Moving to London as a Student?
The best ultimate practical guide of everything we must know before coming here
I moved to London from Hong Kong for university in 2008, and I can’t believe it’s been 14 years.
Over the years, I’ve become the gym-going, gin-loving London girl. So much that I’ve published a survival guide / satirical rant for my Hong Kong readers about living here as a foreigner.
If you can manage London, then you can pretty much deal with all the most intimidating metropolitan in the world — New York, Hong Kong, Tokyo, they are nothing compared to this snobbish city.
Yes, London is snobbish, and so are its people. It’s meant to be horrible to tourists but fantastic for residents. Here’s the practical guide for you to get ready for your move. Get ready to become a Londoner.
Clothes to pack (for the English weather)
Ignoring fashion, here is a comprehensive list of clothes you need to not die in London:
- A long thick coat covers your upper body and lower back (that’s where the wind hits). Down jacket from Uniqlo is economical & fantastic.
- A thinner outer layer that shelters you from the ever-changing spring, summer and autumn. Leather jacket/trench coat/hoddies
- A down vest/scarf for the sudden attack of chill. This Uniqlo Vest is literally always in my bag.
- Scarf, thick socks, gloves and earmuffs — thank me later.
- Short-sleeves under layer e.g. a t-shirt — It’s for both summer and winter as people keep indoors very warm during the coldest months, so you never want to have something too thick as the base.
- Leather ankle boots with rubber bottoms — If you splurge on one thing, this is the one for all genders. My Bluntstones have saved my feet so many times.
- Business casual wear — I’d argue that Londoners care about fashion, not only as a style but also as a respect for places we visit. So make sure you have something other than jeans and trainers. A variation of chinos, blazers, cocktail dresses and collar shirts should cover most occasions.
Of course, there are other things you might need, such as a suit, but that depends on your personal circumstances.
Bonus tip: No white or black for weddings if you’re a guest.
Where to shop for everyday things
Having local knowledge is important to get things sorted. Here are some (but not all) common household shops other than Amazon that will help you with everyday matters.
- Pharmacy: Boots, Superdrug, bigger supermarkets
- Watch repairs & key cutting: Timpson
- Functional & quick takeaway lunches: Pret, Itsu, Wasabi, Leon
- Stationery: W.H. Smith, Paperchase, Scribbler, Rymans
- Electronic appliances: Argos, Currys
- Almost one-stop shop: John lewis (but slightly premium)
- Cinema: Everyman, Vue, Picturehouse, Odeon
- Phone: giffgaff (online only), Vodafone, 3, O2
- Cigarettes: Most supermarkets and off-license stores(also known as corner shops)
- Bike shop: Evans
- Household items (cleaning, bedding, kitchen): John Lewis, most supermarkets, Argos
Food-wise, I think it’s best to support local shops and fresh markets. There are a lot more local markets than Borough Market and Portobello Market. Walk around more to find when and where they take place.
Apps that your phone needs
Londoners rely so much on their phone because our fin-tech and other technologies are sophisticated. Here are what I think you’d need, as a bare minimum, to make your life in London easier.
- CityMapper: It’s better than Google Map to navigate around
- Uber: We’ve been using FreeNow too.
- Treatwell: for booking beauty services such as haircuts, nails, massages, etc. Often have discounts.
- Rightmove: for renting and buying home
- Spareroom: for finding houseshares
- Gumtree: for flats and everything second-hand, like bikes
- Cycle Hire: tell you where Santander rental bikes are
- Human Forest: There are many others, but I like this e-bike company as they give you 10 minutes for free every day.
- National Rail: for buying train tickets and searching for train times
- NHS App: for Covid-pass (if you were vaccinated in the UK) and making GP appointments
- Student beans: and UNiDAYS for student discounts
Entertainment info
- Timeout
- London on the Inside
- Eater
- Lastminute.com
- My Instagram!
Before you arrive in London
- Get a free sim card from Giffgaff sent to you.
- Google how to get from your place of abode to school, including any cycle route, as that’s often the easiest, cheapest and most humane way to get around.
- Sort out your student visa.
Immediately after you arrive in London
- Most will need to register with the police
- Set up GP (local doctor) here
- Depending on where you live, you might have to register for council tax and apply for a student/single-person discount.
- Open a bank account
- Get an oyster card (for transport) or use your contactless card.
Best of luck! I am doing a series of ultimate London guides as many of my friends are coming to London after the summer. Since I’m giving them my tips, I might as well give them all to everyone.
Follow me Midori by the Sea for more tips.
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