Last week there was some miserable weather in the city; cold, wet and typically British! But this did not stop us getting out and about. On Monday night I was joined by two new students at the George Pub for a few drinks to welcome everybody. We sampled some English ale, such as London Pride and IPA, and talked about the different unique flavours of the different beers. English beer is different from continental larger because it is not so carbonated (fizzy or with bubbles) and often has a slightly bitter taste. It went down well with our new students!

On Tuesday we went to see Wicked the Musical. It was a fantastic night and the production was very good! The students were impressed with the music and costumes and can’t wait to go back again. Our next trip is in May so look out for the posters in e-learning. It was still raining on

Wednesday but luckily we had a trip to the British Museum to keep us dry. This museum is one of the student’s favourites as it is so close to the school and houses such a vast collection. Each time we go we check out a new gallery and this time we explored the Greek galleries. We were particularly intrigued with the collection from the Parthenon building. There is a lot of controversy over this exhibit as the Greek government requested the items back in the 1980’s so they could be put into the New Acropolis Museum which will allow the Parthenon sculptures to be appreciated against the backdrop of ancient Greek and Athenian history. However, the British Museum argues that as it exist to tell the story of cultural achievement throughout the world it is important that they remain as a resource for the whole world to enjoy. Why not check them out yourself this week and see what you think?

By the end of the week it was still raining and our planned walking tour from Buckingham Palace to Westminster had to be cancelled. But this did not stop us from getting out! We took full advantage and a few of us went over to Covent Garden for some sneaky shopping and a chat over coffee and cake! Finally, lots of students joined in celebrating the weekend with a party hosted by LostinLondon at the fantastic night club, the Piccadilly Institute, although I fear there might have been a few hangovers the next day!

Don’t forget what’s on this week…. Monday: Welcome Meeting and Pub Crawl, Tuesday: Camden Market, Wednesday: British National Gallery, Friday: Covent Gardens and Pacha Nightclub.

Tara xx

Well the long bank holiday is over and it is back to school for the students at UIC London but we did find time to take a break and explore the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Whilst we were there we discovered a new exhibition about the Golden Silk Orb-Weaver Spider. This amazing spider makes silk thread the colour of yellow gold. On display in the gallery is the world’s largest piece of cloth woven from this unique silk. There is a shawl and a cape made from the silk of 1 million Orb-Weaver spiders. It is a stunning colour and well worth a visit, the display is open until early June.

Stuck for something to do in London this weekend? Why not try out some of the markets…

* Borough Market – Foodies will love this place, packed with delicious treats and tempting dishes! Where? London Bridge near
Southwark Cathedral

* Camden Market – From the weird to the wonderful this eclectic market has something for everyone and don’t forget to pop down
the canal and hike up Primrose Hill to admire the view

* Covent Garden Market – this is shopper’s heaven, loads of high street and brand shops as well as unique stalls, also check out
the street artists and don’t forget to donate some money

* Portobello Market – This is always a busy one but worth the struggle through the crowds if your are after an antique bargain
or two, don’t forget to stop for a cake at Hummingbird’s Bakery. Where is it? Notting Hill

* Petticoat Lane – This flower market in East London is a great place to take some amazing photos and has a great atmosphere,
even if you are not a gardener it is a must!

* Spitalfields Market – This modern market has an array of stalls and some great restaurants, a good starting point when
exploring the East-end. Where is it? Liverpool Street Station

Last week at UIC London students enjoyed the early summer sunshine in the city. We visited the Science Museum on Wednesday afternoon, looking over the space exhibition which even had a piece of rock from the moon in it. Then had fun playing around in the ‘Who Am I?’ gallery which explores the science of who you are through intriguing objects, provocative artworks and hands-on exhibits.

Then on Friday our walking tour became a shopping trip for those last minute gifts before some of our students flew home. The most important item to buy was tea! So we visited a famous tea shop in Covent Garden Market and found time for a bit of cake too!