Wales is a beautiful and seriously underrated country! Read on for Across the Pond’s top five reasons you should study in Wales.

The natural beauty of Wales

Wales has got it all. Ocean-side beaches, sweeping green valleys, and impressive mountain ranges! There are three national parks in Wales: Snowdonia (including the mountain Snowdon itself, which is the highest mountain in Wales at 3560 feet), Brecon Beacons, and Pembrokeshire Coast. The latter even boasts its own Stonehenge, in the form of Pentre Ifan – an ancient Neolithic set of 7 principal stones. The beaches come in all forms, including crystal clear aqua waters reminiscent of the tropics as well as jagged and rocky cliff faces on the ocean. The mountains and valleys are stunning any time of year, and bear a striking resemblance to a far off and fictional lands (Middle Earth, anyone?).
 

Castle capital 

Staged beautifully within the natural landscape of Wales are the hundreds of castles that remain as reminders of the centuries of history the country has seen. There are about 600 castles in Wales alone, and of these 600, 100 are still visibly standing or in ruins. When you compare the size of the entire UK with Canada, you can get a sense of how impressive this is! These castles come in all shapes and sizes, from fortifications and motte-and-bailey to medieval and gothic revival. Many of them can be visited throughout the year, and allow the visitor free reign to explore the winding passageways and courtyards within. 
 

Legends of Wales

Wales is steeped in history, but the mythology and legends that are woven into the history is what makes the country even more unique. For example, Dinas Emrys in North West Wales was said to be there the Celtic King Vortigern tried to build his castle in the mountainside, but every night the structure would crumble and break. The wizard Merlin (yes, King Arthur’s Merlin) told Vortigern it was because there were two dragons in the mountain that were tearing it down each night. Vortigern had the mountain dug into and they were discovered: one red dragon and one white dragon. They awoke and began to fight each other. Eventually the white dragon lost and fled, and the red dragon returned to the mountain – this same red dragon can now be seen on the national flag of Wales.
 

Affordable cost of living

If you have always dreamed of living and studying in the UK, but aren’t quite sure how you will plan for the financial aspect, you might consider Wales. Universities in Wales are frequently among the most affordable in the UK in terms of both tuition as well as cost of living. 
 

Location, location, location!

The fifth and final reason to choose Wales is its location. It is at the doorstep of the rest of the UK, and has excellent transport links that will get you wherever you need to go. While we recommend seeing as much of the UK as you can see, we also recommend exploring Wales itself! There is so much to see and discover in this beautiful country.
 

There are endless ways to fill your spare time as a student in London. Every week I discover new things and new places that are off the beaten track. I study and live in East London, so I admit that I’m partial to this side of the city – but there are great things to explore all across the tube network. Here’s a list of my favourite things to do when I get a spare moment between assignments in London.
 

Have a drink and a wander in Shoreditch

I spend a lot of time in Shoreditch. It’s in East London, but it’s accessible enough that my friends across the city aren’t too bothered to travel over. The streets are historic and quirky, there are lots of nice shops if you’re around during the day, and there is no shortage of fun places to get a drink or a bite to eat at any time. The bars are offbeat and generally more affordable than places in central London.
 

Stroll down the South Bank

The South Bank is one of my favourite places in London. If you’re up for a long walk, you can wander all the way down the Thames from Westminster to Tower Bridge, catching iconic London sights on the way (including Big Ben, the National Theatre, St. Paul’s cathedral, Millennium Bridge, and the Tower of London). The south bank also offers its own activities, so check ahead to see what they have on.
 

Museum and Gallery Lates

At the end of the month, many museums and galleries in London pick a night to stay open and host a museum “lates”. During lates, museums won’t close until around 10pm and they’ll serve drinks that you can sip while you peruse the exhibits. It’s such a great way to experience some of the most well-known centres of art and history in the world, including the Tate Modern, Natural History Museum, and the Victoria and Albert. And as a bonus, entrance is free! It’s one of my favourite ways to spend a Friday night in London. Look on the museum’s individual website to find their dates for the month.
 

Greenwich

There is so much to do in Greenwich; the parks are beautiful, the pubs are cute, and it’s home to such activities as the Royal Observatory and the Maritime Museum. It takes you a little out of the hustle and bustle of central London, but it’s still very accessible by DLR. It’s a great place to venture when the city gets a little overwhelming, especially on a sunny day.
 

Catch a movie at the Genesis theatre

The Genesis is well-known among locals as a cool place to be in the East End. You can catch everything from big blockbuster movies to indie films and special showing nights. The theatre also has a café, a bar, and a restaurant inside of it – you actually don’t even need a movie ticket to hang out there. They even have live music some nights. The theatres are tiny and cozy, and they offer discounts for students. Compared to the big IMAX cinemas, it’s very affordable.
 

Spend a casual afternoon in Victoria Park

Hyde Park and St. James Park get a lot of attention, but Victoria Park is my personal favourite. There aren’t really any tourists, and on a sunny Sunday afternoon its filled with families walking their dogs and kids learning to ride bikes. It’s a great place to sit with a coffee or kick a football around. There’s also a great bakery and café in the park called ‘The Pavilion’ that makes a mean eggs benedict. While you’re in this area:

• Wander down the canal in either direction, it’s beautiful!
• Stop in the local shops on nearby Roman Road; there is even a market several days of the week.
   

Visit Columbia Road Flower Market

To round off my list, here is a last East London treasure. Every Sunday, no matter the season or the weather, flower vendors bring their stock to Columbia Road. Even if you’re not shopping, it’s lovely and colourful to just browse. Go first thing in the morning to avoid the crowds and take home the best flowers or go late in the day for the last-minute discounts as vendors try to sell off their stock. Visit a nearby Hackney café for brunch while you’re there.
 

Many wonderful things about quintessential English culture compelled me to study there: The fabulous accent, the double decker buses, the fish and chips but there is so much I happily discovered that I think of as “Oh so British” that made my year positively, well, brilliant (my quintessentially British new favorite word)!
 

1. Afternoon Tea

The first is afternoon tea and I indulged in it as often as possible. We connect tea and Britain pretty easily from characters on TV and in film with "afternoon tea" being the epitome of culture. Well, I’m happy to say it’s something I would indulge in on a whim and recommend it as often as possible. In Canterbury, where I studied at the University of Kent, my favorite places were Tiny Tim’s Tearoom off the High Street (and not only is the tea delightful and yummy you also get to boast having eaten in the most haunted building in Canterbury), and in the center of the city is the charming Moat Tearooms with scrumptious sweets and the best toast and marmalade I’ve ever had. And be sure to visit their secret garden for an extra special afternoon! In London and pretty much anywhere in the British Isles you can find a tea room to rave about and if you fancy doing a spot of sightseeing while you indulge in tea sandwiches and a decadent scone with clotted cream be sure to book at B-Bakery’s afternoon tea bus tour.
 

2. Charity Shops

Charity shops have become a bit of a joyous obsession and you’ll find at least one if not, like Canterbury, more than 10 just in the city center alone. The charities they raise money for range from finding cures for cancer to providing housing and food for the homeless and animal protection. And because I didn’t bring very much with me when I left for England, I was able to stock my dorm kitchen and room with essentials, buy rain gear and countless articles of clothing all for affordable prices while giving back to the community in my new home. For the best in Charity shops check out this article.

3. Local Markets 

For more fun shopping opportunities as wells as great places to people watch I found myself drawn to local markets that ranged from pop-up weekend events to daily arts and themed markets. In Canterbury there are daily markets along the High Street and in small lots behind or in between cobbled streets offering local produce, clothing, antiques and housewares at affordable prices. In London I can spend all day on the weekends going from market to market in beautiful old buildings or covered, open-air markets selling crafts and food, jewelry, vintage clothing and electronics. My favorites are Covent Garden, The Old Spitalfield and Greenwich Market.

Be sure to also check out Camden Market for some great vintage finds and delicious food choices, as well as Borough Market for some amazing British and modern foods!

Because markets are so ingrained into the British culture, it's also a great way to do some inexpensive grocery shopping (especially if you're located in old market towns like Kingston or Leicester).

These markets provide a great opportunity to explore different neighborhoods enjoying the unique culinary offerings and all the different cultural venues near each one. When getting to know the City, I would customize a day or two by planning to visit a market and then explore the local museums, galleries and walking tours near each and before I knew it I’d gotten to know and love so much beyond the traditional tourist areas. If you find yourself in Britain around the Christmas holiday season you’ll be treated to even more market offerings some that will mirror German and Eastern European markets and others that will be quintessentially “Oh so British.”
 

Making the move to study in England is a big decision, you’re leaving your friends, family, bed, and the comforts of your own home. As exciting and life-changing this experience is, it can also be a big adjustment, one such adjustment is grocery shopping. Coming from Canada we are used to everything being big, maybe not as big compared to our southern neighbors, but for the most part things are quite over-sized. Everything from our coffees, to our highways, and especially our grocery stores. Not only are our grocery stores huge, each offering every possible thing you could imagine, they are also everywhere, located at every possible interval within a city. In England this is just not the case.
 

Less 'Big Box' 

The size of the grocery stores here was the first thing to strike me. You’ll find that the stores in the UK are smaller, maybe 5 or 6 aisles holding the necessities such as bread, milk, some vegetables, and a selection of frozen foods. The bigger, better stocked grocery stores are often not centrally located but are easy enough to get to on public transport.

The main chains are Tesco, Morrisons, Aldi and Sainsbury’s. Morrisons stores tend to be the biggest centrally located and you can find a wide variety of local and international foods. You’ll find an abundance of small Tesco express stores scattered throughout cities, as well as Sainsbury’s local stores where you can pick up the essentials. Slightly elevated options include M&S and Waitrose.
 

More 'Market Fresh'

A major bonus for a vegetarian like me is the availability of farmers markets and produce stands. These shops offer a range of fresh and local fruits and vegetables at cheaper prices and with less waste than the chain stores. Those looking for a bit of history with their weekly shop might want to check out the ancient market in Kingston Upon Thames which hosts one of London's oldest recorded street markets (first recorded in 1242!)

As a bit of a health nut I was pleasantly surprised at the presence of health food stores where you can pick up bulk items such as nuts, seeds, and meat alternatives. International grocery stores can also be found scattered throughout cities, including Asian and African supermarkets. This comes in handy for students who are worried about missing comforts of home! 
 

Trying something new

Despite the ranging options of supermarkets there a few things that are missing from the British food selection. First of all, the selection of breakfast cereals is majorly lacking. Do not expect and entire aisle dedicated to your favorite breakfast staple. Secondly, for peanut butter lovers such as myself, the natural variety does not taste the same as in Canada, however almond butter has since become a staple in my diet.

Although, not everything is the same, it is always an adventure going food shopping and discovering new brands and products you have never heard of before. If you too want to explore a new culinary atmosphere than contact one of the Across the Pond Advisors to find out more about studying in England.