10 Tips for Moving to London
This time of year, we work with many clients who are being relocated to London on job assignments and we are often asked the same questions regarding schooling and where to settle etc. Below we have outlined a few helpful tips and we hope you find them useful.
Where to settle: Any Londoner will tell you not to think of the capital as one big city but rather a collection of smaller ‘towns’ – it’s up to you to choose the ‘town’ that best suits your needs. If you are a young person or couple then trendy Shoreditch or Clerkenwell would be suitable. Families would be wise to look for areas which are more child friendly with open spaces such as Highbury or Highgate or Clapham.
Size of housing: London living is generally vertical and not horizontal with Victorian terraced houses being the staple of family housing stock. If you are moving from the States then be mindful that your budget won’t afford you the same size of housing that you are accustomed to! When planning removals check sizes of our door openings as some large furniture will not fit.
Cost of housing: The closer you live to the centre or tube station the higher the price. London housing is eye-wateringly expensive so why not look somewhere that bit further afield with a slightly longer walk to the tube and you will get more for your money. For comparisons look at Rightmove Prime Location or Zoopla
Schooling: Do your research to find out where the OFSTED ‘outstanding’ rated schools are located and look closely at catchment areas. For in-depth school information look at Locrating. If you are looking at independent schools look at The Good School Guide
Cars: If you want to live in central London, be mindful of limited (and very expensive) parking and the congestion charge, making car journeys challenging. London has a very comprehensive underground and bus system so a car will not always be essential.
Parks: London is proud of its open spaces. From Hyde Park, Green Park, Regents Park (incorporating London Zoo) in central London to Battersea Park (complete with petting zoo), Hampstead Heath and Clapham Common a bit further from the centre. Make the most of the parks to stroll, jog or just change the pace of your day.
Culture: With a wealth of theatres, museums and art galleries and festivals on your doorstep make sure that you find time to enjoy the highlights of the capital when making the move – this is the charm of London. Most popular Museums are Natural History and the British Museum.
Food: From pop up bars, incredible restaurants to fabulous food markets such as Borough Market and a huge new Asian food hall Bang Band Oriental. London enjoys one of the richest and most diverse culinary capitals in the world – so enjoy!
Weather: Be prepared for all weathers in London – carry a brolly as the UK rain can arrive on the sunniest of days. Also be prepared to talk about it. A lot. Londoners love to talk about the weather!
Fast pace: London is a continual whirl. They say life is a marathon, but London is most definitely a sprint so be ready to keep up or relax and just let them sprint past!
For more information regarding moving to London Chiltern Relocation are here to help with 17 years experience of moving families to the ‘Best city in the world’ give us a call on. + 44(0) 1494 672086 or email: enquiries@chilternrelocation.com
