15 vecí, ktoré sa týkajú života v Londýne
uvažujete o živote v Londýne? Zistite, aké to je žiť v hlavnom meste Spojeného kráľovstva, plus užitočné tipy a informácie v tomto článku.
Londýn musí byť jedným z mojich obľúbených miest na svete. Vyrastať v Kuvajte, išiel som do školy, kde väčšina mojich učiteľov bola britská. Ako študent žurnalistiky, sledovanie spravodajských kanálov, ako je BBC, bola podobná domácim úlohám.
Moja prvá konferencia Londontown bola, keď som tam išiel na služobnú cestu v roku 2012. Môj sen sa však splnil, keď v roku 2015 som sa presťahoval do Londýna so svojou rodinou a strávil 4 roky žijúci v meste.
V tomto článku sa zdieľam svoju skúsenosť z prvej ruky a tipy na život v Londýne ako expat.
Obsah
1. Nájdenie domu v Londýne
2. Spoznajte okolie
3. Dostať sa okolo Londýna
4. pristátie práce
5. Prežívanie počasia v Londýne
6. Získanie zdravotnej starostlivosti
7. Dovolenka v Londýne
8. Londýn priateľský
9. Zábavné veci vidieť a robiť
10. Život v Londýne na rozpočte
11. Stravovanie a pitie
12. Quirky veci o živote v Londýne
Život v Londýne pre rodiny
Záver
1. Nájdenie domu v Londýne
Nie je tajomstvo, že London má niektoré z najdrahších nehnuteľností na svete, aj keď priemerná veľkosť domu je oveľa nižšia ako väčšina rozvinutých krajín.
Pri príchode do mesta som si čoskoro uvedomil, že mnohí ľudia sa skutočne rozhodnú žiť v domácich krajoch, ako sú Surrey, Kent alebo Berkshire namiesto toho, aby žili v Londýne.
Môžete stráviť viac na dopravu, ale to je zvyčajne kompenzované väčším priestorom, ktorý si môžete dovoliť. Vaše rozhodnutie závisí od faktorov, ako je, ako dlho je vaša dochádzka a koľko izieb potrebujete.
Moja manželka a ja sme pracovali v zóne 1, keď sme žili v Londýne. Tak sme sa rozhodli pozrieť sa na susedstva v Južnom západnom Londýne, najmä v zónach 4-6.
Podarilo sa nám nájsť úžasný 4-izbový dom v Suttone v našom rozpočte. To znamenalo, že naši kamarát a rodinní príslušníci by mohli zostať s nami, keď navštívili.
Zvážte život len mimo mesta, aby ste si zachránili nejaké peniaze. Vysoké náklady na nehnuteľnosti sú určite jedným z nevýhodných životov v Londýne.
2. Spoznajte okolie
Vaša webová stránka miestnej rady je miesto, kde nájdete informácie o recyklácii, zberu odpadky, parkovacie povolenia, atď.
Predstavte si svojim susedom – najmä tých, ktorí žijú vedľa seba.
Krabica sušienok alebo fľaša vína môže ísť dlhú cestu. Nikdy neviete, keď potrebujete ich pomoc pri hľadaní vašich rastlín alebo podpisom balíka.
Okolie majú zvyčajne “High Street”, ktorá je hlavnou cestou, kde sa nachádza väčšina obchodov. Niektorí umožňujú prevádzku, zatiaľ čo iné sú len pre chodcov.
Náš dom bol 15 minút chôdze od High Street a ja som to zvládol veľa ísť do banky, kaderníkov, nechtový salón a poštu.
3. Dostať sa okolo Londýna
Jedným z výhod života v Londýne je, že naozaj nemusíte vlastniť auto!
Verejná doprava – Autobusy, električky a neslávny Londýn Underground Dubbed trubicu – je veľmi renomovaná a cenovo dostupná.
Pozrite sa na tieto značky pri hľadaní trubice v Londýne
Jednou z prvých vecí, ktoré by ste mali urobiť po presťahovaní do Londýna, dostanete kartu Oyster a top to. Môžete tiež použiť bezkontaktnú bankovú kartu, ale pozor na Card Clash!
Keď nie ste dochádzajú do dochádzky a fro, môžete vždy jazdiť na bicykli alebo chodiť. Nielen
4. landing a Job
While my spouse moved from Egypt to the UK with his employer, my job hunt was not that straightforward.
When I was done unpacking and we all settled in, I created profiles on job sites such as Monster and Indeed, and updated my LinkedIn profile. I also reached out to a couple of recruiters who specialized in the career fields I was interested in.
Meanwhile, I tried to keep myself busy by joining the parents association at my daughter’s school and attending networking events.
I even started a travel blog when I was between jobs to promote family holidays in Egypt.
My advice would be to volunteer at a charity or join a community based on your interests. That way you can make some friends, practice English if it’s not your first language, and even add some local experience to your CV (resume).
Another option is to take on some online work and start earning a living from home.
5. Surviving London Weather
For someone like me who has only lived in hot climates, the weather in London was the biggest shock.
I didn’t have any winter clothes or footwear suitable for living in London. I didn’t even own an umbrella of my own and had to borrow my mother’s!
Be prepared for all weather while living in London
But I have to say once I mastered the art of holding an umbrella, my daughter’s hand, my dog’s leash and my purse with only two hands, I was able to walk out of my house in confidence regardless of the weather.
The key to surviving London weather is to dress in layers.
Wellies (gumboots) are a must-have if you enjoy walking or gardening and don’t want to ruin your shoes. Raincoats can be used throughout the year and I noticed that women wear cooling tights in the summer and thicker ones when it is cold.
You can honestly experience all four seasons in one day so you better be prepared.
6. Získanie zdravotnej starostlivosti
The national health service (NHS) is a true blessing because its healthcare services are free for anyone who is a legal resident.
Once you arrive in the UK, check out the NHS website and find your nearest general practitioner (GP) surgery.
When you register with your GP, they will ask you to complete a form with your medical history and you can tell them what medications you already take so they can give you a prescription.
If you opt in to be an organ donor you get a card to keep in your wallet.
There are private hospitals and clinics as well but they can be prohibitively expensive. Some employers offer private health insurance as one of their perks. This could come in handy if waiting times are long for a specialist or if you want a second opinion before getting a procedure.
Free healthcare is one of the terrific perks of living in London, and the UK as a whole.
7. Dovolenka v Londýne
Public holidays in the UK revolve around Christmas and Easter. most people get Christmas Day, Boxing Day, new Year’s Day, good Friday and Easter Monday off depending on what they do for a living.
There are three other bank holidays — the first and last Monday in may and the last Monday in August. Public transportation might not run as normal and many shops or restaurants have reduced hours or close altogether.
So before any of these public holidays, make sure you fill your prescriptions and stock up on any essentials.
School holidays are longer during Christmas and Easter and children can get 2-3 weeks off. There are also half-term breaks which are 1-week holidays during each school term.
8. Londýn priateľský
I was so happy we were able to bring our dog with us from Egypt because London is just so pet-friendly. most landlords allow pets on their property. Dogs can ride taxis, trains, buses, and even the Tube.
A lot of hotels, beaches, restaurants, cafes, and pubs are dog-friendly. They can run around in parks or swim in the streams. There’s dog beer and dog ice cream available to buy as well.
Just make sure you keep them on a leash near any ducks, swans, sheep, and deer and also near any children, playgrounds, or automobile parks.
You have to clean up after your dog otherwise you can be fined £50-£80 on the spot! another piece of advice is to get pet insurance.
Not only are vet bills in London expensive, but you can get covered for accidents, theft or loss. You can shop online or ask your local vet for a recommendation.
9. Zábavné veci vidieť a robiť
Working in a university in the heart of London, I was so lucky to be surrounded by opportunities to experience the very best in British history and culture.
You can attend a comedy night or a West end musical. You can go on a themed walking tour or a scavenger hunt. If you are a fitness freak, you can join a gym, take up jogging, or go to a fitness or dance class.
Visiting pubs is one of the best things to do in London!
Living in London means one day you could be at the chic Ascot races or a tennis match in Wimbledon and another day you could be having a drink in a beer garden or grilling at your friend’s barbecue.
There are many pros and cons of living in London, but the variety of things to see and do is one of the many benefits of living in this city.
10. Život v Londýne na rozpočte
There are a ton of cultural and social activities in London that you can attend for free.
Most museums, galleries, and parks have free entry. If you are a carer or a student you are entitled to a discount almost everywhere.
There are seasonal sales all year round to celebrate Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Boxing Day — you name it!
You can check out price comparison websitesand check out better prices for your energy bills, mobile phone packages or insurance policies.
11. Stravovanie a pitie
With London being so multicultural, it is no surprise that there are restaurants showcasing cuisines from all around the world.
Supermarkets proudly stock British produce but are also mindful of catering to people from different backgrounds and ethnicities.
London is a very multicultural city – you’ll be able to find food from all over the world
So if you are homesick and want to cook a traditional meal you are likely to find most of the ingredients for your mother’s recipe. There are products that are vegan, kosher and halal in every major supermarket.
With their black and gold signage and quirky names, English pubs are hard to miss. during the day, it’s normal to see people getting a cheeky drink or two during their lunch break.
In the evenings, there is live music, trivia nights, poker tournaments, and 2 for 1 cocktails. during weekends, families meet each other for a Sunday roast and you can even bring your doggo along.
12. Quirky veci o živote v Londýne
These are quirky things that I have personally experienced living in London as an expat:
People do not talk to each other on the Tube or train. They listen to music, read their books, or live stream their favorite shows.
People are obsessed with greeting cards and are keeping the postal service alive! Every occasion seems to have its own card.
You have to pay for a TV license every year if you own a TV even if you don’t watch any of the free-to-air channels.
There is no such thing as a British accent but rather many regional dialects. very few Londoners actually speak like the royal Family. As an expat, I found British slang so unfamiliar but fascinating!
Život v Londýne pre rodiny
Here is some more specific, useful information if you’re planning on moving to London with your family.
13. finding a School
The majority of Londoners send their children to state schools and academies. The rest pay exuberant fees at independent schools.
There are also a few international schools that offer German, French and IB curriculums. children join reception class at age 4 and then the school years run from year 1 to year 13.
Some schools are faith-based where they are managed by the Church of England or a Catholic church for example and have more entry requirements such as a parents interview.
Some state secondary schools such as grammar schools require an entrance exam. These are usually segregated rather than mixed.
Once you arrive in London, check out the website of your local council. fill in the form to register your child(ren) and name your preferred schools.
However, bear in mind that you are assigned a place based on availability, catchment area, as well as the school’s selection policy.
I recommend you have a look at school inspection reports published by Ofsted. aim for a school that has received a rating of “outstanding” or “good”.
Your school’s website will have information about the color and style of the school uniform. You can buy basic items such as shirts, trousers, skirts, and socks from high street shops or supermarkets.
For branded items such as book bags, ties, jackets, jumpers and blazers, you can buy them through the school.
14. finding Childcare
Childcare in London can be very costly. Unless you are rich, there is no way you can afford a full-time and/or live-in nanny.
You can find babysitters in your local area on specialized websites or through word of mouth and they can charge anything between £20-30 per hour. Make sure you interview them and