Moving to London is an incredible and life-changing experience, there’s no doubt about it. It’s one of the biggest and most diverse cities in the world – and yet, like anywhere, it can be quirky. So here is little local knowledge and a few travel tips for you to find your way around, have the best experience and live just like a Londoner would.

1. CityMapper will be your new loyal companion

Navigating around the busy streets of London can be difficult. This amazing app will help direct you where you need to go and provide recommendations on how to get there whether it’s walking, cycling, bus, tube or taxi. It will even give you approximate costs! Download it to your phone now because this app will be your new loyal companion!

2. A good pair of shoes and a thick winter coat will go a long way

Depending on where you have travelled from, an English winter may come as a surprise to you. It can get cold, and it can rain – a lot! A good coat and a thick pair of shoes will get you through the colder winter months. Don’t worry if you don’t have space to pack them (or if you don’t own any!) as you’ll be able to buy what you need when you get here. After all, the coats and shoes in London are made for London.

3. Always stand to the right or walk on the left

The underground is the cheapest, quickest and most efficient way of travelling around the city and you’ll likely use this all the time living in London. Underground stations have some large escalators to get you down to the platforms and they come with a set of rules – but be warned – Londoners get pretty up-tight if you don’t abide by them. So, when you’re on an escalator remember this simple rule - always stand to the right or walk up on the left. Easy.

4. Find the freebies

London can be expensive, but fortunately there are plenty of exciting things you can do around the city that are free. Throughout the year there are free events such as watching the London Marathon, The Boat Race and Trooping the Colour or attending festivals like Notting Hill Carnival and London Pride. You can even see free performances from London’s top musicals during West End Live! There are also plenty of parks including Hyde Park, St James’ Park and Regent’s Park where you can walk around the beautiful green spaces all for free.

5. Budget the big attractions with money saving apps

Although there are plenty of free options, there are some things you will have to pay for if you want to see it. However, there are some great apps to help you save some money. TodayTix, Fever and Groupon are just a few apps where you can get money off of some top London attractions.

6. There is never enough time to do everything

London is a HUGE city with so much to see and do, just try not to burn yourself out trying to do it all! Write a short list of the top 5 things you really want to see or do and plan when you can do them. Then give yourself permission to enjoy and embrace your time there – and that can include spending some weekends relaxing on the couch. Living in London is different to being on holiday in London. Remember to balance your time so you can enjoy both working and living.

7. Need a coffee fix just like back home? Find an Australian café

There are plenty of cafes and coffee shops around London that serve pretty much any type of coffee you could ask for, but when you need something that tastes just like home Brickwood, Milk or Clapham Common are great locations to get that familiar taste you crave.

8. Everyone feels lonely being far from home

It almost seems impossible to feel alone in a city this big, when you are meant to be having the time of your life, but trust us, everyone feels it. And that’s ok. It’s a big adjustment living on the other side of the world where everything looks, feels and sounds different. Be kind to yourself and take it one day at a time. Try to get out and do new things and meet new people by joining a sports team or asking a fellow teacher out for coffee. It can feel scary, but once you have taken that first step in no time at all you will have a great support network around you that can become your family away from home.

9. Don’t convert pounds to dollars once you start earning

It’s fine to do when you first move to the UK and you’re transferring your money into pounds, but once you start earning in pounds you should spend it in pounds – it will save you so much time and effort! It will also make it easier for budgeting purposes. Check out Global Reach for a quick and easy way to transfer money across bank accounts.

10. Whatever you do…try not to stop at Bank

That is Bank Station, not an actual bank. It is an absolute rabbit warren of a tube station. If you don’t know it like the back of your hand you will likely end up coming out a different exit every time, exactly where you don’t want to be. If there’s an alternative to getting off at Bank, maybe use that instead!

And finally, remember that this is your experience to make your own through the people, places and opportunities you take, and we are here to support you to have your best adventure. So be brave, explore and enjoy where the journey takes you.

Are you ready for your UK adventure?

If you’re thinking about teaching or working in education in the UK, we would love to hear from you, contact our Brisbane office today to start your journey.