Am I likely to get in to do Physics at Oxbridge, Imperial, UCL etc

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I took Physics, Maths, Chemistry and Further Maths at A-Level, but didn't sit official exams courtesy of COVID.

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I knew I wanted to pursue Physics from Year 10 onwards, due to having a great teacher at the time. With the benefit of hindsight, I often wish I'd pursued a more niche option, such as Medical Physics, to increase the time spent on modules that I enjoy more

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I also applied to Oxford, UCL, Birmingham and York. Like many Imperial students, I was an Oxbridge reject. Personally, I am incredibly grateful for that, as I am sure it wouldn't have been the right fit for me. It should be noted that some students do firm ICL despite getting an Oxbridge offer - it's truly all a matter of personal preference!

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Imperial had been my dream university for almost as long as I knew I wanted to study Physics. Its great academic reputation was the main draw, but I was also heavily influenced by the chance to live in London. It's a pretty polarising choice of uni city for many, but I loved living in a busy area, where you had constant reminders that life exists outside of university! There's never a shortage of things to do to take your mind off work. With that being said, there are obviously disadvantages too! Most affordable accommodation options are 30-50 minutes away from campus, which is especially painful during Freshers! Also, for Imperial specifically, proximity to the big museums made South Kensington hell to traverse during school holidays! The opportunities afforded to you by studying at a prestigious university cannot be understated though

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I promise Further Maths isn't a necessity to get accepted into good Physics (or Natural Sciences) courses! I know I've said it already, but forums such as the Student Room are breeding grounds for misinformation given by other anxious students (who MOSTLY aren't trying to do harm)! As much as an AS in FM would strengthen your application, I almost recommend it more for how it might help you out at uni. At MANY universities, Further Maths content that might have taken a whole lesson at A-Level is often covered in less than 10 minutes; it's a bit of a relief to have the upper hand when transitioning to that level of study! Don't worry about the A-Levels you're taking either way - you've taken subjects that will absolutely put you in good stead! Just make sure you have examples demonstrating your interest in (and skills for) the subject you're applying to so your personal statement can do the heavy lifting in your application.

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More generally with regards to choosing a university: look at the modules on each course you're applying to. I was so hung up on academic reputation that I failed to focus on which degree I was going to enjoy the most! Imperial is great if you're really into theoretical physics (especially the quantum side of things), but has a lot less focus on applied content than other unis. You're going to be spending 3+ years on your degree, so make sure you understand what you're applying for!

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FINAL aside: don't be put off by the poor social reputation of institutions such as Imperial. University is truly what you make of it. I can guarantee that wherever you go, you'll find like-minded people who want to do as much (or as little) socialising as you do! Course content and university location are what it's worth focusing on!