London City Guide

London's history goes back two thousand years, but that hasn't stopped this city from becoming a cutting-edge, vibrant metropolis. While many people associate London with rain, a healthy tea obsession, and the royal family, it is an incredibly diverse place ethnically, economically, and culturally. 

From Russian oligarchs to Arab sheikhs to Polish construction workers to bronzed Aussies, it seems like everyone wants to be here. And with more than 8.5 million people from every corner of the globe, you're almost guaranteed to find a part of London that is just right for you – provided you can afford it. Thanks to being in such high demand, the cost of living here can be astronomical. Many formerly affordable working class neighborhoods are quickly gentrifying as price increases radiate out from the city's affluent center.

You'll see fantastic wealth in some areas: homes selling for tens of millions of pounds, streets lined with Ferraris and Lamborghinis, luxury shop after luxury shop. Other parts seem to have been left behind and suffer from chronic unemployment, gang violence, and terrible schools. Nothing is truly stagnant in this city, however, as neighborhoods transform themselves again and again.  

London long ago demolished the stereotype that the English can't cook. With Michelin-starred culinary institutions on fashionable avenues and incredible ethnic cuisine tucked away on quiet streets, this is the kind of place foodies could spend several lifetimes. Historic pubs, football mania, iconic museums, and huge music festivals are just some of the other ways to spend your days here.

For now this is the financial capital of the world, but time will tell what effect Brexit has on London's standing in the global economy. 

Read on to learn about the basics (housing, transportation, internet, and more!) of moving to London and to find the perfect neighborhood for you.