5 Spooky Places to visit in the UK
Written by admin - 30/10/2018
Oct 30, 2018 9:00:00 AM
With Halloween fast approaching advisor Brittni highlights some of the spookiest tourist attractions in the UK. (Most of which she visited herself!) Crumlin Road Gaol – Belfast, Northern Ireland Crumlin Road Gaol is now a popular museum in Belfast. But this wasn’t always the case, before becoming a tourist attraction it was a fully operational prison. It first opened its gates as a prison in 1846 and remained open for 150 years. During those 150 years, the prison had over 25,000 prisoners including murderers, suffragettes and loyalist and republican prisoners. On a 70 minute guided tour you will be taken through the years and experience what life was like for the prisoners. You will also visit the “Condemned Man’s Cell” where over 17 prisoners were executed. Spooky! The Real Mary King’s Close- Edinburgh, Scotland If you have visited Edinburgh before you will have heard of the Royal Mile- a popular tourist destination and busy street for locals alike. But did you know that under the Royal Mile there is a preserved 17th century street called Mary King’s Close? Take a one hour guided tour that will bring you back in time to see what life was like over 400 years ago. There are several costumed tour guides that will share tales of plague, pestilence, murder and intrigue. Make sure to book in advance for this! (I wasn’t able to get in the first time). The London Dungeon- London, England The London Dungeon is a hugely popular tourist attraction located along London’s South Bank. The Dungeon experience is a tough one to explain because there is so much going on! The London Dungeon Experience re-creates historical events London events- but not the happy ones, the scary ones including Jack the ripper and the Plague! It uses a mixture of live actors, special effects and even rides. Jack the Ripper Tour- London, England If you haven’t heard of Jack the Ripper he was a notorious serial killer in London’s East End back in 1888. The Jack the Ripper Walking Tour will take you through the streets and narrow alleyways where these murders occurred all those years ago. This tour is not only historical but very educational as well- you will learn all about the case, the witnesses and even about the night they “almost caught him”. If you ever find yourself in London’s East end I highly recommend it! Royal Oak Hotel- Conwy, Wales According to locals and staff the Royal Oak Hotel in Betws-y-Coed are being haunted by a cloaked lady, a nun and a ghostly shadow. These reports of strange goings-on date back to the 1960s but still continue today.Staff at the Royal Oak Hotel, have reported TVs switching themselves on and off, strange whispering in the corridors and a ghostly shadow walking around the bar area. Are you brave enough to go check it out for yourself?
Moving to London
Written by admin - 26/10/2018
Dreaming about this one stage in my life for the past few years and having it come to fruition as I arrived in London, this was a new beginning and chapter of my life. I know, it sounds pretty climatic and it was (I’d like to think so). While saying goodbyes to my family and friends was difficult, the biggest challenge in moving countries was surprisingly not obtaining the visa or the first few days at university – it was about my outlook on this new move. Personally, moving to London was more than just an educational decision, I wanted to study abroad for the memories and new experiences that it would entail. As such, I learned that you have to be genuinely excited and open for this new change!
As a Canadian, obtaining my visa was a fairly simple process. From applying through the government website and paying the fees (less than 30 minutes) to attending my interview appointment (appointment 
lasted around 30-40 minutes), the last thing left to do was to wait for the notification that my passport was being mailed back to me. As I received a late acceptance, I had to apply for my visa later than I had originally planned. The extended timeline in applying for my visa led to me having to pay an additional fee for faster processing time of the visa itself. I highly recommend that students (unlike me) apply for their visa the moment they are able (ask your advisor!). Upon arrival, the commute from the airport to the hotel was seamless since I had booked a taxi to secure a method of transportation – I had two large suitcases and two carry-on luggage. Given the amount of luggage I had and the fact that my flight was delayed twice, taking a bus or train would not have been an option.
At last, I made it to Hogwarts to study in a 3 year LLB program! Jokes aside, Royal Holloway has been 
known to be to one of the most beautiful campuses in the UK and there is no contesting that (check out the pictures below). The first few days consisted of setting up my bank account and going back and forth to potential private accommodations around the university campus area. Once I secured a room, I gave myself a few days to do touristy things (eat lots of food at local markets) and buy the essentials for my bedroom and the kitchen. I do recommend that students arriving the next Autumn to frequently check Spare Room and or Rightmove to have an idea of what rent would look like and whether or not it would make more sense to live in the school provided accommodations.
Although this is the beginning to my experience in the UK, I am grateful for the continuing support that I received from my advisors at Across The Pond. As a result of their guidance and resources, I did not once feel worried, nervous, or anxious about the application process. The entire process was as seamless as it could have been. My parting message of this blog to future students – no matter how many checklists you may create, you will not 100% prepared for moving to another country but that is OK! Enjoy this new adventure!
Here are the links I mentioned:
If you’re interested in learning more about how you can get here too, then you can contact an advisor!
Goodbye Canada Hello United Kingdom
Written by Jasmine - 10/10/2018
Also, “It’s Time for Tims,” is an understatement for anyone from Canada. They opened the first two Tim 
Hortons in Glasgow a few months ago, and I was extremely over joyed to get a nice hot chocolate and toasted bagel before my tutorial. It is nice to find a familiar coffee and donut chain anywhere you travel. Grab yourself a planner to write your class and tutorial schedule out and sit down with a nice cup of coffee from Tims.
Ultimately, do not be afraid to make the UK your home for the next few years, be scared, be excited, be open and ready for change because it is coming! Walk around every chance you get and explore the museums, parks, schools, restaurants and culture that makes your new home. If you have any questions about what to bring or expect in the UK, do not hesitate to contact one of our advisors, we would be more than happy to answer any questions.
My Favourite Parts of the City
