5 things I love about London

I owe London an apology.

I've been here for almost five months now and after an initial struggle with homesickness and a difficult time settling in, I've decided to focus on the positives and finally embrace everything this city has to offer.

So, here are the top 5 things I love about London:

1. There is always something to do. If you find yourself with nothing to do, then you're not doing London right! There are so many museums, shows, parks, restaurants and shops to look at and with so many public transport options available, you have no excuse to stay at home.

2. The trains run frequently so you're not wasting your time underground. If you miss a train, don't panic, the next one is only 1-3 minutes away! No stress! 

3. You are in the centre of Europe. There are so many surrounding countries to visit, so why not treat yourself to a long weekend in Italy, Ireland, Scotland, Portugal or even Paris :)

4. London is one of the fashion capitals of the world! There are shops everywhere, fashion everywhere and the streets of London are like a fashion runway. If you love fashion, this is a great place to experience the latest in the industry.

5. It's a great place to put your foot in the door for your chosen career. It's such a big city so there is always a possibility for evolution in your chosen field.

What do you love about London?

Coming up next: Spring is in the air

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Top 5 places to get coffee in London

Ever since I started studying at University, I began to drink coffee. Every time I drink coffee, I think back to my first year at University. I was fresh out of high school, excited to be an adult and eager to learn.  

I remember the people I met, my lecturers and the units I studied. I also remember all the coffee I drank and to this day, I can't function properly without at least one cup of coffee in my system.

I have to confess, since being in Europe I miss Australian coffee. I miss the coffee art on my morning flat white and most of all, I miss the taste of the perfected brew. I loved my time in France and I still want to return again, but the one thing I don't miss, is the coffee. 

I was excited to travel to a new country, to explore and discover new things. I have been in London for over 3 months now and I spend most of my free time finding the best coffee in London.

So, I've compiled a list of my top 5 places to get coffee in London.

1. Kaffeine in Soho. A café inspired by the coffee culture of Australia and New Zealand. Being Australian myself, this was one of the first cafés I tried in London. I loved everything about this café. My flat white was delicious and smooth and my tasty treats were indulgent.

2. The Coffee Works Project. We stumbled upon this café after walking along Southwark from the London Eye. We were tired from walking and in need of a caffeine fix! The industrial interior made it feel quirky and fun. The flat white was smooth and deliciously strong and the cakes were pretty delicious too.

3. Prufrock Coffee. After an afternoon of exploring London, it was time for some caffeination! This café was highly recommended so we decided to try it out! The people were friendly and welcoming and enjoyed a good conversation. Although, my Frenchy didn't get the coffee he ordered, we still enjoyed the experience and the coffee. With free Wifi, the modern café is a great place for an afternoon coffee or business meeting.

4. Wired Co in West Hampstead. This was one of the first coffees I had in London. I was heading to a job interview and arrived plenty early, so I had time to stop for a coffee. I stumbled passed this little café, so I decided to go in. The small café made it warm and cozy and my coffee was smooth and creamy.  The food menu looked interesting with fresh ingredients, so I'll definitely return to try!

5.  Flat White in Soho. Another Australian inspired café in London. I loved the small and intimate interior of Flat White. As soon as you walk in, you are hit with the smell of freshly brewed coffee. It's warm, cozy and the latte art is almost too nice to drink... almost!

Where is your favourite place to get coffee in London?

Head to the London Series for more tips from London.

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Things to do in London

My recent adventure... In a nutshell :)

London is a BIG city!

There is so much to see and do here. Behind every corner there is something new to discover.  

When you come to London, you'll definitely want to tick off the big tourist attractions, The London Eye, Big Ben, Hyde Park, Trafalgar Square and of course... Buckingham Palace. 

If you are lucky, you may be there for the changing of the guards! If not, you can simply take pictures of them through the gate, like I did! After staring at the Palace and taking many pictures, it's nice to take a stroll towards St James Park.

If you are afraid of birds, this may not be the best place for you, but if you can handle them, you'll see many ducks, swans, pigeons and you'll definitely see some squirrel! I was lucky to see this cute little duckling! It made my day... Isn't he cute?

After you walk through the park, you'll end up, just a short stroll from Westminster. Here you'll find the Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and of course, the London Eye. 

Walking along the Pier during sunset is simply beautiful. There are many places you can stop for coffee and cake, or a sneaky drink. You may be lucky and hear some talented buskers!

And finally, you can't be in London and not go to the Warner Brother's Harry Potter Tour. Growing up, I loved (and still do) Harry Potter. I've read the books many, many times and watched the movies countless amounts!

You'll need many hours and comfortable shoes to explore everything this city has to offer... And I haven't even scraped the surface!

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Top 5 tips for trying to open a bank account in London

The first two months in London were difficult.

I was super excited to come to London and to explore a new city.
That was until I realised how difficult it was to open a bank account in this city! Without a bank account, it means difficulty in getting paid and without getting paid, you will be crushed and eaten alive by this expensive city! 

Until you start earning pounds, your funds will dry up quickly and you'll be left with nothing! So make sure you have plenty of time, patience and money to help you getting set up in London.

So here are my top 5 tips for trying to open a bank account in London.

1. Most importantly, ensure you have enough money to survive up to 4 weeks in London. This is the most important thing! If you plan your budget and live cheaply, you should be able to manage!

2. If you followed my Top 5 things to do BEFORE moving to London, you'll be waiting for your N.I. number and it will be arriving any day now. Once you receive this, you'll have your choice of banks to go with!

3. If you are like me and don't have proof of address, it will start to get difficult now! Without proof of address, most banks will not even look twice at you. I have been told many times, by many banks that they only accept utility bills, tenancy agreements, current UK drivers licence, tax bills or a National Insurance Number. So, if you don't have this information, don't bother with Metro Bank, Barclays, HSBS or Nat West!

4. If you don't have proof of address (like me) you can try Lloyds bank. They apparently open accounts with just your passport. I was however not so lucky with this! I made the mistake of mentioning I live at a share house and when I mentioned this, they completely shut me down. So, don't mention the share house or anything, just bring your passport!

5.  If you plan ahead before arriving to London, I was told by HSBC that you can provide proof of address from another country, they just want to prove you are who you are but they do require originals (see point 1 to see the documents they accept!) so bring these from home.

And a bonus tip, if all fails (like it did for me) ask for other payment options by your employers/Human Resources, they may be able to do something for you. They may be able to issue you with a cheque. You'll need to find a money changer and they will take a percentage of the balance but at least you'll have some money to tie you over.

Moving countries, cities or continents can be hard so don't let it get to you if they say no. I went to more then 15 banks just to be shut down by every single one of them. It's stressful, frustrating and seriously annoying. So be patient and try your best to get all the documents you need to make it easier.

Head to the London Series for more tips from London.

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Top 5 must have items for surviving Winter in London

Growing up in Australia, I've had to deal with some extreme heat but fortunately for me, I've never had to endure extreme cold...

Until now!

I have been lucky so far with the weather in London but many people tell me that London is going to get more and more cold which leaves me with chills.

So to prepare myself for the upcoming colder season, I have invested in some good quality Winter essentials to help me fight the cold.

So what will you need?

1. You will definitely need a warm jacket to survive the Winter weather. Find a neutral, versatile style that you can wear with everything. My choice for the season is a grey feather jacket from Zara France. It is super cozy and I wear it everyday.

2. I've never been much of a beanie kind of girl but when I saw the luxurious cashmere beanie, I knew I had to have it. In Australia, there isn't much need for cashmere in our warm Winters but this season, I thought it would be an essential! I wear my grey cashmere beanie almost every evening on my way home from work. It keeps the heat in and the wind out. It also protects my delicate ears from the cold wind. This is a definite must have for the cold London weather.

3. You will never appreciate the value of warm gloves until you've suffered through a windy and raining London! One of my first nights in London, I felt like my fingers were about to drop off! Since then, I've been carrying around a pair of gloves in my handbag to keep my fingers and hands toasty warm.

4. Since the weather turned cold, I never leave the house without my woollen blanket scarf. This is my favourite accessory in my suitcase (that isn't shoes). My scarf is very warm, it's oversized and it matches all my Winter outfits.

5. Layering essentials are a definite must have for your Winter wardrobe. You should definitely stock up on long sleeve tops, neutral vests (singlets) and knee high stockings. By adding an extra layer, it will protect you from the fierce London wind and keep you warm!

There are so many places in London to stock up on all your Winter essentials so you can stay toasty warm this season.

For more tips from London click here.

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Top 5 tips for surviving London on a budget

A lot of people complain about how expensive my home city of Perth is to live... Well, I have to say, London is even more expensive! And when you haven't earned your pounds yet... It's seems like you have a money pit draining from your wallet.

So here are my top 5 tips for surviving London on a budget.

1. Everthing is more expensive in Central London, so find accommodation further out into the suburbs. While this is a catch 22, you'll spend more money on commuting, you'll save money on accommodation, surrounding bars, restaurants and supermarkets. The benefits sure outweigh the negative.

2. Don't be afraid to shop at the cheaper supermarkets. There is an amazing place, I have only just discovered, called Poundland! Everything is only 1 pound... Amazing right? It's a good place to stock up on your toiletries,  non perishables and other basic supplies. It's a place where you can buy non branded products so you aren't paying for the label.

3. In the 1st point, I said it can get expensive when you commute into Central London, but you can buy Travelcards for the London transport system. This will be Zone specific so you'll pay a less amount if you stay within your Zone options. Just remember to stay within your selected Zones otherwise you'll pay a penalty!

4. If you are thirsty at a restaurant, ask for a glass of tap water not bottled water. The price for bottled water in a restaurant is ridiculously over priced. If you ask for tap water in a restaurant, they legally have to give it to you. Save your pounds for wine and drink the free tap water!

5. Don't take taxis in this city! It's definitely only for the rich and frivolous! If you miss the last train, don't forget about the many, many night buses you can take. It will be so much cheaper and it will be during the off-peak time so it will be even cheaper.

I am still settling in to London life, what are your money saving tips for surviving London?

Check out more from my London Series.

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Top 5 things I'd love to change about London

I've been in London for officially one month now and while I am still in the honeymoon stage of our new relationship, there are some things that I'd love to change about London.

So I've compiled a list of the top 5 things I'd love to change about London, to make sure we have a long and happy relationship for the future!

1. This is one seriously expensive city. And when I say seriously expensive, I mean, it's really, really expensive. If you are planning on moving to London to work and save (like me!), don't expect the saving part to happen right away. Whilst, I still love this place, it costs more than 10 pounds a day, to travel into Central London and rent costs almost your entire pay cheque, it takes some serious work hours to make ends meet.

2. You will feel like a tiny little ant when you are in Central London and you will be forever getting out of the way of crazy shoppers. There are so many people here. It's a highly populated place which is permanently hustling and bustling. If you are someone who hates really busy places, London isn't for you.

3. You will never, ever get a seat on the Tube during peak hour. Now as a young person, I know I shouldn't complain about standing on the tube for 20 minutes but when you work on your feet all day.... It's nice to be able to sit down during your commute.

4. You will work many, many hours in this city. While you may work a traditional 9 hour day, it will feel like an extremely long day when you add your commute to and from your work. If you are like me and can't afford living in Central London, you may be based in Zone 3 or 4, which makes your working day feel so much longer.

5. The city goes dark by 4pm. The first day in the city, I was in shock that the streets were in total darkness before I had my afternoon coffee! Seriously, why?

So, while I am super excited to discover a new city, I can see this being one of those love/hate relationships. 

Check back next week for more on the London Series.

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Top 5 tips for finding work in London

When I decided I wanted to live in London, convincing my Frenchy wasn't as difficult as I thought. I started searching for work, while I was still in France and found SO many job opportunities.

Upon our arrival in London, so many people told us London is a great place to progress in the workplace. There are so many job opportunities here, so you'll be sure to find something for you.

So where do you start? 

1. Work on your resume to tailor it to the positions you are applying for. Your resume/cv is the most important tool to assist you in your employment success. Make sure it is detailed, professional and easy to read.

2. Submit your resume to a recruitment company. They will help you find the job/career you want, while you can focus on the move and settling into the city.

3. Don't put all your eggs in one basket! Apply for a few positions before you get to London. If you are successful, hopefully you will have some interviews lined up for when you arrive.

4. Prepare some common interview questions and responses before your interviews. Also, remember to familiarise yourself with the Company, the more you are prepared, the more confident and professional you will sound. If you haven't had much experience in interviewing, you can always find some coaching professionals to help!

5. First impressions are very important. Make sure you are professional. Arrive to your interview ahead of time, wear appropriate interview attire, be well rested and calm. This will ensure you perform at your optimum capacity!

"By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail!" Benjamin Franklin

Head to my previous post for more tips from London

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Top 5 tips for finding somewhere to live in London

I have to admit, London is an expensive place to live. Especially when you have foreign currency and need to exchange your euros and Australian dollars in pounds constantly.

However, once you start earning pounds, it makes the place more affordable.

My Frenchy and I have been looking for places to live since we arrived. And I have to say, it's not easy. There are hundreds and thousands of places you can live but how do you know what is the best place for you?

So here are some of the tips that we have found useful since being here.

1. Like I mentioned in my previous post, Airbnb is one of the best places to start out. Find somewhere a little further away from Central London. It's much cheaper in comparison to a hotel room and it's much more comfortable than a backpackers. Also, you can stay as many nights as you want (depending on availability) without needing to pay too much upfront.

2. Figure out roughly how much you will earn per week against the cost of living. This will determine how much you are willing to spend per week or per month and how much you can save. It will also make the search easier if you have a minimum and maximum filter on your search. Like I said, there are so many places to choose from!

3. The next important think to consider is the different Zone options. The further out you live, the more money you will spend on travelling into Central London. So think about where you are going to work and find a suburb close to transport and within nearby Zones.

4. It's important to find a selection of properties you like the look of and schedule an appointment to view them. You don't want to move in without looking at the place first. Make sure you feel comfortable and it's in a great location, close to transport.

5. And finally, don't settle for anything unless you are completely sure. Most places will have a 3-6 month minimum stay and you don't want to agree on it unless you truly love it.

Check in next week for more tips from London.

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Top 5 things to do BEFORE moving to London

My Frenchy and I decided to move to London.

I was missing the English language and I found so many job opportunities online so we made the move. 

We were fortunate enough to have a great Airbnb host and housemate who told us all the important things we should have done BEFORE we moved.

So to save you the trouble we went through, I thought I would share my top 5 tips to help make your move easier.

1. Find accommodation for longer than a few days. It's going to take a little bit of time to find accommodation and check it out before moving in. I suggest Airbnb as a great place to start. You can find some nice, affordable locations, while you look for another place. Here is a link to the Airbnb we stayed. It's a great location and the Host is so helpful.

2. Book your accommodation a couple of weeks in advance. Build up a rapport with your Host and they may be able to help and give advise, leading up to the move.

3. If you are planning on working, call ahead to the National Insurance company to secure an appointment to receive the next available appointment. Ask your host if you can use their address as it is a requirement for applying for a NI number. I booked for an appointment when I first arrived in London and I had to wait 2 weeks.

4. Plan an appointment with a bank provider to make sure you don't have to wait for the next available appointment. Schedule the appointment a couple of days after your NI number appointment. The bank won't give you an account without a permanent address or a NI number.

5. Study the transport in London. Make sure you know how to get from where you arrive in London, to your accommodation. Also, upon your arrival, get yourself an Oyster card. It makes travelling so much easier instead of buying tickets all the time. Also, the more you travel on an Oyster card, the more money you can save.

Be sure to check back soon for more tips from London.

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