London is one of the most fascinating, vibrant and ultimately exciting cities in the whole world and is certainly also one of the most culturally, racially and socially diverse places in the United Kingdom.
It’s often said that there are two types of people; those who can’t wait to leave the comfort of their hometown and the friends they’ve had since birth and move to the big city and those who frankly can’t think of anything worse.
If you’re part of the former group and have either just moved to London, or are planning to do so soon, then continue reading to learn three key ways to survive your first month living in London.
- Secure Your Accommodation Beforehand
Just as house prices are extortionate in the Big Smoke, so too are rental prices if you fail to secure your accommodation before you leave the safety and security of your current home.
With this in mind, it’s important to undertake thorough research into not only the type of accommodation you are ideally looking for, but also the location, access to the tube and railway services and general amenities in and around the local area. Generally, especially if this is your first time spending more than a few days in London, looking for a room for rent rather than an entire apartment is most definitely the best decision.
- Go Out in Your Free Time
The thing with moving to the capital, especially if you’re moving from a smaller city or even a town or village, is that the pace of life is so drastically different than where you have come from, that you will more than likely feel tired and drained for the first few weeks.
Instead of succumbing to this feeling however, you should absolutely start as you mean to go on and plan to go out and explore the wonderful city of London, either on your own or with friends on your days off. Naturally, you should not be filling your entire day, every day, with activities, but should just be making the most of where you are, booking in tours of the Natural History Museum, visiting Buckingham Palace and other free excursions will really make a difference.
- Lower Your Employment Expectations
It may well be the case that you already have a job arranged for when you move to London and if you have signed on the proverbial dotted line, then you’re lucky enough to not have to worry about this next point.
Conversely, if you’re planning on getting a job after you have moved into your new place, then it is essential that you keep in mind that, especially to start with, any job will do. If you need money as soon as you arrive, then your best bet is to ask around in the local pubs, restaurants, and clubs near where you are staying so you can reduce your commuting time and save money.