London: not only the capital of the UK, but one of the world’s biggest and best capitals of culture, business, creativity, and innovation. Studying here gives you access to incredible graduate jobs, a vibrant student life, and some of the UK’s top universities. But if you’re considering heading to the big city for your university degree, you might be wondering what the best universities in London are.
There are over 40 universities in and around London, and with speedy public transport across the city courtesy of buses and the “tube,” it’s easy to experience all the highlights of London from any of them. Seventeen of those universities are part of the University of London, a wider federation of independent, research-intensive universities. Outside of the UoL, though, there are other significant institutions.
So, to help you choose a university in the city, we’ve turned to the The Times’ Good University Rankings – one of the most prestigious UK-specific university rankings – and highlighted the top 10 universities in London. Alongside rankings, you’ll find student reviews for each university to help you make an informed choice about where to study.
The Top 10 Best Universities in London
10. University of west London
Based in Ealing and Brentford, the University of West London consistently ranks highly for student experience. On campus, students can take advantage of a host of facilities including a gym, library, and restaurants and cafes, all while being less than an hour from central London. The University of West London also ranks high on The Times rankings for social inclusion, so if you’re looking to study at a diverse university in one of the most diverse cities in the world, this could be a good choice.
EDUopinions Student Rating: 4.5/5
Student Review – Bachelor’s
Although it’s only been a few months in the university I’d like to share that it’s pretty great, I’ve met great people, the staff are really nice and compassionate, the style of lectures is at a decent pace and the workload is fairly manageable. The 2 campuses are magnificent, there’s a free. shuttle bus provided by the university that takes you between both campuses. It’s always super clean all around.
Student Review – Master’s
What I love about my course is that they provide talks from industry specialists and after the talks, we are able to ask more questions on how they got the job and position they currently have. This is not only theoretic practice but practical as we are then able to exercise what they said in order to go out into the industry ourselves.
9. Queen mary, university of London
From West London to East London: Queen Mary is situated in Mile End and Whitechapel in the heart of the historic East End of the city. Studying here, you’re close to the buzzing areas of Shoreditch and Hackney, and right next door to the green oasis of Victoria Park. Queen Mary is a member of the prestigious ‘Russell Group’ of UK universities – one of the more diverse institutions in the collective – and it’s clear from the intensity of its research that fosters a world-leading academic environment.
EDUopinions Student Rating: 4.1/5
Student Review – Bachelor’s
I’ve learnt a lot from the psychology undergraduate programme and the content really challenged me. I was able to learn new knowledge as well as practical skills such as writing a good lab report. Most of the lecturers are passionate and approachable, making my first year enjoyable.
However, there are definitely ways it can improve. At times the lecturers can be unhelpful, making it confusing to learn new content or complete assignments. For example, they don’t answer some questions asked by students well. Some lecturers are a bit too quick in teaching whilst others are too slow.
Overall, I’m having a good time studying psychology at Queen Mary, but I would like to see some improvement.
Student Review – Master’s
I enjoy attending this university. I have always found the support and admin to be great and have always felt safe and comfortable here. I would say that there could be more terms of teaching quality and overall campus facilities but in general I find that I utilise what is there effectively and I am pretty happy with the resources. My particular programme tends to strike a lot, meaning that a lot of valuable contact hours is missed but I stand in solidarity with the faculty and only blame the wider university executives for the disruption to my studies.
8. St Mary’s University, Twickenham
Do you want to get out of the heart of the city and study in a rural suburb? St Mary’s in Twickenham is one of the smaller universities on this list, and its close-knit campus adds to the community feel. In fact, the campus occupies a massive 35 acres next to the River Thames, so you’ll find plenty of quiet study spots. St Mary’s is technically a Catholic university, and this informs their commitment to inclusion and support (you don’t need to be religious to attend!) In particular, the university has a reputation for sports degrees – UK champion runner Mo Farah trained at St Mary’s.
EDUopinions Student Rating: 4.0/5
Student Review – Master’s
It’s a challenging university and there were moments when I wasn’t sure I’d make it to the end. The only reason I made it through was the exceptional support my professors provided whenever I applied for it. I was very inspired by part of the meeting with professional athletes and coaches that the university organized for us. There is everything you need for studying, 2 libraries, comfortable campuses, but small uncomfortable classrooms.
7. University of the Arts, London
University of the Arts London (UAL) is a prestigious city-centre institution for the study of creative subjects like theatre, fashion, fine art, illustration, and photography. Students from around the world travel to its independent colleges – including Central Saint Martins, Camberwell College of Arts and the London College of Fashion – to study creative subjects in a city well-known for its creative heritage. Surrounded by prestigious galleries and a history of creative practice, this is the place to go for your creative degree. Despite its prestigious name, UAL ranks lower for career prospects (as is common for creative industries), putting it in the lower half of this ranking.
EDUopinions Student Rating: 4.1/5
Student Review – Bachelor’s
The University of the Arts London is a creative hub, where like minded people collaborate and build long lasting relationships. I met people, on my course and other courses, who I now consider my closest friends. The university has excellent facilities, you can rent equipment and workspaces and you have access to all libraries across 5 different campuses. The standard of the courses does vary, but the experiences and people you meet will definitely make your time worthwhile.
Student Review – Master’s
Practical teaching with real-life industry examples instead of just teaching theory like other universities. Creative freedom and experienced teachers. Would recommend! (I attended the London College of Fashion.)
6. Royal Holloway, University of London
You’d be forgiven for thinking that this grand campus is actually a historic royal residence, when actually, it was built in the Victorian-era as a dedicated seat of learning for women (it was officially opened by Queen Victoria, though). This fantastical building is the campus of Royal Holloway, a top-30 UK university in the leafy suburb of Egham, Surrey, about 40 minutes by train from central London. Hidden behind the historic facade are modern facilities, including world-class research labs and engineering facilities.
EDUopinions Student Rating: 4.3/5
Student Review – Bachelor’s
My opinion of this university is that it has a great work/life balance. I have never felt as though the workload is too overwhelming but there is also enough to keep me engaged and passionate about my subject. I also found it very easy to make friends both within my course and outside of my course. The social culture at this university, although different from a city university still means a lot is going on and local places to visit, as well as the fact that London is so close.
Student Review – Master’s
Royal Holloway was a good campus university located in the small town of Egham. It has beautiful buildings and nature to it. The campus itself is quite pretty. University is good in academics and it does have a lot of societies and non-academic activities going on. The town Egham is rather quiet but new investments in the town centre is happening. The train ride to London would take about 40-45mins to waterloo.
5. SOAS University of London
Breaking into the top five universities in London (but just one position lower on the Times ranking that Royal Holloway) is SOAS. However, this institution can be more closely likened to UAL for having a learning niche – SOAS stands for the School of Oriental and African Studies, and the university is one of the world’s best for studies of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, including language study. The university has its campus in Bloomsbury, close to the British Museum, and with just 6,000 students, you’ll experience a close-knit academic community.
EDUopinions Student Rating: 4.0/5
Student Review – Bachelor’s
The aspect of the programme that I enjoyed the most was the curriculum. The Economics modules cover the basic concepts that you would study at any university, however, they also incorporate discussions on real-life events, making the course feel more relevant. All the professors are generally very helpful, although some only read their lecture notes during lectures, which is boring and not very useful in the first place. I think the course has greatly improved during my time at the university but the number of optimal courses available has gone down significantly, thus you are often forced to pick subjects you may not be interested in. The campus environment is usually full of life, which leads to a lively atmosphere. It is a very small campus but I never had trouble finding a place to study. There are also many societies and the student union is very active. Overall, I would recommend the course and the university, especially to students looking to study the Economics of developing countries in the Global South.
Student Review – Master’s
SOAS – University of London has been a great experience so far. The course curriculum is very relevant, the students are very active, friendly and helpful and above all, I feel it is equipping me for a future employability. I like the hands on approach the instructors take, I love the countless opportunities that the university provides for me to network with professionals of my field but above all, I really like the diversity of people I have been allowed to meet because of my education.
4. King’s College London
King’s College London (KCL) is recognised as not only one of the best universities in London, but in the whole of the UK – and the world. It appears among the top-50 in world university rankings, and has gained a reputation for the quality of its research output in particular (it’s also a member of the Russell Group). The university has five campuses in London, four of which are located a stone’s throw from the River Thames along the Strand and Waterloo, so students can easily explore all the entertainment in the West End and Soho.
EDUopinions Student Rating: 4.1/5
Student Review – Bachelor’s
The university is good, the standard of education is impressive and I’m always inspired by the people around me from their accomplishments to their depth of knowledge and most importantly how each individual carries themself. Personally, I believe the marking can be harsh so if you want that 1:1 you have to work extremely hard but once you achieve it, it is worth it. One of my favourite things about King’s College is the campus, it’s in the heart of London and has the best places to study, eat, and have a good time. However, one thing I will say is making friends in this uni may not be as easy as you think a lot of the time individuals prefer to stick to their old groups from sixth form or secondary but that is not to say you will not find friends because the beauty of a London university is you will be introduced to many individuals of various backgrounds.
Student Review – Master’s
Amazing location in central London with a beautiful campus and great facilities. All the lecturers are so lovely and knowledgeable in their respective fields and are passionate about passing on their knowledge.
3. UCL
There’s a huge gap in the Good University Guide between KCL and UCL – a distance of 21 positions! Subsequently, UCL is the first university on this list of London universities to make it into the top 10 best universities in the UK. It’s consistently ranked among the best universities in the world, particularly for education, architecture, anthropology and pharmacology, and also earned the title of University of the Year in 2024. From its primary campus in Bloomsbury, close to academic institutions like the British Museum and British Library, it’s easy for students to explore all that London has to offer, including the beautiful surroundings of Regents Park.
EDUopinions Student Rating: 4.3/5
Student Review – Bachelor’s
I do English BA and it’s… a lot to say the least. There are tutorial essays to be done every two weeks and seminar and lecture reading which end up piling up towards the middle of the terms. Lectures are okay but most of them are so random and unhelpful. There is way to much expectation for readings and because of this a lot of students as well as myself end up choosing a select few to study in detail rather than aiming to study them all. Exam advice is pretty mid too, no help given with how to structure or write an essay you’re sort of expected to just do it. You’re thrown into tutorials with little help and only the meetings with a tutor are really helpful for tips and criticism. Overall, I loved some of the texts and a select few seminars were a godsend with how helpful they were – and that was because of the lecturer herself being excellent – and I met my best friend here, but apart from that the programme itself is flawed. Sense of community in societies and careers events and help is outstanding! So it’s a 50/50 love hate sort of thing.
Student Review – Master’s
City campus in centre of London has so much going on everyday from relaxing, mingling with people to intense debates. Very active and diverse student union with all the interesting societies to explore.
The course itself is challenging that brings out the best in me. Scared and overwhelmed but motivated and inspired at the same time because peers and departmental staffs are always supportive
2. Imperial College London
Imperial College London certainly has a prestigious reputation. There are 14 Nobel Prize winners among its alumni, and it’s one of the best schools in the world for the study of science, engineering, and medicine. Despite that, Imperial College London isn’t actually a member of the University of London – it’s been independent since 2007. The university is based at a large campus in South Kensington, an area known for its scientific research at institutions like the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum. Imperial is home to some of the world’s best scientific researchers, who also teach undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, so you’re guaranteed to learn from the best.
EDUopinions Student Rating: 4.3/5
Student Review – Bachelor’s
Overall, my experience at Imperial College London has been a positive one. The teaching and facilities available to students are world class and because it is a relatively small university you get a sense of community. However, workload is very high and the expectations are even higher. They often give quite tight deadlines for coursework and can take a while to give us feedback. However, when they do give feedback it is usually quite helpful and the lecturers are always happy to give you more if you send an email
Student Review – Master’s
I am currently in their master’s program for Public Health and I gotta say, this is one of the most up-to-date places I’ve ever seen. High quality laboratories, state of the art class rooms. Great education, great culture. Whoever came up with the idea of fish and chips should be imprisoned though
1. London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
However, here it is: the best university in London, and it’s the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). Smaller than other universities on this list (it has 12,000 students, to Imperial’s 20,000), LSE has nevertheless developed a reputation for strength of its politics and economics teaching. It ranks fourth among the UK’s universities, and among the top-50 in the world in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. More than 40 past or present world leaders have studied at the university, so you could rub shoulders with future leaders during your time here. And, it’s located in a central location in London, close to the professional institutions in the City and the entertainment in Soho.
EDUopinions Student Rating: 4.1/5
Student Review – Bachelor’s
The course I picked, BSc Financial Mathematics and Statistics is one of the most demanding courses at LSE, but is worth it, as the work you put in ultimately translates to your results. You do have leisure time to go out and spend time with friends as well as studying. The work ethic at LSE is overall very strong, with people pushing each other to work as hard as they can.
Student Review – Master’s
The professors know the field really well and they articulate the subject in a very concise and objective way. The course is demanding cause you’re on a tight schedule of heavy reading, essay/exam that makes up 100% mark of the course, and getting used to London/the University as an international student/bachelor degree graduate. It did change a lot of how I view the world and I appreciate the experience.
Conclusion
As you’ll probably realise now, there are so many different universities in London, each with unique characteristics and a different atmosphere. When you’re trying to decide which university in London to choose, try not to just focus on the rankings. LSE might rank higher than Royal Holloway, but if you actually want the freedom of a huge campus away from the inner city, then you know which one is the better choice.
Similarly, while UCL and SOAS might be in the same area of the city, they have specific research interests that may or may not match with what you’re looking to study.
If this ranking has helped you think about which university you might like to apply to next year, read our blog on the most common university admission questions to prepare you for your application.
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