What you should know before moving to London

Are you planning to relocate to London? Perhaps you’ve discovered an exciting new role at a London-based company or you’re about to start your university studies in the city? Regardless of the reason or your relocation, moving to London is an exciting experience. However, there are a lot of hidden stones that you’ll need to be aware of in order to protect yourself from stress, losing money, waste of time, and disappointment. 

Before moving to the city, there are a few important things that you must be aware of. You’ll need to organise your move and speak to home removals in London, plan your budget, choose a place to live in, and more. In this article, we’ll walk you through them in hopes of helping you get through the journey with zero stress and a 100% positive experience.

Choose an area to live in

When you’ve decided to move to London, the first thing to do is research the possible places to live in. London is a large city and has a wide variety of different zones that are suitable for different types of individuals. Some of the  things you need to consider  before choosing an area to live in are:

• Your monthly budget
• Commuting options to work or school
• How busy the area is 
• How well-connected the area is
• The available institutions, shops, and other amenities in the area

You can segment down a few suitable areas by using tools like Where to Live Wizard from SpareRoom. Keep in mind that the more central the location, the higher the rent. Finances are likely to be the key factor that will help you choose the best location.

This brings us to the next point – budgets.

Set a monthly budget

London is one of the most expensive cities in the world. In order to feel comfortable and get the most out of the city, you need to have a monthly budget prepared. If you’re a working professional, even if you still haven’t landed a job in the city, you could look at the average salaries for your level of experience and area of expertise. Note down your basic expenses like average rent prices in the areas you’ve chosen, average food expenses, utility expenses and other basic needs. Calculate how much money you’ll have left to explore the city and dive into its vibrant culture.

Calculate house moving costs

No matter if you’re moving to London from a different area in the UK or from abroad, there will be house moving costs that you need to plan for. Where possible, it’s best to work with a house moving company. Although the expense may seem higher at first, you’ll discover that working with professional movers can save you money in the long term. Here are some of the expenses that you should consider:

• House moving company fee
• Expenses for packing materials 
• Hiring a moving van (if relevant)
• Renting storage space (if relevant)
• Hiring professional cleaners

Travel lightly

When moving houses, most people are tempted to take everything they own with them to their new house location. However, this is the perfect time to organise a house cleaning and get rid of all the things that you don’t need or don’t use.  If you’re moving to London from abroad, travelling lightly can save you a lot of money and stress. 

Make sure to pack only the belongings that you need and start decorating your new home on a clean page. 

Get to know the city

London is a large city that offers something for everyone. You can explore its beauty by sightseeing during your first few weeks, visiting its astonishing museums, going for a walk in one of the many green parks, and so much more. The city offers an excellent transport system and you can get to know the underground better and find your way around. There is also a range of city buses that you can take to travel between different areas in the city. 

Make yourself at home

Last but not least, as your moving date approaches it’s best to start researching all the ways you can make yourself truly at home. In other words, choose a bank where you want to open a UK account if you’re from abroad, get a UK SIM for your phone, sort out your finances, and be ready to explore one of the world’s richest cities in terms of culture, activities, entertainment and career opportunities.

Hopefully, the information provided in this article will help you move to London with confidence.