London (Ontario).

London earns its reputation for a strong social scene, centred on Richmond Row, the strip of bars and patios just south of campus. Western's homecoming and its huge club and intramural culture drive much of student life, while London Knights junior hockey games at Budweiser Gardens are a proper local night out. There's a solid live-music and pub circuit downtown once you tire of the student bars.

• Richmond Row is the main bar strip; Jack's and the Ceeps are Western institutions.
• Catch a London Knights OHL hockey game at Budweiser Gardens for a cheap, rowdy night.
• Sign up for clubs through Western's University Students' Council during O-Week.

London sits comfortably below Toronto on cost, which is a big part of its appeal. Budget around C$1,300 to C$1,900 a month all-in, with student rooms in the Old North area near Western noticeably cheaper than comparable Ontario cities. Groceries and nights out go further here than in the big metros.

• Rooms in Old North and near campus typically run C$700 to C$1,050 a month.
• Covent Garden Market downtown is good value for fresh food and cheap lunches.

Old North, the leafy streets immediately north of Western, is the classic student housing zone, walkable to campus and full of shared Victorian houses. Downtown and the Richmond Row area suit those who want nightlife on their doorstep, while Masonville to the north is quieter and near the mall. Book by late winter for September, as the best student houses go early.

• Old North is the walkable student neighbourhood right beside Western, full of shared Victorian houses.
• Book by February or March for September; landlords near Western lease well ahead.
• Check Western's off-campus housing service and the London group on Studcasa for rooms and sublets.

The London Transit Commission (LTC) runs the buses, and Western full-time students get a bus pass bundled into their fees for unlimited travel. Routes 6, 9 and 13 are the campus workhorses. The city is flat and cycle-friendly in the warmer months, and VIA Rail and Megabus connect London to Toronto and beyond.

• Your Western student card includes an LTC bus pass; routes 6 and 13 serve campus directly.
• VIA Rail from London to Toronto takes about two and a quarter hours; book ahead for cheaper fares.

Western is known for its Ivey business school, health sciences and law, and for a strong reputation for the overall student experience. Large first-year lectures give way to smaller classes and seminars, and the affiliate colleges, King's, Huron and Brescia, offer a more intimate alternative. Exchange students are supported through Western International.

• Weldon Library is the main study hub and runs extended hours during exams.
• Arrange course selection through Western International before term; Ivey business courses have restricted access.

The rules depend on your nationality and the length of your programme, so use this as orientation and confirm with the official Canadian immigration site. The key quirk is that a study permit is not required for programmes of six months or less, which covers many single-semester exchanges. Longer than six months and you'll generally need a study permit, applied for online before you travel.

Separately, most visitors need either an eTA for air travel or a visitor visa depending on nationality, so check both.

• Programme of six months or less, usually no study permit required
• Longer than six months, apply for a study permit online before arrival
• You'll still need an eTA or a visitor visa depending on your nationality
• Apply early; processing times swing seasonally and requirements vary by country

London's food revolves around Covent Garden Market downtown, a year-round hall of independent stalls and grocers, plus a growing craft-beer scene led by breweries like Toboggan and Anderson. The city has a busy festival calendar in summer, from Sunfest to Ribfest in Victoria Park. Everyday life is relaxed and green, with the Thames River threading through.

• Covent Garden Market is the heart of downtown eating, from cheese stalls to cheap lunches.
• Toboggan Brewing and the local craft-beer scene make for an easy night out off the student strip.

Old North and the streets around Western are the student core, prized for the walk to campus. Wortley Village in Old South is the city's most charming neighbourhood, full of cafes and independent shops, and regularly voted one of Canada's best. Downtown holds the nightlife and market, while Masonville up north is convenient but quieter.

• Old North for campus proximity; Wortley Village for cafes and Victorian charm.
• Wander Wortley Village on a weekend for the best of London's independent scene.

London's central-Ontario position opens up beaches, theatre and the big city. Grand Bend and Port Stanley on Lake Huron and Lake Erie are under an hour away for summer beach days, Stratford's world-class Shakespeare festival is about forty minutes, and Toronto is a straightforward train ride. Niagara is doable as a longer day trip.

• Grand Bend beach on Lake Huron is under an hour for summer sunsets.
• Stratford, about forty minutes away, hosts one of North America's top theatre festivals.
• Toronto is roughly two hours by VIA Rail or Megabus for a city weekend.

Lock in housing early, because Western's student areas lease further ahead than most exchange students expect. Don't spend every night on Richmond Row; London's charm is in Wortley Village, the Thames Valley trails and the nearby beaches. And bring layers for the lake-effect snow, which can dump heavily in winter.

• Sign a lease by early spring for September; the best Old North houses go fast.
• Pack for lake-effect snow; London sits in a snowbelt and winters can be heavy.