Everyone has heard of London before, and everyone that doesn't already live there, will always dream
of visiting one day because it's one of the most famous cities in the world and there is so much history
and knowledge there that you just can't miss a chance to go and see it for yourself.

Travelling in general is a wonderful thing to be able to do. It's essentially a gift that allows you to go off
on an adventure and do whatever you want to do, because, well, you can. It's having the power to take
the reigns of your life, and steer yourself in whatever direction that you desire. A lot of people are very
nervous to begin with, because travelling is also a rather intimidating thing - the idea of going to a
place that's unfamiliar to you - it's scary, but oh, how exciting it is too. If this was easy and you were
unphased by it, then it wouldn't be as much of a rush as it is - and that's the whole point. It's supposed
to wake you up and make you feel alive. So embrace the fear and nerves, it's all part of the experience.

So if you're planning on staying a while so that you can soak every last drop up, then these short-term
lets may be just what you need. There is so much that you can learn and take back home with you
from visiting London. - Here's why.   

STRENGTH.

London has been through an awful lot throughout the past years, and yet look how resilient it is. It
hasn't let anything bring it down or make it any less of an amazing place than it already is, and that's
all down to the community and all the thousands of individuals that live there. All you have to do is walk
through the city to feel the overwhelming sensation of pride and power and hope, and that's something
that we could all do with once in a while.

LIFE AND ENERGY

If you don't fancy spending a lot of money on a day out, then you don't have to, and that's because
there is so much life on the streets that you won't even want to pay to do something cool indoors,
because there's too much to miss outdoors. There are so many incredibly talented street performers
that come out every day and show off their skills. You can expect to see a whole mix of entertainers,
from singers, beatboxers, magicians, dancers, and artists, and they live for a crowd, so don't be afraid
to stop and stare - that's what they're there for.

DRIVE

London is a place where people go to make their biggest dreams come true, and that's because there
are so many opportunities that just can't be missed. It's the city of dreams. And you can feel that in
the air that surrounds you. People are driven, and focused, and hungry for success, and that's a very
inspiring thing that makes you reflect and think about what it really is that you want out of life.

What are your favourite things about visiting London? Do you feel like you learn something new every
time you visit?

Lots of love

If you guys are new or unaware, I've just finished my first year at university. I study forensic science at the University of Lincoln - my first year has been jam-packed with a number of crazy experiences, making lots of memories with my friends and working hard to achieve the best I possibly can. Some of you may have been following my university journey through my vlogs on my second Youtube channel (CHARLOTTE EMILY VLOGS) - throughout the entirety of first year, I have been vlogging my days at university and capturing the whole thing on video. Since I've returned home from summer, all I've been doing is watching my year back and reflecting on the amazing memories I've created so far...making me so excited to go back for round two in September! Anyway, since I've been creating content around university life and preparation, I thought that I'd compile 10 of my top videos that will help any future university student with prepare, applying to university or just general advice about freshers and other popular uni questions. I also thought it would help newbies to my channel locate the best videos in regards to education and my uni experience so far.



Moving To University  - this is the actual vlog of me heading to university, setting up my room with my family and seeing my emotions throughout the process

Moving Day Advice/Tips - if you are looking for an in-depth walk through regarding moving day, definitely watch this one. Myself and almost graduate friend Carrie discuss the ins and outs of moving day - feelings, making friends, what to do and settling in.




If you fancy looking into what a student gets up to realistically during freshers, then have a watch of these three vlogs. I was a bit nervous vlogging in public at the beginning but my university vlogs towards the end of the year show my confidence and progression with filming in public.

Freshers Vlog 1 - First Night Out & Freshers Fayre!
Freshers Vlog 2 - Lectures, Fresher's Flu & Parties!
Freshers Vlog 3 - Lincoln Cathedral, PRIDE & Lots of Shopping!



I've also filmed a variety of fresher's videos answering FAQ, giving my personal top tips and sharing my honest experience of the week. FRESHERS FLU IS REAL GUYS.

Top Tips for Freshers
Freshers Q&A - talking wristbands, nights out and advice
Freshers Experience - all of the drunk clips from my first week at uni


Lincoln Campus Tour - I decided to film an overview of my university campus. Hopefully this will give you an insight into how close and communal the university is, as well as all the facilities and buildings Lincoln has to offer.


Students Healthy Food Shop - I share a lot of food hauls on my channel. I'd recommend searching 'food haul' when you visit Charlotte Emily Vlogs so you can see the variety of foods students purchase and the deals we snatch up when food shopping


Semester A Round Up - Megan and I sat down to chat about our experience from the first semester. This is the period of starting university until Christmas; this video shares our thoughts on our courses (Forensic Science & Psychology), as well as our feelings about university life and living as a student.


First Uni Exam Week - I filmed my entire week of January uni exams as they were all crammed into the first week back. Watch to hear the similarities/differences of exams at uni compared to school, as well as my thoughts on each of my four exams for forensics.

Exam Results - after seeing the previous video, watch this to find out what results I actually achieved from my first semester and the exams I took.


Anxiety Workshop - if any of you are worried about your mental health or think you will struggle at university, today I spoke about the anxiety workshop I attended that was run by Lincoln's Wellbeing Centre. I hope this puts you at ease if you are worried about your anxiety levels or other problems you think you may face whilst at uni.




Accommodation at Lincoln - in this video, I share all about the accommodation I lived in for first year - the good, the bad and the ugly. I also mention some of the other options and my opinions on those too.

University Room Tour - if you're looking for room decor inspiration, want to see what Lincoln Courts rooms look like or just generally nosy and want to see what my uni room was like, watch this video!

Kitchen Tour & Essentials - a tour of the Lincoln Courts kitchen and the cupboard/fridge/freezer space you may get when you move here with your flatmates. I also shared the kitchen essentials I believe everyone needs when they move to uni.

Bedroom & Bathroom Essentials - another popular video that a lot of people are interested in is what to take to uni. This video is a huge list of what I'd recommend taking for your bedroom and bathroom in halls.


Study With Me - this video gives you an insight into my course. Watch if you want to know more about studying forensic science at the university of Lincoln and the modules I'm working on in first year.


Long Distance Relationships - my boyfriend and I have been together for almost 5 years so before uni I was worried that things wouldn't work. People shoved down my throat that long distance relationships never worked and you couldn't possibly maintain a connection whilst you're at uni. If you are also worried about this, then watch this video and see how I conquered first year. I share my tips for making things work whilst you are separated with your partner and my positive experience.


Last Night Out of First Year - I do not promote binge drinking but I do share my nights out on my vlog channel. Watch funny drunken nights where my friends and I go out for cocktails or go clubbing! I love looking back on these memories and laughing about all the great times we've had so far! Just a vid to entertain if anyone's interested...


Honest First Year Experience - a summary of our first year at uni covering awful flatmates, the downside to living in halls and information about our courses after a year of studying. One of my favourite videos but it's a long one!


10 Q's to ask on an Open Day - if you are currently looking for the perfect university, consider these 10 questions when asking about the campus, your course and student life at their uni.



Student Budgeting Tips - worried about money whilst being at uni? I've got you covered with my top budgeting tips to help you save money at uni.

University Evening Routine - want to know what a typical student life looks like for me personally? This is what I get up to!


If you want to see where it all began, you can watch my results day video here.


Which is your favourite university video I've created? Have you watched them all?

Lots of love

One of my favourite cities that I've ever visited is 100% the beauty that is Florence. For those unaware (which I admittedly wasn't), Florence is the capital city of the Italian region, Tuscany. From travel blogger to youtube video, I have seen only visuals of the wonderful scenery and heard the incredible stories of those who have travelled to this cultural rich area of Italy. I have honestly wanted to travel here for a long while so when I found out that we'd be heading here on our little Italy trip, I was more than thrilled. I thought I'd share all the wonders of Florence and the experiences I had because I believe it is now my favourite European city I've EVER visited!

Click HERE if you fancy reading my post all about our first destination - MILAN.

Boboli Gardens

One of the major attractions of Florence is the Boboli Gardens, situated at one of the highest points of the city. Renowned for homing a collection of 16th-18th century Roman sculptures, the Boboli Gardens are much larger than I originally anticipated; around every corner there was something new, from fountains to sculpted nature. I was in awe at nature's beauty and it was extremely relaxing to take a slow stroll for the majority of the morning and early afternoon (especially after the steep trek up the hill by foot!) Although my hayfever was playing up a bit, I'd definitely visit this part of Florence again because I found the experience relaxing and therapeutic. The tickets were averagely priced (around €10) but we made the mistake of not researching in depth - we could have brought our passports to get a cheaper student ticket which would have cut the price by half. Therefore, if you're a student then I'd definitely pop your passport in your bag as they wouldn't accept either of our driver's licenses.

Ponte Vecchio Bridge

The Ponte Vecchio bridge is another popular place in Florence; however, the best time to visit would be at night. The atmosphere is indescribable and not to sound cringey, but it made me feel incomprehensibly happy just sitting on the street kerb and listening to the street entertainers sing/play music throughout the evening. This bridge was the place I felt most content; no technology for once, experiencing the rich Italian culture that Florence had to offer and listening to the different sounds of the night. It just made me ridiculously happy sitting here and I'd highly recommend stopping on this bridge in the evening (making sure to dodge the guys trying to give you roses) and just watching or listening to the entertainer for a while. It felt like a community with the public all singing songs together and swaying - I crave nights like this now and would do anything to go back!

Food Stops

For a main meal, I'd highly suggest eating at Il David if you fancy treating yourself to a more luxurious cuisine. Aidan and I both opted for Florentine steak and OH MY, it was super tasty! It took us a while to eat but the potatoes, the salad and, of course, the meat were incredibly delicious. It was perfectly cooked and although it was very expensive, you definitely got your money's worth! Additionally, if you are a massive dessert lover like myself, I'd recommend getting any gelato if you're in Italy. Something I came across before travelling to Florence was people advising to check the aesthetics of the gelato before buying - if the ice cream looked air-filled rather than dense, find a new gelateria! You will get more for your money if you opt for the denser looking ice cream. There are also Magnum shops, one is located on the outskirts of the Duomo square; you have the opportunity for €5 to create your own magnum from scratch. It was so fun choosing your ideal ice cream with the chocolate, sauces and toppings...see mine above ^^^

HIGHEST POINT OF FLORENCE

One morning, Aidan and I decided to set our alarms to an ungodly hour. We researched the time of sunrise and ensured we were up, dressed and had time to climb to the highest point of Florence to admire the sunrise from a good view. Unfortunately, the day was cloudy so we didn't really see much of the sun emerging; however, it was still worth it to see the views and be up in a beautiful location with little to no people around. The peace and quiet from just standing and admiring the city was heavenly...again something I would love to do when I return in the future. LOOK AT THE VIEWS!!

Duomo Bell Tower

Another of the main tourist attractions, and where most people crowded round, was the Duomo. The architecture is like no other and just mesmerising to stare at - I couldn't stop thinking how long it would have taken for someone to construct such a stunning building, especially during the time it was built. Unfortunately, it was close to Easter so that meant a lot of children were out of school. The Duomo itself was fully booked so we weren't able to venture inside. However, we managed to snatch a ticket to climb the Duomo's Bell Tower. If you suffer with claustrophobia, this is DEFINITELY not for you. The stairs are ridiculously cramped and I felt awfully uncomfortable making my way to the top. It was worth it for the admirable views but I don't think I could do it a second time purely for the uncomfortable nature of climbing up the same narrow stairs as people are coming down too.

I really hope you enjoyed my little post all about my favourite places and things to do in Florence. My Rome post will be on its way shortly - I've just had a lot of work to do recently. Apologies. Hope you are all having a lovely week and I love you lots.

Have you ever visited Florence? Is it on your bucketlist? 

Lots of love