Yesterday I went on the most fantastic guided walk, looking at several medieval churches ( just the outsides)and whipped by some old Roman wall ruins. It was a great break from the PhD work, and gave me some more insight on the history literally under my nose. There are more guided walks available, and they are very reasonable in price, even on an impoverished student budget! I love British history, and so find all of this very fascinating, even though I was the only person on the walk who was not a pensioner!

The "student" social life, such as it seems to be, seems to consist of bouts of people going out at late evening hours and drinking copious amounts of alcohol, in strangely named nightclubs. Mind, I had my day, some decades past, doing the student drinking thing, but it just holds no attraction these days.

Sometimes I feel like I am being anti social, but drinking too much late at night just holds no thrall anymore.

At lunch, I have to run across the campus and drop off some form or other, and then ( if it is not raining) will dash around and try to have another look at the Roman wall remains!

I am curious about the experience of other "mature" students, in socialising, or no, with the ( would it be immature??! ) other students in their department?

olivia, i've been on a few such guided walks and enjoyed them!

maybe we could create our own guided tour entitled "PhD life in central London", which would include visiting some of those tiny hot-desking shared offices, some crowded university cafeterias, some "quiet study" sections in libraries, and some labs. obviously, the tour would start early in the morning and continue until late at night, and it might be advertised that "occasionally, the seeminly rare species of 'supervisor' can be spotted on this tour".

on another note, it is not just history that england has to offer, but also some fascinating landscaping - you should try Windsor Great Park someday, for example.

I know what you mean. I'm 31 (whether that counts as old or young is up to you), but I have never really liked pubs and clubs. I avoid the postgrad society here cos it seems to be a drinking club more than anything.

If you're looking for stuff in London then you could happily spend hours in the British Museum. Greenwich is a nice place too.

I was feeling even more like Oliver Twist when I discovered that I had walked a hole into the sole of my shoes--already--I suppose having done that much walking in already well worn and well loved comfy shoes. Well, not too worry, I found a reasonable replacement for them, and since the sun is out ( meaning its not raining--the sun being out is a relative thing, I think!) I am going to dash out and look at the Roman wall!

That counts as "mature"! Perhaps in some ways it is a mindset about whether your age makes you mature or not...in the student sense. But I think it would be a bit pathetic to try to pretend I was 25 and hang out at their venues!

juno, i never realised we're the same age! although i won't be 31 much longer...
i knew it was going to be like this, but i am still surprised sometimes at just how young PhD students often are in this country. i think it is more likely the status and/or the workload of doing a PhD, rather than age, that makes "us" behave in a more mature way than undergrads...

I'm a mature student as well. I haven't managed to make any friends on my course because all the other students are in their early 20s and want to go out drinking every night! I just don't have the energy or desire for that anymore. It's definitely a whole different experience doing the PhD as a mature student.

Hey Shani, I won't be 31 much longer either - maybe we're exactly the same age.

True about the mindset though. I know forty-somethings ho are quite comfortable partying with undergrads.

I suppose it comes down to in some sense a matter of priority, as well as what you think is "fun." I would not mind a happy hour drink some place, like an Irish pub, or better yet, a nice meal, with better wine, and even better conversation. That said, it takes too much of a toll on me to drink much or stay out late, and I much prefer waking up with a clear head, ready to start my day, with whatever that might be, than reeking of cigarette smoke and having a pounding head and an ill stomach.

I went completely walk about for two hours--much longer than I intended, but it was worth it. I stopped into a little free local museum, saw the Roman walls, got an application for some different housing, dropped off a form on the campus, etc..it was a worthwhile two hours and my head feels so much clearer! Just a brisk walk and some fresh air makes a big difference, I think!

Deffo found that the whole drinking lark is beyond me at this stage (hangovers for 2-3 days so three-four max if out mid-week). Its bad enough actually being behind in work, having to worry about funding and other PhD stuff and then throwing a mid-week hangover on top of that. I agree that it can be difficult and takes a great effort to turn off if no one about who knows whats going thro' the head i.e. as being a bit older and having the usual early mid-life crisis of "Oh f**k! Am I stuck here for eternity?" Just wish I could see and treat it as a job (albeit one where training/salary is low and demands high).

It's been a while since i lived in London although i still go down now and again - but i used to like to go to Camden market - you might like to look around there.