Arriving in an unfamiliar part of the world to study and live can be daunting, and your choice of accommodation for your stay is an important decision. Experience true English culture and make some local friends by opting for a homestay. Londoners will take you in and support you during your studies while showing you the marvellous city and all its quirks. You will also save money by avoiding pricey hotels and be able to practise your language skills with native speakers. What’s not to like?
Read on to discover all the benefits of choosing a homestay London experience for your international study trip.
Discover the City as a Local
You won’t feel like a lost tourist in a big, strange city when you’re staying with a resident who knows the place inside out! Your host will be keen to teach you the insiders’ guide to the metropolis and may even know of hidden gems or favourite local hotspots that you would not have discovered otherwise. You will be able to take new friends off the beaten track to a trendy bar or cosy café and feel as though you’ve lived there for years.
Not only will you find your feet more easily with the guidance of your host, but you’re also likely to be served traditional homecooked meals that you couldn’t get in a restaurant. Offer to help with the cooking to expand your personal recipe book to take back home with you.
A Welcome Like No Other
To outsiders, London can appear busy and unfriendly, so a homestay is the best way to truly feel a part of the furniture. Hotels can be lonely and anonymous, but staying with a real London family means you’ll have friends to come home to and someone to offer you advice and support based on lifelong experience.
People who offer their homes to travellers love to meet like-minded people and share their culture, and you may even find friends for life in your hosts. You will also have invaluable real-life opportunities to expand your language skills and learn casual phrases that they may not teach you in lessons! Developing your communication skills will be an essential feature of your trip, allowing you to make friends more easily.
Money, Money, Money
Travelling abroad is an expensive venture, especially to a powerhouse like the English capital. Although homestays aren’t free, they will certainly be cheaper than the hotel or hostel alternative. Save your pennies for drinks with fellow students or sampling a pastry from the best pastry shop on the street.
Opting for a homestay will also mean your hard-earned cash is being better spent, as you’ll be giving it to the family who have been kind enough to take you in or the community within which they live.
Look no further than a homestay London opportunity to have the best experience possible while studying in the UK.
Sophie Smith works as an independent consultant and offers advice to young people looking for London-based student accommodation, whether they prefer Halls of Residence or a private homestay. London has a wide range of options when it comes to student living, and Sophie’s expert tips and tricks never fail to put aspiring residents at ease. Her knowledge stems from her first-hand experience studying in the city and living on a budget, so she is more than qualified to support others doing the same.
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