For most, living in London can be an incredible experience. However, no city is perfect. Even as good as London is, it comes with its fair share of cons that might keep people away from experiencing it. Here are some of the things that people won’t tell you about living in London and some things you should know about before moving there.
1. Regardless of where you live in London, expect a 40-minute commute
Unless you are lucky and your workplace is extremely close by, you should anticipate a long commute. It will be extremely rare to have a job that has less than a 20 to 30-minute commute. The majority of those living in London have a commute that spans 74 minutes. This is something that can drive people crazy and it can be a lot more stressful than other city commutes. You would think that all of the links for transportation that London has will make things much easier.
Council tax fee is something that will vary based on the borough. It is something that can cause your bills to fluctuate considerably one way or the other. You have to pay this tax unless you are a registered student. The tax bill funds the services for the local area. However, each of the individual boroughs has its fees that you have to pay. The bill for the fees is charged annually and you will find its price varying anywhere from £400 to £2500 per year. You can effectively choose to pay your fees in full or using instalments. Regardless, it’s more bills that you have to worry about when you are living in London.
3. Expect 70 Percent Of Your Salary To Be Spent On Rent
Are you earning £30,000 annually? While it may sound great, you are likely going to be spending over 50% of the total salary that you are pulling in on the rent. So, when you get your removals to London from home, expect to pay through the nose. Regardless of how much money you are earning, you need to go into it knowing that you will be spending the majority of it on rental fees. That is unless you are willing to share a flat with other people to split the cost.
4. You Won’t Visit Tourist Attractions
One of the things that you need to keep in mind is that you aren’t going to be a tourist for long. The fact is, there are a lot of local Londoners that haven’t even been on the London Eye. Once you get used to the area and you settle down, don’t expect to visit any of the tourist attractions. You’ll want to get away from the mobs of tourists and you’ll be hanging out around the places tourists don’t frequent much more.
5. Expect To Get Black Boogers
One of the things that you should go to London knowing is that your boogers will change colours. A lot of people living in London get scared because they suddenly find their boogers are turning black. This is due to the excess iron on the tubes that get into your nose.
6. Fast Walking Is A Life Skill
Anyone that is from London knows how fast walking becomes a learned skill. If you are walking around a bunch of Londoners, you are going to need to get used to walking quicker than your normal pace. It might be something you learn to do without even thinking, but you will need to get used to it.
7. You’ll Get All Kinds Of Spam
Expect to get a lot of different kinds of spam while in London. Your data is likely out there if you’ve been in London long enough. You’ll have texts being sent to you automatically from computers. If you respond, you are only going to get more. You will have your number marked as active and you will continue to get more spam claiming that you are owed money for an accident and all kinds of other things.
8. TV License People Are Persuasive
When you live in London, you have to pay to watch TV. Once you move to a new place, expect to get letters from the TV license. Expect to get a lot of scary and threatening letters.
9. The Bus Is Better
While many assume the tube is the best mode of transportation, that would go to the bus. The bus is not only more affordable, but it is also faster. Because of this, it tends to be the preferred option for most Londoners. You can use a lot of transportation applications to plan out your trips and to find which buses to take.
10. Avoid Rush Hour
This may seem like something that doesn’t need to be said, but it’s worth mentioning. If you can, avoid rush hour in London. This is typically when you will find yourself dealing with the Tube breaking down and traffic overflowing. Always try to beat the rush and leave your home or office early. For many, a bike makes sense and allows them to benefit from the comprehensive cycle path network, however you’ll need to have your wits about you. One thing is for sure, avoiding rush hour is the way to an easier life.
