Are you thinking about moving to London?
If you want to learn more about what it’s like to live in the UK's biggest city read on.
HERE ARE 8 GREAT REASONS WHY PEOPLE WILL MOVE FROM THEIR CURRENT HOMES TO RELOCATE TO LONDON
1. PLENTY OF EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
London offers different kinds of employment opportunities for people at all ends of the employment spectrum. People that have great experience and are at the top of their profession will find that there are management roles with major global companies.
London is a home to many businesses! It's a global capital with millions of visitors - and residents. No matter what level of employment a person is looking at, London will be offering jobs.
This beautiful city is a home to global financial corporations, international law firms and media giants such as HSBC, JP Morgan, Thomson Reuters and Clifford Chance Spring. This area alone has over 145,000 job vacancies.
2. STUNNING SIGHTS, ARCHITECTURE, AND HISTORY.
London has endless modern and historical architecture, museums, galleries, and even the picturesque Thames and many parks to enjoy. London estate agents can help to find your dream house for sale or to rent.
Thinking about moving to a home in Tower Hamlets, Greenwich, Newham, Waltham Forest, Bexley, Barking and Dagenham, Redbridge, Lewisham, Havering or Hackney, London is a sure place to be.
3. YOU ARE AT THE CENTRE OF UK LIFE AND CAN NEVER GET BORED.
There are a million and one things to do in London, with enough world-famous hotspots to keep just about anyone entertained.
Whether you fancy rubbing shoulders with Shoreditch darlings on Hoxton Square or want to hit the legendary sounds of Fabric, you can be anywhere you like after dark in London.
Indulge in live music at XOYO, pop classics at Amber, soul and hip-hop inspired hits at East Village or a little bit of everything at the Dalston Superstore.
Varieties of entertainment that you can get in London.
Prefer a quiet night at the pub? London is crawling with bars dedicated to serving craft beers, like rough-and-ready Howling Hops in Hackney, and the cosy King’s Arms in Bethnal Green.
If you prefer a bit of history, take a tour of the Tower of London (found on the Thames at the border with the City), or head to Sutton House, an original Tudor building which hosts provocative and diverse art exhibitions throughout the year.
If you are currently residing in a town or village where there is not a lot going on, London is going to seem like a world apart with so many different options available every single night.
How Restaurants in London are world class.
There are parts of London which are perfect for people with certain tastes. The West End is the ideal location for theatre buffs and Camden is perfect for people that enjoy watching live bands.
There are also areas like Shoreditch and Dalston that are perfect for people who enjoy art, so no matter what sort of entertainment you are keen to see in London, you will not struggle to find a place where you belong.
4. GREAT HOUSING.
London might be one of the most expensive places you can choose to live, but you can still find reasonably priced areas (for London!) in this cool city. In particular, you can still find attractive homes in pockets like Beckton (Newham), Catford (Lewisham), Charlton (Greenwich) and Leyton (Waltham Forest) for less than £300,000 (~$400,000).
If price tags aren’t so much of an issue, then London is your oyster. Whitechapel, Bethnal Green and Bow still harbour some old London charm, while those chasing a comfortable-but-cool location can choose between Shoreditch, Hoxton and Hackney.
If you love living in the centre of the city but long for some green spaces, look to the area north of Victoria Park, where apartments and terraced homes make up East London’s “leafy little secret”.
5. THE EUROPEAN TRANSPORT HUB.
Most locations in London benefits from both over ground and underground links, as well as bus routes and the DLR. The opening of Elizabeth Line, saw an additional benefit of a route from Abbey Wood, going through Custom House, Canary Wharf and Whitechapel to Liverpool Street.
Drivers will appreciate the A12 and A13 running through East London to the North Circular and M25, while the M11 can be reached from Woodford.
How the different types of transport hubs in London can aid transportation.
Those travelling further afield can make use of London City Airport, from which Flybe operates around 40 flights each day to domestic and European destinations.
While London itself has so much to offer, it's also the place to be if you want to get somewhere else. With a number of major airport, train, and bus hubs, it's the ideal destination for making your way around Europe.
Also, London is also the major hub for all international flights so no matter where you want to go in the world, London is the place to leave from.
6. COST OF LIVING IS EXPENSIVE, YES…BUT WAGES ARE HIGHER!
True enough, London is one of the most expensive cities to live in, in the world, but given than you are a hard working employee with a good job then you are in for an amazing life!
7. FOOD, FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD.
Just like the music scene, there are food outlets everywhere you turn. So you better get yourself a gym subscription if you can’t control indulging. The food is incredible and there are a lot of choices. The rustic markets caught our attention on how it brings a touch of the countryside to the city.
8. YOU’LL NEVER RUN OUT OF THINGS TO DO.
Regardless of what time of year it is or even what time of day it is, there is always something to see and do! From world acclaimed attractions, Big Ben and world class craftsmanship displays like the Tate Modern, to particular spots such as Cat Cafés, there’s something for everybody.
Living in London - Would you enjoy it?
The answer to this question depends on who you are and how you want to live. City living, no matter which city it is, isn’t for everyone. If culture, an exciting social scene and access to more jobs is what you’re looking for, London might be a perfect place for you to live.
Thousands of people from all over the world decide to make the nation’s capital their home every year...and for good reason. London is a bustling metropolis that boasts a lot of history and character as well as many job opportunities and a vibrant social scene too. It is a tourist hotspot and is visited by 30 million tourists every year.
According to trustforlondon.org, “London has a far higher proportion of residents aged between 25-34 than in any other city in England, especially in Inner London where they make up 24% of the population.”
This fact shows that living in London appeals to younger people rather than older people. This may be because London is a busy and exciting place, making it attractive to young people that have grown up in quieter areas. It may also show that younger people are happier to live a fast-paced lifestyle.
If you’re looking for excitement, fun and opportunities to further your career, make new friends and try something new, moving to London could be well worth it.
Living in London pros
There’s no doubt that London is an in-demand place to live as it can offer great opportunities and a vibrant lifestyle. At the same time, the desirable nature and demand for living in London counterpoint its benefits. We have listed below the most common pros and cons of everyday life in London.
Benefits of living in London
The amount of new arrivals in London each year and the ripe climate for businesses in the city is proof of the many benefits on offer. Whether you’ve just got a new job in the city, you’re studying at a London university or you just fancy some excitement, London has a lot for the taking.
Here are three top reasons why people move to London:
The London job market is full of opportunities
Whether you’re looking for something casual or your next career move, London is home to many different types of businesses. If you’re looking to find a job quickly, there will be plenty of opportunities in London.
If you want to move up the career ladder, a business based in London could be an ideal springboard to establish a strong career.
Getting around London is easy and cheap!
The standard of transport and ability to get around is second to none. Between the London underground, Overground, DLR and bus services any destination across the capital is accessible and swift with a tube, train or bus arriving every few minutes. Most major tube lines (Victoria, Central, Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly) run a 24 hour service on Friday and Saturdays which means nights out in different parts of the capital are a possibility. What’s more, TfL (Transport for London) is heavily subsidised by the city of London which makes inner-city transport very cheap to use.
Live amongst London’s iconic buildings & landmarks
If you enjoy seeing stunning panoramic city skyline vistas or exploring the inner labyrinth-like regions of the old city, London will not disappoint. If you decide to live in London, all of this will be on your doorstep.
The city has so many internationally renowned landmarks such as London Bridge, Big Ben, The London Eye and Buckingham Palace.
Arts and culture in London
If you like culture, London has so much to offer. The city’s numerous museums, art galleries, gig venues, concert halls and theatres present an abundance of world-leading opportunities to find inspiration and enjoyment every day of the week.
Access to everything
In London, everything’s on your doorstep. London has one of the best transport infrastructures in the world. The enormous and constant flow of people throughout the city is only made possible by London’s network of tubes, buses and taxis.
This means that residents have quick, cheap and convenient access to central areas, far-flung corners of the city and the wider world. London is also serviced by three international airports (Heathrow, Gatwick and London City) as well as rail lines going to the north and to the continent too.
London green spaces are relaxing and beautiful
Although London is a sprawling, urban environment, it boasts several big parks to enjoy. With 3,000 public park areas of varying sizes covering almost 18% of the city, London is a very green place. In fact, London’s parks cover more inner-city space than all of the cities railways and roads put together.
Some honourable mentions go to Hyde Park, Green Park, St James Park, Regent’s Park, Kensington Park, Richmond Park and Bloomsbury.
A tolerant multicultural community
London has many different areas, each with its own unique flavour. People from all over the world now call the city home. In fact, there are over 300 languages spoken throughout the city. However, English is still the predominant language. London is a melting pot of different cultures and religions. As a result, it’s a very friendly and tolerant city to live in. if you’re looking for a culturally rich community to plug into you’ll most likely find one in London.
London has a vibrant nightlife that includes theatres, restaurants nightclubs, bars, cafes and much more
How to decide on where to move in London
Deciding on the right location to move to is one of the biggest factors in relocating to a new place. Researching different areas across the city will help you decide on where you want to move to.
A lack of thorough research may lead to unrealistic expectations of what life will be like when you live there. The last thing you’ll want to do is move to London with high hopes only to be left disappointed and wanting to move somewhere else again quickly.
That’s why it’s important to spend time in London learning about what each area has to offer before you decide to move.
We can help you find the right location that suits you. We’ve spent some time finding some helpful information that can aid your search. Use the following websites to research:
Average rent costs/house prices for different areas of London. Using Right Move, Zoopla or other estate agent online websites will help you to gauge averages of how much you might have to spend on rent or property.
Council tax bands for properties in different areas of London. Use this helpful Council tax rates tool to find out how much council tax you would have to pay for specific areas.
Transport links to where you will need to go for your job (or to go home for the holidays.)
If you have children, read reviews of the local schools and find out if they have spaces available. Use this good schools guide to learn about schools in areas you are researching.
Look up the current crime rates for the boroughs you are interested in moving to. The Metropolitan Police Force of London has a useful crime data dashboard that details criminal offences and shows safer boroughs with-in the city.
Learn where congestion zone boundaries start and end. This is relevant if you plan on driving in the city. Here’s a helpful GOV.UK map of London Congestion Zone boundaries.
Read some online borough reviews to learn about different areas in London. These reviews will give you an insight into what it’s like to live in that borough. CBRE has written a very helpful borough review guide full of helpful and interesting information about every borough in London.
There are 32 boroughs in London so there’s plenty to choose from.
One of our favourite areas in the city is Bloomsbury. Bloomsbury is a district in the wider borough of Camden. It is well known as a fashionable area with lots of cultural appeal. The University of London has a number of complexes in and around the Bloomsbury area and many of its students live in residential halls there. It’s a great place to stay if you want to explore central areas of London but is well linked to other parts of the city too.
Spend a few weekends exploring the areas you’re interested in moving to. An investigation of these areas will give you a good idea of what’s there - pubs, supermarkets, cafes, bus stops, rail links etc. You’ll be able to get a flavour of who lives there and what happens in the community too.
There are many distinct and unique areas to explore in London