Moving to London is a rite of passage for many professionals around the world. With a commercial and business hub unlike anywhere else in the world, thousands of people move to this powerful economic city each year.
So your boss has just asked you to relocate to the land of kings and queens. But before you jump at the opportunity, you need to weight up the pros and cons surrounding this decision.
Pros
Public transport system
The ‘tube’, or the London Underground train system, is the envy of many cities around the world. But there’s more than trains to the city of London. London’s red, double-decker buses are also a great way to get around the city, as is the extensive pay-per-use cycle system.
Travel connections
As a gateway to Europe and Scandinavia, England is well connected to its neighbouring countries by air, rail, road and ship. Catch a train to Paris for a weekend spent beneath the Eiffel Tower or board a ferry to the cobbled streets of Bruges.
English language
If you’re only fluent in one language and that language is English, you’ll find yourself navigating the streets of London like a local. Although some of the names may be pronounced differently to what you were expecting, you’ll find it easier than needing to learn a completely new language. Best of all, navigating the streets of London is like navigating a Monopoly game.
Culture
The music scene has been big in London, and all around England, with greats such as The Beatles, Queen and Deep Purple all hailing from the country. Not only is music a huge part of the culture, museums and galleries line the streets of London, holding some of the most sort after and vast collections in the world. Most museums are free to enter.
London is also home to some of the world’s top landmarks including the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. And who could forget, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.
Cons
Cost of Living
Like many of the capital cities around the world, the cost of living in London is expensive. From housing and rental properties to food and petrol, costs can be quite high. The closer you are to the centre of the city, the more expensive it is. Calculate the cost of living in London compared to your home city now on Expatistan and Numbeo.
The Weather
Moving from a sunny and warm location may make it difficult to adjust to the cooler, more interchanging weather of London. The weather can change from sunny and warm to cold and rainy in a matter of hours. You’ll soon discover how obsessed the Brits are when it comes to the weather. During winter it is also dark for much of the day.
It’s busy
London is one of the biggest cities in the world and is also one of the top ten tourist destinations in the world. As such, it receives upwards of 20 million visitors per year. Add to that the almost nine million people who call London home and you’ve got traffic, congestion and long queues. Peak commuter travel times in the mornings and evenings make it difficult to get around.
London is a busy city filled with delights that have people travelling to its streets every year. It’s diversity and connectivity to the rest of Europe makes it a great place for relocating employees to live.
