“London! Thou art the flower of cities all” The city of London has been a muse for writers for hundreds of years and there is perhaps no finer line written about the capital than this one, by the celebrated fifteenth Century poet, William Dunbar.
Life in London
London in the 21st Century still remains a city in bloom with a magnetic allure as a destination for travellers or those looking for a new home to find themselves in. As you will undoubtedly be aware, living in this city is an entirely different proposition than simply holiday-seeking or day-tripping. It requires a much more intimate knowledge of what you will need, why you need it, where to go to find it, and how to navigate everything involved with London life. Let’s take a look through ten of the essential elements to consider when thinking about making the jump to living in the UK’s eternally vibrant and inspiring capital city.
Ace your Admin
The practicalities of moving to London should demand your initial attention. If you are looking to move from another country, then make sure that your paperwork is all in order before you start searching for the perfect property. Skilled Worker Employment visas or Student Visas are the most common routes to follow. Reaching out to London-based networks and online communities is a great way to connect with any opportunities that may offer vital information. Researching UK employment portals and websites will also give a good indication of the types of roles that could represent the start of your journey.
Hunting for a New Home
The housing market in London for sales and rental is one of the most competitive in the entire world. It pays to do your homework and create a list of personal priorities that you can benchmark any area, or zone, of London against. Proximity to work or place of study may be at the top of that list, but you should also consider how your location informs your lifestyle as you look at your options.
Create Home Comforts
Moving to London can be a huge transition. This is particularly relevant if you are making the leap from another country or even a smaller UK city or region. However, one of the wonderful things about London is its position as a crucible of all cultures and influences. With a little bit of research, you are guaranteed to find something that connects you with home. It may be a restaurant or pub, a community of similar people, or perhaps an activity that you can get involved with.
Walk This Way
The London Transport System is a mix of marvellous engineering and efficient travel methods. The Tube network and supporting bus services ensure that your connections between destinations are always simple, prompt, and useful. Taking moments to walk through this incredible city allows a much better understanding of where you are and how the zones and areas fit together. It also encourages one to feel the real pulse of the city as you uncover it by foot. Just be sure to assess whether the weather will allow it before you step overground!
Turn into a Tourist
There is a good argument to schedule all of your sightseeing into the first few weeks or months of your new life in London. This allows you to seek out all of those world-famous locations and buildings that you have seen on the big screen and want to experience for yourself. It also allows you to go there with a new found wonder and patience for the crowds and gatherings that you may find tailing off after a short while of living in the city. Get all your tourist joy ticked off before any sense of a jaded commuter is allowed to settle in.
Go Green
The temptations and attractions of big cities such as London can often appear to be focused on what’s happening inside. The wonderful buildings that hold centuries of stories are always inviting you to enter them on every street. However, London has so many green spaces that offer the perfect respite and relaxation too. From Hampstead Heath to Clissold Park or Hampton Court to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, there is an outdoor space just waiting to receive you for a moment’s meditation and some fresh air. Get exploring straight away.
Curate your own Culture
You will struggle to find a better cultural hub anywhere on earth other than the city of London. It has world-famous theatres that go all the way back to Shakespeare’s storytelling at The Globe. There are galleries galore like the world-leading Tate Britain for you to experience first-hand. The Natural History and Science museums are an absolute must-see. And, small independent music venues allow you to trace a journey from the birth of Punk Rock up to the club scene of the present day. This is your call to find a culture that fascinates and inspires your own personal tastes for the future.
Eat Your Way Across the City
London has everything for the foodies, from Michelin-starred venues to the market stall snack, and you could spend a lifetime tasting them all. All cuisines and cultures are catered for here with some of the most interesting culinary delights ready for you to tuck into. Be brave and adventurous in your choices too. It may be that you find the perfect pitta, the classic curry, or the most fantastic fish and chips by taking a little detour and investigating on your own.
Get App and Away
Our mobile phones and how we use them have suffered from somewhat of a poor reputation in recent times. It’s so easy to forget what an essential tool they can be for us in unfamiliar situations and locations. You will find that there are applications that you can rely on, whether that is Uber for cab rides, Citymapper for journey planning, or simply Deliveroo for a convenient takeaway delivery after a long day. Plugging into these convenient apps makes your phone a trusty little co-pilot for all your new adventures.
Staying Healthy
It’s easy to get distracted within the first few days and weeks of moving to such an exciting place as London. Make sure that you register with an NHS GP in a recognised practice as one of your first tasks on the to-do list. Your health has to remain your number one priority and knowing that you are covered in the event of any emergency will bring essential peace of mind. All you need is an address and proof of residence to get started. There are always private healthcare options too if that makes more sense for your circumstances.
Your own story in London is just waiting to be written. Our guide and suggestions should serve you well as an opening chapter and the rest is up to you. One final thought too, make sure you have an umbrella to hand. Not only will this give you a quintessential London vibe, but it will come in handy as you witness the occasional four seasons in one day that the city provides.
