Before you Leave Home

One of the biggest decisions you'll make before heading to the UK is who to buy your Airline tickets through and what kind of fare to go for. Not all companies are the same, and even though most of us will want to get the UK as cheap as possible, sometimes you pay for it later

but rather than bang on about us and us alone, there are stacks of Aussies, Kiwis and South Africans (otherwise known as antipodeans - note; a word you’ll hear a lot!) moving to and living in London, and they all have their own stories and experiences to share. so we figured what better people to get the inside goss on the good, the bad and the downright excellent?

when moving your life to or already living in London, just remember that there are shops over there, you can buy stuff and you’re definitely not stranded. but that said, who wants to outlay precious pennies on the essentials as soon as you get there?

If you need to know where a tube station is, how far another tube station is from another tube station, what street is where anywhere in Greater London, where a park is, where a hospital might be, where a bus might go, the London A-Z will show you.

In all the excitement of heading overseas, it can be tough to think about all those sometimes boring things you should take care of before boarding the plane. To help you out, here are some things you might want to sort out while still in the land of sunshine, as it can be difficult to do so once you’ve departed. Other things may just be easier to organise ahead of time.

I knew all about the London Eye, the West End, the fuzzy hat wearing guys who can't smile out the front of Buckingham Palace, the Thames, the dodgy weather... but I had no idea about getting a National Insurance Number, registering for a GP, no idea what an Oyster Card was, how to find a place to live, where was safe to live, how to find a job

Getting here in September/October means you will have missed out on a possibly fantastic summer but your finances are likely to be more secure as your chances of finding work are higher. Winter travel, however, is very popular and there are many places to see if you want to travel in winter. I’ve been recommended Prague in the winter on many occasions as it’s quiet but still beautiful.

So the time has come for me to start planning my “right of passage” as a young Aussie and make the big move to the greatest city of them all – London.

I’ve finished all of my end-of-semester exams, I’m working two jobs in hospitality, saving every cent I can and now I’m basically just waiting for the day I receive that official piece of paper that deems me as intelligent, because one week after that I will fly out of Brisbane International Airport, not to return for what I hope will be an awfully long time.

Buying homes in London is not a straight forward process – the main stumbling block for a lot of people out there tends to be the sheer cost involved. Living in London is not cheap – which is why a lot of people who move to London end up renting accommodation instead. There’s no shame in not being able to buy a home in London – often renting brings with it many advantages over buying a home anyway.

Millions of visitors flock to London each year for the fantastic art and architecture, history, culture, music, shopping, fine dining, nightlife and more.  As the official home of the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics Games, there’s more reason than ever to visit London this year.  Those looking for a more permanent connection to the city would be wise to make 2012 the year they relocate to London.