Moving to London - where to start?

Question

I'm in the early stages of planning a move to London which will hopefully happen after the new year but I'm not really sure where to start. So I have ALOT of questions. I've bumbered them so its easier for everyone haha.

Ive got the obvious applications, Visa and Passport. I've acquired the right forms - first time passport and ancestry visa.

1) How soon should I lodge those?

I know you have to apply for a passport before you can apply for the Visa so obviously I would do that first.

2) Do I need to have passport photos taken before I lodge the applications?

3) How do I go about finding a rental property? Is it even possible for me to rent in the UK?

4) Is it possible to find fully or partly furnished places?

5) Which are the bad areas on London? (Im 20 years old - Moving out of home, have lived with friends before but never alone).

6) How do I go about looking for a job?

7) How do I apply for a National Insurance Number?

8) How much money do you think I should save before I move to London?

9) Is London and expensive city to live in?

10) Will I need travel insurance if I'm going to live over there or is travel insurance only for holidays?

11) Should I get any sort of medical insurance before I go?

Sorry, I know thats alot but its all so confusing.

Incase theres anything Ive missed...

12) is there anything else you would like to add or you think I should know?

Also, I should add. Ive mentioned before. Im 20 years old. From Australia. Currently living at home, taking time off my University Course (Nursing). Im basically wanting to go to London for a while as Im not sure where I want to go with my life and basically Im just looking at it as an adventure. I think Im at a time at my life where I need to go out and be independant. You should also know that Im not afraid of failing so dont be kind with your comments because I know moving overseas is going to be hard!

Sorry for a long post. Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

You are BITING OFF WAY TOO MUCH.  Start with just the BASICS.. .just enough to get you INTO England... then worry about the rest of it as it develops.  NOTHING EVER GOES like you plan it and much of what you want to know is way beyond your ability to control it.

Concentrate on just getting into England first and the rest will sort itself out later.

Answer 2

I'll have a crack at these in order!

1. Get your passport ASAP - sometimes they take a while to come through so sooner is better.  In terms of a visa, if they're for a certain length of time then often you can only get them a certain number of months in advance from when you plan to enter the UK, so look into that and lodge it accordingly.  Certainly when I got mine they would only give it to me 3 months in advance.

2. Yes!

3. You can certainly rent in the UK.  Have a look at www.gumtree.com - it's a site where people advertise for flatmates, lots of options.

4. Yes, you shouldn't have too much difficulty.

5. Generally, East and South London are a bit rougher.  Having said that, though, the Isle of Dogs is lovely and I lived in Canada Water which was also really nice.

6. Same as you would at home!  Look at newspapers, websites etc etc!

7. Getting a National Insurance number is a complete pain.  Bank accounts are also a real drag; there are companies that offer you "UK Starter Pack" kind of things where they'll sort all that out for you - totally worth it to save all the hassle.  Have a Google and see what you can find.

8. I think you'd probably want to have at least £1500 (excluding airfares) - bond and advance rent on a flat is not cheap, and you'll need somewhere to stay until you find a flat (unless you have relatives or friends who'll let you crash on their couch!)

9. London is a very expensive city to live in.  My flat was costing me £120 a week and that was sharing with one other person.  It was a great flat though!  A friend who lived on the Isle of Dogs was in an equally nice place and paying £90 a week, sharing with two others.

10. I only had travel insurance to get there - in case my luggage got lost or anything.  Coped fine without it for the two years I was there.

11. It might be wise.  I didn't, but then I never get sick.  I think if you're in England legitimately and have an NI number then you're covered by the NHS - you might want to research this though.

13. See answer to #7!  Don't close your Aussie accounts though, having them won't stop you opening a British account.  And get a credit card for emergencies.

12. Moving overseas is not all that hard!  You're looking at it the right way - it's a huge adventure and you'll have an amazing time.  I loved every minute of my two years there; leaving family and friends behind is tough but you have so much amazing stuff ahead of you that it's really worth it.  Just a thought, if you're not too picky about work then there are companies that will sort you out a pub job before you go - and they usually have accommodation with them.  Even if you don't intend to stay in the job it can be a really good jumping-off point - and solves the immediate accommodation issue.  Otherwise, youth hostels are good places to stay until you get a flat sorted - clean, safe and not too expensive.  I stayed at the one in Earl's Court because it was on the tube line from Heathrow where I'd landed, but there are several in and around London (www.yha.org.uk for more info!).  London is an incredible city, so much to see and do - you'll love it.  I'd love to have my time there again.