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The ultimate guide to moving to London as a graduate

The Big Smoke is waiting for you. Don't let it swallow you whole - use this guide to survive and thrive in London.
Brenda Wong
Brenda Wong
london as a graduate

Welcome to the Big Smoke, kid.

You’ve made it. You’ve waded through the murky forest of application forms, defeated your dragon of an interviewer, and found the hidden treasure. Congratulations, you’re officially moving to London! ?

Before you start poppin’ that champagne, there’s just one little thing you need to sort – your accommodation. “Simple,” you say to yourself. “I’ll just Google it.” Ah, my sweet, innocent pal. That’s where you’ll be wrong.

Moving to London involves making about a hundred different micro-decisions. Which zone? Borough? What is more important: proximity to a pub or to the supermarket? Not to mention the astronomical rent prices. 

We’ve been there. Like you, we laid in our beds, scrolling through property listings on our phone until we get too sleepy and drop it on our faces. Arranging a move to the city is no joke – so we’ve compiled this honest, no-nonsense guide that’ll hopefully help you find your new London home.

Location, location, location

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt | Moving to London

Despite what all the TV shows tell you, London isn’t just made up of the Big Ben and the London Eye. The city is divided into five major areas: North, South, East, West and Central London.  Beyond that, there are 33 different districts (called boroughs) in London, each with its own unique character.

Want the full guide to finding the best location in London for you? Look no further:

Your guide to figuring out where to live in London as a graduate

 

Different hunting techniques

Looking around with binoculars | Moving to London (Debut)

So, you’ve figured out where you want to live in London. It’s a nice area, not too busy or too quiet, and there’s a 24-hour Tesco in the vicinity. Perfection. However, when you come to look up properties in the area, there’s one major problem. You have no idea how to go about actually looking for a place to live. There are a few bits and bobs you need to know before you embark on your London house-hunting adventure. Here’s our complete guide to the hunt:

Your ultimate guide to house-hunting in London without going completely mad

Budgeting

Insecure Issa Rae | Moving to London

It ain’t easy being a graduate. You’ll be the poorest you’ll ever be in your career, and London is one of the most expensive universities in the world. Yay.

It’s a good thing then we’ve put together the ultimate guide to budgeting on a graduate salary. So, you know, your overdraft can stand a chance.

Your ultimate guide to budgeting on a graduate salary

 

Renting rights as a tenant

New Girl Creepy Landlord | Moving to London

Unless you’re super lucky, your first time residing in London will probably involve you renting a property. So here is a full list of all the things you need to know.  Buckle up kiddos. This won’t be a fun read, but we promise to keep it as simple and practical as possible.

Your no-nonsense guide to your renting rights as a London tenant

Getting around

Effy from Skins Fire | Moving to London

Learning how to get around the big, bad city of London is no mean feat. Getting lost on the Underground, getting off at the wrong bus stop, and, god forbid, taking an obscenely expensive black cab are cardinal sins. Lucky for you, we’ve broken down the swishiest ways to get around town. You’ll look like you’ve lived here for years.

Your guide to getting around London like a true Londoner

Meeting new people

San Junipero | Moving to London

A new city can be lonely for some. The comfort of being able to pop over to your best mate’s flat at university becomes a distant memory. You go to work and wonder if you’ll ever hang out with people who are not your work friends. There hasn’t been a user manual for how to make new friends in London. Until now.

Your guide to meeting new people and making friends in London

Feature image via Unsplash

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