Living in London, England: Expat Guide

Are you planning to move to London? What is it like to live in London?

In this Expat Interview, Claire shares her experience and practical tips for newcomers. You’ll learn useful information to prepare for your new life in London, such as the cost of living in London, how to find apartments and jobs, and other practical tips

1. About London

London is the capital of the United Kingdom. With more than 8 million people, it is the biggest city in Europe, and its surface area is twice as big as New York.

From the romantic neighborhood of Notting Hill to the super-trendy Shoreditch, London offers something for every taste and everyone.

It is also home to some of the most famous museums (and most are free to visit!), theatre shows, and tourist sights.

Each corner of the city transports you to a very different world where different cultures and languages mix to create one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world.

living in London

2. Why did you choose to live in London?

I moved to the UK in 2011 after spending 18 months in the US, so this wasn’t the first time I moved abroad. I am a Communications Manager for a healthcare technology company.

After studying and working in the US for 18 months, I knew I wanted to live closer to my family. I had enjoyed my time in the US and developed a strong taste for expat life, so I decided to look for a job in London.

I knew I loved the city as I had visited several times before, and it was much closer to France.

London is huge, very cosmopolitan and there are so many things to do, you can never get bored of it.

What is there not to like? The weather, I guess you don’t move to London for the weather!

expat living in London
Rainy day in West London

3. How to prepare for moving to London?

Being European, it was pretty straightforward as I didn’t need a visa. I just packed and moved.

The only thing I would recommend planning for if you don’t need a visa is a deposit for rental accommodation.

London is expensive, so deposits can be relatively high. Also, don’t bother with summer clothes. Winter lasts ten months here.

Tips

  • Moving tips: Relocating abroad? Try Sirelo for free quotes from top international movers that fit your budget. Learn more here.
  • Money transfer: I use Wise for my international transfers. Quick, secure, and their fees? Way lower than most banks I’ve tried!
  • Expat insurance: Life abroad has its surprises; make sure you’re covered with expat insurance.

4. Cost of living in London

Living in London is VERY expensive!

  • Rental accommodation can go anywhere from £700 for a small double bedroom in a shared flat to £1800 for a spacious 2-bedroom apartment in Zone 2.
  • Groceries are average and similar to places like Paris. London also offers a great variety of eateries, so you can eat out on pretty much any budget.
  • Transport is costly with a monthly Oyster Card Zone 1-2, costing a whopping £131.
  • Your salary is taxed directly at the source, so there is not much to worry about after that other than the council tax and your electricity, gas, and water bills.

If you decide to move to London, expect to have no money by the end of the month is short of it. You can and probably will spend it all.

-> Read related article: Cost of living in Paris, France

5. How to overcome difficulties while living in London?

I have some difficulties with people’s accents!

Everybody speaks differently in the UK, which at first was overwhelming even if I was already speaking fluently. I eventually got used to it, but it still takes a fair amount of ‘Pardon?’ now and then.

Making new friends can be a challenge too, mostly with British people, as most already have a network of friends.

It took me a long time, and even now, I don’t have a million friends, but the ones I have are very dear to me! Quality over quantity!

6. Did you experience any discrimination in London?

No, being French, when I meet someone new, I usually get compliments about French food or mention a vacation they took in France.

Sometimes I get a funny look when I first talk because people do not expect me to have an accent, but that is pretty much it.

French bashing is a thing, though, and the constant jokes about French people can be tiring.

7. Did you have culture shock in London?

Not really, being European and having lived abroad before, I knew how to deal with cultural shock, plus I had visited London before, and I was aware of the main differences with France.

Most differences made for funny stories, and I talked about it on my blog. I am also fortunate to have never been homesick!

8. What do you like about London?

It is so big that there is always something new to discover! Museum, eateries, bars, neighborhoods, I think it would take a lifetime to visit every corner of London.

There are also so many parks, which is fantastic to have access to in such a big city. I have never lived more than a 5-minute walk away from green space in my seven years in London.

9. Is there anything that you don’t like about London?

The trains! They are always delayed, slow, and so dated.

10. What are your favorite things to do in London?

I love to take a walk in a new neighborhood on weekends with my husband. I can easily get claustrophobic in small cities, so I embrace the fact that there is always a new street to discover in London.

I am also on a constant quest for the best food, and I love to try a new restaurant or cafe.

things to do in London
Having a cup of coffee at the Café of Good Hope in South East London

11. Where would you recommend visiting in London?

It is a tough question!

If it is your first time in London and you have limited time, visit all the tourist sights because they are worth it! The South Bank, Buckingham Palace, St Paul, etc., are many places to go!

If it is your second or third time, start walking further away and visiting Notting Hill, Shoreditch, Columbia Road, Greenwich.

Visit a couple of museums too. My favorites are the Natural History Museum (because of dinosaurs!) and the Victoria & Albert Museum (just beautiful).

During any visit after that, take the time to watch a show in the West End, have lunch or dinner in one of the many food markets (Mercato Metropolitano is fantastic) and explore neighborhoods further away like Hampstead. Brixton, and Richmond.

things to do in London
St James Park with Buckingham Palace in the background

12. Is it easy to make friends in London?

As I mentioned above, it can be challenging to make friends in London.

Foreigners are usually easier to reach out to as, like any expatriate, they are away from home. British people can be a bit coyer and more reserved, so it can be challenging to connect with them initially. In both cases, it takes time.

13. Do you hang out with locals or foreigners mostly?

I mainly hang out with locals, but this is primarily because my husband is British, and his friends became mine (at least that’s what I think ☺). I also made many friends through work, which helped a lot!

14. Where is your favorite place in London to hang out with friends?

It is a difficult question to answer as I have so many: Chiswick, East Dulwich, and Marylebone, to name a few.

What is essential to know is that ‘real’ Londoners do not live in the central neighborhoods, so if you want to meet some, you will have to go at least to Zone 2 or 3.

If you decide to move to London and live in a very central and popular area, chances are all your neighbors will be foreigners.

15. A memorable experience in London

I have been in London for seven years, so it is hard to choose one!

I got my first grown-up job here. I met my husband here, got a cat, bought a house, got married.

Also, I went to the London Olympic Games and numerous shows and concerts.

I ate all the food the world has to offer. So far, I would say that London life is my favorite memory! But ask me again in five years!

living in London
People camping in the street for Kate Middleton and Prince William’s wedding.

16. Did you change your perspective about London after living here?

Yes, London is not a giant Notting Hill! It has rough bits, ugly bits, and non-terraced houses bits.

17. What are your advice and tips for moving/ living in London?

Just do it!

I have moved abroad twice now, and the main lesson I have is that moving abroad requires planning and organization, but it is not rocket science.

You can make it as complicated or simple as you want it to be.

In regards to London, only move there if you like to live in big cities if you are a countryside person you may find it too overwhelming.

living in London
Street art in the streets of London

18. Do you recommend living in London?

If you can afford it? Absolutely!

If it is too expensive for you, but you still want to move to the UK, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Bath, and Brighton can be fantastic alternatives. There is so much more to the UK than London!

19. What have you learned from living abroad?

living in London
Cherry Blossom in Notting Hill

To be more attentive and respectful of different cultures. Things can easily get lost in translation, so don’t jump to conclusions straight away.

Be patient, listen, and be observant. Body language can mean everything!

I find that living abroad is more interesting than living at home. If you are curious about it, do it! Trust me. You will have ZERO regrets!

20. More about Claire

Claire is a French living in London. Communications professional by day and blogger at Claire Imaginarium by night, she loves food, traveling, London, her husband – Andrew, and her cat Buffer.

She can spend a ridiculous amount of time in a furniture shop and loves to get lost in the aisles of drugstores looking for the best face cream. Don’t forget to follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

The opinions expressed here by Expatolife columnists are their own, not those of Expatolife.

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4 Comments

  1. Kate Lambert says:

    Wonderful post! I’m going to move to London the next year and I was looking for some guidance – your post is a life saver!

    1. Claire Delplancq says:

      Glad it helps! You will love London :)
      Claire

  2. Patricia and Miguel says:

    We’ve been living in Ireland for the past 2 years so we went to London quite often and it always seems a great choice! Love how cultural and live the city is, one of our top European cities :) Besides the weather, everything is fine, we already know that we can’t live in a cloudy and cold country! Thanks for sharing this great post :D
    Sending good vibes only,
    xx
    Patricia and Miguel

    1. Ha Truong says:

      Glad you like the post :)

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