I'm going to QM to study history in September. However, had I stayed at home and studied I would have looked at Canterbury Christ Church and Kent. Not far from London and Canterbury, although not London, has good nightlife and shopping, plenty of history, excellent archives etc.
Christ Church I believe has the better rep for history, but Kent has the better uni rep. If it was me, I'd go to Kent, purely because the campus is nicer imho.
If you have any questions about either pm me; I've some friends going to both in Sept and it's my home town.
Good luck!
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