Valentino Thomas has led the UCL Hiking Club to new heights, transforming it into a truly welcoming community of over 2,700 members and making it the largest student-led group at UCL.
Growing up in the southeast of England, hiking was a regular part of Valentino’s childhood and family holidays. Drawn to UCL for its blend of innovative science and opportunity, he is now in his third year of studying Biomedical Engineering, a discipline that allows him to “combine the best of medicine and engineering” to develop medical technology and systems that can directly benefit people.
Looking for an activity beyond the classroom, Valentino became part of UCL Hiking Club in his second year and he hasn’t looked back.
Becoming President in June 2025, Valentino led a committee of 20 fellow students to innovate and build on what he had inherited. He put his energy into delivering a huge range of events, from London park walks, to coastal hikes, and multiple international trips.
Word spread and the result is the biggest club in the history of Students’ Union UCL, with 2,700 members and counting - “almost impossible to comprehend for a student club”, Valentino notes. It has grown into a thriving community that gives students a space to meet new people, develop friendships, get outdoors, and enjoy nature together.
Funds from club membership fees are reinvested into delivering a non-stop events itinerary and subsiding trips to make them financially accessible for all students.
UCL Hiking Club is such an incredible and inclusive community. You don't need lots of experience or equipment to join and, when we’re on a hike, we’re in it together, looking out for each other, whether we're in London, the UK, or Europe.
Highlights of the past year have included the club’s residential trips, such as climbs in the Slovak Tatras, sunsets in the Mourne Mountains, and a five-night stint in Chamonix in the French Alps after exam season. Daily hikes took them along the base of Mont Blanc and evenings involved cooking together, playing card games, and plotting Alpine routes.
Valentino is a well-liked and respected student leader, known among peers as “always motivated and full of social energy”. As he hands the club to its next leadership team in September 2026, he remains committed to shaping its future as Trips Coordinator while completing his fourth year at UCL. His efforts and impact show what a difference community and extracurricular opportunities can make to students.
Student life at UCL is off the charts. We have a whole world of opportunities available to us outside of our studies, and I can only encourage everyone to explore and discover what UCL clubs and societies have to offer, no matter your background or experience.
