Expat Guide London

Information & tips
for expats in London

“Hello, it’s a pleasure to meet you”

As an expat in London, you will probably hear this expression a lot. The English courtesy and friendliness can make the start in the big city a lot easier, because it helps you to get in touch with new people, especially if you are not familiar with London yet. In our Expat Guide you will find helpful information for your start in London, as well as some insider tips for restaurants and leisure activities that we have put together for you.

“Hello, it’s a pleasure to meet you”

Living and working in London

London is divided into two large areas – Inner and Outer London. If you want to live centrally, like the city life and have nothing against noise in the evenings, you should look for an apartment in the districts of Inner London.

Outer London, on the other hand, is a lot quieter and you usually need more than 30 minutes to get to the city. But there are many green areas to relax in and most districts here are extremely child-friendly, which is why many families live here.

Information about the different districts of London can be found in our Expat Guide PDF. Here you will find information about rental prices, family friendliness and quality of life.

We help you find your way around London

Discover the city of London

There are many sights in London. The Buckingham Palace, The Big Ben and the London Eye attract approximately 18 million visitors to the city every year. But in order to get to know the city like a local, you should try to visit other places. Instead of going to one of the hip (and mostly overpriced) restaurants in the tourist guide, you can rather enjoy a real Sunday roast in the ‘local’ pub or visit one of the many parks that make the city so beautifully green. The London Events Calendar gives you a good overview of the various events that take place in London every day.

Discover the city of London

Going out to dinner in London

Whether you prefer vegan, paleo or low carb, whether you prefer a star chef or a food truck on the road, you’re sure to find the right restaurant in London.

The Omeara, near London Bridge, offers a combination of trendy bar, fine cuisine, hip exhibition space and a stage for various musicians and bands. The terrace with a view of the Southwark Cathedral adds even more charm to the location.

Leon, Wasabi, Itsu or M&S are the perfect places for lunch breaks. Here you can get a delicious and fresh lunch at a fair price.

To meet clients the restaurant Gaucho, sas well as the hotel Westbury Mayfair are perfect for a more sophisticated dinner. We recommend the Covent Garden district for an after-work drink.

Going out to dinner in London

Whether you prefer vegan, paleo or low carb, whether you prefer a star chef or a food truck on the road, you’re sure to find the right restaurant in London.

Leon, Wasabi, Itsu or M&S are the perfect places for lunch breaks. Here you can get a delicious and fresh lunch at a fair price.

To meet clients the restaurant Gaucho, as well as the hotel Westbury Mayfair are perfect for a more sophisticated dinner. We recommend the Covent Garden district for an after-work drink.

Public transportation in London

The public transport network in London is very well developed and most people who work in the city or slightly outside of it use it. With the Oystercard you pay a maximum of £6.80 per day when traveling around the city center and you can travel by metro, bus, Docklands Light Rail and Overground trains. More information can be found on Oyster’s official website.

Public transportation in London

Meet new people

There is a huge range of events, sports groups and classes to help you develop your skills in London. Such activities are perfect to get in touch with other people from London or from all over the world. On the page Meetup there are a lot of meetings that you can visit. And if none of the existing Meetups is exciting to you, you can simply create a new Meetup.

For self-employed people or freelancers who work from home, we recommend co-working offices, for example from wework, where Homelike also has some desks.

You should also keep in mind that your colleagues or neighbors will be happy to meet you over a cup of tea.

Meet new people

For self-employed people or freelancers who work from home, we recommend co-working offices, for example from wework, where Homelike also has some desks.

You should also keep in mind that your colleagues or neighbors will be happy to meet you over a cup of tea.

Hier würden Sie eine Person sehen, die ein Kind in die Luft hebt

Living as an expat in London with family

Compulsory schooling begins in Great Britain at the age of 5. Before that, the child can stay at home or be sent to a Playgroup or Nursery School. From 5 on, the primary school begins, where the children stay for 6 years. After that there is the Secondary School. In Great Britain there are mostly school unifroms the students have to wear. Finding the right kindergarten or school for your child is not easy with the large selection in London, so there is a free service, to help you find it.

Here you would see a person lifting a child up for fun

Living as an expat in London with family

We have compiled a list of our insider tips for you in London, which you can easily download as a PDF. Here you will find tips for going out for dinner in London, such as restaurants and bars, as well as other popular places.

Interesting facts for expats in London

Lots of smalltalk

The British like light conversation, so topics such as the weather or sports are perfect for starting a chat.

Be polite

“Please”, “Thank you” and “Excuse me” are phrases that you should master for everyday life and use especially often in order to not appear rude.

Don’ts

X Standing on the left side of the escalator
X Jumping the queue
X Calling the Northern Irish, Scots or the Welsh “English”

Lots of smalltalk

The British like light conversation, so topics such as the weather or sports are perfect for starting a chat.

Be polite

“Please”, “Thank you” and “Excuse me” are phrases that you should master for everyday life and use especially often in order to not appear rude.

Don’ts

X Standing on the left side of the escalator
X Jumping the queue
X Calling the Northern Irish, Scots or the Welsh “English”

Information on entry conditions and tips for moving to Great Britain can be found on our page for temporary housing in Great Britain

Learn more now

Find an apartment in London

If you go to London as an expat, it can be difficult to find an apartment right away, especially if you don’t want to share a flat with several people. It becomes particularly difficult if you cannot be on-site when looking for an apartment. A good alternative to the stressful apartment search is to rent a furnished apartment, because the process can be entirely completed online and the apartment is fully equipped. Whether you go to London as an expat with your family or alone, you can also book a furnished apartment at short notice. So just move in and put your feet up!

Find an apartment now