Thinking about Moving to London, Looking for Any Advice

ghostbuster on 15/01/2016 - 22:27

So my partner and I are thinking about moving to London, mainly to explore and live somewhere different. Being a teacher I can pretty easily get a job through a number of different agencies and as a graphic designer my partner would have to look for work but has some family in London to rely on.

I was wondering if anyone has any experience living in London in regards to costs, where to live (trendy, fun, affordable, safe), how much money is required for savings before heading over or any recommendations or advice whatsoever would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Financial

Comments

  • oscargamer on 15/01/2016 - 22:46
    +8

    I'm sure you'll end up going and i'm sure you'll have fun, but it's a ridiculously overpriced, rude, smelly, cold, wet sh*thole of a place

    IMO

    • Vampyr on 16/01/2016 - 10:57

      You know: fish, chips, cup ‘o tea, bad food, worse weather, Mary (profanity) Poppins… LONDON.

      ~Snatch

  • [Deactivated] on 15/01/2016 - 23:07

    Just remember one thing… We'll win the Ashes.

  • abh_gup on 16/01/2016 - 00:11

    there are heaps of websites with the info.
    with more people and retirees migrating down here than the other way… something to consider
    important to consider 'purchasing power of parity' (may have an inflexible impact on living costs) vs 'employment opportunities' you get.
    best of luck

    • [Deactivated] on 16/01/2016 - 11:06
      +1

      I'm always curious to why would anyone want to leave this beautiful place.

      • sparkles on 16/01/2016 - 11:48
        +3

        As someone with dual passport, it's because London is one happening place. Plus you can go to Italy, or France, or Greece for the weekend for next to nix. Here's a direct comparison as to why it holds appeal, a month in the Greek Islands cost me one weeks London wages.

        And you can always come back, there's that. Which most Aussies eventually do. Some I met seemingly choose to stay forever.

      • lost69 on 16/01/2016 - 14:44

        Its an overpriced hole at the edge of the world that has been taken over by immigrants and visas.

        • sparkles on 17/01/2016 - 00:47
          +2

          Sounds just like somewhere else I know.

  • dassaur on 16/01/2016 - 11:03

    Having just returned from the city, there were two good things: my wife's family and the football. Everything else was rubbish. Oscargamer's comment is fairly accurate, though I didnt experience anything especially rude. This may be assuming the obvious, but if you haven't been there before, go there on holidays first.

  • try2bhelpful on 16/01/2016 - 11:25
    +2

    I would go with the idea of coming back in couple of years. I would go mainly on the proximity to Europe for holidays.

  • goosegog on 16/01/2016 - 15:40
    +2

    Don't do it without doing a holiday first. Why do you think so many of us poms emigrate to this wonderful country of ours from that cold, miserable,negative, overpriced & undervalued place - full of glum, miserable people of all nationalities?
    We emigrated 28 years ago & wish we'd made the move sooner. Absolutely no regrets in the choice to make AUSTRALIA our new home & now very much dislike the sometimes necessary trips back ( for obvious family reasons as none of us are getting any younger ) But to live there again ? - No Way Hose' . Can never wait to return to our homeland where the sun shines, day light appears ( instead of day long gloom & over cast skies )
    We even came from the affluent South of England but NOTHING would ever entice us to live there again !
    Think strongly & do much research before making your final decision.
    You will also find traffic far more congested, roads narrower & traffic lights everywhere - including on roundabouts- even those along the motorways !!

    Good Luck in your decision.

    Gives us the " Heebie, Jeebies" to even contemplate it !!

  • ellave on 16/01/2016 - 18:58

    Londoner here, used to know a ton of Aussie teachers over there & they all made pretty good money from what I remember. With regards to where you live, that is a very open question, myself being a north Londoner I'm bias, but somewhere around Islington or West Hampsted are good places to live.

    I miss it immensely & due to personal circumstance I'm stuck here in Aus. I've always found Aus much more expensive (although OzBargain helps!) & the job market here it awful compared to London.

  • mistermr6 on 18/01/2016 - 19:24

    I'd ignore all the naysayers and head over as sparkles said you can always come back home of you don't like! Its an eye opening experience to live somewhere where so many people congregate and even if you're not into the nightlife being on the door step to Europe means you can explore a different culture almost every weekend!

    Cost wise I know the AU has dropped since I was there a few years ago but if you're working there earning the local currency then that's not an issue. I found relative to incomes loving expenses there are a lot less than back - especially with food and travelling, rent was also good but that's also partly due to the fact that most people end up in a flat share…

    Area wise if you're looking for trendy and affordable the shore ditch//Hoxton area is meant to be good - if you can avoid the Aussies all in west London - there's plenty of them back home so why cross the world to live with more of them? ;-)

    Also when you come back you'll have a much greater appreciation of how good the weather is back home :-)

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