[HDNG]INTRODUCTION:[EHDNG][PARA][BULL] Formerly Polytechnic of North London[EBOLD][PARA][BOLD]For general information about London: [EBOLD]see [ULNE]University of London[EULNE]. Spread around a number of small sites in central north and north-west London, the University consists of an [ITAL]unattractive and shabby[EITAL] grey tower block and victorian redbrick buildings (as at Kentish Town). We're talking Camden and Islington, [ITAL]trendy [EITAL]residential inner city suburbs. The University has a policy to double as a community resource as well as an educational institution. As a result, many students are from North London, with a high proportion of mature students, many on part time courses.[HDNG]ATMOSPHERE:[EHDNG][PARA][ITAL]There's little interaction between sites. With so many students living out and so many mature students with home lives outside the University, rather than each site developing a unique identity, the communal spirit is as strong as over-diluted orange squash. Instead, students stick to small groups in the way most people do in London. Kentish Town (where many of the students live) does form something of a ghetto. [EITAL][PARA][PARA][ITAL][HDNG]THE SITES:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA]The University's 7 sites [ITAL]don't really amount to more than separate department buildings which just happen to have some town in between[EITAL]. The farthest flung - Kentish Town (humanities) and the newly renovated Ladbroke House (environmental and social studies) - are 4 miles apart. All but 3 are however, within 3/4 mile of each other.[HDNG]LIFE IN LONDON:[EHDNG][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]CAMDEN AND ISLINGTON:[EHDNG][PARA][ITAL]Camden has its smart parts, but basically it doesn't mind being a bit scruffy so long as it remains ultimately trendy. Outside the West End, this is as happening as London gets - and cities don't get much more happening than London. [EITAL] The weekend street market is the [ITAL]perfect [EITAL]supplier to student trends, [ITAL]not too expensive and always too cool[EITAL]. Local entertainments too, like pubs and cafes are [ITAL]a real alternative to the same old drab mainstream dross[EITAL]. [ITAL]Islington is a bit posher, a bit more residential and a bit less cool[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 station is King's Cross. Local stations near the sites include Highbury and Islington, Kentish Town, Drayton Park and Camden Road.[PARA][BOLD]Buses:[EBOLD] Many bus routes to all sites and between them.[PARA][BOLD]Car:[EBOLD] [ITAL]Cars are unparkable and really not necessary - clamps will work out just as expensive as London public transport.[EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Underground:[EBOLD] Nearest stations - Holloway Road (Piccadilly Line), Camden Town (Northern), Caledonian Road (Piccadilly), Tufnell Park (Northern), Kentish Town (Northern and Thameslink) and Highbury and Islington (Victoria).[PARA][BOLD]Bicycles:[EBOLD][ITAL] Cool to be seen on one around Camden and Islington.[EITAL][PARA][PARA][ITAL][HDNG]FACULTIES and STUDENT NOS:[EHDNG][EITAL][PARA][BOLD]Business[EBOLD] 2,520[BOLD][PARA]Env/Soc Studs[EBOLD] 2,419[BOLD][PARA]Humanities[EBOLD] 2,822[BOLD][PARA]Science[EBOLD] 2,218[BOLD][PARA]Interfaculty[EBOLD] 101[HDNG]LIBRARIES and COMPUTERS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Books: 316,000 [BULL] Periodicals: 1,763 [BULL] Study places: 1,004 [BULL] Computer workstations: 1,000[ESTAT][PARA]There are libraries on 4 sites and all have Vax cluster computer access.[HDNG]CAREER PROSPECTS:[EHDNG][PARA][STAT][BULL] Careers Service [BULL] No of staff: 8full/1part [BULL] Unemployed after 6mths (1992): 19%[ESTAT][HDNG]SPECIAL FEATURES:[EHDNG][PARA][BULL]Facilities are being centralised around the Holloway Rd site. To this end new sites close by have been built including Spring House and a Learning Resources Centre. Others (including Kentish Town) are due to close eventually.[HDNG]FAMOUS ALUMNI:[EHDNG][PARA]Patrick Bergin (actor); Garth Crooks (footballer with Spurs); Charlie Jordan (Capital radio DJ); Neil Tennant ( of the Pet Shop Boys); Claire Rayner (agony aunt and propagator of winged sanitary towels).[HDNG]FURTHER INFO:[EHDNG][PARA]Prospectuses for undergrads, part-timers and postgrads.[PARA][PARA]
