Travel

Beau Hailey Societies and student tours aren’t the only way to travel at university- all students have the possibility to take an international, language, or placement year during their studies. (Find out more here!) Here are the experiences of two students that spent last year abroad, one working on a language year, and another studying on an international year. Jordan: I spent my time abroad in Italy, in a Northern Italian town very close to Milan called Pavia. I worked as a web designer and social media editor for the University of Pavia’s international office, working in both English and Italian, which was great for my language skills as I was constantly translating between the two. I was able to get experience using Italian in both formal contexts as well as daily informal inte...

Eleanor Clark Close your eyes. Take a deep breath. Listen. Seagulls chirp overhead, waves crash onto the rocks below your feet, horns beep in the distance and the gentle chatter of the market venders setting up their stalls fills your ears. It is about 8:30am in Malta, in the middle of June. A cool breeze gently rustles the towels hanging out to dry in the morning sun. The sun glistens on the waves, revealing a variety of life and colour in the ocean. It is calm. Peaceful. And yet, I am not sure that many people would associate these feelings with a student tour!  One of the joys of being involved with societies/sports teams at Royal Holloway is that many of them offer tours throughout the spring and summer months. Whilst many have been unable to go ahead this year given the cur...

So you’ve arrived at Royal Holloway and maybe you’re feeling a bit cheated. University of London? As if; we’re in the middle of Surrey! Even though we’re only 40 minutes away so the big city is very much within reach, there are some gorgeous natural spots and places to visit closer to home too. At a time when international travel is majorly out of sorts, hopefully these recommendations can somewhat entertain your wanderlust. Windsor Great Park With over 4800 acres of gorgeous scenery on our doorstep, Royal Holloway truly boasts an incredible location with its proximity to Windsor Great Park. Virginia Water is a regular spot for students with its cascade waterfall, ruins, and towering totem pole making it perfect for cycling, running and leisurely sunset walks.  There are a m...

Like a phoenix rising from the ashes of wars that scorched the Earth, we as a people have reinvented ourselves into the global society we know today. Yet, despite our past resilience, through a series of very unfortunate events, we find our resolve tested on a scale unprecedented in modern history. The recent measures taken by national governments limit our freedoms but necessary to prevent further suffering — and while we, in Europe, begin to exit this lockdown period, we are far from out of the woods. So, the question then arises: in a time when ordinarily skies would be littered with aircraft and the ocean filled with ships, will travel ever return to normality? Hardly surprisingly, we simply won’t know for a while. Thusly, until a vaccine exists, we will have to adapt our lives and...

An open letter from the Student Ambassador Dear Students, I wish I could be contacting you in better times. During the last month, I have been in contact with a wide range of departments from the University of London group and countless university officials. I have personally met with many of you and answered more questions still regarding your concerns about COVID-19. A key message that I would like to relay to you on behalf of the Foreign Office and the Travel Aware Campaign, is to be kind and considerate. It’s in moments like these that we must be thoughtful of our neighbours and take seriously the advice of the government to get through this together. This pandemic will be over at some point and whilst it may not be today, next week or even next month, it will indeed en...

It was an overcast November morning with intermittent rays of sunshine flooding the runway below as I looked on from my window seat departing from London Heathrow. I felt a sense of anticipation and excitement starting an adventure in a Slavic country which, at the time, I knew very little about. My trip was timed to coincide with the beginning of Christmas festivities in Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital, and I can gladly report that I was far from disappointed! For many Western Europeans, the Balkans are regrettably overlooked when thinking of immediate travel destinations for the Christmas holidays. I’d like to say, however, that this sad truth should be put to bed. There are fantastic skiing sites and festive markets all over the country which are highlighted in the capital with pretty sta...

If like me, you immerse yourself in the news, it seems as though “Brussels” is mentioned daily. Whilst Brexit argument may have claimed most of the focus surrounding the use of the city’s name, Brussels is far more than the home of the EU. It’s a proudly vibrant and diverse city with many unusual locations worth exploring, harbouring an impressive mix of cultures. It needn’t be said, but I’ll say it anyway: Brussels is at the heart of Europe. Other than being a fantastic springboard to reach other larger European capitals, it is a quaint city with much heritage, custom and culture. Photo by Claudiu Hegedus on Unsplash Whether you’re interested in exploring the famous Belgian revolution, celebrating Sinterklass’s arrival, witnessing the iconic Manneken Pis or if you simply feel li...