Living in London and the UK
A complete guide to living and working in the UK.
Flights
Most flights go into either London Heathrow or London Gatwick airports. You can either contact your local travel agent or check out the websites listed below where you can book flights or research the cheapest cost. If you are on a Working Holiday Maker visa, you may need to book a return flight or show that you have the funds to support yourself and pay for an onward journey, so keep this in mind when you are booking. You should also ask your travel agent about getting travel insurance to make sure you and your belongings are covered during your travel.
All countries
www.flightcentre.com
Australia
www.statravel.com.au
www.harveyworld.com.au
www.jetset.com.au
Canada
www.travelcuts.com
www.uniglobeplus.com
New Zealand
www.statravel.co.nz
www.gottago.com
www.houseoftravel.co.nz
South Africa
http://www.statravel.co.za
Temporary Accommodation
Finding accommodation for when you first arrive is important and should be arranged before you leave home. If you have friends or family living in the UK, it might be a good time to make contact to see if they have a place for you to stay. The cost of living in London can be high and it is cheaper further away from central London or in other areas of the country. If you are happy to share housing, you will be able to cut your costs and it is a great way to meet new people. Listed below are some websites that can help with the search.
Gumtree – an expatriate community website where people advertise rental properties or rooms in shared housing or apartments.
Loot – a newspaper website where available properties are updated daily.
TNT Magazine – a travellers magazine website with an accommodation section.
There are also hundreds of letting agents that can assist along with local newspapers.
Transport
The majority of people who live in greater London use the public transport system to get around. With traffic congestion and charges for driving through the inner city, a number of people do not own cars. If you decide to live outside of London, the general rule is the more rural the area, the greater the need for a car but we can assist you with car hire. There are public transport networks in the larger cities but they are not as comprehensive as within London, so you will probably need a car in order to visit your clients.
London – The “Tube”
Most people commute within London using the ‘tube’ for at least part of their journey. This is a comprehensive system of transport underground all over inner London and Greater London. It may seem daunting when you first arrive, but it follows a logical system and you will soon be finding your way everywhere you need to with ease! It is best to purchase a weekly or monthly travel card for the ‘zones’ of travel you will need regularly. Keep in mind that the Tube does not run 24-7 and the last tubes are usually around midnight and slightly later on Friday and Saturday.
London – National Rail – The ‘overland’
Linking with the underground system is the National Rail. These are overland trains that connect to a number of greater London areas as well as nationwide routes. This makes it quite easy to live outside the greater London area where it may be cheaper, and commute into London for work. Tickets on the overland for long trips across the UK are generally cheaper the further in advance you book them, so try to plan ahead if you can.
London – The Bus
The bus system completes the transport network of London covering routes all over. It is quite a cheap option and runs for most hours of the day and night. The night buses are a great and cheap alternative to using taxis.
Paying for public transport – Oyster Cards
An Oyster Card is an electronic travel card that you can top up with funds to pay for your travel around London. If you are coming to London even for a couple of days it’s well worth obtaining one from your local tube or rail station as it can literally save you hundreds of pounds! Paper tickets can cost more than double the price of a journey using an Oyster Card.
A-Z directory
A street directory that covers the entire of London is a must for getting around the capital. These come in a variety of easy to carry sizes and are you’ll use it even if you stay in the UK for years. Readily available to buy from any bookshop, convenience store or newsagent. You should never leave home without one.
Cost of Living
The cost of living in the UK varies considerably according to the type of accommodation you wish to live in, the area you live and the lifestyle you lead. The cost of living in London is generally higher than other parts of the UK, but the pay rates are usually higher as well.
As a general indication, we have provided an idea of the costs for the basics if you live in London, costs would be reduced in other parts of the UK.
Rent £280 – £560 per calendar month
Transport £65 – £110 per calendar month
Food £20 – £35 per week
Entertainment from £10 per day (depending on your lifestyle!)
Other Useful Websites
Community Care – This is a weekly publication that aims to keep Social Workers up to date with legislation changes and contains interesting articles on the Social Care sector.
British Association of Social Workers
Further information on relocating to the UK:
The Full Quid
Welcome Stranger
TNT Magazine
Gumtree