Moving to London is a huge undertaking, especially if you’re new to the UK. In a city of 8.8 million people, 32 boroughs and 237 Pret a Mangers, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.
If you’re planning your own London move, here’s what to prepare for in 2025 to help things go smoothly.
Make things even simpler and use our partner Migrate.London to plan your move.
What do people find difficult when they move to London?
Those moving to London face similar challenges you’d experience when moving to any major city, such as:
- Handling immigration paperwork
- Finding a job in a competitive market
- Understanding local laws and taxes
- House hunting, especially for high-demand rental properties
- Loneliness and homesickness
Moreover, many difficulties are unique and particularly noticeable when you arrive in London.
Navigating the Tube/the Underground
The London Underground, better known as the Tube, is the world’s oldest underground metro. Prestigious as that is, it also means that the tube map has grown organically over time, and not always in a way that makes obvious sense.
New residents in the city are often caught out by the shared platforms of the Circle and District Line, or the Northern Line’s split branches, with each train serving half of the stations. If you’re moving to London, make sure you learn the nearest stations to you and any quirks of your local line.
Sunday opening hours
In the UK, large shops (defined as bigger than 280 square metres) can only open for six hours a day on Sundays, and no later than 6 pm.
Don’t get caught out by planning your food shopping on a Sunday afternoon. Many supermarkets close before 4 pm and will be busy and understocked for the last hours of the day.
Rainy weather in the UK
The UK is famous for its wet weather, and while London is actually in the driest part of the country you should still prepare for plenty of rain.
London has rainy weather for an average of 109.4 days a year, so it’s worth investing in a sturdy umbrella and getting used to dodging puddles.
Finding an NHS dentist
Immigrants to the UK are able to access free healthcare via the NHS after paying the Immigrant Health Surcharge (IHS). This includes NHS dentistry, which while not entirely free for all users is heavily subsidised compared to private services.
However, NHS dentists in London are often oversubscribed and unable to accept any new patients. This forces recent arrivals to choose between private dentistry at a higher cost or travelling outside of the city to attend appointments.
Culture shock
One struggle that often comes up in people’s experience of moving to London is finding the city’s population to be unfriendly. If you’re used to a culture where people greet each other on the street and smile on the bus, prepare for a shocking transition.
Londoners typically won’t acknowledge each other as they go about their day, and trying to strike up a conversation is likely to be met with suspicion. Don’t take the cool reception personally. While casual friendliness might not be as common, once you get to know them, London natives are just as much fun to be around as anyone else.
British pub life
Much of London’s social scene revolves around pubs. There are more than 3,500 pubs in the city, hosting after-work drinks, birthdays, dates, football matches and more every night.
If you don’t drink, it can be difficult to meet new friends and fit in with the social culture so heavily based around alcohol. However, the UK’s attitude to drinking is shifting. A growing 29% of 16-24-year-olds now describe themselves as non-drinkers, and more and more pubs and extending their range of non-alcoholic options.
Cost of living
The cost of living across the UK is high, but London has the highest on average. For example, the average price of a cup of coffee across the UK is £3.40, but in London it’s £3.71. In the average world capital, the same cup costs just £2.51.
The current UK living wage is £11.44 (increasing to £12.21 in April 2025), but the recommended London living wage is £13.85. This suggests a 19% higher cost of living in the capital than across the rest of the UK.
Is air pollution a big problem for London?
In the 19th Century London was nicknamed ‘The Big Smoke’ because of the smog that hung in the air. Fortunately, modern London has taken big strides to improve the quality of air for locals including the rollout of the Low Emissions Zone and Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ).
In 2023, for the first time, particulate matter (PM2.5) levels didn’t exceed the World Health Organisation’s target. Major improvements still need to be made, but the Mayor of London’s office has committed to improving air quality across the city.
Should I be worried about crime in London?
Like any major city, London does experience crime. However, both the average crime rate and the rate of violent crimes in London are below the UK average. Numbeo places London’s crime index score at 54.6, which is considered moderate and is lower than cities such as Paris, France and Naples, Italy.
Is there a housing crisis in London?
One major difficulty for those moving to London is securing accommodation, especially in the competitive rental market. The demand for rented properties across the UK is staggering, with an average property receiving 25 enquiries in 2023.
In 2024, the gap between rental demand and supply in London has begun to narrow, but those looking for properties still outnumber the homes available. If you’re planning your move, housing is one of the areas we’d most recommend seeking expert support to help you find a place to live that’s affordable, comfortable and right for you.
Make moving to London simpler with Migrate
Have these potential problems left you feeling stressed about moving to London? Simplify the process and get everything under control with help from Migrate.
Migrate creates a personalised, step-by-step plan for every user, guiding you through everything you need to get ready for your life in London. Each step lays out what you need to do and all the information you need to know so you’re never caught off guard. Plus, if you have any questions their comprehensive guides and supportive team are ready to help.
Visit Migrate.London today and get ready to live your best London life.
