Maybe it's the legendary fog lining the walkways of the river. Perhaps it has something to do with the coziness of the pubs and the amiable Londoners themselves. It's most likely, though, that London's allure is some combination of all and none of these-an ineffable mix that makes London one of the most famous and beloved cities in the world, no matter how gray and heavy the skies hang or how frequently the rains roll in from the North Atlantic.

London has captured the imagination of the world since the Romans set up camp there around 43 C.E. After their fall, various Celtic tribes, as well as the Angles and the Saxons, moved in and made the city their own. The English language as we know it today is the result of both the Germanic tongue of these Anglo-Saxons and French used after the Norman invasions of 1066.

Whatever the derivation of the English language, it has been the basis of some of the most important feats of literary achievement in the history of mankind. From Shakespeare to Shaw and from Dickens to Woolf, the expressiveness and range of the English language has proven to be the perfect medium for conveying the nature of the human condition when pen is put to paper. And the city of London itself has proven to be the perfect setting for some of the most memorable stories ever told-a testament to its inspirational power.

But the history of London is about far more than literature, and the present is just as impressive as its past. Today, London is one of the world's cultural and political centers, and what happens in this city often reverberates around the world. Many critics of popular and high culture, in fact, believe that modern London is the place to live and study for those wishing to keep their fingers on the pulse of the Western world. Writers like Ian McEwan, Martin Amis and Kazuo Ishiguro, artists like Damien Hirst and Abigail Lane and even chefs like Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay, have all made London a center of their creative lives. And what they have done in London has affected people across the globe.

Consequently, a semester or a year in London can prove to be a life-changing experience for students. The city itself is not only famous for its superb universities, but also for the number of enthusiastic and ambitious students living and studying in the city today. As a result, students from all over the world are drawn to London, and studying abroad there is just as much an international experience as it is a British one.

From the many colleges of the University of London to King's College London to London Metropolitan University, thousands and thousands of students receive their education in the city each year. Many of these schools are centrally located so you can walk out of class and be five minutes from St. Paul's Cathedral or Covent Garden's charming street entertainers. You may be able to enroll directly or pursue a study abroad program that operates in partnership with one of these British universities.

In addition to the study options, there are numerous internship opportunities in the city. Many multi-national companies are based in London, so the possibilities are almost endless. Organizations will help you find a placement in the industry that interests you, allowing you to combine your studies with real career experience. And the good news for you is that you don't have to learn a new language to take advantage of the excellent education and career opportunities available in London.

For students who want to understand the culture from which much of the West comes, as well as for those who yearn to be in the middle of all the most exciting developments in our modern world, London is the perfect place to study.

Resources -

Study London: http://www.studylondon.ac.uk/
Study in the UK: British Council: http://www.britishcouncil.org/usa
King's College London: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/
University of London: http://www.lon.ac.uk/
Mayor of London, the London Assembly and the Greater London Authority: http://www.london.gov.uk/
Visit London: http://www.visitlondon.com/
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program: http://www.iie.org/gilman
National Security Education Program: http://www.iie.org/NSEP
French lessons in London: www.lsfrench.com/
Spanish lessons in London and Online: www.lsspanish.co.uk