How to Move to London

This might not be the most ideal time for making big moves, but it's hard to find the perfect timing for anything in life. So if you're thinking about moving to London, here's some advice for you!

It's gonna be a different experience based on where you're moving from, but regardless you're gonna have a lot of stuff to figure out. I've lived in London for seven years, and it's challenging to be in a new place with a whole new system to learn. I really wish I'd had some kind of guide like this so I could've been a little more prepared. However, I did move here as a student, which made it a whole lot easier. Here are the most important things you can do to make your move as smooth as possible.

Get organised

Before you move, make a list of things you need to do when you get here. Organise as much as you can beforehand. Arriving in a big city on your own, starting from scratch and having to get your whole life together in a new place can be overwhelming, so you need to have a plan.

Find accommodation

This is obviously one of the most important things to have in place or get sorted as soon as you can. If you're coming here as a student, I'd highly recommend getting a room in student accommodation. There are lots of pros and cons about living in halls, but when you're new to the city it's easier to get a place through your university instead of having to look privately. In my experience most people choose student accommodation for their first year, and then they move in with friends, which is a lot easier now that they know their way around.

For renting a place you have different options depending on your budget and preferences, such as renting a room in an existing houseshare or getting a studio or one bedroom flat if you want to live by yourself. It's widely known that London's one of the most expensive cities in the world with its steep rent prices. There are many things to say about renting a flat in London, but whatever you do, don't sign a contract without viewing the flat first. Even if the place looks legit and the people seem honest, never trust it. So it might be better to come here first and then find a place to live. Alternatively if you have friends here who are willing to go to viewings for you, that could be an option. You can also get an Airbnb or stay with friends while you're looking for a place.

Don't get discouraged if the process turns out to be longer than expected. Most likely you're gonna be viewing a good number of flats before finding the right one for you (this of course also comes down to how picky you are). Keep looking through the different options you have before you make up your mind. People will try and scam you, so don't get stressed and make a rushed decision. Bring someone with you to viewings if you can, and ask people for opinions. If you're offered a tenancy but something looks weird or sketchy, it probably is. Don't sign a shady looking contract out of desperation, you're gonna regret it. It's better to wait, or to live somewhere temporarily while looking for permanent accommodation.

Renting isn't always straight-forward here, and some agencies require a lot of information to approve you as a tenant. Sometimes they take large deposits, and it can be a challenge to rent a place if you don't have a job secured yet. You can get away with it by having a guarantor, but not all agencies accept overseas ones. These were things I wasn't prepared for, and it can feel overwhelming with different challenges coming your way during the process. If you have a steady job, it's a lot easier to rent. Another option is to get a place with a private landlord, as this sometimes proves easier. They won't necessarily have the same set-in-stone regulations and guidelines that the agencies do, and many of my friends have opted for this route.

I'm not gonna make a whole checklist of things to look for when you go to a viewing, but the most important thing I look for is mold. It's a very common problem here, and you'll want to make sure you don't move into a flat with unhealthy living conditions. Other things to look for is to make sure the flat has a smoke detector, that you have a lock on your door if you have flatmates, that your windows open okay and that the water pressure is fine (look up a more extensive list before attending viewings).

Choose your location

We're still on the accommodation topic, but I wanted to make this a separate point. When it comes to where in London to live, you have to think about what you want from your experience and what you'd like to be close to. There are a lot of nice places to live, but it all comes down to your preferences. You might also be interested in living close to your workplace, but it's hard to plan that considering you might not have a job in place yet. You also don't have to live in the city centre to work there, it's absolutely fine to commute. London consists of zones one to six, and each zone can give you a different experience. You have to consider how important it is for you to be close to central, as rent prices are generally gonna increase the closer you get. It also of course depends on type of accommodation. If you ask people who live here already, some of them will have strong opinions on where it's good to live, such as east or west, or north or south of the river.

As you're probably gonna be choosing a flat before you really know the city, it's a good idea to ensure your contract has a break clause, meaning you can leave before the tenancy is up. If your agency or landlord won't agree to this, see if it's possible to move if you find someone to replace you on the lease. It's important to have the option to move and not have to spend a year in a location you don't really like. It's also good to have that option in case you get a job far away and don't wanna have a two-hour commute to work.

Figure out transport

This is something you're gonna be spending a lot of money on living in London. It also ties in with accommodation, as it can help you decide where you should live. If you choose to live further out from the city to save money on rent, you might be spending that money on transport instead, so it might not work out to be worth it. I have friends who live close to central who save a lot of money on transport by being able to only travel by bus, as it's generally cheaper than travelling via train and tube. Transportation has become easier now that you can pay by contactless rather than having to constantly top up your Oyster Card, but you should still keep in mind whether you should buy a season ticket or travel card or if it's cheaper for you to pay as you go. Take into consideration how much you travel and where you wanna go, such as frequently visiting friends that live in other zones.

Find work

This is the second of the two most important things you need to get in place right away when you come here. Remember that this is a city full of competition, so you might not land your dream job right away. The most important thing is that you get a job and income, especially as it's gonna help you with the renting process. There are usually jobs available in the hospitality industry, so if you've always wanted to work as a waiter or barista, now is the time. It's surprising how many people I've met who started out in this city working at Starbucks (I've worn that green apron myself). Places such as call centres and other customer service oriented businesses are also usually looking for people, especially if you're bilingual. If you need work and you speak another language, search for things such as "Spanish jobs in London" etc, you'll almost always find something if you're not picky. Even if it's just temporary or project-based, you have something for the time being while you're looking for something permanent or a job within a specific sector or relevant for your degree if you have one. Other options are to sign up with a recruitment agency, or to use staffing apps where you can pick up shifts.

Get an English SIM card

If you're moving here from abroad, you'll probably have to get an English phone plan. There are different options here, I'll advise you to search around to find the best deal for you. However, to start a new phone contract you'll have to have a permanent address, so it might not be something you can do right away. There are also companies that do month-to-month plans and pay as you go. You'll just have to figure out what the best option for you is based on your usage.

Set up a bank account

This is something you'll need to do rather quickly when you get here, as you'll need an English bank account to get paid. To do this you often need to set up a meeting with the bank and go into your local branch to sign up with them. For many banks you also need proof of address to do this, so again, sorting out accommodation quickly is important. There are of course different options for banks, and not all of them require this. You'll have to again search around for the best option for you. I'd also recommend asking around among your friends or fellow students about what options they are going for both with bank and phone, to get inspiration and free advice.

Sort out bills and council tax

When you do get a place, you'll need to set up your bills and sort out your council tax. This is something I'd never done before even in my own country, so it was definitely a bit confusing. A lot of the time your flat will already have a provider, so you just register with them when you move in and set up your monthly payment. If you move into an existing flatshare your flatmates probably already have this all sorted. You'll need to set up your gas, electricity, water and broadband. The latter can take a while to get in place, so be prepared that it can be a while before you get proper Internet access. I won't name and shame anyone, but some companies definitely have a smoother process than others. My least favourite part about living in this country is probably that you have to pay council tax even when you're renting (in my country it only applies to property owners). My letting agency gave me the wrong info on this, which lead to me paying the wrong amount. Don't make the same mistake as me, only take information directly from the council. Set this up as soon as you can, as you don't wanna miss a payment.

Get a National Insurance number

This is the last of the essential things you need to sort out as soon as possible upon arrival. A National Insurance number is your identification number, so like a Social Security number or a personal ID number. To get this you just call the information line to start your application. I had to go to an interview to prove my identity to get my NI number, but I don't think this is necessary for everyone. It's pretty straightforward to look up the application process.

Register with a GP

There are a lot of things about this country that confuse me, but I will give them one thing, their health system is pretty good. The NHS provides free health care, so if you're from a country that doesn't have this, that might be a relief for you. I'd advise you to register with a GP as soon as you have a permanent place to live, as the process can take a few weeks and it's good to have it in place for when you need it. You can look up practices in your area and maybe read reviews before you make a decision. Then you can register via their website, which usually is a quick and simple process.

Learn about visas and settled status

Moving to the UK has become a tad trickier post-Brexit, but securing your right to actually move to and work in the country is a crucial part of your preparations. As it varies depending on what country you're from, you'll really have to check what applies to you. You might be subject to the points-based immigration system, which means you'll need to meet certain criteria such as level of English, salary and that your employer can sponsor you. You might also need to pay a visa fee and a healthcare surcharge. For different kinds of student and work visas the rules vary, and you'll have to find what's available to you depending on your circumstances.

Meeting people

The most fun and exciting part about moving to London is all the amazing people you're going to meet here. You'll have an endless pool of potential friends from all over the world, and you'll have the chance to learn about all these other cultures and ways of life. The easiest ways to meet new people are through work or uni, as that's where you'll be spending a good chunk of your time. There are also loads of events and activities going on all the time where you can meet people. It's really easy to make friends here, as most people who live here aren't from London, and are also wanting to meet new people.

I hope this guide was helpful for you. Moving to a new city/country can be scary and overwhelming, but it's an exciting adventure that you're gonna learn a lot from. If you want to do it, do it! Don't let fear stop you. You can always ask people for help or look up how to do something. Remember, a lot of people have done this before you and been just fine.

Don't let your dreams be dreams!

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