Archive for the 'Moving to London from overseas' Category
moove2london on 23 Jul 2010
London is a hectic and busy city. The average commute into work (even from somewhere like zone 3 to zone 1) can be between 45 minutes to an hour. So many of us feel sometimes like we don’t have enough time to ourselves in the evenings and weekends. Luckily we’re here to provide you with a list of ways to maximise your free time in London, so you feel like you have time to breathe at the end of the day!
Not all of the ideas on this list are particularly affordable, but then not all of you who are moving to London will be on a tight budget, so you’ll have to tailor the list realistically to your own financial circumstances.
- Get your supermarket shopping delivered. Why waste an hour getting to the shops, ramming trolleys with other stressed out shoppers and then carting everything home again, when you could just sit in the comfort of your own home and wait for your shopping to be delivered to you? If you shop with Sainsburys, you can choose your delivery date up to 21 days in advance and amend it up until 11pm the night before your delivery. You can choose substitute preferences in the event that an item you’ve requested is not available. They deliver from 9am-10pm Monday to Friday, from 11am-8pm on Saturdays and from 10am to 4pm on Sundays. The delivery charge is as little as £3.50, but you can qualify for free delivery if you spend over a certain amount. Once you’ve had your shopping delivered once, the Sainsburys system, will remember your ‘Usuals’ and you can quickly select them again, or add/remove things from your usual order. It’s a brilliant way to save yourself some time and we can’t believe that not all Londoners do this! Visit Sainsburys now for more information.
- Get a cleaner. Ok, this is quite indulgent, but there’s nothing worse than waking up on a Saturday morning, looking forward to relaxing for the weekend and realising that you need to hoover the house from top to bottom, dust the furniture and clean the bathroom. Instead, consider getting a cleaner to visit you once a week, once a fortnight or once a month for some extra help. Make sure you do your research before you commit to employing one. You’ll want to see references and recommendations from other people in your local area. An average cost for a cleaner in London would be GBP 10.00 per hour, usually for a minimum of 2 hours at a time.
- Is there time to watch TV if you’re a busy Londoner? Of course there is. But there are even ways to maximise your TV viewing time. Pick your favourite shows and record them. That way, you can then skip through the adverts (which often take up as much as 20 minutes of a 1 hour show!!!), giving you more time for other things… or more TV-viewing! If you get Sky Plus installed (currently the box and installation is free), then you’ll be able to quickly ‘series link’ your favourite shows and leave the box to work it’s magic.
- Ok, this is a boring one and is often unrealistic, but if you want to maximise your free time, then try not to drink too much the night before. Particularly on a Friday or Saturday night. You’ll spend the next day sobbing in bed and wishing that you had the energy to a)play football, b) take a walk in the park, c) go shopping….
- Time manage your London social life. If you have 3 friends who all know each other really well, then why are you seeing each of them separately, when you’d be just as happy killing 3 birds with one stone and going for one night out with everyone. Obviously, this is totally dependent on your social circumstances, but if you can merge a couple of evenings into one, then both your wallet, your liver and you will be happy about it.
- Do as much as you can online. Aside from ordering your food shopping, which we’ve already discussed, try and set up all your bills to be paid by direct debit, or at least be able to pay them quickly online. There’s just no need to go to the Post Office or be sat in a phone queue once a month, when there are other options available to assist with your admin.
- Use your travelling time wisely. If you take the tube every day, then try and find the time to read the paper or a book. If you take the bus or train (e.g if you’re above ground and have a phone signal) then use the time to call someone – your girlfriend, your best mate, your mum, whoever. If you just sit there waiting to arrive at your destination, then you’ve potentially wasted an average of 90-120 minutes of the day as a London commuter.
- If you’re single, then why not try speed-dating in London. This is the ultimate way to maximise your dating time. Sign up with Speed-dater who are the leaders in this particular type of dating.
- If you’re a gym-goer, then try and find time to go either before work (can be difficult) or at lunchtimes. You’ll find many branches of major gym chains in the West-End and City, so you should be able to squeeze in 30 minutes on the treadmill or a yoga class at lunch rather than having to wait until the evening, when you’re tired and just want to mong out in front of the telly with your dinner! The downside is that central London gyms can be much more pricey than suburbian gyms, so you’ll need to weigh up what works for you.
- Try and book for as many things as possible. If you’re going to a restaurant, then book in advance so that you don’t find yourself waiting at the bar for a table for half an hour. If you’re planning on a particular club or bar, then get yourself on the guest list in advance so that you’re not left queuing outside in the rain!
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moove2london on 20 Jul 2010
Today we’re reviewing one of our most popular aids for those people who wish to commute into London for work, whilst living in either the countryside or a leafy commuter town.
The Sunday Telegraph Guide to Commuterland – Finding a home within reach of London is brought to you by Caroline McGhie.
The book follows the trainlines out of mainline railway stations such as Liverpool Street, Fenchurch Street, Kings Cross, St Pancras, Moorgate, Euston, Marylebone, Paddington, Waterloo Victoria, London Bridge, Charing Cross and Cannon Street.
You can expect to find out the following pieces about over 1200 different towns and villages that feature on train routes on the commuter map into London:
- House Prices
- Property Types (e.g cottage or modern apartments)
- Schools
- Local shops
- Local activities and societies
- Ticket prices into London
- Journey times into London
- Frequency of trains running into London
- Area profiles to help readers decide if they would fit in
If you don’t yet work in London, then you can read the book with a completely open mind and choose pretty much anywhere in the home counties or outskirts of London that appeals to you based on your preferences and budget.
If you already have a job in London, then you’ll probably want to choose to live on a commuter rail line that terminates vaguely near where you work, so that you don’t have to trek half way across town on the tube once you arrive. So if you work in the City for instance, then you may simply use the book and read through the different stations all the way along train routes running into Liverpool Street for instance.
The book lists locations from around 30 minutes commuting time to up to 2 hours commuting time into London.
The book is revised and updated regularly to reflect the most recent house prices, commuting times and train routes, which as you can imagine are all changeable factors.
It’s all very well us telling you that this book is great, but if you don’t want to take our word for it then take a quick peek here.
Buy the The Sunday Telegraph Guide to Commuterland for around £10.17 with free postage (price correct at time this article is printed).
If you liked this article, then you might be interested in more of our articles about commuting:
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moove2london on 12 Jul 2010
When you first move to London, some of you might take to it like water off a duck’s back, others of you may feel that you stick out like a sore thumb.
We’ve created a list of ways to blend in as Londoner, so you don’t feel out of your depth. Many of them are related to the public transport system and some should be taken as being tongue in cheek, but we’ll let you try and work out which are which!
- Don’t wander around obviously clutching your A-Z. If you need to carry it, then try and be discreet about it. Or if you have an I-phone, you could just use that instead to get about!
- Try and hide the fact that your snot is currently black and sooty – we promise it’ll go away.
- Get an Oyster card – real Londoners don’t buy paper tickets, they’re more expensive.
- Never stand still on the left side of an escalator – always move to the right. In fact, most Londoners are often in a rush, so feel free to charge up and down the left side of the escalator.
- Always avoid eye contact with strangers and don’t even think about exchanging niceties – we don’t do that in London or else people might mistake us for psychopaths.
- Walk quickly everywhere and try and look like you’re extremely angry at all times.
- In a supermarket, use the self-service checkout – remember that you’re in a hurry and don’t have time for queues.
- Don’t scream in alarm at the tiny amount of change you’ll get when you hand over a fiver for a pint of beer
- Stop carrying cash altogether and rely on using cards everywhere
- Scream like billio if you see a mouse in your house, but don’t bat an eyelid if you see 10 of them whilst you’re waiting for a tube
- Roll your eyes and be completely devoid of sympathy if someone commits suicide by jumping on the tube tracks and ruins your journey across town
- Start sniggering (and/or exercise an eye roll) if your train is delayed or cancelled due to leaves on the line or the wrong type of snow
- Always carry Nurofen, Berocca tablets, eyedrops and chewing gum with you on Friday mornings to help you deal with a crazy Thursday night out.
- Learn the names and respective colours of the tube lines. Nothing will make you stand out more than if you say you’re taking the yellow line to work. IT’S CALLED THE CIRCLE LINE!
- Don’t bother going out in Central London unless it’s for work drinks. Instead find the best pub in your new area and claim it as your local.
- Start acting like the rest of the UK doesn’t exist
PS We didn’t mean the last one – we’re not originally from London either!!!
moove2london on 05 Jul 2010
If you’re looking for rental accommodation and housemates when you first move to London, then we thoroughly recommend that you use a flatmate finding service such as Easyroommate .
With Easyroommate and other flatmate finding services, when you sign up you’ll need to create a profile. Much like meeting people in person, first impressions count and so you’ll need to make sure that you’re showing the best version of yourself to those scouring the database.
Here are some tips that you might want to bear in mind when putting a profile together.
- Where possible, add a photo of yourself. Easyroommate’s research shows that you’re 3 times more likely to be contacted if you add a photo of yourself. It’s not about people judging whether you’re attractive or not, but it is about people sussing out whether they think that you’re their type of person or not. Harsh, but true.
- If you’re going to include a photo in your profile, then be careful about which one you pick. That picture of you dressed up as Frankenstein at last years’s Halloween party, might have been hilarious, but it probably won’t do wonders for attracting potential housemates.
- This is basic, but make sure your ad is written with good spelling and grammar. Some people will judge you if you spell words incorrectly and skip on to the next ad. If you were never a spelling bee champ and aren’t blessed with a strong vocabulary, then turn to a friend or family member who is and ask them to read over your flatmate ad before you post it.
- Sell yourself as a housemate. If you’re a great cook who is going to make a mean Sunday roast then say so. You need to let people know what will be so great about living with you.
- Honesty is important. If you’re thoroughly opposed to living with couples, smokers or pets, then say so in your ad so that you’re not wasting anyone’s time, including your own!
- This isn’t a dating site, but it’s not a dissimilar process. You want your ad to stand out from the crowd, but for the right reasons. Try and come across as friendly – a little humour never hurts either.
- Most flatmate finding services allow you to start by signing up for a free basic profile. Try using this for a week or so and see how you get on. If you haven’t had much luck, then it’s usually worthwhile upgrading to a premium membership for a small fee which will allow you many more options, such as being able to contact everyone on the database and including a phone number if you wish.
moove2london on 28 Jun 2010
As we’ve now written 100 articles on our Moove2London blog since we started writing in October 2009, it seems as good a time as any to recap through some of those articles and use them all as a
‘Definitive Guide on How to Move to London’.
Things to Consider Before You Move to London
Before you move to London, you should think carefully about whether or not it’s for you. Obviously, here at Moove2London, we’re pretty biased and think that everyone should live in London, if only for a short period, so that you have experienced everything our capital city has to offer. But you need to come to that decision by yourself, so read
If it’s your parents rather than you who have doubts about you making the move, then let them read
which is designed to help put their minds at ease.
If you’re considering moving to London from abroad, then you might want to prepare yourself for some homesickness (don’t worry, everyone gets it and most people get through it!) by reading
In particular, if you’re an American who is moving to London for the first time, then read our popular articles on
Looking for accommodation in London
Once you’ve decided that moving to London is the right thing to do, then you’re probably going to want to work out where to live and who to live with.
Don’t worry, these are extremely common questions and we have many articles on the subject including:
If you’re considering living on the outskirts of London and commuting into the capital for work, then you’ll need to read:
Looking for work in London
Usually at the same time as looking for accommodation in London, you’ll also be considering how you’re going to pay your bills. Our Working in London page has heaps of information on this, but you should also read about:
Finances in London
Once you’ve actually moved to London, you’ll be concerned (don’t worry – we all are!) about your finances in London. Luckily there are loads of ways of saving money when you live in London and it really is extremely manageable to live an exciting lifestyle on an average salary in London. Let us help you put your mind at ease with our articles on:
Getting around London
We have full information about London’s public transport system available on our Transport in London page. However, these articles may also be of interest to you:
Socialising in London
So, you’ve made it! You’ve moved to London, you’ve find a great job, accommodation and you’re managing your new London budget brilliantly. There’s just one thing left to sort out… your social life!
Never fear, we have some great articles here which will keep you busy for the foreseeable future!
We have many other articles that may be of interest to you, so feel free to look through the category archives. We’ll see you in another 100 articles for our next recap!
moove2london on 21 Jun 2010
This is a guest post from Dan at Student Discount Search who moved to London in 2004.
For me, the diversity of London’s gay scene is one of it’s biggest strengths. Whether you want to sip a latte and watch the gay world go on Old Compton Street, dance the night away with the bears at XXL or have a beer al fresco on Clapham High Street there is something for everyone.
Soho is the obvious first point of call for new gays in town. Old Compton Street, the main thoroughfare, is packed with gay cafes, bars, clubs and shops. A young, pop crowd frequent GAY bar at one end, while Comptons and Duke of Wellingtons at the other have a bit of rough-round-the-edges pub vibe.
In between there are two branches of the ever popular Balans which serve hearty food with a cosmopolitan twist, but be prepared for queues, especially at weekends.
Don’t forget that there is an Italian heritage to Soho too, with great restaurants like La Porchetta, where you can grab a cheap and delicious pizza.
Going slightly further afield is Retro Bar, which is a loveably scruffy pub nestled off the Strand where you are as likely to hear a Morrisey classic as you are the latest ditty from Pixie Lott on the juke box.
You should get to know your local borough’s homo hotspots too. Pick up a free copy of Boys or QX magazines which have all the local listings. From the Kazbah and 2 Brewers in Clapham to the Black Cap in Camden, you may well prefer to stumble home then have to cram yourself on a crowded night bus from Soho.
For sporty gays there are plenty of gay member and gay friendly sports clubs and teams. I met a lot of friends and even a boyfriend through tennis London, who meet at 5pm every Sunday at Westway. There is Stonewall FC for football, Kings Cross Steelers for rugby, badminton, water polo…there really is something for everyone, which is a lot like London itself.
Some of the places mentioned in this post, are described further in
Time Out’s Gay and Lesbian Guide .
moove2london on 19 Jun 2010
WEXO has been set up as a matchmaking process between recruiters and those who are seeking work experience, internships and jobs.
Specifically designed for young people at the beginning of their careers, they’re perfect for graduates and young professionals who are moving to London for the first time.
As graduate unemployment has soared by 44% in recent years, 56% of recruiters are now saying that work experience is the most important quality that a job candidate can possess. With famous businessmen such as
James Caan from the Dragon’s Den using the WEXO system to hire, this is surely a trustworthy and well-regarded system that bridges the gap between job boards and social networking and is a bit like Facebook.
The way WEXO works is that companies post their profiles and job opportunities and candidates then browse this list for FREE. If you come across a position that you’d like to apply for, you’ll then have to part with a one-off life-time membership of £10. As well as applying for positions, this fee gives you access to membership benefits such as career events, discounts, advice and C.V guidance.
But why listen to our recommendation of WEXO, when you could read these glowing reviews from The Sunday Times, The Guardian and many more.
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moove2london on 11 Jun 2010
After 3 or 4 years of living in halls or a shared house at uni, the time will come for you and your friends to disband and consider where your life is going post-graduation.
Aside from those who choose to study in London, many students who have been studying at universities in other parts of the country, find that their student-friends don’t remain in their uni town after their final year. Instead, they tend to do one of 3 things.
- Go travelling
- Move back home with their parents
- Move to London to find graduate work
There are of course more than 3 options available to graduates, but these tend to be the most popular.
Now, we’re not going to try and talk you out of going travelling. So long as you realise that it won’t last forever as your money will probably run out, seeing the world is an amazing experience and you’ll never forget it.
We are however, here to convince you that moving back in with your parents rather than moving to London isn’t always the greatest of ideas.
Independence
Remember how great it felt at uni to come in at whatever time of day or night you felt like. You were answerable to no-one. You ate what you wanted, when you wanted and didn’t have to worry about being back for ‘dinner-time’. If you staggered through the door at 5am after puking in your own garden, then you might have felt a bit embarrassed in front of your flatmates, but they soon got over it because they were in the same state a couple of nights later. Most parents, even the coolest ones, aren’t going to be impressed by your drunken shenanigans. Even worse, they’ll be ‘worried’ and you won’t be able to let your hair down too much anymore because you’ll feel guilty about it.
Dating
Dating and parents don’t really mix all that well. If you already have a girlfriend or boyfriend, then you’ll have to try and suss out how cool your parents are with he/she staying over. To be honest, most parents should be fairly flexible about this as you have been away for 3 or 4 years. But you will definitely have to bid a fond farewell to afternoon ‘sessions’ on the couch with your other half.
Of course, an even worse scenario exists if you’re single. Let’s say you’ve gone on a couple of dates with someone and you manage to convince them in some sort of drunken stupor that it’s not an issue for them to stay the night in your parents home. You have a wild night of passion and then have to try and sneak him/her out of the house whilst your parents are sat at the breakfast table reading their papers. Awkward!
Financial
Ok, so this is the strongest argument for going home after uni and there’s no denying that many people manage to save a lot of money whilst living with their parents as it’s normal to pay little or no rent to the duo that created and raised you. But on the flipside you need to get out there into the big, bad world and learn how to manage your money. Children who stay at home for too long find it harder, once they do move out, to grow up and manage their finances.
Your relationship with your parents
Even if you have a great relationship with your parents and love getting your laundry done on a regular basis(!), you still might discover that you’ve been looking back on your childhood with rose-tinted spectacles and the reality is that they drive you nuts. Your dad’s obsession with gardening shows and your mum’s constant slating of the neighbours may become a little much for you to bear on a daily basis and you could find yourself either locked in your bedroom night after night for some space, or choosing to get out as much as possible and spending all that money you thought you’d be saving!
Your uni friends
If some of your university friends have moved to London immediately after uni and you chose not to go with them, then they’ll probably be nicely settled in a shared house together and you’ll be sorry that you chose not to go with them. They’ve moved on and you’re jealous of the lifestyle that they’re experiencing. What’s the point of you saving all this money if you’re not going to have any fun with it?
Career
If your eventual aim after saving some money at home, is to move to London and seek out a top graduate job, then the best place to search for and secure such a position from, is London. Recruitment agencies and interviewers want people to fill positions NOW (usually so they can get their commission asap!) They can’t be bothered with waiting for you to take time off work and get the train down etc.
If you’re still in doubt about moving to London, because you’re worried about the costs involved, then read the following articles which might help get some figures sorted out in your head.
How Much Money Do I Need To Move To London
and
How Much Does It Cost To Live In London
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moove2london on 09 Jun 2010
According to a recent survey carried out on 3,000 British people by Go Outdoors, 1/3 of those questioned admitted to having never tried an ‘outdoor activity’ such as fishing, camping, horse-riding, walking, have never used a compass, stood on a mountain top or swum in natural water. Of those admitting the above, 59% claim that they’ve never partaken in any of these activities because they’ve never had the opportunity.
Now, here at Moove2London, we don’t consider this to be a reasonable excuse and depending on whether you’ve recently moved to London, or are thinking about doing so in the near future, you don’t need to use London as an excuse not to get out there and experience a non-city environment once in a while!
So have a look at these things to do, many of which are extremely affordable, for those of you on a budget.
Walking
London is surrounded by the home counties and in each of them, there are some truly beautiful walks and picturesque villages to visit on a daytrip from London. If you don’t drive or own a car, then that shouldn’t stop you, as TimeOut have published two books
Both of these books list walks starting from a train station within an hour or so of London. They are graded by difficulty and include great places to stop off for a pub lunch along the way.
London Kayaking
You don’t even need to leave London to try this outdoor water sport. This kayaking trip starts from Regent’s Park and takes you down a gentle and scenic canal route. It’s suitable for beginners or those with experience. The kayaking tour, which is available either during the day, at sunrise or sunset, lasts for around 2 hours. You’ll totally forgot you’re in London!
Horse-riding
25 minutes from London Paddington train station and you can be in Reading, Berkshire for a day of horse-riding. You’ll be out of the stables for 5 and a half hours which will include time for a 3 course lunch around a big table in the farmhouse living room. This is totally suitable for novices. After a half hour lesson in the farm grounds, you’ll have the option to continue your lesson in the grounds or go out on a ‘hack’ which is a walk and trot around the countryside.
Paintballing
Merge yourself into the countryside by decking yourself out in army gear and camouflage cream for an afternoon of paintballing. The Ministry of Paintballing has locations dotted all over the South-East. It’s a great day out, although you might wake up a little sore the following day!
Orbing
Tumble down the pretty Sussex countryside at 30mph in a giant ball – go orbing! Near Brighton, you and a friend will be safely harnessed inside a giant hamster ball which will be rolled down a hill. You’ll probably find yourself screaming and laughing at the same time. It’s a great fun, which can only be topped by adding a bucket of water inside to make the Aqua Orb. Afterwards, take a walk or go camping in the beautiful countryside!
moove2london on 07 Jun 2010
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MyCityDeal
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here to sign up.
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Enter code
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here to go.
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