Perfecting your posh English accent isn’t the only reason to boost your career and intern abroad in London. The city’s rich cultural and political history, encapsulated by its many museums and cultural spaces, make it a wonderful place to experience Europe.

Boosting your career and perfecting your posh English accent aren’t the only reason to intern abroad in London. London is a total trendsetter. A place where 2,000 years of history meet of-the-moment creativity, London is fast-paced and free-thinking – where you can be anyone and do anything. Here are ten reasons why an internship in London will rock your world, your CV and your social life.

1) The music and festivals

Each year, the city hosts over 17,000 live music performances and more than 250 festivals. Metal, rock, pop or jazz - London’s got it all. And if you’re interning over the summer, you can’t miss Europe's biggest street festival, the Notting Hill Carnival in August. Other crowd-pleasers to add to your festival line-up are Gala, Mighty Hoopla, Field Day, BST Hyde Park and Wireless.

2) The language(s)

London is an incredibly diverse city with a progressive and multicultural outlook. It’s thought that over 250 languages are spoken in the capital, so it’s a great place to learn about new foods and cultures. And if English isn’t your first language, improve your written or spoken English. And with Europe just over an hour away across the water, pick up some French, Spanish, German, Italian or Portuguese while you’re at it.

3) The literature

From Harry Potter to Elizabeth Bennett, some of the world's most cherished literary characters and their adventures were imagined by English authors. Along with visiting famous spots described in books, museums like the Sherlock Holmes Museum and Keat’s House will make literary nerds happy beyond reason.

4) The theatre and comedy

History’s most prolific playwright, William Shakespeare, set the bar pretty high for English comics and writers looking to make their mark. That being said, London continues to crank out some of the best live theatre and comedy in the world. In the West End’s ‘Theaterland’ there are a whopping 47 theatres – so if you’re flexible and know where to look, it’s still possible to pick up a cut-price matinee ticket for some of the best shows in the world. 

5) The opportunities

The UK is the fifth largest economy in the world, and London is its powerhouse – with every sector and industry attracting the best talent from around the world. The city’s top industry is finance, with some of the world’s leading financial institutionsbased in London’s Square Mile.

6) The museums

Good news for cash-strapped interns, the majority of galleries and museums in London are free. And there are plenty to choose from – with top contenders being the Tate Modern, V&A, Natural History Museum, National Gallery and the weird and wonderful Horniman Museum.

7) The traditions

It won’t take long in London to realise that all the world’s problems can be solved by simply ‘putting the kettle on’. Afternoon tea is a great English tradition that has to be experienced while in the capital. Look out for bargain voucher deals to take high tea at some of London’s finest hotels.

8) The Royal Family

There may be iterations of it on every t-shirt and mug in the UK, but ‘Keep calm and carry on’ is a quintessentially British trait. And no one is more stoic and stiff-upper lipped than the British Royal Family. London is packed with royal palaces and castles, including Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace, Kensington Palace, Tower of London and nearby Windsor Castle. If the flag’s flying, the Queen is home.

9) The architecture

From palatial Regency mansions to wonky 500-year-old pubs and cloud-hitting skyscrapers, London’s skyline is one of the most recognisable in the world. Walk in any direction and you’ll be amazed by the array of architectural styles that sit comfortably alongside each other on London’s streets.

10) The manners

If Justin Bieber really wanted to learn to say ‘sorry’, he’d spend some time in London. The Brits have truly mastered the art of being polite, queuing and apologising – usually when there is absolutely no need for it at all.

Inspired to pack your bags and move to London? Our Intern in Britain program is open for students and recent graduates of all nationalities. Whether you want to intern over a university summer holiday, gap year or working holiday – BUNAC and our placement partner  The Intern Group make the whole process straightforward and stress-free. Get in touch now to arrange a chat or video call with our Intern in Britain team.