7 Great Tips for Kiwis Moving to London
Moving half way around the world from New Zealand to London is an exciting prospect. It might also seem a little daunting, even if you do already have contacts in the city.
There are plenty of reasons to make the move: Perhaps it’s for work, or to go to university. Perhaps you simply fancy a change of scenery or it’s one of the multiple stops of working your way around the world.
Whatever the reason, there are some things that it helps to have a bit of background knowledge of. So with that in mind, here is our list of 7 great tips for Kiwis moving to London.
1. Finding a Job
Finding a job in London, whether it’s something full time, some bar work to bring in more cash for travelling, or perhaps a part time job whilst you study, can seem a daunting experience.
One huge thing that Kiwis have in their favour is that thankfully, you can speak the language.
The most common way to begin a job hunt in London is through an agency or website. Total Jobs, Indeed and Monster are some of the biggest recruitment websites and cover employment in pretty much every field.
Once you register with such a site, upload your CV, create a profile and you’re ready to go. You can also create an RSS feed so when suitable jobs are advertised, you’re one of the first to know.
Another option is to register with an agency. There are many of these, but some of the biggest are Adecco, Blue Arrow and Reed.
You can find full and part time work though such agents, but you can also find work as a temp (agency work), if you prefer.
For more casual positions, such as waiting staff and bar work, one of the best ways is to simply visit various establishments. Many will advertise outside their premises or in the window if they’re looking for staff.
But, there is a lot to be said for simply going in and asking if they’re hiring.
2. Be Prepared for the Weather
Okay, so we know that Kiwis are used to lots of different weather, with snow being common in the winter and summer temperatures being similar to that of the UK. But one thing you might not be used to is the damp.
In the wintertime especially, London can be very damp. Because of this, ensure that you have with you (or be prepared to purchase), some good quality outdoor clothes.
Good places to buy such items include Go Outdoors and Trespass. They both have products that are both functional and represent good value for money.
3. Be Happy – You Don’t Need a Car!
London is a great city when it comes to transportation, thanks to the fact that it really isn’t necessary to own a car. In fact, a massive proportion of Londoner’s don’t, thanks to the congestion, high costs and difficulty in finding a place to park.
London is well covered by public transport with the underground trains (The Tube) and the London Buses. As soon as you arrive, get yourself an Oyster Card. This is a pre-payment card that you use every time you travel.
Not only does it do away with having to buy tickets, but it’s also the most economical way to use public transport, capping your fees at a maximum of £12 per day.
And don’t forget the power of walking – it’s a great way to get around, and the city is compact enough to do so. Plus, that way you get to wander past such iconic sights as Leicester Square, The Globe Theatre and skyscrapers such as The Shard and The Gherkin.
4. Find Affordable Accommodations
Housing in London is expensive, there’s no getting away from that fact. However, there are ways to bring that cost down to something more affordable – and many Kiwis do so by house sharing.
Easy Room Mate and Spare Room have listings of thousands of people looking for flat mates – or renting out a room in their house. Bring a couple of references with you if possible, to make the likelihood of being accepted easier.
5. Get a Bank Account with Ease
Sure, there are a zillion banks in London. The problem with most of them is that they need you to provide a proof of address to open them. However, good old HSBC has overcome that problem – with their Passport Account.
This provides you with everything you’d expect from a bank account – debit card, telephone banking etc. They also give you hugely competitive international money transfers and a Western Union Gold Card.
6. Meet Up with Other Kiwis
Sometimes there’s nothing nicer than meeting up with fellow compatriates from your own country. You can start getting to know such people even before you leave home, with websites like Meet Up and the Kiwis in London Facebook page.
7. Don’t Forget to get out of London
One of the best things about living in London is the wonderfully close proximity to other great places. Within the UK there are amazing outdoor playgrounds like the Lake District and the Pennines. Scotland and Ireland are also fab places to visit.
Thanks to Eurostar, you can leave London and be in Paris within a couple of hours. Don’t forget that the rest of Europe is also on your doorstep, (and affordable to get there) thanks to the wonderful entities that are low cost airlines.
Some to check out are:
Since London has 5 airports (Heathrow, Gatwick, City, Luton and Stansted), you can always be guaranteed that there’s a cheap flight going out of one of them that will take you to a place you’ve never been before.
Also, don’t discount the many Eastern European countries that have opened up for easy travel over the past few years. These include Lithuania, Lativa and Poland. You can be there in a little over two hours.