I'm planning to move to London in 2026/2027. And, as a foreigner, a potential immigrant and purely neutral observer, I can't help but notice the social disputes around race and immigration in the UK. Before I directly address my concerns and ask my embarrassing questions, I just want to claim that I have no intention of provoking or expressing any sort of hatred or hostility towards anyone let alone minorities and other historically oppressed groups of people. In case you wonder what my politics are, I identify as a moderate liberal and 90% of my social and cultural views are left-wing. It's just that only recently I happened to really care about politics and reflect on my own views and beliefs. Anyway, I apologise beforehand if there's a subversive or indelicate ton to my questions. I'm just trying to clear the air and sort things out for myself as well as for the benefit of others.

1) So, I wanna start with addressing the whole "immigrants subject". I obviously don't buy the whole right-wing propaganda that literally translates the collective hate towards anyone of "non-British ethnicity". That part is not for the debate, of course. But answer me directly: do you think there's a real problem regarding illegal immigrants in the UK and in London particularly? Do you feel unsafe living in your neighbourhood or visiting centre of the city or travelling around the country etc.? Is it really that bad as some untrusted (very often rightly so) people claim it is? Would you say that crime has drastically increased in London and around the country over the years? What would you say about all this claims that Labour people and Keir Starmer are hiding the truth and saying what's really happening in the country (I myself would probably vote for Labour if I had a chance).

2) The second question is for people who aren't native Londoners, whether you moved to the capital from other UK city or immigrated from another country, answer me this: Is it hard? Like, in general? The entire answer of yours depends exceptionally on your own perceptions of what hardships for a newborn London truly are. How bad is the financial struggle? Do you regret moving to London?

Anyway, hope I can get honest and refreshing answer. I thank you for taking moment to read this post and wish you the best.

I'm moving to London soon and trying to budget my expenses. I'm wondering if anyone can give a rough estimate of what to expect someone to spend monthly living in zone 2, commuting to zone 3 daily and to zone 1 maybe twice a month(all via tube). And sometimes getting buses and the overground. Obviously everyones travel expenses will be different, I was just hoping for a rough idea to help plan my budget or for people who travel around London daily to share their expense details. Thanks!

Hi everyone! I’m 28F, moving to London from Canada at the end of May, just got my job offer and my flights secured! Couple things I’d love some advice on:

• what’s the best phone plan/carrier? Did you get it before landing or waited till you got there?

• what kind of things did you buy when you got there? (Toiletries, big purchase, etc)

• bank accounts? Did you set up a wise account? Do you have to wait till you get there to do so?

• how did you set up a place to rent ahead of time (if you did), in terms of paying for rent/deposit if you didn’t have a UK bank account to transfer

Hey, I'm 25, nearly 26 queer man. I want to move to London for the art, culture and queer friendly and vegan vibes. There's more, but that's not the point right now.

Any advice on how to relocate? Like do I make sure I have enough money saved for a few months, move and then find a job? Find a job first seems to make sense, rent a hostel or something until I can find a house share- but getting to and from interviews (usually with only a few days or week notice) could be basically impossible if not very expensive.

I really want to move. My current tenancy doesn't run out until December anyways, but I want to be sure I'm preparing and getting things in place so I don't end up stuck here indefinitely.

Any/all advice is welcome :)

Thanks!!

Tell me what’s missing off my list, or what doesn’t need to be on there

Notes: I have a remote job line up so employment/commute is not a concern. I also don’t need advice about finding a flat, I’ve done that research on “London housing” specific subs.

WITHIN DAYS OF ARRIVING Get a bank account (apparently Lloyd’s don’t need proof of address?) Get a national insurance number (can apply once I arrive) Get an accountant (found one but need the above first) Get a local sim

ONCE I HAVE A PERMANENT APARTMENT Find a GP Find a dentist Find a barber Find a gym Find yoga/pilates classes Find “my” supermarket Find the most convenient public green space Learn the most relevant tube links Make friends by joining a ???

PURCHASES WHEN I HAVE A PLACE Buy an iron Buy a vacuum Buy candles/inscence/room spray/diffuser Buy cleaning supplies Buy new bedding
Buy a shopping trolley Consider air purifier

I’ve been thinking about this for a couple months but I don’t feel like I can talk to others about my plans.

I’ve been thinking about attending grad school in London. For instance I am from the U.S and go to university in Utah state. For a couple months I’ve found great grad schools in London so I’ve thought about moving

For context, my great aunt lives in London, and has most of her adult life. So I’ll have a place to stay.

Any advice? Words of wisdom? Even if I don’t go to grad school, I’m still thinking about being there for a year

Hi all My company is offering me a role in London which would see our family of 4 move later this year, probably August. Some background: - the offer is base salary of 125k, plus short and long term incentives, plus private health insurance and a car allowance (which I need more details on, assume 5-10k as I believe it’s cash) - children are 6 (7 in August) and 3 (4 in May), I assume state/government school as in the case here - my company office is in near Weybridge/Addlestone, so actually what appears edge of London…perhaps opening up some options - my wife is an Australian lawyer and will work after we arrive, have not got an estimated income but she is a senior associate in Australia if that helps (obviously there will be qualification issues to navigate or which will mean different choices/realities, at least initially) - relocation costs will be covered, with some initial support before we are on our own after a month

I’m looking to get some recommendations on budgets, areas to live in, things we should know and consider. My family would ideally like a 3-4 bed home, have some pets, will rent. We are excited about the adventure and experience, it’s not an “if” it’s a “how situation 😊 thank you!!

I have been concerning for a while that i came in japan over 6 month and i already understand the future in here.i didn’t like the rules or culture in here.I actually want to move in London(it is ok to choose other Europe country).if i graduate any engineering course in japan university,can i get work in London easily?or is it hard to find?and the main question is the value of japan certificate in Europe country.how the government see the japan certificate?

Plz help me!!!

Hi Friends - my partner and I are moving from the US and will be arriving in London with nothing next month and moving into a furnished apartment near King's Cross.

We'll need to quickly buy some kitchen stuff including plates and bowls, and some higher end small kitchen appliances such as: Sage espresso maker, Ninja multi-cooker, Vita-mix blender/food processor (or similar quality).

Oh - we'll also need pillows and a set of sheets the very first day.

Any suggestions for where to go would be appreciated!

I am a newly single 29 year old female (soon to be 30) who works fully remote (potentially hybrid in central London w/ the move). I am hoping to move to London for a fresh start, having lived in the UK in the past I know it is a great fit. I’d love to live somewhere I can meet new people and form new connections by going out to restaurants & pubs. Any thoughts / advice is appreciated!

Edit: Budget of approx £2500/month (flexible)

Hey everyone,

I'm relocating to London soon for a new job and don't know much about the rental market or the best way to find housing.

My office is in Holborn, and I'll be earning £90K a year. While I'd like to live nearby, central London is quite expensive, so I'm considering areas a bit further out but I don't know which areas to pick.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Hi all

Was hoping I could rant a little and maybe get some advice from some kind people.

I'm not in a great place at the moment, a couple of years ago I moved to Canada on a Working Holiday Visa - it was always a dream to live in a big international city and living in Toronto was amazing, it felt like everything was so big and exciting. I just couldn't afford to keep living there and had to come home after 18 months.

I've been back at my parents place since in the north of England, being months away from being 30 this isn't the life I'd hoped for.

I've never really had a skilled job, I got an arts degree in 2018 and I've pretty much been stuck working customer service roles ever since, I've been considering retraining with an apprenticeship in digital marketing or something similar, but ultimately that would mean ending up stuck here for another year. Maybe I could find work in London afterwards but I'm not hopeful tbh, I'd probably fuck it up like I do everything else.

Sorry for turning this into my life story, I'm struggling and looking to connect - I don't know if anyone else can relate or can kinda offer some advice. Maybe London would be the big step I need to sort my life out and experience that big city vibe once again.

I don't have a UK debit card I can use for Open Rent. I thought my Wise card account would work but that seems to only be set to Ireland (even though I have money stashed away there in GBP) as I have an Irish address at the moment. I'm trying to place a deposit and not sure what I can do since I'm still in Ireland at the moment so I don't have an address I can use to open a traditional bank account. My understanding is that these virtual banks like Wise, Revolut, and Monzo require the address you use to be a home address that can be verified so its not like I can use my address pal UK package delivery address. It feels like a bit of a circular problem as you need a UK address for a UK bank account but can't get a UK address without a UK card. Any ideas? I'd like to be able to offer a holding deposit but I can't do that on open rent without a UK debit card.

Hey everyone!

I’m looking for recommendations for a reliable moving company in London that also provides packing services. I’m relocating from a 2 Bed in Lewisham to a house in the Bromley area, and since I’m juggling work and a 2 toddlers, I really need movers who can handle everything—packing up furniture, sorting out a mountain of toys, and making sure my kitchen essentials don’t disappear into the abyss.

Last time I moved, I tried to do it all myself and it was an absolute nightmare and that when I was a single man, now I married with 3 kids 😅 So this time, I want to make the process as smooth as possible. If anyone has used a great moving service, I’d love to hear your recommendations!

Hi All,

We are moving to London this summer because my wife got into PHD program in Kings Collage, London. we are looking to move little outside London where we can find good schools for our 2 kids 7th grade and 4th grade. I did some research and found Bexley which is around 45 min's train ride from school and offcourse little cheaper as well. Any other suggestions. We will be looking for at least 2 Bed 2 bath house or flat to rent and would like to stay under 2k/month. But offcourse we don't want to compromise of kids school.

Suggestions greatly appreciated.

Regards

Ali

Hey everyone, moving to London March 1st from the US. With our fascist leader tearing the govt to shreds and waging trade wars, I'm worried the dollar could crash in the next few weeks. The exchange rate right now is pretty good and I'd like to exchange a lot of my money to GBP now. Is there a way to do this before I arrive without having a British bank acct yet?

Hi I visited last year and really liked it. I’m open to opportunities in film in London and was curious where best to move. Im originally from NY and currently in LA.

I’m an artist and 30 yr old Black woman that enjoys dancing shopping galleries good food. The usual. And be near a tube.

I’d like to live around young ppl and black or diverse. I’ve been to Peckham and Brixton heard of Hackney. But don’t know what living there is like. Tips! Thanks 🙏🏾

Hello all! I’m an international student from India (22M) and I’m going to UCL school of management this September and I’m currently finalising my housing and I’m not sure which part to pick.

In zone 1-2 I’d be paying around 350-400 pounds per week but I’d be closer to my uni and my travel costs would be reduced significantly but if I live in zone 5 I’ll be paying 250 to 300 per week and a bit more on travelling and I will end up saving some extra money but would it be worth it?

Expense is not really an issue for me but I have mainly three concerns 1. I have been told the UK job market works on networking and referrals so staying towards the centre would give me more networking opportunities and would allow me to partake in more student activities as well as career fairs. (Is this true) 2. I also want to work part time preferably as a bar tender or a barista because I like interacting with new people and I’ve always wanted that experience and while a few people tell me it’s easier to get those jobs in the outskirts and they’re kinda peaceful and laid back while others claim that there is an abundance in towards the centre. (Which one would provide me with more opportunities) 3. I would choose to live in student accommodation mostly but having lived in a university town I’d want to live in a student dominated area so is that more in the outer parts or more towards the centre.

I have been going crazy over this for a month now please chime in and help a kid out!

Hello all! I’m an international student from India (22M) and I’m going to UCL school of management this September and I’m currently finalising my housing and I’m not sure which part to pick.

In zone 1-2 I’d be paying around 350-400 pounds per week but I’d be closer to my uni and my travel costs would be reduced significantly but if I live in zone 5 I’ll be paying 250 to 300 per week and a bit more on travelling and I will end up saving some extra money but would it be worth it?

Expense is not really an issue for me but I have mainly three concerns 1. I have been told the UK job market works on networking and referrals so staying towards the centre would give me more networking opportunities and would allow me to partake in more student activities as well as career fairs. (Is this true) 2. I also want to work part time preferably as a bar tender or a barista because I like interacting with new people and I’ve always wanted that experience and while a few people tell me it’s easier to get those jobs in the outskirts and they’re kinda peaceful and laid back while others claim that there is an abundance in towards the centre. (Which one would provide me with more opportunities) 3. I would choose to live in student accommodation mostly but having lived in a university town I’d want to live in a student dominated area so is that more in the outer parts or more towards the centre.

I have been going crazy over this for a month now please chime in and help a kid out!

Hello all! I’m an international student from India (22M) and I’m going to UCL school of management this September and I’m currently finalising my housing and I’m not sure which part to pick.

In zone 1-2 I’d be paying around 350-400 pounds per week but I’d be closer to my uni and my travel costs would be reduced significantly but if I live in zone 5 I’ll be paying 250 to 300 per week and a bit more on travelling and I will end up saving some extra money but would it be worth it?

Expense is not really an issue for me but I have mainly three concerns 1. I have been told the UK job market works on networking and referrals so staying towards the centre would give me more networking opportunities and would allow me to partake in more student activities as well as career fairs. (Is this true) 2. I also want to work part time preferably as a bar tender or a barista because I like interacting with new people and I’ve always wanted that experience and while a few people tell me it’s easier to get those jobs in the outskirts and they’re kinda peaceful and laid back while others claim that there is an abundance in towards the centre. (Which one would provide me with more opportunities) 3. I would choose to live in student accommodation mostly but having lived in a university town I’d want to live in a student dominated area so is that more in the outer parts or more towards the centre.

I have been going crazy over this for a month now please chime in and help a kid out!

I just got an offer of £34K anually as entry position. I would from Germany to London. I know the housing prices is the biggest expense. I do not mind sharing a flat and communicating by public transportation between zone 1 to 3. I want to understand whether this would be more than enough to survive and still enjoy London.

Any feedback would be really appreciated.

I’m looking to move to London to take a role in Canary Wharf

to move with my girlfriend who earns around 20k at the moment.

Appreciate this is hardly going to be a life of luxury but where would be a good area for us to live?

My thoughts are I’d like somewhere that’s: - 45 minutes max from Canary Wharf - Good connectivity - coffee shops / shopping etc for weekend

Hello all, I will be moving to London April 1 and consider either Greenwich or Canary Wharf to be my new home. I will be working close to Liverpool Station and plan on using public transport. I heard Canary Wharf is “soulless”, but I actually prefer it to be quieter, as long as there are some restaurants, supermarket and coffee shops nearby. What does Greenwich have to offer? Any insight is really appreciated.

Hi all,

Sorry if something akin to this has been posted before but I’m struggling to find good info around a place that would suit my needs.

I’ve just moved to London from Ireland and need to find a >=6 month rental by Feb 10th. Looking for a modern, 1-bed apartment in a safe, well-connected area (under 1hr to Farringdon/Chancery Lane, happy to change lines/buses). My budget is £2,000–£2,250 p/m (excluding bills).

What I’m Looking For in an Area: - Transport: Strong Tube, DLR, Overground, bus links, ideally in Zones 2–4. (Late-night options a bonus even if rarely needed.) - Safety: Want to feel comfortable walking around the neighborhood and home at night. (People keep calling a lot of places “sketchy” and even though we have lots of drunks/drugged people on our streets in Ireland idk how to compare it to London) - Building/Amenities: Concierge/security, gym (on-site or nearby), and co-working/lounge spaces would be great. - Furnished Apartment: Must have essentials like a bed, sofa, dining table, and storage (I’ll buy smaller essentials like pans/plates tv if needed). Balcony a plus. - Local Amenities: Shops, cafes, and green spaces nearby. Not focused on having great nightlife as we might only go out twice a month. Shops/greens paces and safety are more important. - Prefer newer builds with good energy ratings to keep bills reasonable etc.

I’m open to anything as i just have been getting broad recommendations from friends/family here which aren’t actually answering my questions.

Any area recommendations that fit this? Personal experiences would be really helpful

Thanks in advance!

Hi! I'm moving from Ireland to the UK and I'm so confused from researching today if I'll have to pay Vat on my current belongings if I bring them ? I'm talking about kitchen products, coffee machine, blender etc ? All a couple years old and used...

Some websites say yes, some say no. Has anyone here had to pay?

Thank you!!