscious of my budget, so I discovered a lot that I could do while not spending too much (or anything at all).

I lived in London, so I will detail some free activities to do as a student there first. Further on I talk about the rest of the UK!

Free activities in London

There are a multitude of free activities in the UK, particularly in London, depending on your interests:


Victoria and Albert Museum
  • Museums/Galleries – I studied history, so I spent a lot of my time in the free museums of London. There is the option for a donation upon entry, but you are not obligated to do so. My favourites included:
    • The Victoria and Albert Museum (free)
    • The British Museum (free)
    • The National Gallery (free)
    • The National Portrait Gallery (free)
    • Museum of London (free)
    • Museum of London Docklands (free)
    • Natural History Museum (free)
    • National Maritime Museum (free)
    • The Queen’s House (free)
    • Sir John Soane’s Museum (free)
    • The Royal Observatory (free)
    • The Wallace Collection (free)
    • … I could go on and on! There are SO many free museums in London!
  • Sky Garden – Forget the Shard! If
    you want some amazing 360 degree views of London, while exploring a beautiful
    public garden (at the top of a skyscraper), the Sky Garden is a must-visit and
    it’s FREE admission! You must book in advance online for a visit slot, but it
    is free to do so.
  • Parks and green spaces – One of my favourite
    things to do in London was visit the parks and greenspaces for a stroll, or
    even a picnic. Pick up some cheap snacks and visit any one of my favourite
    spots:
    • Hyde Park/Kensington
      Gardens
    • Hampstead Heath
    • Green Park
    • St. James’s Park
    • The Regent’s Park
    • Greenwich Park
    • Richmond Park
    • Lincoln’s Inn Fields

Affordable activities across the UK

  • Inexpensive day trips – if you book well enough in advance, you can get the train or a coach bus to anywhere in the UK, whether a short or longer trip. I did this many times for well under £20, and would just explore new towns and cities for free. They often have free attractions as well, and the only things you need to pay for are the ticket there and a spot of lunch!
  • Theatre/Music - most theatres and concert halls offer student priced tickets that are MUCH cheaper than a standard admission price! I saw plays and musicals for as little as £5-15. Look for "concession" prices or student prices before buying!
  • National Trust, Historic Scotland, or English
    Heritage properties
    – so many of the UK’s amazing properties and estates are incredibly
    inexpensive to visit, and also offer student discounts on their entry fees.
    Some of my favourites I was able to visit were:
    • Prior Park Landscape
      Gardens, Bath
    • Bath Assembly Rooms, Bath
    • Lacock Abbey, near
      Chippenham
    • Saltram House, Plymouth
    • The White Cliffs of
      Dover, Kent
    • Chiswick House, London
    • Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh
    • Kisimul Castle, Isle of
      Barra
    • Clava Carins, near
      Inverness
  • Hiking­ – I loved hiking in the UK.
    There are so many stunning places to take a hike, whether you want to spend one
    hour or several!
  • Student discount schemes – There are a ton of student schemes and discount cards available to you in London and the whole of the UK. This includes UNiDAYS (discounts on almost everything!), tastecard (save money on food!), Totum (formerly National Union of Students) card, student passes for transportation, and student prices on membership cards to the historic and heritage organizations I mentioned above.

As you can see there are a multitude of cheap or free activities to do as a student in the UK! Take advantage while you’re studying in the UK – you will not regret it!

Interested in studying in the UK? You can find out more by contacting one of our advisors!

Sources

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/

https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/

https://members.historic-scotland.gov.uk/

https://www.myunidays.com/GB/en-GB

https://www.tastecard.co.uk/https://www.totum.com/

https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/entry-pass

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Studying in the UK vs Studying in Canada

Written by ATPAmbassador - 24/01/2020

by Kaley Dallaire

Since coming to the UK I have noticed quite
a few differences from Canada. I have come from an undergraduate in Canada to a
masters in England so some of these differences may be because of being in a
postgraduate course. Regardless, there are quite a few things that differ in studying
in the UK.

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<p>Description automatically generated
Figure 1 The Arches (Newcastle University)
  • Marking criteria
    • In Canada I was marked with a percentage,
      GPA, and letter grades. Here it’s a little different. For my postgraduate
      course there are 3 categories that your marks can fall into; Pass, merit, or
      distinction. The major difference is by what is considered merit or
      distinction. While 50 is still considered a pass, for my course a merit is
      60-70 and a distinction is 70 and above. As well, the grading scheme only goes
      up to 90. Getting a 60 is considered rather good and many people don’t even get
      above a 70 whereas in Canada getting a 70 was often an average grade. I must
      admit it has been difficult getting used to seeing a low number and associating
      it with a good grade.
  • Exam and semester dates
    • Back home my undergraduate
      exams would happen in December before Christmas and second semester would start
      in January when you return from the break. Here my exams are in January after I
      return for Christmas and second semester doesn’t start until the very end of
      January. As well, first semester started in October.
A sign on the side of a building</p>
<p>Description automatically generated
Figure 2 Banner of Alumni Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean)
  • Weight of assignments
    • This has been very difficult to
      get used to. Back home one class would have multiple assignments, 1 or 2
      midterms, and a final exam. This meant that everything would be worth less.
      Final exams were typically worth 25% and you could go into it with a high grade
      due to previous assignments, midterms, and attendance increasing your overall
      grade. Here, I have two classes where there’s one assignment worth 100%. Another
      class had two assignments worth 50% each, and one class had an assignment worth
      25% leaving the final exam worth 75%. This has been really hard to get used to
      as you only have one chance to do well and your entire grade falls on one
      assignment/ exam. However, on the plus side it makes for fewer due dates and
      less work throughout the term.
  • Class schedule
    • Back home I would have to
      select my own classes and make my own schedule. Here, my schedule was made for
      me. This first semester I had 4 classes with school only two days a week, and
      lunch breaks scheduled in for me. This was a lot of stress taken off the
      registration process and leaves for lots of free time built into my schedule
      for me. Another bonus is that classes tend to go on a 9-5 schedule where in
      Canada I had classes as early as 8am and knew people who had evening classes
      that went until 10pm.

While there are many differences that I have come across since studying in England, overall the experience hasn’t been anything too shocking and these differences are all part of this adventure. Some have taken some getting used to (assignments worth 100%) where others I have happily taken on (schedules made up for you). If this has made you curious as to what studying in the UK would be like, then contact an Across the Pond advisor to get started on your applications!

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Bringing the Figgy Pudding: Celebrating Christmas in the UK

Written by ATPAmbassador - 21/01/2020

by Nicole Clendinning

As they don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in England, Scotland or Ireland, the lead up to Christmas in the United Kingdom often dominates most of the fall season. Restaurants and bars start advertising bookings for Christmas parties well before Halloween, as early as September. Christmas markets and winter activities such as skating last until mid-January. While the lead up to the holiday season starts in early fall, the real start of the season is marked by the release of Christmas themed advertisements. Popular department stores such as John Lewis and Selfridges release specially made feel-good Christmas commercials in mid-November that people look forward to watching all year.

While in 2019 the fall
season was slightly overshadowed by campaigns for the general election taking
place in December, the feeling of Christmas was still widely felt.

London

Christmas in London is
exceptionally festive and there are many Christmas themed events going on in
December. Royal Albert Hall, an iconic performance hall in the city puts on a
series of concerts called ‘Christmas at Royal Albert Hall’. Last year they
showed a screening of the Home Alone movies accompanied by a full orchestra and
this year they are hosting events such as a Christmas carol sing along and the
nutcracker.

Oxford Street in
Central London is set up with scenic Christmas lights from mid-November.

Selfridges, an iconic
high-end department store on Oxford street in Central London holds an event to
unveil their holiday window displays.

Food

While in Canada
Christmas dinners bring the thought of turkey and stuffing, roasted chestnuts
and cranberry sauce, the UK has their own distinct Yuletide foods. Mince pies,
sweet tarts filled with raisin, apple and cinnamon are popular desserts
reserved for the holidays and are often served with cold cream or brandy butter
as dessert.

Traditions

There are clear
differences in how Christmas is celebrated in the UK in comparison to North
America. Firstly, they say ‘Happy Christmas’ as opposed to ‘Merry Christmas’
and call Santa Clause, ‘Father Christmas’. Other than these distinctions, old
traditions such as gifting oranges and other fruits as stocking stuffers are
practiced. Some also refrain from putting up a Christmas tree until 12 days
before Christmas, and leave it up into the new year, although stores and
restaurants often decorate as soon as Halloween is over. Christmas in the UK is
more widely regarded as a secular holiday as opposed to a religious one and has
been commercialized in a similar way to the holiday in North America.

Another yearly
tradition that families often partake in are attending Pantomimes, which are
comedy musicals, based on films like Peter Pan, Aladdin and Cinderella. They occasionally
star well known celebrities and are part of Christmas traditions.

While Christmas
parades are not as prevalent across the pond, perhaps one of the most well
attended traditions is to attend German themed Christmas markets. While Ontario
has one large Christmas market in Toronto, many cities in the UK have their
own. No need to travel to London to attend one! These outdoor markets sell
crafts and holiday goods that are often bought as unique gifts. In addition,
there are German sausages, hot ciders and mulled wine to drink in the cold.

In addition to the
classic Christmas songs like Jingle Bells, White Christmas and Frosty the
Snowman, there are British classics unique to England. Some good ones to check
out are Do they know its Christmastime and Merry Christmas Everyone!

Interested in studying in the UK? You can find out more by contacting one of our advisors!

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Why You Should Consider Studying Outside London

Written by Lauren - 15/01/2020

London is an amazing city full of history, there’s
no denying that. There is so much to do, so much to see, and it’s the capital
of England. What’s not to love? It’s so amazing, that people often forget there
are other cities that are just as, if not more, amazing in the UK. This is a
list of reasons why you should consider studying outside of London, and maybe
consider some other cities (or countries!) to be your home away from home!

The Cost

Let’s just get this one
out of the way. Studying in the UK is expensive no matter what, but the cost of
living in London is the highest. Why not look at other cities with lower costs
of living, save some money, and then use it for a trip to London instead?


(via UnSplash, Corey Agopian)

Commute

There are so many cities in the UK that have simpler transportation for you to get to and from campus. I studied in Edinburgh, and never once got stuck in rush hour traffic. Why spend time stuck in London traffic when you could be studying (or really, out exploring)?


(Glen Coe, taken by me)


Landscape

Sure, London is a
beautiful city, but does it have the hills of Scotland or scenery of Wales?
Living in cities like Edinburgh, Cardiff, Belfast, Newcastle, and many more, it
is so much easier to escape the city and spend the day out in nature, just
exploring.

Travel

London is in the South of England, so it’s pretty far to travel to get to other parts of the UK. You could go to school somewhere like York, in the middle of England, and be able to travel easily to London, but also to Scotland, Wales, and tons of cities throughout the UK. Sure, you can fly almost anywhere from London, but wouldn’t you rather be able to take a day trip on the train to another city?

Tourists


(via UnSplash, by Yolanda Sun)

London is a very touristy
city. That’s probably why you want to study there, right? Sure, there’s a ton
to see, and the Royal Family is super close by, but ultimately, you are in the
UK to study. Maybe you want to go to a university where you won’t have to push
through crowds of tourists to get to class, and there are plenty of other
cities in the UK that are great for this! Glasgow, Aberdeen, Leeds, Essex, and
more are all beautiful cities full of things to do and see, without the
overpopulation. Go to London to be a tourist, not to dodge them!

Originality

London is a pretty great
city, which is why everyone wants to study there. Why not check out a school or
city that maybe isn’t as studied at, and have even more amazing stories for
your family and friends back home! Sure, maybe no one you know has ever heard
of Chester, but they’ll be dying to go by the time you’ve finished studying
there. See new parts of the world, and learn something new about the UK;
there’s more to it than just London!

Ultimately, the choice is yours. London is
an amazing city, and if that’s what your heart is set on, good for you! Just
know, there are so many cities in the UK that have so much to offer, and you
should give those a chance!

Interested in studying in the UK? You can find out more by contacting one of our advisors!

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Christmas in Newcastle

Written by ATPAmbassador - 24/12/2019

by Alessia Scappaticci

I have to admit, I had pretty high expectations for being in Newcastle during Christmastime. I’ve seen tons of photos of dreamy fairy lights, specialty Christmas food, and garland draped over every shop and café to not get overly excited. And luckily, Newcastle absolutely didn’t disappoint. Right after Bonfire Night on November 5th, the city switches into holiday mode, and we get to enjoy it all the way up until New Year’s Day. With so much to do and see around Newcastle, here are some of my favourites:

The Fenwick Window
Fenwick is one of the largest department store franchises in the UK; think Hudson’s Bay meets Nordstrom. And every year, flocks of people will walk to the Fenwick in the city centre of Newcastle to watch the annual unveiling of the Christmas window display. Each year has a different theme, and the anticipation leaving up to the reveal is insane. Not to mention, they also invite celebrities or public figures to come and help with the unveiling. Some people wait all day in the (kind of) cold for the best spot. This year’s theme was, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory- each window was a different scene form the movie. The windows were also lit up and playing music. It’s really nice to walk by while getting some Christmas shopping done.   

The Christmas Light Switch-On
Just like the Fenwick window unveiling, the annual Christmas Light Switch-On in Newcastle attracts hundreds of people and some special guests. The lights are set up around the city ahead of time to raise excitement, but they don’t get turned on until the night of the event. Because the lights are set up in different spots around the city, people watch from everywhere. This year, my friends and I chose to watch from the top of Grey St., the most famous street in Newcastle. The weather was perfect for standing outside in early November, and seeing the lights turn on all around Newcastle was one of the most magical sights. And remember those special guests I mentioned? This year’s celebrity appearance was from Sam Fender! It was a night I definitely won’t forget.

The Christmas Market
The Christmas market is definitely a must-do in Newcastle around the holidays. The best part is that the market runs all throughout the busiest streets in Newcastle, so each stall and attraction is within walking distance. Speaking of stalls, the market has everything you can think of- unique little trinkets, vintage pieces, and all the different foods you can think of. Whether you’re in the mood for a traditional British pork roll, or a cookie the size of your head, you can find it at the market. One of my favourite treats is the toffee apple cider; it feels like a hug in a cup! But if browsing through the food stalls and shops aren’t your thing, there are also super fun attractions set up around the market as well!


Photo taken by Alessia Scappaticci

If you’re interested in learning more about how you can get here too, then you can contact an advisor, and keep up with Across the Pond on social media. You can also follow along on my UK journey on Instagram at @alessiaacrossthepond!

Sources  
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/all-about/fenwicks-window
https://www.newcastle.gov.uk/citylife-news/events/newcastle-christmas-light-switch  
https://www.newcastlegateshead.com/whats-on/newcastle-christmas-market-2019-p844621  
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Study in the UK - Across the Pond Canada

How to Handle being Homesick While in the UK

Written by Kiranpreet - 01/08/2023

It has been around 3 months since I first arrived in the UK. Throughout my time here so far, I have gone through a lot of emotions. First: being excited to start a new chapter in my life, second: being nervous to make friends and feel at home, and third: feeling content with where I currently am in life.
 

Excitement

Excitement is what will help you experience the first couple weeks in the UK without feeling homesick. The first week, I had my mom come with me to help get my room sorted and adjust to the UK lifestyle. This was very beneficial as I didn’t feel overwhelmed with having to do everything myself. Many students, of all ages, had their parents or someone come with them and it truly does help with transitioning into living on your own (especially if you haven’t before). With so much change happening, such as moving to a new country, a new language for some, new rules, new time zone, etc.; a whole bunch of newness, having someone with you, helps to completely change your life.
 

Nerves

Nerves are a big thing; this is what hit me once my mom left and school had finally started to pick up. The nerves made me feel lonely and homesick. However, a huge tip I can give is to talk to people. Try to socialize, and not stay too alone for a long period of time. Whenever I felt homesick, I would call my parents and friends back home, but I would also ask my friends here in the UK to hang out. It helps to get your mind off of things, and chances are they are 100% feeling the same as you. Contacting you Across the Pond advisor can also be an option, I believe all of the advisors have experienced university abroad and they can definitely speak from experience and provide tips.
 

Content

Feeling homesick is hard, especially when you aren’t only a couple hours away. Moving to a new country can be extremely difficult, however, getting through the first couple months (which are the hardest) is worth it in the end.

 My top 10 tips would be to:

  1. Bring someone with you if possible, to help with the transition
  2. Put yourself out there, make friends and socialize
  3. Talk to someone if you’re feeling alone or homesick
  4. Plan trips or activities for the weekends to avoid feeling homesick
  5. Call home, if you’re feeling homesick, chances are you are being missed too
  6. Make the best out of your time here in the UK
  7. Watch videos on feeling homesick
  8. Develop a routine to avoid feeling like you have nothing to do
  9. Talk to an Across the Pond advisor
  10. Enjoy!! Feeling homesick will only last so long, it will get easier. Enjoy your time in the UK and live your best life!
     

Homesickness is just one con of moving to the UK, however there are SO many pros. There are such great friends, opportunities and self-growth that I have achieved since moving for law school. I highly recommend making this choice for yourself.

Interested in studying in the UK? You can find out more by contacting one of our advisors!

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Christmas in the UK

Christmas in the UK

Written by Brittany - 15/12/2019

Updated 18 July 2024 by Advisor Brittany.

Christmas is a magical time of year. A holiday now grounded with traditions; it presents the perfect opportunity to create some new traditions as you’re living abroad. There may not be a guarantee of snow (depending on where you’re studying), but it is not difficult to get into the holiday spirit while you’re in the UK. Here are some of my favourite aspects of the holiday season in the UK:

Not sure where to start? Let some of your favourite holiday traditions guide you to fun activities you can do while you’re in the UK!

 

1. If you like driving around looking at lighted up/decorated houses:

Go to a lighting ceremony! (or 2, or 5!)

Location: All over the UK

The start of the Christmas season is marked in different ways for different people. Many of us in Canada have grown up with the notion that decorating your house with lights and tinsel is a good way to get into the holiday spirit. Maybe you have even driven around with your family looking at other decorated houses in your neighbourhood.

In the UK, one of the most defining items to mark the start of the holiday season are the various ‘lighting ceremonies’ that occur. Many communities will have their own ‘lighting ceremonies’ which is essentially switching on a bunch of decorative twinkle lights all over the town centre.

 

 

Depending on where you are, these ceremonies can be simple such as having overhead lights lighting the way to the shopping centre for an hour, or if you’re located in London, lighting ceremonies on some of the more notable streets (Oxford Street, Regents Street) are marked with a huge celebration and concerts that take up the entire afternoon/evening.

It’s fun seeing lighting ceremonies in your own community, but as you travel around take a look at the different ways lights are featured in the decorating. 

 

 

 

2. If you like playing games and seeing Christmas around every corner: 

Check out Winter Wonderland!

Location: London (Hyde Park) from November – January (exact dates vary each year)

 

If fun carnivals are more your style, check out Winter Wonderland in central London. Located in London’s Hyde Park every holiday season, this massive carnival includes opportunities to do some shopping, rides, carnival eats and other fun activities.

This event is free to enter but there is the opportunity to purchase items like ride tickets, food etc. once you’re in the grounds.

It’s the perfect date night location or simply roam around with friends! If you’re not located within London, Winter Wonderland typically runs until the middle of January which gives you plenty of time to plan a weekend trip!

For more information visit: www.hydeparkwinterwonderland.com

 

3. If you like giving gifts more than receiving them:

Shop for gifts at one of the many Christmas Markets!

  • Location: All over the UK
  •  

A personal favourite of mine, you’ll find little markets popping up all over the UK around the start of November. These are usually found in the marketplace or square of your city but can be found elsewhere depending on where you are.

The markets are filled with all sorts of fun Christmas delicacies and include snacks, artisan crafts, fun gift ideas and mulled wine. *See Below.
 

4. If you like hugging hot beverages while the cool wind hits your face:

Grab a cup of mulled wine!

Location: All over the UK

 

A delicacy all over the UK and the perfect beverage to keep you warm on a damp winter evening. Mulled wine is a heated alcoholic drink that utilizes wine (typically a deep red) along with spices (cinnamon, clove) and fruits (oranges, cranberries, currants). If it’s something that you’ve yet to try (I myself had never tried it until moving to the UK) I highly recommend it while you stroll along looking at Christmas lights, or wandering around the Christmas markets.

Not a fan of wine? Living in a different country also means you can find fun holiday drinks at popular locations (like Starbucks or Costa) that you wouldn’t normally get to experience in Canada. Other popular coffee shops offer fun holiday themed cups that will put you in the holiday spirit as well. One of my favourite treats was a Gingerbread Latte from Costa (it came in a Penguin cup alongside a gingerbread biscuit).
 

5. If you like playing pond hockey:

Find an outdoor rink and go skating!

Location: All over the UK

 

If you want a little taste of Canada while you’re spending the holidays in the UK, try seeking out one of the many skating opportunities. London’s Winter Wonderland offers the UK’s largest open-air ice rink but accompanying many of the Christmas markets, communities will often have a space set up with an outdoor skating rink and offer skating. Interested skaters will typically pay a fee for a skating time slot (usually in 1-hour increments). No skates? No problem! Don’t feel obligated to drag your skates across the pond with you, the outdoor skating rinks will offer the opportunity to rent skates for the duration of your skate.

A good place to start your search for one of these skating rinks would be at your local Christmas marketplace, however larger cities like London will offer the opportunity to skate among some of the city’s iconic landmarks (some of these include Somerset House, The Tower of London, and Hampton Court Palace!)

**Prices will vary depending on location and duration of skate*
 

6. If you like old traditions:

Have a look at some of the elaborate window displays!

Location: All over the UK

 

While it’s not uncommon to see some fancy window displays while shopping around during Christmas in some areas of Canada, it is something that is experienced a little less frequently than some would like.

As the UK is rooted in rich history and traditions, many of the older department stores and shopping areas will still heavily feature a more traditional style of marketing and make use of fancier window displays to boost interest during the holiday season.

The most obvious examples will be Harrods and Selfridges in London, but many older established areas will also make use of gorgeous displays in their main shopping areas/malls.

Pictured above: This cute animatronic Teddy Bear inspired rendition of a Christmas Carol was set-up in the Bentall Centre in Kingston Upon Thames. 

 

No matter what your personal holiday traditions look like, there’s no shortage of fun winter activities in the UK. As you will more than likely be living on your own and away from your family for the first time, explore new traditions that you can later bring back and share with your Canadian friends and family!
 

Interested in studying in the UK? You can find out more by contacting one of our advisors!

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