Today I’m kicking off my new series on moving to london. If you’re interested in moving to London and want a free checklist to assist you with that move, click here to grab yours! Today I’m going to be sharing some things to do before you move to London so that your transition when you get here is seamless and easy!
5 things to do before you move to London
1. Figure out if you are even able to move.
Depending on where you’re from, there will be different ways to legally move here. Countries that are in the commonwealth like Australia, New Zealand, and Canada can obtain visas easier than those from the US. As of now, EU citizens can still move to the UK without need for a visa. This may change after Brexit. If you’re being sponsored by your job, they’ll take care of your visa for you.
2. Decide when you want to move.
I booked a one way ticket to London on black friday a few years ago. It was a super cheap ticket and I departed for London at the end of February. Looking back on it, I wish I had arrived when it was warmer outside because my first few months were a big struggle. I was stuck inside of my tiny room in my tiny flat that I shared with five other people. I think if it had been spring or summer I would have acclimated faster.
So, if your moving time is flexible, don’t move in the middle of winter. Try moving in the spring, summer, or early fall. Summer is actually a great time to move because tons of students will be leaving school, which means lots of flat vacancies.
3. Pack only what you need.
When I moved, I came over with two checked suitcases, a rolling carry on, and a backpack. This was the perfect amount. And if you’re not like me, and you don’t have a ton of camera equipment, you could probably even go lighter.
You don’t know where you’re going to be living when you first arrive in London which means you don’t know how much storage space you’re going to have. You don’t want to bring everything you own over and then have nowhere to put it. It’s just not reasonable to do so. If you decide to stay for the longterm, you can always ship over the rest of your things.
4. Figure out where you’re going to stay when you arrive.
Do you have a friend who lives in London or just outside of the city? If you do, reach out to them and see if you can crash at their place. I crashed at a friends parents house in Zone 4. It made things so much easier because I didn’t have a time limit and I was saving a lot of money by doing this.
If you don’t know someone who can put you up for a few weeks, book into an AirBnB or a hostel for at least one week. You can always extend if you need to. A hostel will be the cheapest option and there are several located in central london like Wombats, Clink, or St. Christophers. Plus, they’re easy to extend if you need to.
5. Do some research on neighborhoods in London.
If you already have a job lined up, figure out how far you’re willing to commute to your job. If you don’t have one yet, do some research on London neighborhoods so you’re not searching the entirety of the city for places to live when you first get here. There are so many different areas to live in, each with their own price tag and personality. Check out my blog on picking a place to live in London for more information on different neighborhoods!
Some of the links in the post are affiliate and give me a small commission at no extra cost to you!
Thank you for continuing to support Travel Colorfully.
Pin it for later:
