8 Must-Know Tips for Living in London as an American
9th Nov 2023 Travel Guides
4 min read
London is, without doubt, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The best word to describe the experience of visiting this city for the first time is “magical.” And one never gets tired of this magical feeling.
There is always something new, something
amazing and unique, each time you walk through the streets of the Big Smoke.
However, for an American, living in this city
comes with a price and sacrifice. Although there are similarities between
London and some cities in the United States, don’t expect it to be the same.
If you are an American planning to live in
London or just moved there and are looking for the right tips to help you
adjust to the new environment, then you are reading the right article. Here, we
will share 8 must-know tips for living in London as an American. Let’s begin!
1. Prepare for the High Cost of Living
Depending on which American state you live(d)
in, just like other big cities, the cost of living in London is one of the
highest. It is one of the top complaints of people who just moved to the Big
Smoke from the US, mostly if they came from smaller states.
So, if you don’t want to be stranded or fall
out of love with the idea of living in this magical city, you need to prepare
your pocket to absorb the shock you are about to receive.
2. Live Your Life Like a Londoner
When you go to Rome, behave like the Romans.
It is safe to say when you go to London, behave like the Londoners.
Friends may take you out but expect you to pay
for yourself. Also, in London, people don’t ask anyone to do something
directly. Let's say you left your coat on the chair after eating at a dining. A
Londoner will say your coat is on the chair instead of telling you to pick it.
When you hear things like this, don’t be surprised, but live your life like
them.
Absorb how they communicate, what they wear,
and what they like to eat to blend in. This way, you will not be left out.
3. Make Your Meals if You Can
Enjoying your favorite meals comes at a high
price in London. Whenever you sit in most of the beautiful diners, you are not
only paying for the food but also for other services.
If you want to cut costs and can cook, prepare
homemade meals. Then, on special occasions, you can eat out. If you must eat
out, go to low-class or medium-class diners. You will be surprised that you can
get more delicious meals there than spending a huge amount eating in fancy
places.
4. Learn to Understand English
One of the first things you will observe as
soon as you land in London is the way the Londoners speak. Yes, they speak
English, but it is not the same way it is spoken in America.
Don’t be surprised that you will not
understand some of the things the Englishmen are saying. It is not because you
don’t understand the language. The reason is their accents. Also, the names we
call some common things differ from theirs.
To avoid being lost when speaking with most
Londoners, prepare yourself to relearn the English you already know, or we can
say, prepare to upgrade your English to the Big Smoke version.
5. Forget About Owning a Personal Car
One of the good things about London is that
they got their transportation system right. Unlike many big cities where moving
from one place to another is difficult, in London, the case is different
because of the multiple transportation options available, plus they are also
top-notch.
You can use the Docklands Light Railway, tube,
overground, bus, riverboat, tram, cloud cable cars, taxis, etc. The interesting
part is that transportation is one of the few relatively cheap things you will
find there. Therefore, you may not need a personal car to go around easily.
6. Shop in the Market
Americans are used to shopping for their food
in grocery stores and other things in the malls. However, shopping is different
in London. Most of the things from grocery stores and malls are also available
in the London market.
In one mall or grocery store, however, you can
buy everything you need, but in this city market, it is not so. Different
markets have different types of things being sold, and you may need to go to
two or more markets to complete your shopping.
The city has hundreds of different markets.
Depending on where you (will) live, it is best to locate the ones closest to
you and know what is being sold there.
7. Beware of the Rain
If you want to live in London, one of the
things you should never forget whenever you want to leave the house is that it
may likely rain. It rains ten to fifteen times every month during the peak for
several hours, with an average of one rainfall every two days.
So, if you don't want your body to be drenched
whenever it rains when you are out, always bring an umbrella, raincoat, and
boots with you.
8. Watch Out for Scams
Yes, scams are common in the United States,
and many Americans are aware of this. The UK, however, is no exception. The
most common scams are taking place online, but you can also be targeted with a
phone call or a text message, also known as phishing and smishing,
respectively.
If you see that a call, for example, is coming
from the US, reverse search the number on Nuwber,
a website that provides information about US citizens, to know who you’re
dealing with. If it’s a UK number, google it to find the necessary details
about the caller, or use local people search engines.
Final Thoughts
The Big Smoke is one the best go-to cities for
people who want to relocate, but it’s natural to be scared when moving.
However, if you want things to be easy, then you will need to follow the eight
tips we have shared.
Keep in mind that living in London is
expensive, and people here are different from Americans, so you may change how
you do some things.
With the above-mentioned tips, you are sure to
blend in like a true Londoner.
Read more: Five London hotspots for coffee fanatics
Read more: East London: A different side to London
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Banner image credit:
Photo by Benjamin Davies on Unsplash