Tips and tricks for those moving to London (Part 2 - When you arrive)

Continuing on from the previous post, here are some tips for when you have finally reached your destination (see part one for before you leave here).

6 - When you arrive 

- Hopefully you know someone in London and can stay with them even for a night while you deal with jet lag but if not book into a good hostel, Wombats Canary Wharf is my suggestion for comfort and facilities or The Klink 78 and 26 have a great atmosphere and are in a great location in Kings Cross.

- Now you need to invest in a good pair of boots, a jacket and some gloves. Don't underestimate the cold. If a londoner tells you its been hot, then put on a scarf, jeans and jacket! Although if it is summer you won't need so much. Jeans and a T-shirt will see you through.

- You need a bank account, Lloyds bank will give you an account without an address. You need to take with you, your BRP card (collect this from the post office you allocated) and your passport or if you are using a UK passport take this.

- Get a phone. You need one asap if you want to start looking for work. Head over to 3 and get a 30 day sim, it costs 20 Pound and is unlimited. This will get you by until you know what you are doing.

- You need to get a National Insurance Number this is your UK identity and link to the UK tax system all rolled into one. Head to www.gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number . They will ask some questions over the phone and send you an application form. This whole process takes about 4-6 weeks. If you have a passport for the UK then they will want to interview and question you so get this organised ASAP to organise it around work or interviews.

- NHS or the national health service requires you to register with your closest local GP. It is easy to do and gives you more benefits than any other health system in the world. Make an appointment, let them know you are not registered and they will set you up in about an hour (exam from the nurse and paperwork). You cannot see the doctor without one (there are a few walk in services however I wouldn't push it that far) so ensure you get one organised before you actually need it. Find a doctor under the NHS scheme near you or learn more at www.nhs.uk 

- Using the tube is easy; you will need an oyster card. You can load money on and touch as you go for use of any public transport inside London. Don't worry about buying one before arriving. There are machines at each station that you can purchase them from and load money onto. Just pay as you go until you know what you are doing, but once you are working and know where and when you will be going buying a weekly or a monthly may be worth your while. Buses are 1.50 regardless of the trip you go on and tubes range from 1.50-5 pounds all dependant on the zones you go through. Take a look at the tube map, it is easy to figure out once you have caught it a few times and if you get on the wrong train it doesn't take long to get onto another and head in the right direction.  Be aware of the zones you are using as it will end up costing you a fortune if you catch the tube for 2 stops if you can walk in 45 mins instead. Walking is always a good idea when you spend most of your time drinking beer and eating mash potato too!

- Walk! Get used the area and get your bearings by walking as much as you can to start with. The tube is great but you pop up in all sorts of places and won't get to know where you really are unless you walk for a while. Download the app City Mapper, this is your new best friend, it will tell you how to get everywhere. Buses, trains, walking. It will give you directions, times, tube lines, stations and directions to travel in. Super easy to follow. Just remember to take a screen shot before you head underground as there is NO reception down there.

- Jump on a few Facebook pages Aussies in London or the one relating to your nationality are always good. If you don't know anyone you soon will, you can find rooms for rent and you will see plenty of events you can attend.

7 - People

If you are not a social person this may be hard but put yourself out there. There are so many people here in the same boat and are all looking for a new friend. Join a local sporting club, go on a pub crawl, mingle with people you meet and their friends and their friends of friends. Everyone needs people especially in a big city!

8 - Holidays

Most people come to London to travel, it is so cheap and so close! Just make sure you stick to this. Too many people get stuck in London and never leave. You don't want to go home without seeing as much as you can. Have Aussie dollars behind you to use for some travel as most of the time your pounds will go to living and fun in London! Make a list of places that are important to you and plot them out. The best thing for me was being able to slowly cull my bucket list! Being so close you will be able to get to all the major events and festivals like St Patrick's Day or the Sangria Festival! Oh and don't forget the wonderful and famous Oktoberfest.

(Travel tips)

- Flights are cheap, keep an eye out for specials and grab them when you can. Easy Jet and Ryan Air are good places to start. Sometimes you will get a return flight for 21 Pounds! Use the app skyskanner to keep an eye out, select everywhere and no dates and you will get some great deals. Its not often you will fly out of Heathrow when you get the good deals so be prepared to travel on a train to the middle of nowhere to use the Luton, Stansted or Gatwick airports. Just be aware of the travel to and from an airport when booking super early or late flights. Totally worth it for a cheap weekend getaway!

- Tours are a great way to see multiple countries and go to festivals. Top Deck, Travel talk, Bus About, Fanatics are all groups that I would recommend. Your choice in company depends on what you want to get out of the trip. Bus About is a very freely run tour you simply use it for travel but they don't offer a lot and Top Deck are comprehensive in what they offer but more expensive.

- Do a bit of both; summer and winter travel that is. Make sure you see all of the wonders of this side of the world while you are here!

- Hostels are cheap and easy, check out the rating of them before you stay in one as some can be pretty awful. If you are alone you will be sharing a room with someone else however if you are in a group you can pay a little extra to get a room together with a bathroom. Your other option is Air BNB its great if you are with more than one other person!

- Travel insurance! Absolutely get this every time you leave the UK it is cheap and important! (before you move purchase travel insurance to cover your first few weeks in the country just incase) 


Up next I have a pile of things learnt from finding work as a Nanny here, so if you are keen to move to London into a Nanny or Au Pair situation, stay tuned! [Edit - See part three here!)

C x