Due to its thriving economy, world-class cultural attractions, lively social scene, and simple access to continental Europe, living in London is very attractive to ex-pats. London is a well-known global centre for business, culture, and politics. London offers something for everyone with more than 300 languages spoken there and 6.2 million residents of non-British nationality.
This thriving multicultural hub has more sights, attractions, opportunities, and things to do than most places in the UK let alone more significant parts of Europe, making the prospect of living in London very appealing.
Living in London can be a frightening experience. When you relocate as an ex-pat, you can expect to encounter a slew of issues and challenges. Expatriates must learn about cultural quirks, customs, mannerisms, and expectations. As an outsider in a foreign land, these things can be difficult to comprehend. Don’t be concerned; feeling overwhelmed by so many changes at once is completely normal. Keep in mind that you are not alone in your difficulties.
Finding Accommodation / Housing
It may appear to be a simple process, but given the size of the city, it becomes challenging! Things can become complicated, especially for someone who is making their first international move. If you’ve ever been to London, you’ll be struck by the sheer size.
You should be aware of the visa requirements before relocating to London to ensure you have the RIGHT TO RENT, WORK, or STUDY in the UK. If you have a UK or EU passport, you can live and work in London (Although, as a result of Brexit, this is now a lingering question in the air).
If you do not have a UK or EU passport, you will most likely need a work or student visa. Before entering into a contract with you, landlords and agents will verify that you have the legal right to live there. Click here to find out which visas give you the legal right to rent in London.
London flats typically go on the market 3-6 weeks before the available date. This could make a pre-relocation search trip too difficult, depending on your home country, visa type, and work situation.
There are numerous apps and websites for finding a flat in London, but we found, Sapreroom, Rightmove, Movebubble, OpenRent, and Zoopla to be the most useful.
It’s Hard Getting Food Ingredients
English food can be tasty, but it isn’t enough for many ex-pats moving to London. Nothing beats finding
food that hits the spot, no matter where you are in the world, but it can be difficult for ex-pats, so you must become accustomed to classic English foods such as.
- Bangers and Mash.
- Pie and Mash.
- Fish and Chips.
- Spaghetti Bolognese
- Chicken Tikka Masala.
These foods are delicious, but there’s more to food than just “tasting delicious,” which is why you might be tempted to go grocery shopping and get lost in London’s massive markets.
The days of battling crowds in the supermarket with a full trolley and a toddler are long gone. Online grocery shopping has made the process faster, easier, and less painful for all parties involved; you can now do your weekly shopping without ever entering a supermarket.
Apps / Website Services To Use For Grocery Shopping
- Asda – $$
- Tesco – $$
- Lidl – $
- Amazon Fresh – $$
- Sainsburys – $$
- Waitrose – $$$
Staying Fit Is Difficult
Moving to London is a difficult task. It entails beginning a new chapter in your life and changing your lifestyle in London as well as your habits. While it is an excellent way to broaden your horizons and learn about new cultures, it also presents unique challenges. Everything is exciting and new, but it is also stressful. You must also find housing and adjust to your new job. With all of this going on, many people neglect to stay fit and live a healthy lifestyle.
Despite the fact that we all understand how important this is, we are often too tired to incorporate our old routines into our already hectic schedules. But once you get started, you’ll quickly realise how beneficial regular exercise is for both your mental and physical health. What’s more, you don’t have to spend a lot of money or time to get started; simply follow these three useful fitness tips for ex-pats!
- Set fitness goals
- Focus on a healthy diet
- Use fitness apps such as Better UK
Finding Jobs That Pay
Finding work in London can be just as difficult as moving to London, whether you’ve already relocated or are looking for work from abroad. If you’ve decided to relocate but have no familial ties to the UK and are not a citizen of a European Union country, a job opportunity may be your only way in.
For skilled non-EU workers, there are three main paths to gaining the right to work in the UK. Work authorization is granted under three visa programs: shortage occupations, resident labour market testing, and intracompany transfers. The UK Government’s Migration Advisory Committee released a review of the shortage of occupation list in February 2015, adding 10 new jobs, with a focus on jobs in digital technology and healthcare.
Lisa LaRue is a career coach at Careerworx, a business in London that helps ex-pats develop their careers. “It is not always easy, or even possible,” La Rue said, “to make a smooth transition into the same role you have enjoyed abroad in a new job market.” Some ex-pats may discover that the skills or qualifications that qualified them for a role in their home country do not qualify them for the same role in the UK, she adds.
Here Are A Few Tips That Will Make Your Job-Hunting Process In London Easier
- Check the skills shortage occupations. The UK government website publishes and regularly updates a skills shortage occupation list. If your occupation is on this list, it means you have a much better chance of getting a job in London.
- Be a good team player. Teamwork is highly valued in the United Kingdom and is regarded as one of the top soft skills. When applying for a job, emphasize your ability to work well with others, and your chances of getting the job will skyrocket.
- Your CV must be flawless. In London, the competition is high. As a result, it is the minor details that distinguish candidates. Consider the distinction between a good resume and a great resume. Don’t worry, we have a separate section for resume and cover letter advice.
- Improve your English. Even if you have all the qualifications and skills, if your English isn’t really good, you won’t get the job. Remember that there are locals who want the job as badly as you do.
- Networking. LinkedIn is extremely popular in the United Kingdom. Join LinkedIn groups relevant to your industry and interact with people working in London. Or, even better, attend a networking event and meet the people in person.
- Recruitment agencies are the norm in London, and there are numerous agencies that specialise in various fields, as well as recent apps such as Reed UK and CV Library that help people find jobs easily.
Get Banked Because London Is Cashless
When considering relocating to the United Kingdom, it is critical to ensure that you understand how to manage your finances. The good news is that there are many trustworthy banks in the UK, so if you are relocating for work, study, or retirement, you will have plenty of options.
While a foreigner can open a bank account in London, you should be aware that banks and building societies require proof of address in London. When you first arrive as an ex-pat, this can make things a little difficult. However, it will be more difficult if you are unable to board the Tram, Bus, or Train because they accept cashless payments and you do not yet have a bank account.
Quick Banking Applications like Monzo and Revolut offer banking services to ex-pats living in London.
Revolut, Monese, and Monzo are a few online services that will set up a UK account without residency if you want to open a bank-like London account without proof of address. All provide UK account numbers and sort codes, as well as debit cards that can be used in stores or to pay for items online. Each service has its own set of rules, so make sure you read the details section for each provider to ensure you find the best service for your needs.
Getting Healthcare In London
Not all ex-pats will be immediately eligible to use the NHS, and some may be required to pay a visa surcharge. After paying the surcharge, the visa holder is eligible for free or heavily subsidized healthcare.
Not all NHS treatments in London are free. Dental treatment, for example, is charged, as are hospital treatments for non-UK residents. If you are an international visitor to London, you may be charged for certain treatments and, depending on how urgent they are, you will usually be required to pay in advance.
How To Register with the NHS
To make routine appointments with a General Practitioner, ex-pats in the UK must have an NHS number (GP). International citizens must register with a GP or make an appointment with their local health authority to obtain an NHS number. They will then be invited in for an interview.
Finally, some additional paperwork will be required. It is critical to demonstrate your residency. You will be required to provide proof of residency in the United Kingdom. If they pass all of the stages, they will receive their NHS number in the mail.
A National Insurance (NI) number is one of the supporting documents required for an NHS application by ex-pats. Fortunately, everyone who already has a biometric residence permit has one; the NI number is printed on the back.
You can get coverage here if you want a wider range of medical services, shorter wait times, and access to private care. Foreigners’ Health Insurance in the United Kingdom.
Making Friends And Meeting People In London
London has the third largest population in Europe, after Istanbul and Moscow, with an estimated 8 million residents.
Isn’t it easy to make friends in the capital with so many people? Unfortunately, no: London has extremely high rates of loneliness, with over 30% of the city’s population reporting feelings of isolation. “I never felt more lonely than when I lived in London, surrounded by millions of people,” one Guardian reader wrote.
Making new friends and meeting new people in London is difficult. London can be difficult at times. If you don’t study here, you’re probably starting from scratch, especially if you don’t have family in the city or the UK in general.
So How Do You Meet New People In London?
There are a couple of approaches that should make this extremely simple. Whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert, these are the surefire ways to make new friends in the big city.
- Join Meet-Up Groups
- Facebook Groups
- Shared Apartments
- Use apps like Bumble BFF
You’ll have to take some chances, and not every new acquaintance will become your new best friend, but the payoff will be well worth the effort.
Learning The Language
While English is one of the world’s most widely spoken languages, ex-pats should not assume that it has been adopted everywhere. Living and working in a place where you don’t speak the language can make you feel like a fish out of water and increase your anxiety. Feeling lost and unable to communicate is extremely debilitating, so follow our advice below to ensure your new life begins smoothly.
The ability of ex-pats to learn a new language is influenced by their age at arrival, the linguistic distance between their native language and the host country language, their reasons for migrating, and their cognitive ability and education.
Tips To learning English language For Expats In London
- Attend summer schools
- Take an English course
- Use apps like Duolingo
- Watch English TV Shows
As an expatriate, adjusting to a new country is always a challenge, but it is also an exciting opportunity to learn a new language or improve your existing level of competency.
Cultural Shock
When you move to live abroad, you must adjust to a new culture and lifestyle in London. It can happen when you encounter cultures that are different from your own. Anxiety, loss of confidence, excitement, confusion, loneliness, and uncertainty can all result from culture shock.
Some popular cultural shocks you should expect in London
- Brits love queuing
- Driving on the left
- Friendly police force
- British humour and sense of humour are high with irony and sarcasm
How do you cope with culture shock while living in London?
- Understand that adjusting takes time.
- Concentrate on the positive.
- Understand your academic goals.
- Accept that you will miss home.
- Make no comparisons to others.
- Learn about a variety of students.
- Find ways to cope up with stress.
- Maintain an open mind.
Getting Accustomed To English Fashion
Knowing where to shop in London is one of the most important aspects of being an ex-pat in London! It can be difficult to get your bearings in a new city. It’s even more difficult to get started when you don’t know where to begin, where to shop, or how to budget your shopping. The weather also influences what to wear in London. On a typical day, there can be a lot of variation.
We’ve made a list of what you can wear based on seasons.
Spring
- Colourful sweaters
- Trench coats
- Brogues
- Jeans
- Ponte pants
Summer
- Flat shoes
- Light jackets
- Light jumper and cardigans
- Summer scarves
Autumn
- Scarves
- Coat
- Sweater
- Boots
- Slingbacks
- Maxi skirts
Winter
- Knee-high socks
- Wool coats
- Thermals
- Long-sleeved top
- Cardigan
- Hoodie
There are numerous locations in London where you can shop. Much depends on your personal style, so decide whether you’re more formal, casual, hipster, or somewhere in between.
From King’s Road to Brick Lane, Oxford Street to Marylebone High Street, London has a clothing store for every taste.
Ending Notes..
This is the one piece of advice we would give you.
Prepare for the move by having realistic expectations. It will not always be perfect; there will be times when it will be extremely difficult (especially finding a job and a place to live!). But you’ll make it through.
Never give up. Recall why you made this decision and try to look at the bigger picture. Make friends, keep busy, travel frequently, eat and drink well, and travel the world.
Living in London can be a life-changing experience, so embrace it and allow it to lead you wherever it may.
Life can get very rushed up once you shift in a new country to build up a life, dont forget to unwind. Here a blog on ‘How to do a Digital Detox’ to stay in the moment!
