Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with moving and london

I'm bored with my remote online job, in a town. Should I move to a city?

molloy — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 01:40:30 -0800

I am wondering whether to move from a small town to a big city to boost my career. My partner has been offered a job in London, but is on the fence, 50/50, and is looking to me for the swing vote. Her salary, after London costs, would be about the same as it is now. So it's really down to me.

I am currently running a small online business in the coastal town of London, (Brighton). It's easy, pays well, I only have to work one or two days a week, but I don't feel motivated to grow it at all and I do worry about not investing in a career path at all. I am 33 so don't know what else i could/woud do. It just seems crazy to run an online business from central London that I could run anywhere. On the other hand, I do like the idea of looking for new kinds of work and perhaps being on the ground in the city would accelerate that process.

The only jobs I seem qualified for after running a small online business for 6 years, are marketing/sales type roles. Most digital roles indicate they prefer 'fresh' candidates. I get a feeling that if I was 'on the ground' I might have access to more unusual roles. But I'm rubbish with networking.

I like my town, but it's very laid back, and most people here focus more on the life side of the work/life balance. But that rubs off on me I think. IS it crazy to think that being surrounded by busy driven focused people, will make me more focused and driven?

Another thing I worry about, is that I have tried moving to the city twice for a couple of weeks or so, but both times hurried back to the coast with my tail between my legs after being uninspired by the immediate options. But I'm thinking if I commit to a 6 month contract I'd have no choice but to explore more options, as it would very expensive to live and whilst I can probably afford to cover the rent for 6 months, the pressure would be productive I hope.

But why put myself through the stress, when I can just commute up in 50 minutes? Perhaps the stress is the point, though. Perhaps stress brings out the best in people?

Buying a new computer before or after moving abroad?

mattstan — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 16:06:54 -0800

My job is transferring me from Chicago to London in the spring. I've certainly got a lot to figure out between now and then (much of which this forum has already been a big help with), but one specific question I have involves the purchase of a new computer. My current MacBook is definitely due to be replaced -- it's six years old, so move or not, I was planning on getting one sometime this year. Does it make more sense to buy one before the move or after? Taking my laptop on trips to the UK has never been an issue, since the battery is built to handle 220V. But do any of you know of issues that I might run into in the long-term?

As far as having a localized keyboard, I'm currently agnostic but open to convincing -- I'm a programmer in finance, so I can see advantages and disadvantages in swapping those currency signs. :)

Shipping costs aren't an issue, since the laptop would be coming with me on the flight, and any accessories wouldn't appreciably add to the weight of what I'm having shipped.

As of today, the same model of MacBook Air is about $185 more expensive on Amazon.co.uk than it is on Amazon.com. Is there anything else I should be thinking about before I just grab a plug adapter and take the savings?

Cardiff or London? Life choices!

jujulalia — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 13:18:07 -0800

Mr Jujulalia and I have the option of moving to London or Cardiff. Seeking advice from colleagues/friends/the Guardian isn't filling our advice needs. Can you help? To explain further, we're in our early 30s, from a small city in Australia. We left little Australian city over 5 years ago for Europe, and have loved living in bustling cities so far (we've lived in Glasgow, London and are now in Paris). Mr Ju has a very generous job offer in Cardiff, and a less generous offer in London potentially. We're not hipsters but we go to concerts regularly, love art, markets, are painful Guardian reading types. He's in science. I'm in music. I, dear readers, will never make a lot of money in my life. We're not particularly outdoorsy, but I love parks, and miss the green of London. We're not suburby types.

We're worried we'll never be able to afford a life in London, I'll get tied back into enormous commutes, slum landlords and we'll be perpetually broke. But we loved living in London. I have always felt at home there (Mama Jujulalia is a Londoner, it's in the blood). We're worried Cardiff will be boring, suburby, without vibrancy.

We would like to find a community to be a part of and contribute to. I think we might want a house. Maybe babies. Mr Ju wants a cat. I need to think about that. Where will be better able to do that? London or Cardiff?

Let's go do this life thing. Because I suck at titles.

Fen — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 15:12:22 -0800

Let's go do this life thing. Point the way and boot me up the nethers, mefites. Right then.

I want to shift out of my hometown in Derbyshire, move to London, get a job, and spend my time practicing martial arts and messing with computers and writing and discovering all the weird things that are out there in the world.

I also want to help my brother, who is 29, had kidney failure almost three years ago after ten years of immune system problems, and has been unemployed and essentially home-bound ever since. I want to be able to get a flat in an interesting place so he would have somewhere to get out of our parents' house, out of our hometown (he's never lived anywhere else) and get the opportunity to do new stuff. Yes, that's a vague plan.

Eventually I would like to travel for a year in Australia, although I don't want to shift out of the country without helping my brother first. (For those that know dialysis, he's on overnight peritoneal and is shifting to Hemo in a few weeks' time).

Job-wise, I have a year's experience in data entry/administration and two and a half years in bartending.

Volunteering-wise, I spent a year and a half as an Oxfam shop assistant, three months as a volunteer proof-reader and editor for an online amateur publishing company, two weeks as a publishing assistant for Random House publishing, and two weeks as a volunteer journalist for my local newspaper and the regional newspaper that owns them.

I have a 2:1 degree in English (and won a minor prize for my work) and volunteered as the university Scuba club's Membership Secretary and Treasurer. I graduated in 2008.

I'm 26, living with my parents, very annoyed at myself for this, have £10k in savings, no attachments to consider, no contacts to speak of in London (although I've been down there several times and I quite like the place), would prefer to live alone, and have no fricking idea what the best way would be to set this whole wheel rolling.

How would you set this whole wheel rolling, mefites? I think I would make a competent bar manager if I could find a trainee position, but I'm not fussed about any kind of work if I can find it. I have currently been applying for jobs through the net, but that hasn't borne much fruit and frankly I would bet all my aforementioned savings that it's not going to. I would move down and look for work after if I was sure that I could find a job and afford to live on it, but I keep hearing that's a Very Bad Plan from several careers-coaching people I've spoken to. If this isn't actually a bad plan, awesome! Let's go! If it is a bad plan, what would a good plan be instead?

How can I feel better about moving countries?

teststrip — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 01:20:24 -0800

I'm moving countries in 30 days and I am freaking out (to put it mildly). How can I make the most of the time left in my home country and prepare for the new one - while not being mean to my partner or my family? I don't want to go... Well okay, yes I do, but it feels like the bad outweighs the good. I'm generally being miserable about it right now. I've never moved cities before, let alone from New Zealand to London and I'm scared. Why? Because I'm not one of those happy go lucky kids on their OE, I'm in my mid twenties and I was pretty happy with my life here. I'm fretting the most about the job hunt to come and being away from my family & friends.

My boyfriend is a bit older, is English, misses his family and has been in NZ for 10 years.

I feel like I have most things organised for the move, and we have a week's holiday in Paris before arriving in England. But still I keep snapping at him and being childish about the move, but I did agree to it and want to stay together. And it's all paid for...

Is this natural? How can I chill out about moving to the other side of the planet? If you have you done this, do you have any advice for me? Thanks.

Temporary storage for stuff before moving to London

noztran — Sun, 22 May 2011 10:10:28 -0800

Moving out of the UK in a week to travel abroad. Will move back to London in September. Where to keep stuff throughout this period? My partner and I are currently living in Wales, but will be leaving to travel abroad in a week.

What we need to store:
* books (six cartons)
* clothes
* bed linen
* cutlery
* a few lamps
* etc.

No real furniture, no bulky appliances, except for a vacuum cleaner.

Unfortunately, we can't ask anybody to store our stuff.

I've been thinking of personal storage (I'm actually looking at Big Yellow's website right now), but I have no car to transport my stuff by myself.

How and where to store all that for ca. 3 months and not go bankrupt? Any thoughts much appreciated.

I got funded for an MA in London. Hooray! Now how the hell will I pay the rent?

Anonymous — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 15:25:10 -0800

I got funded to do an MA in London, but I still don't know how I'm going to afford it. What jobs could I do that will allow me to study and live without insane financial stress? I got funding (fees paid) for a taught MA at a really good university and intend to relocate to London in September. However, I have no idea what I am going to live on when I get there.

When I go, I’ll be finishing my year’s work at an academic library for which I was paid about €1500 per month. I paid off debt at the start of the year and have since saved about €4000. This was actually quite good, as I live in an expensive place, and I hope to save a bit more. Nonetheless, my savings are still only about £3,500 sterling, which will pay about 2 months rent and a deposit at best. I am assuming that, with studying, sleeping, relaxing sufficiently and eating, I’ll be able to work about maximum 20 hours a week alongside my course without getting insanely stressed out. I want to live reasonably close to central London in a safe area, which (it seems) will cost over £100 in rent per week at the very least. This MA will qualify me as an information professional, and I have good experience in tertiary teaching, research and journalism.

I don't want to get a bank loan. My recession experiences have taught me never to get into personal debt again.

What are reasonably well renumerated (paying more than £10 per hour, but at less than 21 hours a week) job options beyond retail/museum/library assistance that won’t cause enormous stress and should make me over £200 a week?

(Bonus question: What are my alternatives to expensive rented flat shares? I’ve looked into property guardianship and am open to lodging, but they seem fraught with potential stresses, and I'm really want to avoid any extra problems when I'm already moving to a new city, starting a new course, job, being separated from my friends and family, etc.)

Is this a good plan?

Fen — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 13:20:33 -0800

My work contract comes to an end in November, and I have nothing lined up for afterwards yet. Would moving to London be a good idea? I'm one of those English grads who've never had a proper job. I've been at my current position for seven months, as a temp Income Assistant for the council (it's data entry, basically). It's a four-day-a-week position, and it comes to an end at some point in November (I'm maternity cover). I have about five grand saved up, and still the whole "oh noes I don't know what I [i]WANT TO DO[/i]" thing.

So I have a draft of a plan, which is:

- Move to London.

- Support myself on temp work until I get a stable, full-time position.

- See where things go.

I basically hate living where I do now, and it's with parents. I've been unsuccessful in making applications partly because I'm not keen on the idea of living around here any longer, partly because I can never find anything I can apply for, and mostly because I'm a lazy bum who goes to his computer every morning with the intention of making applications and ends up wasting the day on webcomics. I figure if I'm stuck far from home with rapidly diminishing funds I might be more inclined to move my sorry ass.

So would the above be a feasible plan, and if so, should I look for accommodation first and then a job, or a job first and then accommodation? Or should I use the money for something else, like a uni course? I feel I should probably have more qualifications, but on the other hand I don't want to go into a course without knowing for certain that it's useful and I want to do it this time.

Cheers all.

Where to live in London?

dubold — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 08:18:23 -0800

Moving to London. A few specific questions. My partner got a great job in London. Their office will be in Canary Wharf.

If you have opinions or experience about the following locations, which other people have recommended to us, I'd love to hear them. We've been told to check out Chelsea, Greenwich, Hampstead, Islington, Brockley and Deptford.

We are looking for recommendations for neighborhoods within easy commuting distance to the job; we currently live in Brooklyn, and would like to find an area of London that's similar to Williamsburg.

Things we'd like to be close: farmers' markets, decent restaurants, green space, and transit hubs. Lots of bars or nightlife is not as much of a priority, though a bonus.

I've been checking out apartment on Globrix, which, despite sounding like a Bond villain's corporation, is amazingly useful. There are apartments in our price range in all those locations, but it's hard to tell what the neighborhoods are like just from looking at the map...

Bonus: if you have personally used a shipping company to move your stuff overseas and would recommend them, let me know!

Seeking employment in London

comatose — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 16:34:03 -0800

How can someone in the United States legally move to London and seek employment? My girlfriend has a job offer in London and I would like to move with her. However, I can't seem to find a way to legally move there and seek employment without being married, obtaining a work visa prior to moving, or qualifying for a tier 1 visa.

Is there anyway to live in London and search for jobs without meeting the criteria above?

Background: I have a master's degree in architecture from a highly credible university and 2 years work experience.

London Loner

Anonymous — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 14:18:50 -0800

London, UK living arrangements. Help me sort out the options and get settled! I've just gone through most of the old London questions, but I'm looking for more specific advice, and a game plan. I will be moving to London later this month to teach. I have my visa sorted out, and I am just tying up loose ends before I go. I hope to fly out the last week of February.

My main question is: can I afford to live alone in London on a teacher's salary?
(Average teacher's salary - I'll probably do supply to start, then do full-time once I'm more settled and find an area/school I like)

After living with roommates and friends for 5 years, I'm in dire need of my own space. I want to live alone. But I'm not sure whether or not I can afford it. Friends who are teaching in London right now are averaging about £500 a week in pay. I've been browsing Gumtree, Craigslist, and other sites recommended on AskMe, and I know that on top of the rent there's council tax and utilities, and transportation too. I know London is expensive, but is it possible to find a decent place for one person on that kind of salary? I don't need a large place, and I don't need to be in a high-class neighbourhood either (nor could I afford it).

If not, what sorts of things should I be looking for when I look at listings for shared spaces?

Also, regarding a game plan - if I fly to London and book a hostel for a week, is that a reasonable amount of time to find a place?

Thanks for your help. I'm a bit flustered and spending hours on the internet trying to plan everything isn't doing much good for my brain.
If it matters, I'm a 23 year old female, departing from Toronto.

Anonymous because I've not yet told some people that I'm moving there.

Building home across the pond

zvs — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:47:40 -0800

Make London work. Help a beleaguered New Yorker figure out how to acclimate. Griping follows. So, there's a decent chance I'll be trying to move to London next year for school and work. No visa issues (EU passport), no language issues, no real issues at all -- except that when I've visited London, it Just. Doesn't. Work. For me.

New York to London shouldn't be a big culture shock, right? But for some reason I've never found anywhere there that felt nearly as comfortable or useful as Brooklyn. I don't feel like I can pop in somewhere for quick food, I can't find any life (not nightlife) after 8 PM, I can't find more groceries than a Tesco Express... I realize some of these aren't reasonable London expectations, but that won't stop me from building a little homey bubble around myself!

So, your tips are welcomed for this oddly specific question: where's the appropriate London district that's similar to home? It doesn't have to be terribly central or TOO cheap. If you're familiar with both cities, comparable neighborhoods in New York would be Astoria, or Greenpoint, or Carroll Gardens -- the last three places I liked. All of them are sort of quiet, insulated, and very dense. A little off the beaten path.

The closest I found to something like this in London was the area near St-John-At-Hackney, and that wasn't all that close. Pleasant though.

(I've seen this, but it's not really what I mean)

What is the best way to move from London, UK, to Brussels, Belgium?

meso — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 07:07:30 -0800

Hey there! I'm moving to Brussels for a job early November, and I'm trying to plan my move from London. What is the best way to do this move? My latest plan is to drive there in a van with a friend, stay with him for a couple of days, and have him drive the empty van back to London. Am I missing something? Is there an obvious way to make it easier/cheaper?

Right now the costs would involve paying the van rental, the Eurotunnel transfer between the UK and the continent, paying for a hotel, and packing stuff myself.

More information: I don't have any furniture, just books and clothes. It's not a massive amount. I don't have a driving licence myself. I'm also hesitating between driving there with a friend, gonig there on Eurostar and leave my stuff, or send them to myself by post.

Any suggestion would be immensely appreciated... thank you!

Moving from LA to London. What do I need to know?

Danah_78 — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 21:22:37 -0800

Hi there, My company is transferring me to London at the end of the month and I haven’t had much time to do some essential research. Part of the problem is I don’t even know the right questions to ask, or the right places to go on the web to find the info I need. Here are a few things that I’d need to know in order to get me started, if anyone is so inclined to lend their knowledge: Apartment, bank, mobile phone, international calls, location, public transit, exemption from US taxes, tying up loose ends in the US. Anything else I may be missing? APARTMENT – what documentation/qualifications/prerequisites will I need to rent an apartment there? Do I need to have a local bank account or credit established? Will it be a problem if I’m from the US?

BANK – I’ve heard that I should consider setting up an international bank, that way it will be set up before I get there. I’ve also heard that the international fees are outrageous and I should eventually set up an account with a local bank like Lloyds. I’m not sure if it makes much of a difference, but I will be getting paid in pounds. Any recommendations? What do I need in order to open an account (international or local)? I currently bank with Chase in the US.

MOBILE PHONE – can I use my current iPhone that’s under AT&T’s service? And advice on unlocking it vs. selling it here and buying one when I get there (only thing is I don’t want to be without a phone when I first get there since that’s my lifeline)?

For INTERNATIONAL CALLS, should I look into an international plan through a UK carrier, or should I use services like Skype?

LOCATION within my budget– I will be working in Bromley but will most likely want to live somewhere in central London. The train to Bromley leaves from the Victoria station. Any advice on areas to search that would be within my budget (income will be 32,500 pounds p/year)? I’m a single person and happy to live in a modest – but safe – studio.

PUBLIC TRANSIT – I would need M-F access to the train to Bromley, plus 7-days a week access to the underground for sightseeing & exploring. I priced out a monthly pass at 169 pounds per month, but this seems rather high after talking with an acquaintance who recently lived there. Is there a cheaper way to do it?

BICYCLE OR VESPA? - I’m used to having an automobile at my disposal and feel I may miss the freedom of being able to “drive” & arrive quickly to anywhere the public transit may not reach. Anyone have an opinion on whether a bicycle or a scooter may be something to consider? Parking/fees/ theft/plentiful places to lock up a bicycle, etc?

TAXES – Since I will be there for a year and getting paid in pounds, is there anyway to claim exemption from US taxes for the time I am away?

What LOOSE ENDS do I need to tie up in the US if I’m going to be away for one year?
Car insurance, registration, etc.

Anything else that I may be missing? I’d be infinitely grateful for any info you can provide, or web resources you can direct me to.

Best,
Danah

Where should I live in the USA? I like music, culture, etc - but I need to be close to Europe.

wingless_angel — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 04:13:01 -0800

Where should I live in the USA? I like music, culture, etc - but I need to be close to Europe. So I have the opportunity to be a US permanent resident next year and am starting to research as much as I can about where I might live. But there's a glitch - the timing is kind of bad and I am going to need to spend a fair of time in Europe over the next 3 years for work. I've got the permanent residence maintenance issues in hand (assuming I get the visa next year of course! I'm a DV winner) but the big question is: where should I live in the US (probably a few months each time) and establish my life/residence until I move for good?

I have spent about 4 months in the US across the past 5 years for vacation and conferences, places I've liked best have been Seattle, Chicago, especially Evanston, Santa Monica (but not so much the rest of LA), New York. I have only spent a day in Boston, but it seemed good. I don't drive so public transport is critical. I would not move to San Francisco for this reason. Climate I am not so worried about.

I have previously lived in Sydney, The Hague, and currently London. I like areas that are lively but not on top of the action - we live just north of Camden Town, and I lived in Newtown when I was in Sydney. I eat a lot of Asian and ethnic foods - I like variety. I also like living in a place with a lot of music, good bars, bookstores, museums etc and access to open spaces and parks. Living in London and the Hague, I'm used to an overpriced cost of living. My husband is an academic so a city with lots of academia would be good. Most of my US friends live in NYC.

The kicker is that I would be going back and forth between the US and Europe often for a couple of years, so I would prefer somewhere that is close flightwise to keep costs and flight times down (7hr flight vs 11 hr, for instance). A city with ample short-term leases would be good (or long-stay holiday apartments). We also need someplace where establishing a life is not too difficult - places where you can open a bank account and get ID and build credit. London for example, is tedious at this.

Where should I go, MeFi?

How can two Seattle residents best go about looking for jobs in London?

Anonymous — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 13:46:37 -0800

How can two Seattle residents best go about looking for jobs in London? My wife and I have been talking about moving to London for a while. Ideally, we'd like to both find jobs in London, live there for 2-3 years, then move back to the U.S.

We would like to have jobs and be living in London 1 year from today. We love Seattle... we just want an adventure before we have a baby.

- What has been your experience with finding (or not finding) a job in London?
- What should we expect with regard to potential time lines, snags, red tape, and pitfalls?
- What tools to job searching/networking have you found useful?
- What government agencies/government connections did you use in your quest? (i.e. if your Senator/Congressman was a good friend, could he/she help speed things along, side-step hang-up, and/or
- We want to live in London... not a 1-hour Tube ride from Central London.
- What have I not asked that I need to know?

Our employment backgrounds:
She is 26, I am 28. My background is business (primarily sales & marketing) and I've been fairly successful, despite my age. Her background is architecture, though she's looking to switch her focus to humanitarian efforts. Potentially working with organizations as a project manager for different efforts.

Our current combined income: $105,000/year (pre-tax)

London Calling

CRM114 — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 13:37:00 -0800

Advice for a New Yorker moving to London. Hello MeFites.

It's looking rather probable that I'm going to be moving to London from New York for work in the next couple of months.

I'm a young professional and I've lived in the US my whole life - apart from a casual appreciation for Premiership football and an affinity for Gordon Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares, I don't know all that much about living in the UK.

I've seen previous AskMe threads akin to this, so I've read up on the VAT, the Council Tax, and the benefits of having a bicycle, but there's still quite a bit I don't know:

*What's a good neighborhood for a young professional to live in, and why? I like the bar scene, but I don't necessarily want to live over the bar. And after years in New York I'm hoping a dishwasher isn't too much to ask for.

*Many of the apartments I've seen in my price range on Craigslist are furnished - this is a bit unusual in NYC, but is it fairly commonplace in London?

*What are some common mistakes expatriates make when they move over, and how can I avoid them?

Thanks in advance, friends.

Moving in London

Mossy — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 05:51:24 -0800

Does anyone have any recommended movers for London? We are moving from Bloomsbury to St Johns Wood and have a studio apartment with some furniture to move. Any recommended packing services would also be good

London Calling?

troika — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 20:46:29 -0800

I'm a geographer looking to move abroad (UK or NZ) for a year or so. Advice? I am looking to move abroad, most likely to London or Auckland (although I am open to suggestions. I don't speak other languages very well). I am looking for advice on visas/work permits, finding a place to live, and a job. I have a Geography and GIS degree, if that helps, although I'd do pretty much anything. I can't do BUNAC, as I graduated over a year ago. Really, anything you can tell me about any aspect of this would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

We gotta get out of this place!

Glinner — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 07:23:22 -0800

How do we find our dream home in London from 287 miles away? My wife and I recently moved from London to Ireland to see how we liked it there. We didn't, so we want to move back. Now we have two children (2 years old and 1 month old), so we're in rather a different situation than we came over.

We don't really have any strong opinions on where we want to live in London, but we do want this next move to be our last. But how do we find our dream home from here? Does anyone have any advice on how we can manage it?

We thought about getting a short let, but they seem very hard to find in London. Can anyone, maybe someone who had a similar experience, help?

What to put in a London survival pack?

generichuman — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 09:25:00 -0800

What would you put in a London survival pack? I'm putting together a shoe-box sized survival pack to give to a newcomer to London. I've recently transplanted myself to London (the big London, not London, Ontario,) from Toronto. My girlfriend will be joining me here in a few weeks.

I'm loving the city and settling in! To be romantic, silly and practical, I'd like to put together a little London Survival Pack for her, something the size of a shoe-box.

So far, I've got:

A London A-Z Pocket Size

An Oyster Card with 50 pounds on it

A tube map

Comfy insoles, as a joke, for waking around

Most of my ideas involve getting around the city, since that's the part of settling in that I find most interesting.

What would you put in a London survival pack?

By the way, the previous London AskMe threads have been invaluable in helping me settle in around here. Thanks!

Mid twenties, moving to London. Where should I live and what should I know?

pollystark — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 03:21:28 -0800

Mid twenties, reasonable income, moving to London. Where should I live and what should I know? [I have read this and this thread, but my situation is quite specific.]

Shortly, I will be permanently relocating to London (from Leeds). My job will be in central London, probably either in Regent Street or around Tower Bridge.

* I have a number of different friends and family members scattered all around London. I will be spending time with them, but I also want to get involved in music (both playing and attending gigs), the queer scene and radical activism. I am involved with these things in Leeds, but know very few people in those scenes in London.

* I want to live in a fun, exciting area of Greater London that is within cycling distance of central London. Neighbourhood features I like: record shops, little coffee shops, greenery, a lack of yuppies, a community or family feel.

* My income will be between £25,000 and £30,000 per year.

* I would be OK with living alone, but would rather get a spare room with some nice random people (non of my current friends have any rooms in their current abodes).

* I am OK with living in a slightly dodgy area as long as it's not outright suicidal.

So, where should I live and why?

Bonus points: general advice for a person who has never lived in a city as big as London before. Good places to hang out, activist hubs, practical advice on travel and eating and living, location of any arty communities, good London advice books or websites, anything else you think is relevant.

London?

Lord_Pall — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 10:51:31 -0800

Where should I live in London? So I already asked about Cambridge. I spent a week there and have a good idea of where I'd live if I took that job.

But now it gets wrinkly.

I've got another offer in London. Unfortunately it's around the same money with a small stipend for london cost of living increase that doesn't cover the difference.

Anyhoo, regardless of the pay, I'm still considering it.

But where should I live?

The second position is in London. The office is 2 minutes away from Oxford Circus tube, so it's smack dab in the center.

It'll be me, my wife and 3 cats. If we rent a small place we'd leave a bunch of our stuff, but we're also amenable to living "near" london.

Operative concerns:

I dislike the idea of living one place and working another. If you go to the trouble of being near such a culturally rich place such as London, NYC or SF, make an effort to be reasonably close.

Transportation Costs. On a tube line as opposed mainline train would be better.

Safety. Scared american cityfolk. I want to live someplace safe.

Cost. Ideal rent would be <1000, but conceivably could go to <1200 if necessary. Council taxes <100 a month would be good.

Grocery Stores are a plus.

Assume I'd have a bike and tube pass with as few zones on it as needed.

Additionally, my wife would also be using transportation to get around london.

What neighborhoods do you guys recommend?

Jumping the pond, where to live?

like_neon — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 16:27:59 -0800

I will soon be transferring from San Diego, CA to the UK. The office is near Farnborough, Hampshire but from what I can tell, I don't want to be living there. I am debating between living in London with a 40 minute train commute (from Waterloo), versus living in another town closer to work and probably cheaper rent. What to do? I'm 27, won't know a soul there, and will be making about 30k GBP. I grew up in San Francisco and also lived in Los Angeles for a while so I'm used to busy cities. On the other hand, I love visiting New York but sometimes I found it overwhelming.

For those familiar with the San Diego area, currently I live in the North Park/Hillcrest/South Park area and I just love it. For those that don't know, it's kinda artsy, indie, hippie with small cafes, divey bars, independent restaurants and near a great park, not really like downtown, which I don't like too much. I don't know if it will make a difference but I'm an Asian female.

1) Should I live in London? If so, what are some good areas to start investigating given my situation? Are there cool areas near the Waterloo station?
OR
2) Should I live outside of London? Anyone have advice about Reading, Guildford and Woking in particular?

When's the next London Mefi meetup? ;)

How to live on 18000 a year

sic — Thu, 18 May 2006 01:37:42 -0800

Living inexpensively in London My sister just got a job in London at the Foreign Commerce Office in the Spanish Embassy. This is a pretty exciting/emotional/daunting move because she's leaving Madrid (her home for the last 10 years) for at least 12 months, perhaps more, perhaps forever. The last few years for her have been pretty tough since she go divorced from a complete asshole who continues to make her life hell at any opportunity. Unfortunately, she's also going to have to leave her 10 year old son with her ex during that time, at least until she figures London out (a whole other emotional can of worms).

She won't be making a lot of money (18000 pounds gross) and she needs advice on how to live inexpensively while still being able to live in one of the greatest cities on the planet.

Let me be clear: any advice on any aspect of living inexpensively in London.

It would also be great if anyone knows where to find cheap airfares between London and Madrid. Thanks!