London has been famed for its green parks, double-decker buses, and beautiful architecture. The UK capital is a truly iconic city. And, it is also one of the world’s most culturally diverse places. Namely, out of its 8.8 million residents, every third has been born abroad. If you are among those who find it difficult to resist the city’s enchanting energy, no problem. Verified Movers will connect you with some of the best moving companies, and these experts will turn your moving to London from US into an easy task. Meanwhile, let’s see what awaits you in Europe’s most populous city.
A brief overview of London’s History
It was founded by the Romans in 43 AD. At that time, it was known as Londinium. However, the big fire in 1666 destroyed the biggest part of the original city. In the period from 1750 to 1900, the Industrial Revolution resulted in opening many job possibilities. And, it caused London’s population to skyrocket. So, the population grew from 700k to over 4.5 million. Ever since that time, London has been known for its robust job market. So, no wonder that its population is constantly growing.
Moving to London from US
When you are preparing for moving to England from US, you will need to obtain a visa. Getting a tourist visa is not a big deal. But, in case of planning to stay in London for a longer period, you will need to obtain proper permits.
So, the main ways to get visas are:
- Entoling and studying at a London university
- Getting married to a British citizen
- Being hired, or getting a job offer by a London-based company
- Joining your family, who is legally living in London
After getting the initial visa, you will have to spend a certain period in the UK. Only then you will be entitled to get the permanent stay permit. However, you will have to apply for it too. And you will need to wait for the approval. The length of waiting time will depend on your reason for moving to London.
How to prepare for moving to London
Once you have decides to move to London, and after getting a visa, you will have to organize your move. This means that you will have to:
- Organize your accommodation in London and inform yourself about the costs of living
- Find a reliable moving company
- Set your moving budget
- Prepare the items you want to move
- Find reliable storage for the items you are leaving behind
- Prepare yourself for the cultural differences
Organize your accommodation in London, and learn about the costs of living
Before starting any other preparation, you will need to know where to stay after landing in London. If you are joining a spouse or family, there won’t be a problem. However, in case you are moving for a job or studying, contact your friends. Ask if you could stay with them for several weeks. That should give you enough time to find accommodation, before the arrival of your belongings.
In case you don’t know anyone in London, you still have two options. You can stay in a hotel. Or, you can contact a real estate agency online.
Inform yourself about real estate prices in London
Before all, check the real estate prices in London. The city is known for its very high purchasing/renting prices. Even by the USA standards, real estate in London is quite expensive and the median home price is £523,666. The online check will show you which neighborhoods have more affordable prices. So, you will be able to see in which areas you can afford accommodation. You will also learn which of them are located near your job or faculty.
Learn about the costs of living in London
Talking about the real estate costs, you should also learn about the other costs. That will help you to prepare your moving budget. And to know what income will you need to cover groceries, utilities, healthcare, etc. For example, London is around 20% more expensive than the USA average. However, it is still significantly cheaper than the majority of popular cities in the USA. If we compare London to NYC, we’ll see that it’s around 30% cheaper. Besides the cost of living we also want to suggest you to research the differences in laws prior to moving. For example, did you know that if you were working in the UK temporarily, you will still have to pay your income taxes in the US?
Finding the reliable moving company
Finding a reliable moving company is important even when you are moving locally. And, it is essential when you are moving overseas. So, make sure that you are dealing with a company that specialized in international relocations. Also, check the moving quotes. And find out if you will be charged additionally for certain services. Also, don’t miss to check the company’s licenses.
Finally, make sure the company has experience with the specific requirements of moving to the UK. And, if they know the customs regulations or shipping restrictions related to the UK.
Set your moving budget
Defining your moving budget will help you to determine the amount needed for relocation. So it should include transportation costs, as well as several more points. For example, you might need to stay elsewhere before moving into your apartment. And, you will need some funds to cover the costs of living before you get a job. Or at least your first income.
Preparing the items you want to move
First of all, you will have to decide what of your possessions fo you want to move. Joining the family, you won’t need your furniture. So, it would be wise to sell them and use the funds once you arrive in London. Also, you might find out that moving some things is rather costly. And that you would do better buying new things in London.
Also, there are some items you should not move long distances. So, before deciding what to take along, consult your mover. And, once you finally know what you are moving, purchase the packing supplies, and complete packing.
Find reliable storage for the items you are leaving behind
In case you plan to come back to the US, it might be cheaper to store your items. So, instead of paying for transporting them to the UK and back, find a reliable storage facility.
Prepare yourself for the cultural differences when moving to London from US
Moving abroad is opening many questions. You will have to learn a lot about getting permits. And about ways to transport your possessions. Also, you will have to find a company which is experienced in long-distance moving. However, when moving to London from US, you will also have to learn about the customs in your new country. That will help you to adjust faster to your new surroundings. And to avoid mistakes that can cost you a job, or friendship. Or even losing your visa or stay permit.