Living in London

1. London is a City-Lover's Paradise

"London is definitely a love it or hate it city. After travelling through many countries in all continents, I have to say that London is the city that offers the most. It is almost as if a bit of every part of the world is present here," wrote one expat. "London is a huge city, and there is always somewhere new to explore here. World-class art, music, and culture come through London, and the city has great diversity and rich history. As a travel writer, I also appreciate that it is easy to get almost anywhere in the world from here," said Julie Falconer, a blogger and travel writer, said in an interview about her life in London.

2. Americans Don't Adapt to British Culture as Easily as You'd Expect

One expat said, "London takes time to know and understand, as do Londoners. Do not take our common language for granted - it takes effort to make friends and to settle in, learning English rythms, ways of seeing the world. Do not mistake friendly responses for friendship; in most cases, it's simply their being polite. Be patient and you will eventually feel as though you're accepted."

Falconer added, "One of the common mistakes that American expats make when they move to London is in thinking that British culture is the same as American culture (the same goes for language). Be prepared to discover that they are very different in many ways."

3. Many London Museums are Free

What to do on a rainy day in London? Stroll through one of your favorite museums. Many of the best museums are free (for everyone, every day). The National Gallery, The British Museum, Museum of Natural History... ALL are free. These are just a few of a long list of free museums in London. What to do on a rainy day in London? Stroll through one of your favorite museums.

3. Healthcare in London

Our article, Healthcare in the UK, provides an overview of the National Healthcare System (NHS) and private healthcare system in London.

5. Where Expats and Global Nomads Live In London

"Many of the working American expatriates congregate around the Hampsteads, Swiss Cottage, St. John's Wood, Fulham, the area between Earl's Court and Gloucester, Primrose Hill, Richmond, and South Kensington. South Kensington also has a large concentration of American students living in London," wrote one expat in London.

Best Neighborhoods in London highlights some of the most popular expat neighborhoods in London such as Wandsworth and Kensington.

6. Consider Commuting Time When Deciding Where to Live in London

"I would suggest you first decide what is most important to you, like an easy commute, near parks for the dogs, things like that. Obviously, your budget is going to be a huge factor, as well. Get yourself a tube map and a map of London to see what you're dealing with. At 659 square miles, London is huge. For us, we wanted to be in central London, wanted a 1 tube commute (no changes) and wanted to have ammenities (grocery store, drug store, etc.) within an easy walk," shared an expat in London.

"Look on the website Transport for London (tfl.gov.uk) and try a few example commutes before you pick an area in order to get a good idea about the length of your daily work commute," advised an expat in London.

7. Parking Is an Issue. Period.

If you need to have a car while living in London, one expat had great advice, "Check out an area at dinner time, so you see how good/bad parking really is, rather than just looking at a property during the day, when the street may be empty. Very important if you don't get off street parking guaranteed with your place," advised one expat.

8. International Schools in London

If you're moving to London with school-aged children and plan to enroll in an international school for an IB program or other reasons, our article, International Schools in London, provides maps of the most well-known international schools in London and the suburbs of London.

9. London's Parks

Urban life is meant to include greenery. If you're living in central London, we recommend living within walking distance of a park. London's parks are incredible: St. James Park, The Green Park, Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens are just a few of the beautiful Royal Parks. See a full list of The Royal Parks.

10. Bringing Your Pet to London

The British government has a helpful guide, Bring your pet to the UK: step by step , that walks you through the process of bringing a dog, cat or ferret to the UK.

One couple moving to London asked, "We are a young couple in the process of moving to London with our two cats. Also, from what we've seen, it's quite difficult to find flats for rent that are okay with pets. Any suggestions on the best way to broach the topic with potential landlords? Or areas that usually have more pet-friendly options?"

"I was able to find a place with a pet dossier, I simply wrote a summary of my pets with pics and letters from my vet and neighbors, and I had no problem," commented one expat. Another expat added, "Writing a pet CV is a good idea. Also agree to have the property professionally cleaned when you move out. If you haven't done so already, check the Pet Travel Scheme so that your cats can arrive to the UK without problem."

11. Crossing the Street

We all know that if you plan to drive in London, you'll have to adapt to driving on the other side of the road. But, what you may not realize is that you'll also have to adapt to this while walking. When you come to a crosswalk, you'll need to look the opposite way than what you are accustomed to. The "Look Right" and "Look Left" warnings are only in some areas. We advise you to put down your phone and make sure you are paying attention when you use a crosswalk, because it's not an easy habit to change.