Study Experience

Life in the UK

Student sitting on steps on campus

Experience life in the UK

Life in the United Kingdom is modern, diverse and student-friendly. You will be part of a large, multicultural community that is fully immersed in British life. At Royal Holloway, University of London you will experience both a historic English town with heritage, and the global city of London on your doorstep.

City and countryside

UK cities have a vibrant and international atmosphere, with global businesses, exciting neighbourhoods and world-famous attractions. London is the UK’s biggest and most multicultural city, with famous museums, great shopping and global cuisine.

Historic towns, pretty villages and green countryside are also part of British life. Royal Holloway’s leafy campus is based in Egham, a walking distance from large parks, and only 40 minutes away from central London by train.

International student life in Surrey

Royal Holloway is located in Surrey, just outside London. With beautiful countryside and easy access to London, many local people choose to live in Surrey and commute to London for work.

What is life like in Surrey and London?

The University campus is located in the student-friendly town of Egham. This provides a calm place to focus on your studies, while direct trains into London connect you with one of the world’s most exciting cities.

During your free time, you could take the train to London attractions, such as:

  • Buckingham Palace
  • The Tower of London
  • The London Dungeons.

International sports and entertainment venues are within easy reach, including Twickenham Rugby Stadium and Thorpe Park (an amusement park). Close to campus, you could go for walks and see British wildlife in Runnymede Park and Windsor Great Park.

British seasons

The UK has four distinct seasons. Living near London, you will experience spring flowers, summer picnics, autumn leaves and winter frosts in the city parks and Surrey countryside. Weather changes from day-to-day, and it can rain at any time of year.

Experiencing more

From the Royal Holloway campus, it is easy to travel into central London or visit other locations in the United Kingdom and abroad. The UK has an extensive railway system and many international airports.

UK travel

Egham train station is a 15-minute walk from campus. From here, direct trains to London Waterloo take around 40 minutes. You are also close to the southern coastline, and a vibrant, student city like Brighton is about an hour and a half away.

Royal Holloway's location puts you at a great spot in the country, where you have easy access to the peaceful countryside and the bustling City of London. The capital has the most extensive public transport system in the UK. You are never too far from all the famous sites, tourist attractions, exotic restaurants, fun shows, and shopping malls.

Travelling overseas

The UK has many international airports, including two of the busiest in the world – London Heathrow Airport and London Gatwick Airport. Heathrow is 10-15 minutes by taxi or an hour away by train from Royal Holloway. Having a huge airport like Heathrow so close to your front door means you can get to any point of the globe. The world is open to you.

You can also travel from London to Europe via the high-speed Eurostar trains. Regular services depart from London St Pancras International to Paris, Brussels and many other locations across France, Belgium, The Netherlands and beyond. A train ride through the continent will give you a different kind of travelling experience. You will be able to see how the surroundings change from country to country, and what nature is like elsewhere.