Moving to the UK: What to Expect
After living in the UK for two years, I’m a little late at sharing this, but here we are. As I have mentioned in the past, I moved to the UK on a work-related secondment. While I’d previously visited the UK twice prior, there were still a lot of things I didn’t expect or particularly consider. Here are four categories of things to expect should you find yourself planning a move to the UK
Travel
- Embrace cheap flights to European countries even if it means bright yellow/orange cabins and lottery tickets sold in-flight (Easy Jet and Ryan Air)
- Learn to pack light so you don’t have to pay for luggage on those cheap flights
- Say goodbye to the Wi-Fi on flights that you’ve gotten used to in North America
- Crossing the street and/or driving safely will take some getting used to
- Sitting on a double decker bus – top level front row, always- still tickles me
- Riding the tube in London – what personal space?
Settling In
- Most apartments (flats) come furnished, don’t bother shipping your stuff like some of us did
- Opening a bank account can be exhausting, you cant get a bank account without proof of UK address and you can’t sign a tenancy agreement (to get an address) without a bank account
- Council tax is a monthly bill that should just be added to rent
- You’ll be charged a few pennies for not bringing your own bags to go grocery shopping
People/Relationships
- Making friends as an adult is a different cup of tea, be intentional
- There will be new accents to get acquainted with (I work with a diverse group of professionals and I’ll confess that I have to pay close attention to Australians or I don’t hear them)
- Give yourself time and permission to transition, and decide on which circles you want to join
- Do try activities outside your normal comfort zone till you find your rhythm
- The professional environment will be different, pay attention and don’t be aloof
Random Life Matters
- Embrace the rain, as there’ll be lots of it
- Washers are in the kitchen, dryers are optional
- Be ready to answer the ‘still or sparkling water’ question at restaurants. Sparkling water is definitely more popular here
- Say goodbye to summer and sunshine as you know it
- Once you have a bank account, you can withdraw cash from ANY ATM without charge
- Refrigerators are smaller/skinnier and its okay
- Contactless payments are the best, so easy! Tap and go!
- Nandos everywhere, need I say more?
- 25 minimum vacation days for the win!!!!
- Get used to saying ‘Cheers’ all the time
Time flies and I can’t believe I crossed the two-year mark. I plan to write a more reflective post in the next few months on what I’d do differently, and the more challenging aspects of moving countries as an adult. There’s an ease and in-built community that comes with moving as a student. As a professional, you’re on your own really. Loriade wrote this on unrealistic thoughts on moving abroad and I agreed with several of the points she made. I also shared my thoughts from three years ago in India in this post.
P.S. Shout out to my co-secondees that helped me brainstorm this list.
Have you moved to another city, state, or country as an adult? What did you find most surprising?
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??? I actually found crossing the street safer in the UK (than the extremely short time I spent in the USA. And the rain ? it was so annoying
Really??? How? Is it because people walk more and there are more crossing signs in the UK? For me crossing still is challenging because I keep looking the wrong way! hahaha
The rain, I’ve just accepted, can’t tell you how many times I got soaking wet my first year here. Thanks for stopping by and commenting Temi!
Omg Dee! This is incredibly spot on and I could write a comment on everything. Council Tax isn’t paid by students so I guess it cannot be added to rent; the 5p charge for grocery bag is pretty new (you should have been here when it was introduced). I love the people and relationships bit. You have to be intentional. And while we’re at it – you should probably be pub friendly and often open to a few drinks.
I’m a still water girl all the time and I absolutely refuse to use any ATM that charges me to withdraw my money.
Cheers!!!
KacheeTee.com
Thanks Kachee! I didn’t realize that students don’t pay council tax, not fair! hahaha! Yes, I had something about pubs but it was becoming too long but I agree! I’m trying sparkling water the month of March, let’s see how that goes!
Girl, the UK free-ATM rules are spoiling you oh!
Thanks again for stopping by and sharing your thoughts.
I remember the first time I went to England, I was so confused as to why the washer was in the kitchen (it just felt wrong!)
Most times I still don’t understand what the Australian my team is saying, I think I interpret whatever I can pick in the context of the conversation and then send him an email to confirm my understanding (works every time?)
In addition, be ready to start sprinting (I actually mean walking ?) Londoners walk soo fast it’s like some spirits are chasing them. I remember one of the times my mum came over and we went shopping together, she kept asking me where i was running too ???.
I don’t actually like contactless, I mean someone can steal my card and just be tapping away anyhow. Side eye for all them contactless inventors ?.
The most surprising thing for me was I thought i was going to be very stuck on Nigerian food as an Ibadan girl who can do anything for amala, but it turns out there is a whole world of flavor out there guys!! Explore..you’ll thank yourself later.
Amazing post as always Dee! Oh and I look forward to going to a proper tea one of these days ☕️
I literally cracked up at your comment on the Australian. I’ve just learnt to use ‘sense’ to decode. I mean sometimes I ask them to repeat but reading the lips works well for me. Thankfully, some other colleagues are in the same boat so between two or three of us, we decode the convo. Good on you for following up via email though!
New Yorkers and Londoners are sprinters of life I agree. When I’m in London, I don’t think I sprint but like you my parents think otherwise! :):)
On contactless, I’m just lazy, I kinda roll my eyes when anyone doesn’t take contactless. I mean I have to insert my card and type my pin? So MUCH Work. Hahaha! But…the maximum on contactless is like 30 quid so someone can’t steal THAT much Thats what I tell myself.
Great advice on trying other foods aside from Nigerian food, I agree theres so much out here from all over the world. Go have proper tea and feel posh! I’ve changed since I had that tea on Saturday 😉
Thank you for stopping by and for the kind words!
The sparkling vs still. I like my water still though I think that is a European thing. I tried sparkling the first and only time was in Milan during a lay over. That was a colossal mistake on my part. I think it is an acquired taste.
Colossal mistake 😉 You drama queen! Its not that serious o!
When you are thirsty and you have used your student $$$ to buy sparkling water you cannot drink….then it is a big deal o
Haha, these are so spot on! The answer to still or sparkling is “tap” for me. I made that mistake at a fancy restaurant and ended up paying nearly £6 for a glass of water (real tears).
On making friends, you/your readers should attend one the brunches I host every other month 😉 (shameless plug)
Lola | http://www.thereetpetite.com
Haahaa, I can imagine the shock at paying £6 for water. How sway? Hey, plug away your brunches sound like a great idea/way to meet people when you’re new in town and looking to mingle/build a community. I’ll actually write a blog post about this sometime and I’ll be happy to include your brunch as a way to get acquainted with like minded people in London town!
I moved to the US 2 years ago from the UK and your post is solid! Weirdly enough, these are all the things I miss about home! I do wish I took advantage of travelling more around Europe when I lived there! I did love having 5 weeks vacation and no charges on ATMs!! You Americans are stingy with vacation days Sha *side eye*. Nandos is part of British culture now- ‘cheeky Nandos’! I’ve struggled to find anything comparable to thr chicken here though. Paying for bags is mandatory here in Los Angeles, so no surprises there.
Love love love your blog!!
Gogo!! Thank you for your comment and thank you for the love!!! Crazy, I moved to the UK just over two years ago so we kinda swapped lives! Yeah, vacations are very different in the Us compared to the UK, but it also varies from one company to another. I love how it is mandatory by law in the UK though and people actually unplug more in the UK vs when I was in the US I ‘worked’ more on vacation. There are a few Nandos in the states now but in select cities, I had Nandos for dinner last night 😉 Hopefully you’re able to take advantage of being in the US to travel the States!