What You Need to Know When Moving to London

The City of London is a beautiful place to behold. Bright lights are everywhere, historical locations are in abundance, and there is probably going to be a song suitable for every single city you visit.

It’s very easy to get awestruck. It’s also very easy to get lost. For every new place you decide to visit or move into, the proper research is required in order to make the move as smooth as possible for everyone involved. Before going into the grit of things, here are some basic things to know when moving to London:

1. Know your way around the city using local transportation

A lot of people have cars. However, public transportation is still king, given the convenience, keeping in mind the budget, and the fact that the people manning the helm probably know their way around the city a million times better than you do. Someone new to London might get a little confused or even downright flabbergasted when they first move in, but tubes will prove to be a blessing once you are emancipated from the title of tourist.

pic

2. Unless you put in the time and effort to look, you will be stuck with rent higher than Big Ben

London is an expensive city. The living costs are not to be underestimated, even if you are not planning to be housed in the West. Still, like any city, there are some good, few and far in between places that can set you up with a decent flat with fair rent. There is a lot of competition when trying to find an affordable place to stay, both with tourists and locals, so do a lot of research beforehand and give yourself the time to look around. If you find it hard to do the research part, relocation agencies like simply london can be quite helpful. Such agencies can assist you in finding your perfect home.

3. Cash is not as popular as at once was

This actually applies to most of the rest of the world, where wireless has taken over. However, the situation is multiplied tenfold in London. Few people will expect you to have a wad of paper money in your pockets and most establishments will be able to accommodate any sort of card, credit or poker chip you might have.

pic

4. London is huge

Most people know this without having to be told, but it should be stressed just how large the city is. There are tons of tourist spots, historical locations and social areas to be found in the city, and most should be accessible via public transport. This is all well and good until you get lost, which does happen regardless of how you’re sure that shortcut won’t result in a live adaptation of Wrong Turn. If you are unfamiliar with the area, take the main roads, break out your maps or GPS, and man up and ask for directions.

At the end of the day, the most important thing is to find a safe place to stay. Property surveys London should be at the end of the stretch and the conclusion of your search. No sense in spending all that time learning the lay of the land and finding the right home and ending up with a dud.

Ken
Latest posts by Ken (see all)