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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January: The Highlights

How was everyone's first month of 2016? Have you kickstarted your 2016 resolutions?

January has been a month of growth for me. I've settled into my new job, found time to juggle work and life, explored more of this city and I've even gone shoe shopping!

So here are the highlights if you missed them:

After an initial struggle with homesickness, I picked myself up and embraced this wonderful city.

I took some time to explore a little bit of London and visited Tower Bridge.

I went shoe shopping at Kurt Geiger and rewarded myself to some new shoes.

And I built my Winter wardrobe to help fight the London cold.

I fought the cold and explored the Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and the London Eye.

Finishing up the month, I styled my Ultimate Vegas Outfit.

What were the highlights of your January?

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Coming up next: The 5 shoes to avoid this Winter in London

The Big Ben

London is such a big city.

There is so much to see and do and on my last day off, I went to the Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and walked along the Pier to the London Eye. It was such a beautiful (and freezing cold) day! My Frenchy and I got to witness a beautiful sunset and enjoy some quality time together.

Scroll down to see my tourist pictures from the Big Ben!:

Stay tuned for more tourist pictures from London!

For tips from London, head to the London Series.

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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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Tower Bridge

I've been in London for over 2 months now and I've only just started exploring this city. During one of our rare times off together, Frenchy and I decided to visit Tower Bridge.

Many people recommended it too me and I missed seeing it the last time I was in London, so off we went! It was cold, damp but beautiful!

There is so many things to do and see in London, I'm finally excited to begin exploring this place!

Head to the London series for tips on settling in.

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Winter Wonderland

London during the festive season is beautiful. 

All the streets in Central London are covered in lights and there is so many things to see and do. 

It truly is spectacular.

Just before Christmas my Frenchy and I decided to explore London by night and see how beautiful this city is. We ended up at Winter Wonderland.

Located at Hyde Park, there is kilometres and kilometres of things to see and do at the Park. So where to start? It's nice to stroll around the different markets so why not enjoy a hot cup of steaming mulled wine while you do?

Mulled wine is a traditional European drink enjoyed during the festive season. It's made from red wine and seasoned with spices. For me, it was an acquired taste! It took a few mouthfuls until I started enjoying it. As it was cold outside, I chose to enjoy my mulled wine, steaming hot!

Once you have your mulled wine or other beverage of choice, it's a great time to explore the markets. Here you can find gifts for yourself or even your loved ones. Now that Christmas is over, it's nice to treat yourself. There is lots of unique jewellery, handmade leather goods and much much more. You'll be sure to find something.

There is also so many activities to do at Winter Wonderland. You can play sideshow games, go ice skating, explore the ice kingdom and for the adults, you can go to Bar Ice for a chilling drink. Some activities require pre booked tickets so plan ahead.

After the many activities, it's time for some food. Upon exploration of the Park, there are many food stands to choose from. You can have your pick from German sausages, burgers, fries and for the sweet tooth, you can enjoy waffles or French crepes! There is even a bon fire where you can enjoy roasted marshmallows!

Winter Wonderland is a great place for everyone. You can enjoy a romantic evening walking around the park with your loved one and even the whole family. All this fun is only a short 5 minute walk to Hyde Park Corner tube station!

If you haven't explored Winter Wonderland yet, you definitely should! But be quick, they close the doors on the 3rd of January!

To see more posts from my time in London, follow the link here.

My true passion

My true passion lies in the pages of Vogue magazine.

The glossy pages have me coveting the latest designer fashion, falling head over heels for the most beautiful shoes and dreaming of the moment I can afford the luxury.

I love my current life. Travelling with my Frenchy is amazing. I love visiting and exploring new places and I love the life lessons that go with it. But sometimes, I wish I could settle back into my old life, surrounded by my 200 pairs of shoes, without the responsibilities.

But, I recently found a great way, I can have a taste of both worlds.

Before leaving France, I applied for a position as the Clothing Specialist for a busy London company. I was fortunate to be the successful candidate for the position. 

Now, every day at work, I get to meet and style new customers in the latest fashion, I get to learn about the fashion industry in one of the fashion capitals of the world and I get to do it all in a new city. On my way home from work, I stumble upon little London bars and restaurants, sample different cuisines and discover great places to shop in this big city.

So what do my duties include as a Clothing Specialist in London?

While I'm still in training for the Company, I style new and returning customers in luxurious, high quality fashion and accessories. I also get the privilege to see all the new products for the upcoming season, before we release them in stores. This means I get to create new outfits and style the latest fashions before they hit the streets.

The ultimate reward for me! :)

I'm still finding my way in the Company and developing my position, but for now it's a great way to be surrounded by fashion for one of London's biggest companies, while still exploring more of the world.

What is your true passion?

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