I first moved to London in 2019, and while I had visited the city several years in a row before moving there, my experience was completely difference from one to the other.
A move to London is not a very hard thing to do, really.
I did move there back when getting the NIN number and an NHS number were quite easy, and you didn’t need a visa to go from Europe to the UK.
Are Londoners rude? A Few Pointers to Move to London – and Survive as an Expat
Over the years, I’ve observed a few etiquette rules that no one really talks about when living in London, but rules that everyone kind of blindly follows.
If you’re planning on moving to London, these might really come in handy – much more than knowing where all the secret gardens and rooftops are located!
Tips to Move to London and Survive as an Expat: To the Left, To the Left
I was born and raised in Troyes, France, and then lived in Paris for 4 years before my move to London.
In France, the right prevails – when you see that everything is on the left in the UK, it can be quite hard to adjust to.
It’s really one of those things you wish you knew before going to London, but that you only really learn when you’re staying there for a while.
From the escalators to the need to check the right before the left when crossing the road, it does take some adjusting to.
Tips to Move to London and Survive as an Expat: Tube Vibes
The Tube is a very funny place, and if you already know how to navigate the Tube, then you’ll be much happier in London.
There are a couple things you need to remember about the Tube in London.
First, the Central Line is one of the hottest Tube lines there is, and you need to pay attention when stepping on the Tube at Bank as gap between the platform and the wagons is really huge.
Second, never change between Bank and Monument.
It takes 10 minutes on foot underground, and is an absolute source of stress when you’re working in Central London and just want to go home during rush hour.
Third, don’t meet anyone’s gaze on the Tube.
There are lots of really funny people in London, and a lot can be found on the Tube – especially at weekends, you see some really funny things when going back home after a party.
The people in London are really what makes the city, and anything remotely fun/borderline traumatic will definitely happen to you at some point.
Read: The Best Things to Buy in London
Tips to Move to London and Survive as an Expat: London Bridge is the Coolest Area (Prove Me Wrong)
There are so many things to do in London Bridge that we’ve already written a post about this on The Working Line about this that you can check out.
My favorite thing to do in London is to walk to Tower Bridge and sit in the small park facing it, close to The Shard.
There, you can people-watch, enjoy the water, free sights of the City of London and the Tower of London, as well as Canary Wharf in the far right.
There are a few secret beaches on the shore of the Thames that you can walk along, and while the Thames is clearly not the most turquoise beach you’ll find out there, it’s still pleasant to be able to walk along water after a long work day.
When I used to work at Oblix at the Shard, one of the coolest rooftop restaurants in London, I would often walk along the Thames late at night before heading home.
From cool restaurants to street food at Borough Market and some really cool study cafes, London Bridge is inherently perfect for anyone to have fun.
One of the most unique shops in London, Brand Academy, is located really close, on Southbank, and is perfect for a coffee and a Crosstown Doughnut at their in-store coffee shop, Coffee Academy.
Read: First Time to London Travel Tips
Tips to Move to London and Survive as an Expat: Are Londoners Rude?
Londoners are not really rude, but people living in London are usually living in London on a budget.
My move to London taught me a lot about real life; Paris, in comparison, is a much easier city to live in.
Londoners mind their business, wake up to work and go back home, and usually have trouble actually surviving in the city, let alone have fun.
Time is of the essence in London, and people are really just trying to make it happen for themselves.
In my experience, London-born and UK-born people are much harder to keep track of.
No matter how much British people tell you that you will keep in touch, it’s a very rare thing and I ended up with tons of foreigner friends, but close to 0 British friend over the years.
Read: How to Make Friends in London
Tips to Move to London and Survive as an Expat: Understand That People Leave
Living in a big city brings its share of joys, but also its share of pains when people get tired of living in London and decide to leave to a cheaper city.
Or a cheaper country.
That is something I myself have done, since I now only live in London part of the year.
Big city life means that people come and go, discover and experience London, and usually either move back to a smaller city, a cheaper country or their home county.
Gotta have guts to survive in London, as the weather and the working conditions/hours are usually tough for most people.
The fact there are instagrammable cafes and lots of secret places to visit makes life in London that much easier, but again, you have to be prepared to make friends and keep them only virtually after a while.
Read: The Best Shops for Cheap Clothes in London
Tips to Move to London and Survive as an Expat: Get a Coffee Shop Card
My Pret a Manger subscription saved my life more times than I can recall, especially before and during shifts.
Although it has recently increased in price, the fact that you can get up to 5 drinks a day for just 30 quid is insane in a city like London.
Other coffee shop chain are perfect study cafes, like Costa Coffee, Caffè Nero (pictured above and below), Starbucks, Black Sheep Coffee and Joe and the Juice.
If you’re studying in London or are a digital nomad, you’ll want to find quiet study spaces and good study cafes.
I’ve written plenty of guides about the best cafes to work in London by area, should you need to know about the closest to home
A lot of the cute, instagrammable and pink cafes are not made for study cafes.
However, some, like Elan Cafe, have a membership program which allows you to get 5 pounds off your first order, and that’s always good to take advantage of discounts in London.
Read: The Best Croissants in London
Tips to Move to London and Survive as an Expat: Take Advantage of the Free Stuff
There are lots of free things to do in London, from events to workshops, and from free museums to meetups with likeminded people.
I personally love finding new free art galleries as they tend to be less crowded, or museums that aren’t located in the center of London.
The Horniman Museum offers some beautiful views, and is a perfect spot to have a romantic date without tons of crowds.
The Saatchi Gallery, close to Harrods and Chelsea, and the White Cube Gallery, in Bermondsey, are two of my favorite art galleries in London.
You can also find lots of cute art galleries in Mayfair, which allow you to be closer to Oxford Street and Regent Street – in case you want to go shopping afterwards.
Read: Leicester Square Sculpture Trail – Scenes in the Square
Tips to Move to London and Survive as an Expat: Camden Really Isn’t That Big of a Deal
At some point, Camden Town might have been one of the coolest neighborhoods in London to hang out with your friends, but in my experience, it’s really not that big of a deal.
Sure, there are lots of things to do in Camden Town.
You have plenty of cute, colorful streets, restaurants, makeup shops, and even markets.
You also have cool budget shops and lots of charity shops in Camden and Kentish Town, really close.
But Camden Town is also a quite dodgy area which tends to be even more crowded than Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square.
Or at least, it feels that way because it’s much narrower.
If you’re looking for London’s prettiest neighborhoods, I would rather suggest Primrose Hill and the magnificent Leicester Square, Chelsea, Kensington…
You’ll also find really pretty villages in London around Stoke Newington and Hampstead – must visit places.
Paddington and Marylebone, with their beautiful mews and stunning streets, are two other posh areas in London that you’d do well to visit!
Read: Why Are There Colorful Streets in Londons
Are Londoners rude? A Few Pointers to Move to London – and Survive as an Expat
There you have them, my personal pointers and tips to keep in mind if you choose to move to London!
It can be tricky on a daily basis to survive here, especially when you have to know how to save money on groceries, keep in mind what is cheaper where, and what free events you can attend and where.
But life in London can really be fun, even if you have to find cheap eats rather than fancy restaurants!
Until next time!
Other London Posts
- The Best Free Rooftops in London
- The Best Places to Write in London
- The Most Unusual Places to Visit in London
- The Best Hidden Gems in London
- The Must Have Apps to Survive in London
- The Best Cheap Day Trips from London
- The Best Harry Potter Things to Do in London
- Harry Potter Locations in London
- The Best Things to Do in London When it Rains
Other London Food Posts
- The Best Coffee Shops in Shoreditch
- The Best Doughnuts in London
- The Best Bagels in London
- The Best Cupcakes in London
- The Best Ice Cream in London
- The Best Cookies in London
- The Most Instagrammable Restaurants in London
- The Best Cheap Eats in London
- The Best Cat Cafes in London
- The Best Cafes in Brixton
- The Best Cafes in London Bridge
- The Best Brunch in London Bridge
- The Best Brunch in King’s Cross
- The Best Breakfast in Notting Hill
- The Best Halal Sushi in London
- The Best Halal Chinese in London
- The Best Halal Pho in London
- The Best Halal Thai in London
- The Best Halal Buffets in London
- The Best Halal Steaks in London
- The Best Halal Burgers in London
Other London Coworking Posts
- The Best Cafes to Work in London Bridge
- The Best Cafes to Work in Soho
- The Best Cafes to Work in West Hampstead
- The Best Cafes to Work in Leicester Square
- The Best Cafes to Work in Marylebone
- The Best Cafes to Work in Bethnal Green
- The Best Cafes to Work in Liverpool Street
- The Best Cafes to Work in Shoreditch
- The Best Cafes to Work in Brick Lane