Students are provided with walking tours of different neighborhoods in London; group visits to various sites of historical, cultural, or religious importance; opportunities to attend approximately ten theatre productions; and a whole-day field trip for all students. In past terms, this excursion has been to the West Country (including Bath, Avebury and Stonehenge) or Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick Castle. All of these opportunities are included in the program fee.
Students also have the opportunity to participate in home-stay weekends throughout England and the UK. Past Lawrentians who have participated in homestay weekends find them a valuable opportunity to better understand life in the UK outside of London. Students are able to see tourist attractions while benefiting from the sort of stories and details only locals know.
Students are provided with a membership to the University of London Imperial College student union, which provides access to a restaurant, pub, library, recreation rooms, and many student clubs. The union is very near the London Centre.
Around the middle of each term, there is a week-long break in courses and academic commitments of the program. This time is left open for more extensive student travel independent of the program. This time for travel often leads to some of the most fantastic experiences students have during their term abroad. London lends itself to easily accessible destinations throughout the United Kingdom, the rest of Europe, and beyond and students have a week to take full advantage of these. Whether it be visiting another major city of Europe, backpacking through the Highlands of Scotland, or whisking off to North Africa or Mount Athos in Greece, these opportunities for travel are one of the fundamental ways in which students personalize and make their study abroad experience uniquely their own.
The London Centre staff strongly believe in the benefit to students in creating and tailoring their own travel plans. While we do not organize itineraries for weekend or week-long travels, we are available to advise students in the planning stages. There is also a selection of travel books, maps, guides, and other travel materials available to students.
