Tea by the Thames, a cappuccino in Covent Garden or a beer in Brixton are all possibilities a move to London can bring. With close to eight million residents, London is a popular place to live for individuals from other parts of the United Kingdom as well as from across the globe. As with any move, adequate preparation is necessary, and moving to London is no exception.
Visa Requirements
While U.S. citizens can travel to London and stay for a period up to six months, it is necessary to obtain a visa if you are moving there. There are a variety of skills-related visas available, as well as work permits that have to be acquired with the help of an employer. Family-related and academic visas are also available. The British Embassy website has details of the visa process.
While U.S. citizens can travel to London and stay for a period up to six months, it is necessary to obtain a visa if you are moving there. There are a variety of skills-related visas available, as well as work permits that have to be acquired with the help of an employer. Family-related and academic visas are also available. The British Embassy website has details of the visa process.
Choosing a Neighborhood
Neighborhood choice in London depends largely on lifestyle. Some people want to live in a busy part of town with plenty of pubs and restaurants close to their doorstep, like Clapham or Hammersmith, while others prefer to live further out in the city's suburbs where a quieter pace of life is the norm, such as Wimbledon and Highgate. Employment location sometimes decides where a person settles, as living in South London and working in West London would be an arduous trek. In addition, price point usually guides area selection: locations such as Kensington, Hampstead and Knightsbridge are more expensive than Tooting, Willesden Green or Ealing. A London-based realtor (estate agent), such as Foxtons or Bushells, will be able to help you narrow down your choices.
Property Types
London consists primarily of houses and flats (apartments) that stretch back to the Victorian, Edwardian and Georgian eras. Older flats are often converted houses although a number of new, contemporary apartment buildings have sprung up across the city. Properties in London are a lot smaller than their equivalents in the United States, with many houses lacking a basement, large garden and sizable kitchen and older flats containing dated electrical wiring and plumbing. Estate agencies are useful in helping to select a house or a flat, modern or vintage.
Public Transportation
Londoners get around the city by bus, underground (Tube) and train. Driving in London is discouraged, with a congestion charge in central London of about $15 as well as expensive parking garages and meters. Every London suburb has at least one train or Tube station and bus stops on several streets. In addition, Londoners use a travel pass called an Oyster card that offers discounted fares on all forms of transportation. The London transportation website has information about fares, routes and downloadable maps.
Dress for the Weather
While London enjoys a seasonal climate, light rain falls often. A parka, umbrella and rain boots are essential. Dressing in layers is a good idea as the temperature can vary throughout the day; and Tube stations, trains and buses can often get very hot, particularly during rush hour. As London is famed for its shopping, purchasing seasonal clothes is easy as retail outlets turn over their stock very quickly as the temperature changes.
Neighborhood choice in London depends largely on lifestyle. Some people want to live in a busy part of town with plenty of pubs and restaurants close to their doorstep, like Clapham or Hammersmith, while others prefer to live further out in the city's suburbs where a quieter pace of life is the norm, such as Wimbledon and Highgate. Employment location sometimes decides where a person settles, as living in South London and working in West London would be an arduous trek. In addition, price point usually guides area selection: locations such as Kensington, Hampstead and Knightsbridge are more expensive than Tooting, Willesden Green or Ealing. A London-based realtor (estate agent), such as Foxtons or Bushells, will be able to help you narrow down your choices.
Property Types
London consists primarily of houses and flats (apartments) that stretch back to the Victorian, Edwardian and Georgian eras. Older flats are often converted houses although a number of new, contemporary apartment buildings have sprung up across the city. Properties in London are a lot smaller than their equivalents in the United States, with many houses lacking a basement, large garden and sizable kitchen and older flats containing dated electrical wiring and plumbing. Estate agencies are useful in helping to select a house or a flat, modern or vintage.
Public Transportation
Londoners get around the city by bus, underground (Tube) and train. Driving in London is discouraged, with a congestion charge in central London of about $15 as well as expensive parking garages and meters. Every London suburb has at least one train or Tube station and bus stops on several streets. In addition, Londoners use a travel pass called an Oyster card that offers discounted fares on all forms of transportation. The London transportation website has information about fares, routes and downloadable maps.
Dress for the Weather
While London enjoys a seasonal climate, light rain falls often. A parka, umbrella and rain boots are essential. Dressing in layers is a good idea as the temperature can vary throughout the day; and Tube stations, trains and buses can often get very hot, particularly during rush hour. As London is famed for its shopping, purchasing seasonal clothes is easy as retail outlets turn over their stock very quickly as the temperature changes.
