Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine

This place clearly has some kind of magic - Brian May, guitarist with the British rock band Queen, is an alumni of Imperial College, studying astrophysics there and only leaving to find rock fame and fortune. Founded in 1907, the institution currently has 13,000 students and is handily situated near the Natural History Museum, the Royal College of Music and the Royal Albert Hall.

During its 101 years' existence it has forged close links with numerous London hospitals - St Mary's, Charing Cross and Northwick Park & St. Mark's Hospital all have medical campuses associated with Imperial College. The university also teaches and researches subjects such as engineering and, more recently, humanities. Its college radio station scooped two awards in 2006 for best student entertainment show and best student male presenter, while the written word is represented by student newspaper Felix, which is so professional that it has its own full-time editor who takes a sabbatical year off studies to compile the best undergraduate news and gossip.