[HDNG]INTRODUCTION:[EHDNG][PARA][BULL] The Institute is part of University of London and students are entitled to use its facilities.[EBOLD][PARA][BOLD]For general information about London: [EBOLD]see [ULNE]University of London[EULNE][BOLD]. [EBOLD]Right by Waterloo Bridge, in the elegant 18th century Somerset House, are the main offices of the Inland Revenue. Totally unconnected, but sharing the same building (round the corner, facing onto The Strand), is the Courtauld Institute of Art. To the east is Fleet Street and the City (London's financial centre), to the west, the West End and (at the other end of The Strand, about 500yds) is Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery. Also in Somerset House, which is strewn with [ITAL]splendid [EITAL]sculptures and architectural features, is the Institute's remarkable collection of art, books and manuscripts which is open to the public. It is hardly surprising then to know that the Institute is the UK's only college specialising solely in the teaching of the history of art. It's only a bus ride/tube trip/energetic walk to ULU, whose facilities Courtauld students are entitled to use. [ULNE]King's College, London[EULNE] is next door and [ULNE]LSE[EULNE] just round the corner.[HDNG]ATMOSPHERE:[EHDNG][PARA][ITAL]The Courtauld Institute used to have a reputation for being little more than an elitist finishing school: this is no longer the case, although female students educated outside the state system do form the majority. The main influences on the atmosphere, however, are its size and intimacy, its proximity to King's and the shared interests of the students. The atmosphere is friendly, if detached from the rest of the University, and many lasting and interesting friendships are formed.[EITAL][PARA][PARA][ITAL][HDNG]LIFE IN LONDON:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA][ITAL]Samuel Johnson wrote 'When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.' Obviously, he wasn't living on a student grant at the time; for there is only a certain amount in London that a student can afford. SJ was right in that London is second to none in its diversity, but you can't do it all. It's easy to feel that you're not making the most of London if you're not spending every waking minute at the theatre, ballet, opera or cinema, in clubs or fashionable markets, and in museums and galleries, sports grounds and parks. However, if the truth be known, even taking advantage of the many freebies you can dig up if you try, you'd be broke within a week if you tried to keep up with the tearaway pace. When it comes to opportunity, choice and life in the fast lane, London is the turbo-boosted Porsche. London is supposed to be the city that never sleeps, leaving the bright lights burning all night long. In fact, as international metropolises go, this one tends to shut down when the pubs close. Getting more than a cheeseburger after midnight can be as difficult in London as it is in a Turkish jail. Not everyone likes the pace or the impersonal atmosphere that many find in London. Whilst it's hard to be alone, it's easy to be lonely, and most students in London find this at some time. London can be oppressive and if you're not streetwise, or at least street sensible, it can be a dangerous place. Bomb scares are usually just that, but violent crime is on the up. [EITAL][PARA][ITAL] There are a number of responses to the high cost of living in London: (1) burst into tears; (2) mug someone; (3) live on credit; (4) ask daddy for lashings of cash. Alternatively, if these don't appeal, you can always use the following methods: (1) Limit your spending by only going out when and where you can afford it (ULU fits the bill, offering cheap events for students). (2) Buy second hand - for books, there's ULU, Charing Cross Road and Waterloo and, for clothes, try Camden Market, Greenwich, Brick Lane and Portobello Road. (Many a London student falls prey to fashion, but not always at vast expense.) (3) Get a job - [EITAL]more London students have part time jobs than anywhere else.[ITAL] [EITAL][PARA][ITAL] London also has more overseas students than almost anywhere else, which, in Britain's most international city, is an appropriate addition to the already spicy variety of life. The extent of London's cosmopolitanism is unique. Nowhere else are there as many students of every different shape, colour, vintage, creed and flavour.[EITAL][PARA][ITAL] To be young in London and have flexible demands on your time is an ideal recipe. The daily downers such as the time spent travelling have a minimal effect, whereas the opportunities are all there. If you happen to live in London, it's good to be a student, but if you're a student, London isn't necessarily a good place to happen to live.[EITAL][HDNG]ALDWYCH:[EHDNG][PARA]Aldwych and The Strand are close to Covent Garden, the West End and, over the Thames, the South Bank Complex (National Theatre, Hayward Gallery, National Film Theatre, Royal Festival Hall, etc). This is not a residential area and [ITAL]it's an expensive place to buy a canned drink, let alone bread and cheese. It's extremely well served for entertainments and culture though.[EITAL][HDNG]TRAVEL:[EHDNG][PARA][BOLD]Trains: [EBOLD]London is the centre of the network: Bristol (1:40hrs, 1/hr); Birmingham (1:40hrs, 3/hr); Manchester (2:30hrs, 1/hr); Glasgow (5:20hrs, 12/day); Edinburgh ( 4:20hrs, 1/hr); Newcastle (2:45hrs, 2/hr); Leeds (2:30hrs, 1/hr); Norwich (1:49hrs, 1/hr). Trains come into the 8 mainline termini and if passing through London (for example from Canterbury (Kent) to Manchester), it is often necessary to travel by tube (at extra expense) between mainline stations .[PARA][BOLD]Coaches:[EBOLD] London is also the centre of the National Express system and a whole variety of other national bus services (Green Line, Blue Line and so on). Some example National Express journeys: Birmingham (ú9.50, 2:30hrs, 1/hr); Bristol (ú12.50, 2:15hrs, 1/hr); Edinburgh (ú25, 7:50hrs, 3/day); Glasgow (ú25, 7hrs, 7/day); Manchester (ú16, 3:30hrs, 7/day); Newcastle (ú17.50, 5:10hrs, 7/day).[PARA][BOLD]Local Trains: [EBOLD]Network SouthEast operates local overground trains [ITAL]which are a speedy and sometimes pleasant way to travel and are moderately efficient. The main problems are the ease of use (a fair level of understanding is necessary), the high fares and the early closing[EITAL] (last trains between 11pm and 1am).[PARA][BOLD]Underground:[EBOLD] The 'tube' is the largest underground train system in the world and generally,[ITAL] it is fast, easy to use, efficient (well, maybe not the Northern Line) and takes you just about anywhere you want to go, although South-East London is a bit hard done by. However, it is often crowded,[EITAL] shuts down at midnight,[ITAL] it's often disrupted by bomb scares[EITAL] and the minimum fare is 90p. [ITAL]Talking to other tube passengers is tantamount to threatening their mother - the only people who do it are tourists and people who want to talk to you about Jesus.[EITAL] Nearest tube to Senate House/ULU Building: Goodge St (Northern Line).[PARA][BOLD]Local Buses: [EBOLD][ITAL]In the tube you can't see the real sights, so why not take the buses which are just as efficient,[EITAL] offer even more destinations and are slightly cheaper (50p minimum). [ITAL]But buses are slow and, until you know your way around, it's difficult to know which ones take you where.[EITAL] After midnight, buses come into their own - Night Buses are London's only form of all-night public transport and[ITAL] if you don't mind how long it takes,[EITAL] you can go almost anywhere within 10 miles of the centre.[PARA][BOLD]Travelcards:[EBOLD] For a legal way of dodging the expense of tubes, buses and trains, Travelcards are available at ú2.60 for a daily pass for the central 2 zones of the network.[PARA][BOLD]Taxis: [EBOLD]There are 2 types:[ITAL] the classic black cabs which are well regulated and enormously expensive, and dodgy merchants in Ford Escorts which are almost as expensive. There are now also some run by and for women. Basically though, forget all taxis, except late at night when all else fails and/or you're in a party of 4 or more.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Car:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Parking in Central London is impossible, and, although there is only one rush hour every day it lasts from 6 in the morning to midnight. Driving in London is excellent training for being a volcano.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Air: [EBOLD]Served by 4 airports, including Heathrow, the world's busiest. Regular flights to anywhere and back.[PARA][BOLD]Hitching:[ITAL] [EBOLD]Not possible from Central London, but get out a little way on to the city's escape routes or beyond the M25 and a thumb's a first class ticket.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Bicycles: [EBOLD][ITAL] A popular form of student travel given the pros: it's cheap and you can get through traffic. But there are the cons: London is big, full of exhaust fumes, lacking in cycle lanes and a Houdini-proof lock is advisable. It's also an easy way to die.[EITAL][PARA][PARA][BOLD]Trains:[EBOLD] The nearest mainline BR stations are Waterloo, Charing Cross and Blackfriars.[PARA][BOLD]Buses:[EBOLD] 1; 4; 6; 9; 11; 13; 15; 15B; X15; 68; X68; 77A; 168; 171; 171A; 176; 177Ex; 188; 196; 501; 502; 505 and 513 and endless night buses.[PARA][BOLD]Car:[EBOLD] Very limited parking. Forget the car.[PARA][BOLD]Underground:[EBOLD] Aldwych (limited opening) or Covent Garden (both Piccadilly Line); Temple (Circle and District Lines).[HDNG]LIBRARIES and COMPUTERS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Books: 100,000[ESTAT][PARA]The Institute's libraries are among the country's major sources for art history. The Witt, Conway and Slide Libraries have over 1.6 million reproductions and 800,000 photographs. Computer facilities are limited, but students have access to the facilities at [ULNE]King's College, London[EULNE].[HDNG]FAMOUS ALUMNI:[EHDNG][PARA]Emily Barr (journalist, research assistant); Anita Brookner (writer); Alex 'Bruiser' de Cadanet (Amanda's brother, compared himself, in his first essay, to Leonardo da Vinci); Neil MacGregor (National Gallery); Vincent Price ([ITAL]scary[EITAL] actor); Nicholas Serota (Tate Gallery); Brian Sewell ([ITAL]waspish[EITAL] 'Evening Standard' critic); Peter Wayne (architecture expert, ex-con, dropped out). Anthony Blunt (spy) was the Director here for several years, before he was fingered.[HDNG]FURTHER INFO:[EHDNG][PARA]Prospectuses for undergrads and postgrads.[PARA][PARA]
