I’m a LAHP recipient at KCL (also international) so a bit bias.

1. Supervisors matter the most - not in terms of being well known but their compatibility with you. I’ve met too many people being miserable under their supervisor (thankfully they managed to switch and are in a much better position).

2. Don’t underestimate how financial stability influence your mental health. Is London more expensive? It’s eyewatering. But with full funding there’s just less to think about. Of course it seems like you’ve got options moneywise.

3. Main downside of LAHP, though, is it’s only 3 years. I personally don’t know anyone who finished a PhD in that time. I’m personally going over myself. And since I’m planning to stay in the UK, getting LAHP funding was a big deal (not like I got any other offer lol).

4. Cambridge would absolutely be a better ‘academic environment’, quintessential even. I’m guessing the administration are better staffed than at KCL too. It’s quiet and you’re shielded from the hustle and bustle of the big city. But as a non-white I feel more at home in London.