Moving to London Advice

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A Guide on Moving to London

Making the decision to move to London may be something that has crossed your mind numerous times or you may have had a shift in your personal circumstances that has got you considering it or are you just looking for a big change. No matter the reason, a move to one of Europe’s best capitals to live in, is something definitely worth considering.
London can be a great place to live and work and your decision to move and subsequently live and study or work in London could be the best life changing decision you’ve ever made! Just last year alone 627,000 people made the decision to move to the UK according to the Office of National Statistics. The following information offers a very helpful guide moving to London.

Apply for a visa to live and work in the UK

Unless you are already a British citizen or you are a European Union or European Economic Area (EEA) citizen or from Switzerland, you will need to apply for a visa to live and work in the UK. If you are not sure if your country is a member of the EU or EEA check here.

You can find information on how to apply for a visa or sponsorship in the UK here.The most popular work visa is the tier 4 study in the UK visa which you can find more information about here.

It may be an obvious part of your decision-making process but I will state the obvious – consider your current circumstances!! Do really take time to make your decision – speak to family/friends, people you know who have done the move find out their views. A move to London is not a decision for the faint hearted, its a big decision and contemplating any big move so it’s crucial to ask yourself what your current circumstances and commitments are and how they could affect your plans to move to London and your future. Are you moving on your own? Are you moving with a partner? Possibly moving to London to study? Maybe you moving with your family? Either way just be conscious of what impact the decision will have and weight out the risks vs benefits – but did I mention London IS a great city to live in?!

2. Have Some Money Saved!

The next thing to consider when planning a move to London is finances and by this I mean having enough money to see you through living expenses for at least the first three months. You’ll be relieved to know that London is not one of the most expensive cities in the world and according to the last 2019 worldwide cost of living survey it currently ranks as 22 on the list. However it’s certainly not a cheap place to live and the cost of living in London annoyingly continues to rise. It is essential to have some savings to support the first few weeks possibly months of setting up base whilst you find a job. Relying on credit cards can be a dangerous game when moving countries so I would strongly recommend not using credit cards to finance a move. My advice is do not come to London without some pennies saved in the bank.

So how much money do you need to move to London? To be honest my answer would be how long is a string? It totally depends on a number of factors that are related to your personal needs/wants and general spending habits and of course your current access to money. If I had to quote you a figure based on my personal view I’d say double your savings budget to move – as best case scenario you get a job quickly start earning pounds in a month and you only spend half of your budget for the initial moving / setting up costs in London. Worst case scenario it takes you longer than 2 months to start earning pounds so my best advice is double what you think you might need to have in savings for moving and living in London for the first 3 months. Be wary of going by just one website that gives you a breakdown of the”average costs of living in London” make sure you do lots of research across a number of sites and talk to anyone you know who lives and works here to get a better idea on living costs.

3. Consider short term accommodation initially

So once you’ve worked out how which visa you applying for and what your budget for moving here looks like, you will want to think about where you could live on a temporary basis when you first move. If you have family and friends in the UK who you can stay with whilst you get setup at no cost – most definitely use this amazing money saving resource (and hopefully your food costs might be lowered too!). If you don’t have any family or friends to stay with or you prefer to stay on your own, not to worry. Below is a list of some of the best temporary accommodation in London whilst you get a job and get London life going :

Airbnb London
HomeStay
wimdu
Booking.com (serviced apartments)
Spare room
Right move (rooms or flats on short term lets)
Zoolpa (rooms or flats on short term lets)
Hostel world

4. Don’t worry about Shipping – Just pack light

Packing light when you move to London is important particularly if you plan to stay in temporary accommodation whilst you get setup. You want to protect your budget and savings so don’t fall into the trap of bringing or shipping so much stuff that you end up needing to put it in storage – storage in London is NOT cheap! Most short term accommodation will have the amenities and white goods you needs such as a bed, washer/dryer, fridge and sofa ect. In London you will have a variety of properties that are let fully furnished or part furnished so depending on which type of property you let, you may not need to buy any furniture.

London is a shopper’s heaven, you can get nearly anything here for a good bargain if you know where to look. You can get furniture and household stuff for a relatively cheap price at these most popular household stores : Ikea, Argos, B and Q, Home base.

One of the most essential items I would advise you bring with you when you move to London is an umbrella, jacket and don’t forget to bring a sense of humor as you will need it. The British humour is unique and takes some getting used to and that so called “British stiff upper lip” does not live up to its name in the friendly multicultural city of London!

5. Start looking for a job in London before you move

Researching your job options to live, work or study in London is one of the most important parts of the process when planning a move to London. An important question to ask yourself is what skills and experience do you have that are recognised in the Uk and are transferable. Although you may have a specific industry and occupation you may want to apply for do consider diversifying your job options by considering other professions or jobs that your skills and experience are transferable to. The more options you give yourself the better your chances are at getting a job sooner and earning those £pounds . Even if the jobs are not exactly what you are striving for, it’s worth staying focused on aiming to get your foot into the working in London door and once you are working and earning you can continue your search for a better job. Having some work experience in London will also place you in a stronger position for progressing to a better job.

Once your visa application has been approved its best to start straight away submitting your CV to online recruiters and contacting employment agencies to start looking for a job in London before you move. Starting this process will means that you will become aware of what the job market is like in London and means you will get jobs straight to your inbox. This will save precious time as you have already started making connections with recruiters by the time you arrive.

The following are the most popular job sites in the Uk / London :

The job market in London is known for it’s competitive work culture. However one of the major pulls of moving to London is the known fact that this great city can offer great opportunity and reward – that is IF you are motivated to work hard and keep your job options open at least initially. I’ll be honest, although London can look sugar coated, survival in this big city demands thick skin especially when searching for a job. You have to preservere and not give up easily until you crack into the job market or you will be left feeling like London is a beast that has bitten you whole and spat you out. Without sounding dramatic, this is a reality that happens to an unfortunate number so don’t give up easily. That said, let me reassure you that the job market is booming with the UK employment rate remaining higher than its US counter at 75.6%. Even with BREXIT, the UK job market remains relatively stable.

6. Book your National Insurance Appointment (ID) as soon as you arrive

In the UK everyone who is over the age of 16years old and works is required to have a national insurance number. This “NI number” stays with you for life and is the means by which the government services and the tax office called Her Majesty Revenue and Customs (HMRC) track your Insurance contributions and tax, kind of like a tax ID. Although you do not need this number when you apply for a job or start work, your employer will request this number and you will therefore need it to continue working in the UK. You need an NI number to claim any form of benefits if you are eligible.

How to apply for a national insurance number :

The UK government website states that you may already have a National Insurance (NI) number which will be printed on the back of your biometric residence permit (BRP) if you have this form you will need to apply for your NI number by calling the National Insurance number application telephone line on : 0800 141 2075 or text phone: 0800 141 2438 Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. For more information visit : https://www.gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number. Please note that it can take up to 6 weeks to receive your NI number so if you change address make sure you call the NI contact line to notify them. Furthermore, in order to apply for a NI number they require you to have a UK address for correspondence. The address you provide must be one you are residing at and trust as all your tax correspondence will be sent there including any tax refunds so make sure you let the HMRC office know if you move address – this is very important.

7. Register for Health care with the National Health Service

According to the UK Government

Doctors (referred to as GPs – General practitioners) and nurse consultations provided in primary care services are free of charge to all, whether registering as an NHS patient, or as a temporary patient, which is when the patient is in the area for more than 24 hours and less than 3 months.

For secondary care services, the UK’s healthcare system is a residence-based one, which means entitlement to free healthcare is based on living lawfully in the UK on a properly settled basis for the time being.

The measure of residence that the UK uses to determine entitlement to free NHS healthcare is known as ‘ordinary residence’. This requires non-EEA nationals subject to immigration control to also have the immigration status of indefinite leave to remain.

Register with the National Health Service by registering with a local GP in the area you are living. There are many GP practices in each area of London however some are post code / area specific meaning you need to live near the local area where the practice is. To register they often ask for proof of ID, proof of your address and your legal status to assess entitlement to free health care (EU residents are currently eligible to free health care). Check your eligibility here https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/visiting-or-moving-to-england/To get details on how to register and to find the best doctor surgery where you will be living click on here https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/gps/how-to-register-with-a-gp-practice/

Free entitlement to prescriptions, dental care and eye care are dependant on meeting a set eligibility criteria – generally expect to pay for prescriptions and non emergency dental care (the cost is still very cheap when compared to private health care) . For example if you are pregnant you are entitled to free dental care throughout your pregnancy and for 12 months post birth.

8. Open a bank account in the Uk

It has become much easier to open a bank account in the Uk. Thanks to online banking you can have your UK online banking account setup at afew clicks of mouse. Each bank will have varying terms and conditions however, as a general rule the two most important documents that are required to open a bank account with all the big popular banks are : a form of ID such as a passport or European ID, biometric residence permit, EU driving licence and a proof of UK address. Providing a proof of address may be tricky if you have just moved to the UK. The best way to get around this would be to either ask a flat mate to put a utility bill in your name (such as electricity, gas or telephone bill) or if you don’t have a flat mate, you use your tenancy agreement, university enrolment letter or a credit card statement.

9. Banks that don’t require proof of Address

The good news is that if you struggle to open a bank account with one of the popular UK banks like HSBC, Barclays, Nationwide, Santander, Lloyds due to not having a proof of address there are some online banks in the UK that let you can open bank account without proof of address. The most popular ones protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (if they lost your money they would compensate you up to the value of £85,000) is Starling and Monzo. There are afew others I have not mentioned as these two banks have FSC cover.

10. How to survive the first few months in London
Right. Enough about the essential stuff. Let’s talk abit about transitioning into London life and meeting people. I will cover more of this in the blog in due course. But for now here are afew tips on how to survive the first few months in London and some of those cold wet grey London days that may make you feel like moving was a bad idea. Firstly the best way to transition into London life is to stay connected to your people – by that I mean your inner circle back home be it family or friends you will need their support and their support will help you get through what will be some tough times and afew lovely moments. Secondly, accept that London may be differ t to your expectations but different is good and therefore deserves a fair chance. Thirdly, get out of the comfort zone of life, London life is all about experience so get looking to meet new people and experience what London has to offer and it has alot to offer tryst me. Getting out to see your new home and meeting people will ease the pangs of missing family, friends and get you feeling more confident about navigating around the city. The following list is a starting point for ideas on how to get into the flow of living in London :

Check out or Google local clubs, a hobbies or communities in your local area or around London. Meeting people in a group setting can feel way less intimidating! If you are into sport there are a lot of indoor and outdoor sports clubs and activities – just a Google search away.
If you are looking to rent a room in a flat share this is often a convenient way to meet people.
It’s worth keeping your options – what not try out some social media platforms like Facebook groups named under your local area / suburb. There are loads of local hobbies advertised here. This is particularly helpful if you have children as it’s a good way to find out a lot of info such as good schools in the area or playgroups.
Apps like Meetup or Bumble BFF that are set up to meet people who are specifically looking to grow friendships and a social circle so intentions are generally clear.
London is an international city so at some stage you will cross paths with someone who has moved here and that in itself is a great conversation starter!

I hope you have found this useful. For information on the best value areas to live in London, how to live in London on a tight budget, moving to London with a family, how to save money on public transport, the best wine bars in London and much more! Subscribe here for email updates.

What are the best areas to live in London on a budget?

London is not a cheap city by any means after all it hosts the Queen herself and most of the Royal Family. However, although London property does have an expensive price tag when compared to its European counterparts, rental costs in London do vary depending on the area. Therefore, if you look closely enough you may just find a bargain.

What are the best areas to live in London on relatively cheap rent, those bargain areas I speak of? Well, to start with there’s no bargain areas as such, but there are areas that offer excellent rental value it all depends on what essentials are on your list, what you willing to go with out and how far your rental budget stretches.

I have had the privilege of living in all 4 corners of London, North, East, South and West London. Like most Londoners, it’s taken me awhile, close to a decade to find the best spot for me which is in the leafy south of London. You may be moving to London for the first time or may already live in London and just considering a change, whichever it is, i’m sure you will find this list informative.

One of the things I love about London is that it is very diverse and I don’t just mean the 2.5million people from other corners of the world who add to its rich diversity but also its spaces.
Evening Standard, 2011

I believe it or not London can offer something that caters to nearly* everybody’s tastes. So the good news, the chances are that there is probably an area that will feel more than okay for you and hopefully fulfills most of your needs. You can take a 20 minute walk nearly anywhere in London and find yourself in a place that has very different feel and surrounding. Do bear this in mind when you start house / flat viewing as the look or feel of one road may vary to the next. This is what makes London so eclectic but it does make the search feel a lot more intensive. But don’t worry, keep reading as I hope to make that process abit easier!

Firstly before starting the search of where to create your London “home” it’s worth quickly considering common terminology used when searching for a room/flat/house. This big sprawling city is spread across 32 areas divided into specific areas or suburbs called “Boroughs” which each have their own unique character. In other words North London, East London, West London and South London each have their own boroughs. London also has zones with central London being called zone one and as you move further out of the center, there is zone 2,3,4,5,6. You see what this looks like on the Transport for London Tube map here.
Before I detail the best boroughs to live in, one of the most important factors to consider is being how far your rental budget stretches. As a general rule, the further away you live from the center of London (zone one) the cheaper rent becomes. For example Totally Money reports that average weekly rent in zone 5/6 is £121 compared with Hyde Park where the average rate jumps to a hefty £679. However there’s a twist, although rent is cheaper the further out of the center you live, the cost of travel into the center of London is likely to increase. For example Toptips.com lists the current monthly cost of travelling from an area in zone 5 to the center of London zone 1 is £230.40. Below I will advise on the best places to live in London detailing the pros and cons of the Borough, bringing together information on the type of rental budget you need, if there are good transport links into London, if there are green spaces, how cafe/bar oriented the area is, if the area is a family friendly area and anything else useful.

Barking

Barking sits in the borough of Barking and Dagenham and is a suburban area of East London in zone 4. It is a very ethnically diverse area and offers some of the cheapest rents in realms of zone 4 in London. According to Foxtons the average weekly rental of a one bedroom flat here is £312 per week and two beds average around £335 pounds a week. Considering this location offers a less than 30 minute tube ride into the hearty center of London such as Oxford street and London bridge, compared to other one/two bed prices across zone 4 this is very good value for your rental pennies. Renting in this area can work well if you are a student who wants their own pad, have a large family or are looking to save major money on rent without compromising too much interms of travel time/distance into London. Over recent years it’s population has expanded, not only due to its excellent links into central London but also its good value for money properties. It has a rich ethnic pull bringing together various cultures and community hubs. Barking tube station runs along the District and Hammersmith and City tube lines which go directly to major city hot spots like London Kings Cross St Pancreas, Paddington, Embankment, Westminster and Victoria station.

On first impressions, Barking and its cafes, supermarkets, homes may not appear “instagrammable” or aesthetically pleasing to the eye as it is not as “green natured” when compared to other boroughs of London, but it does home 25 parks and once you look past its reported “unglamours look” you will find a place that offers some of the best cost saving potential for rent, strong cultural heritage for many Londoners from different parts of the world and a strong sense of community spirit that you may not feel as much in other boroughs across London.

Croydon

The borough of Croydon had to be on this list as firstly it is a great area to be based if you commuting into the center of London, its also a great “starting out” place if you are on a very tight rental budget and secondly it is the first place I lived in when I moved to this country.

Truthfully though, for many years Croydon did not have the best reputation and it does still bear afew dents to its title but over the last 10 years it has surpassed expectation when compared with neighboring boroughs such as Bromley and Sutton, to become one of the most developed commuter boroughs of London. Croydon is the dark horse, it will surprise you in a good way. It can offer a good work life balance as it has excellent transport links into London with a speedy 15 minute train ride to London Bridge and London Victoria and boasting some very beautiful green spaces on its door step in the nearby Surrey.

The average rent per week for a one bed is around £185-£250 per week and for a 2 bed you looking at around £400 per week according to Foxtons Estate agency. It’s a good area for young families and anyone who wants to save on central London rental costs.

Arneley / Crystal Palace

These areas have a good buzz about them having recently been gentrified with a handful of new trendy cafes, bars and restaurants on their main High streets. The overground is the main form of transport into central London offering a 20-30 minute ride to center London depending on which stop you get off. Did I mention that Crystal Palace sits in a very scenic spot of South London,sitting at 367 feet high above London, it offers panaromic views of the big city on its doorstep. Along with the extensive green space that is Crystal Palace Park which spread across 80 hectares, you will find alot to see and do here. They hold alot of cultural and sports activities in the park throughout the year. Did I mention the food market that offers you fresh fruit veg and tasting experiences of many cultures? Crystal Palace and Arneley are not on top of everyone’s list when looking to rent as most people don’t know or have never heard of these areas but I would highly recommend visiting and considering it as a option to rent. Average weekly rent generally starts at £230 for one bed and starts at £300 per week for a two bed. It’s a very good area for the lifestyle/decent central London accessibility /rental value balance. Ideal for singles, couples, families, anyone!

Acton

If you want to live close to central London without paying the hefty Central London price tag for rent then Action is probably your best option. Acton is in West London, in the borough of Ealing and neighbours the boroughs of Hammersmith and Fulham and Hounslow. Acton is known for its excellent transport links, for example you can get from North Acton to Oxford Street in an impressive 18 minutes! The average cost of a one bed here is around £213 per week and you can get 2 bedroom flats from around £350 per week. Considering Acton sits in Zone 2/3 and has access to numerous tube and train lines, it offers very good rental value for such a central location. However I will be honest, there is usually a reason why rentals are cheaper, as with most things in life there will be a catch. As brilliantly central Acton is, it is not very nature friendly and lack green space. In fact Acton has often been likened to give the feel of an industrial site with its high rise apartment blocks and concrete jungle effect. However, if you don’t mind living in a concrete jungle and you want to significantly reduce your commute time into the city and want to live near the centre of London, Acton is a very good option for rental value.

Walthamstow

You will find Walthamstow also known as #awesomestow by locals in the North East of London in the borough of Waltham Forest. Over the last 3 years this historically “dodgy area” has gained great popularity with young professionals and young families moving in due to its excellent transport links into London on its main tube line, the Victoria line and its wide green spaces and growing arty, cafe and bar culture. There is alot to do and enjoy if you live here and its reputation as a great place to live is only getting stronger as Walthan Forest recently won the borough of Culture award in London.

The Walthamstow Wetlands or the Walthamstow Marshes are both perfect days out for a good dose of nature or if you a food lover you can pop down to Europe’s longest outdoor street market where you will be spoilt for choice for food, fresh fruit and vegetables, clothes, spices and so much more! Did I mention its has some great cafes/deli and if craft beer and or gin or just drinking alcohol is your thing there are some great places to try. Being in zone 3 of London it is a commuters dream as it is 22 minutes to Oxford street and Liverpool street station. Its attracted major interest in property developers and buyers so the cost of property prices here have gone up however the rental market has remained somewhat stable. Having done my research I found that you can rent a one bed flat from £323 per week and 2 bed start from £387 pounds per week (Foxtons,2019). This area is great for anyone – single individuals, couples, families, retirement anyone!!

So that is my list of the top areas to live in London that offer good value for rent. Feel free to send a message if you have any comments or questions.